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longship

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103. One of her early breakout roles: Morgana Le Fay

Fri Dec 6, 2013, 11:15 PM

Dec 2013

In John Boorman's quirky but wonderfully expansive Excalibur. For once, a retelling that pays at least some honor to the original legends and their mysticism.

Boorman's blurred definitions and exposition comes off brilliantly, IMHO.

There are stand out roles here. (Look for Patrick Stewart and Liam Neeson.) Merlin (Nichol Williamson) shamelessly steals every scene he's in. He pulls it off.

Nigel Terry plays a flawed Arthur. Helen Mirren plays his corrupt half sister, Morgana Le Fay.

One of my favorites. An absolute knockout soundtrack, with music from Wagner's Götterdamerung, Parsifal, and Tristan and Isolde with Orff's "O Fortuna" from Carmina Burana (my old cat's favorite music, may she rest in peace -- but she always heard it as "O for Tuna!&quot .

From 1981, a great flick.

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Helen Mirren Has Tea with Dying Boy After Actual Queen Says No [View all] Demeter Dec 2013 OP

Ms Mirren, a class act. spanone Dec 2013 #1

That's Dame Mirren to you :) nt EOTE Dec 2013 #7

i didn't know!!! Dame Mirren.... spanone Dec 2013 #24

Dame Helen Tansy_Gold Dec 2013 #98

Class act NotHardly Dec 2013 #42

Yes, that was a very nice thing to do. I'll tip my cup to Ms Mirren, TheDebbieDee Dec 2013 #106

I would so pick Helen Mirren over the Queen, any day. Baitball Blogger Dec 2013 #2

Amen to that! n/t Yavin4 Dec 2013 #31

If the Queen didn't exist, neither would Helen Mirren as an understudy. bluestate10 Dec 2013 #35

Monarch apologist!!! Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2013 #46

Completely valid point. It would be nice to know. AAO Dec 2013 #51

So she had something more pressing tblue Dec 2013 #56

She has more power than you would think MattBaggins Dec 2013 #81

Oh Please..If Her Highness didn't exist that poor dying boy wouldn't have been rebuffed whathehell Dec 2013 #113

Love her! n/t myrna minx Dec 2013 #3

Hooray for Helen...a class act...knr joeybee12 Dec 2013 #4

Helen Mirren is a benefit to society at one millionth the cost nt msongs Dec 2013 #5

Queen costs us less than about a dollar fifty a year each here in the UK. dipsydoodle Dec 2013 #13

Well, that's good, because liberalhistorian Dec 2013 #22

She's ours : not yours. dipsydoodle Dec 2013 #25

Well, then, I'm glad to let you have her! liberalhistorian Dec 2013 #26

So, do you have an opinion on our President? Wait Wut Dec 2013 #34

LOL! whathehell Dec 2013 #112

That's apples and pears. dipsydoodle Dec 2013 #117

So, that would give even more reason... Wait Wut Dec 2013 #143

She's ours : not yours. NotHardly Dec 2013 #40

It's more personal than a celebrity. Quasimodem Dec 2013 #64

So exactly what should or should not people be allowed to post on DU about stories that are lostincalifornia Dec 2013 #78

LOL..You obviously haven't been here long enough to know how VERY opinionated many whathehell Dec 2013 #153

I imagine that's because the consequences of the American public figures often go far beyond America LanternWaste Dec 2013 #164

That may be, but I'm afraid as many others on this thread have agreed, whathehell Dec 2013 #166

What more could we add anyway? BeyondGeography Dec 2013 #60

my Dad was British! BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2013 #69

You are hers, not us. joshcryer Dec 2013 #88

I consider institutionalized class privilege anywhere it exists to be worthy of comment bread_and_roses Dec 2013 #104

If Americans have no "real cause" to comment on British society what are you doing here? last1standing Dec 2013 #108

No, sorry, but non-American DUers like you give our matters "thought" and comment all the time whathehell Dec 2013 #110

well said DrDan Dec 2013 #116

Hear, hear, dd. American monarchy bashers are so ignorantly narrow Surya Gayatri Dec 2013 #124

What's cracks me up dipsydoodle Dec 2013 #128

Word! Surya Gayatri Dec 2013 #129

Hear, hear. Ex-pat Euro wannabes from Nebraska may be tempted to overcompensate for their whathehell Dec 2013 #148

Only just got on-line after two days, so wasn't able Surya Gayatri Dec 2013 #156

Well, it seems you've made up for lost time, so I shall respond in kind.. whathehell Dec 2013 #159

Glad you clarified things for everyone on DU Aerows Dec 2013 #160

Thank you, Aerows, for your "liberal" understanding Surya Gayatri Dec 2013 #161

Now that I have the time.. whathehell Dec 2013 #167

Now that I have the time.. whathehell Dec 2013 #168

Two for the price of one? Should I consider myself Surya Gayatri Dec 2013 #169

Whatever.. whathehell Dec 2013 #170

Now, there's an interesting example of projection...although Surya Gayatri Dec 2013 #174

