This is a movie that I loved when I was a kid. I thought I might have outgrown it. I watched it today for the first time in 15 years or so. I enjoyed every minute of it; and it is a long movie. Perhaps because they had to fit a very large novel into one movie and the scenes come and go quickly.
Patrick Stewart, Helen Mirren and Gabriel Byrne all look older. Liam Neeson looks the same. Cherie Lunghi still looks damn good too.

The movie was lauded for its visuals (sometimes a little 80's cheesiness) but the DVD does not look so good. I hope they do a good job on the Blu Ray.

The music is incredible, Vagner I think.

It was one of my fav's too. I bought the HD-DVD when it came out a few years ago (hu, already 'years' ago), and it was a marked improvement over the DVD, but unfortunately, you can only do so much with early 80's special effects and bad acting. Still a fun movie though. I'd really like to see it re-made, well, tastefully re-made anyway. Sometimes the original is best left alone - Conan comes to mind.

I did not know it was on HD DVD.... I might have to get a player.

i have it on Blu-ray and it's much better looking than on the DVD.
they say the director had a very restricted budget, that's why there seems to be some holes in the story, mainly in the second half and he also had many production problems, so he resorted to filming a lot nearby his home in Ireland and hired some members of his family too.

i watch this movie about once a year, it's good enough for that.

The music you hear when they gallop through the orchard is from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana; some piece of music i like a lot, and is well utilized in the movie too.

That was a good scene. Thank you for the information. I wasn't aware of the Blu Ray. I wish I had watched that. Next time.

if you're interested, here's a good review:
http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Excalibur-Blu-ray/749/#Review

and if you like to read reviews before you buy, here's an excellent address:
http://www.dvd-basen.dk/uk/home.php3