It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

By the 1960's, the animation industry had sharply declined due to increased production costs and changing technology. Walt had become less involved with animation when he started Disneyland and television. THE SWORD IN THE STONE, released in 1963, has never been held in high regard by Disney fans, but has never been disliked either.I've always found THE SWORD IN THE STONE to be an anomaly in the Disney canon, because it was released between two features with strong and engaging storytelling and the fact that one of Disney's best storymen, Bill Peet handled it single handedly. Yet the story feels underwhelming as there isn't very much action nor is there conflict with a build up to the climax. Another issue is the heavy amount of reused animation, most of it from the film itself; Several animation cycles are repeated throughout the film. This also cheapens the artistic value of an already insipid film. Director Wolfgang Reitherman was known for doing this as a director and was criticized by his colleagues and fans for this. The stylized designs that worked so effectively in 101 DALMATIANS don't really lend itself to a medieval setting nor does the jazzy musical score. One key element to a great Disney picture is great characters and they're here. Merlin and Archimedes are cantankerous and funny. Sir Ector and Sir Kay are obnoxious antagonists (though not true villains), but are also funny as well. When you really think about it, Arthur's situation with Ector and Kay is basically the same as in CINDERELLA.The storyline is mostly Merlin attempting to educate a young Arthur by transforming him into various animals. Despite the shortcomings of telling an engaging story, the viewer does come away with an appreciation for education and philosophy. It can be argued that despite Merlin's (short sighted) ability to see into the future, his attempts to educate Arthur nearly prevent him from being anointed king, which is something Merlin had no foresight on.Although not one of the Disney greats, this should belong in the library of any true Disney connoisseur.

The king has died and no one can agree on the right king for England. A miraculous sword appear in London stuck in an anvil and stone. It comes with an inscription proclaiming the man who pulls the sword will be the new king. Many try but nobody succeeds. The Sword in the Stone becomes forgotten as the land fall into a dark age. Merlin the wizard has plans for the young orphan Arthur.The animation is classic hand-drawn style. It has an old-style charm that is reminiscent of TV cartoons of that era. It's educational at times. It's pretty light weight humor. The story is pretty thin. It doesn't put in enough time for a compelling villain. It also suffer for not having a beautiful princess or an interesting lead. Arthur is too flimsy to be a compelling child character. Merlin and Archimedes are really the only fascinating characters. It's also missing any great songs. The best part of the movie is the transformational battle between Merlin and Mim.

In medieval times, Merlin the Magician tutors a 12-year-old boy through educational magic; the lad, nicknamed Wart, is the future King of England, King Arthur, though what he learns from being temporarily transformed into a fish, a squirrel, et al. isn't made clear. Animated adventures from Walt Disney is heavy on both the slapstick and the talk--the former a handicap because of a lack of visual wit, the latter a detriment because the characters aren't very interesting. The picture has nice color, and a funny supporting performance from Junius Matthews as Archimedes the owl, but the main set-piece (a showdown of magic between Merlin and his nemesis, Madam Mim) is just a flurry of activity, magic without boundaries for easy laughers. The intermittent songs, by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, are weak (and unsingable) and the character of Wart, hindered by poor vocal work, fails to emerge. ** from ****

I love the King Arthur legend, it's always been one of my favorite fantasy tales. Probably one of the reasons is the fact that it's inspiring, that a greatness exists in all of us.This is one of my favorite animated movies and as you guessed it relics from my childhood. I saw this film when I was 7, I loved it then and I love it even as an adult. This film also was what introduced me to the King Arthur legend, so if it wasn't for this film I never would of known about the story.Not a lot I can say, I love the story, it's straightforward and simple but that why I love it. The animation I think is very good, it's nothing totally revolutionary but it's great in capturing a period in time long gone and the character animation is solid. The music is good it's not quite memorable which to me is probably the weak point of the film, thought the score that stands out was in the discovery of Excalubur which I thought was cool had a spiritual tone to it. However this weakness has an advantage from the fact there there really aren't many music numbers which I'm fine with since I'm not a fan of musicals.The characters are solid, Arthur is a decent protagonist, not much to say about him his the typical underdog but what makes him stand out a bit is the fact he's sympathetic. This guy practically gets crap canned left and right, from his jerk of a brother, down to the amount of responsibilities that have been dumped on him. I know there's such a think as teaching a kid responsibility but having to clean which looks like three dump truck loads of dishes by hand, that's just going overboard. This just all the more makes us want Arthur to win in the end.However, the three that stand out are Merlin, Archimedes, and Madam Mim.Merlin is pretty much a mentor figure but he's a fun one. He's got some great lines but I like that he's kinda an eccentric as we can easily see from his workshop which just looks clutter just like his mind.Archimedes is kinda the straight man or owl. He's wise and is always trying to keep things in balance. It's just funny how much grief Merlin gives him as things get out of his control.Madam Mim she's a fun villainous whom kinda was a villain that just pop out of the blue. She's just a crazy witch, she doesn't really have much of a goal except just to one up Merlin which seems to be her only goal.I really like the back and forth between Arthur and Merlin which is funny but also meaningful and touching. It's sort of like Dannel and Myugi in "The Karate Kid" just as Myugi teaches Dannel Karate he also teaches him the philosophies of life. Same with Merlin whom teaches Arthur lessons about the world he's also really teaching him to have faith in himself.One of my favorite sequences and one of my favorite one on one battles is the magic duel between both Merlin and Madam Mim. It is one of the most exiting, hilarious, and craziest battles I've ever seen; it's by it's nature a game of high card as both of them are trying to metamorph into a creature that can overpower the other. They turn into all kinds of animals as well as some creatures that don't exist except in imagination.Another favorite sequence is of course the discovery of Excalibur (which I think is a beautiful design of the sword) and the drawing out of it. In a way the story I've always felt was also a Christian story since the them I felt was about faith. The problem with Arthur was that he never really believed in himself or that there is greatness. His reason for drawing out the sword was to help someone, he even does it a second time because it was the right thing to do. To me those are genuine reasons for the sword to be drawn out, it was never about physical strength but spiritual. Arthur spirit was strong because he wasn't desiring to be King or any other selfish ambition but simply just to do the right thing which I feel is what fuels belief in oneself, and with that kind of faith one can accomplish anything but most importantly be what they deserve to be.It wasn't just a sword that Arthur drew out but the truth about himself and his own greatness, the greatness that exists in all of us.Rating: 4 stars