Fail... whathehell Dec 2013 #176

Yes, I am too, as it seemed necessary. whathehell Dec 2013 #163

My reply to you, whatthehell, would simply be verbatim Surya Gayatri Dec 2013 #162

and my reply to that, Surya Gayatri, would also be verbatim whathehell Dec 2013 #165

Please point out the posts in which enlightenment Dec 2013 #177

Only if you point out the posts in which whathehell Dec 2013 #178

It's nice to see enlightenment Dec 2013 #179

It's nice to see whathehell Dec 2013 #180

Oh the Iidiotic irony pipoman Dec 2013 #172

THANK you.. whathehell Dec 2013 #181

I think Denmark has a cooler queen Retrograde Dec 2013 #44

Yes.. whathehell Dec 2013 #111

Indeed, that was one of the rare times liberalhistorian Dec 2013 #131

I have to say, whathehell Dec 2013 #147

Who was also her former daughter-in-law. xmas74 Dec 2013 #140

So what?...She was hugely popular and much of the caused her to be "former" whathehell Dec 2013 #144

But in the end, family is family xmas74 Dec 2013 #145

Maybe, but this was the mother of two of her grandsons, and, besides, though whathehell Dec 2013 #149

It was just a rotten situation for all involved. xmas74 Dec 2013 #152

You love your Queen. I get that. We kicked your a-- a while back, but I admire the bluestate10 Dec 2013 #38

"we kicked your a--" not very appropriate - 2banon Dec 2013 #45

1812 was 201 years ago... AtheistCrusader Dec 2013 #61

True.. losing track of time, but some argue that Canada kicked our asses in that one 2banon Dec 2013 #82

Canada definitely landed a solid punch or two, that's for sure. AtheistCrusader Dec 2013 #83

historically lots of snags in our alliances since and even now, but they all remain 2banon Dec 2013 #84

Hell, some want to re-fight the Civil War. Eleanors38 Dec 2013 #93

Particularly apropos post, 2banon. Astonishing that, Surya Gayatri Dec 2013 #126

embarrassing, astonishing, not enough adjectives to express my reaction as well. eom. 2banon Dec 2013 #142

IMHO You're not getting your monies worth. Puglover Dec 2013 #54

Thanks for sorting that out. Boudica the Lyoness Dec 2013 #66

I don't buy the "we don't pay full cost leases" argument. joshcryer Dec 2013 #87

It was actually lower than I said : 62p which is c. 99 cents. dipsydoodle Dec 2013 #118

CP Gray is well respected. joshcryer Dec 2013 #122

Which doesn't change the fact dipsydoodle Dec 2013 #123

Good enough to teach in your schools. joshcryer Dec 2013 #125

Of coarse pipoman Dec 2013 #173

I love Helen Mirren! zappaman Dec 2013 #6

As Jon Stewart pointed out, Jennifer Lawrence looks like the young Mirren, Baitball Blogger Dec 2013 #11

Jon Stewart is right, Helen Mirren 'rising star' of 1969: spitting image of J-Law big_dog Dec 2013 #36

Some writer should come up with a script for those two. Baitball Blogger Dec 2013 #50

Jon was in good form Gothmog Dec 2013 #132

Actually, I saw it the other way around. Baitball Blogger Dec 2013 #135

Actually I find her more beautiful now, in her later years. calimary Dec 2013 #14

No kidding! n/t zappaman Dec 2013 #20

Yes, I agree. She's better looking now than when she was young lass. eom 2banon Dec 2013 #48

really! BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2013 #74

I've been hoping against hope that science would be able to clone her Blue_Tires Dec 2013 #37

I mean look at this woman, she's still extremely hot ... just about the coolest person. YOHABLO Dec 2013 #105

Dame Helen is a beautiful lady, in so many ways! LongTomH Dec 2013 #8

Wonderful bit of news Hulk Dec 2013 #9

This is a story from May, but I just found it Demeter Dec 2013 #10

Even though the story's from months ago, I suspect the Queen is still a royal ____ . . . Journeyman Dec 2013 #16

The official line is the Queen is quite ill Demeter Dec 2013 #18

So's the boy. I wonder why he wasn't invited to the Palace and entertained by the help? . . . Journeyman Dec 2013 #23

I am sick as well Boudica the Lyoness Dec 2013 #68

It would be. Especially if you were a dying 10 year old . . . Journeyman Dec 2013 #73

Even if the Queen couldn't attend for whatever reason RFKHumphreyObama Dec 2013 #99

Exactly...n/t whathehell Dec 2013 #114

Quite a lot of effort, actually muriel_volestrangler Dec 2013 #121

fucken beauty - i think helen's australian! right? certainot Dec 2013 #12

No, she's British. Beacool Dec 2013 #100

awesome! k&r big_dog Dec 2013 #15

Great pictures. Thanks! nt SunSeeker Dec 2013 #33

what a class act big_dog Dec 2013 #39

Indeed. It's a wonderful think she did for that kid, and for everyone who cared about him. SunSeeker Dec 2013 #89

beautiful pictures, big_dog. Thank you! sheshe2 Dec 2013 #90

Lovely pic. Beacool Dec 2013 #101

Great picture, Big Dog. Thanks. n/t whathehell Dec 2013 #154

a cool story fishwax Dec 2013 #17

Fishwax? Demeter Dec 2013 #19

not that I know of fishwax Dec 2013 #21

In these days of crap for news, nice to read. mahannah Dec 2013 #27

a picture of Dame Mirren @ age 25 spanone Dec 2013 #28

Yes! DeSwiss Dec 2013 #107

Quite a dame. I just love her work. TxDemChem Dec 2013 #29

What a gracious lady. lpbk2713 Dec 2013 #30

Wonderful story! thanks for posting, Demeter mike dub Dec 2013 #32

I'm no expert on royal succession... Orsino Dec 2013 #41

Brilliant, Helen, brilliant... Historic NY Dec 2013 #43

wonderful Liberal_in_LA Dec 2013 #47

One of the coolest things I've ever heard of! Thank you, Helen! AAO Dec 2013 #49

What a dame! N/T WoodyD Dec 2013 #52

I didn't know I could admire Ms. Mirren Puglover Dec 2013 #53

One of my favorite actresses, along with Judi Dench and Angela Lansbury. Beacool Dec 2013 #55

Nicely done and shows a big heart hankthecrank Dec 2013 #57

since i`m an old guy i can say helen is still hot...lol madrchsod Dec 2013 #58

Yep. Number 1 on the AARP charts. Eleanors38 Dec 2013 #94

Obviously you have zero clue how many dying kids want to have tea with the Queen. Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2013 #59

Or you could click on the link and read it for yourself Stuckinthebush Dec 2013 #63

DU programmers wrote the code for the excerpt tag to be used. Not to be admired from afar. Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2013 #65

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Dec 2013 #91

No bum hand. She (nor Mandela nor George Clooney) can't accept even a small fraction of requests. nt Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2013 #96

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Dec 2013 #97

Yeah, I agree. Royalty is a relic and should be abolished. Keep the tourist attractions. nt Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2013 #102

Bernardo de La Paz Diclotican Dec 2013 #109

Mabye that's because we're not as in awe of figurehead monarchs as a young, dying subject, and you whathehell Dec 2013 #115

Please see my post #102 previous to this #115 of yours. Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2013 #119

So the Queen should rent out Wembley and have the thousands come for tea bigwillq Dec 2013 #158

I would've wished for Helen and been disappointed tblue Dec 2013 #62

+1 rateyes Dec 2013 #76

The young man secondvariety Dec 2013 #85

K & R Liberal_Dog Dec 2013 #67

sniff... BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2013 #70

So good of her BeyondGeography Dec 2013 #71

Lets let Dame Helen MFM008 Dec 2013 #72

Methinks this was better than meeting the actual queen. liberalmuse Dec 2013 #75

i'm no fan of the monarchy, although I respect Elizabeth II as a person - hedgehog Dec 2013 #77

Something in my eye. tazkcmo Dec 2013 #79

If you've not seen her in The Queen, go rent it LittleBlue Dec 2013 #80

The scene from that movie that really stuck with me ... Martin Eden Dec 2013 #134

I agree LittleBlue Dec 2013 #141

I love this story. Brava! spooky3 Dec 2013 #86

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Dec 2013 #92

What.....A......WOMAN!!!!! I was always impressed, even more so now! nt MADem Dec 2013 #95

One of her early breakout roles: Morgana Le Fay longship Dec 2013 #103

Oh yes, I LOVED that film. I actually have it here somewhere closeupready Dec 2013 #139

"Monarch" on public welfare too busy to help dying kid tabasco Dec 2013 #120

Dame Helen--compassion incarnate, love on two beautiful legs. Surya Gayatri Dec 2013 #127

Good, the dying boy is MUCH better off... Mike Nelson Dec 2013 #130

Great thing to do! To be fair, however, neither Mirren nor the Queen would ever... Silent3 Dec 2013 #133

Remember when Dame Helen declined to meet with the Queen herself... radhika Dec 2013 #136

I love her luckykate54 Dec 2013 #137

Nice one. I actually like both of them, though. closeupready Dec 2013 #138

Well no one ever accused the Royals of having any class. Rex Dec 2013 #146

du rec. xchrom Dec 2013 #150

GREAT ! Thanks Helen ! RBInMaine Dec 2013 #151

Pure.Class! catbyte Dec 2013 #155

Classy bigwillq Dec 2013 #157

awww. Jefferson23 Dec 2013 #171

She is awesome ryan_cats Dec 2013 #175