The Round Table of the film, while beautiful, simply does not match the original story's Table which supposedly filled an entire banquet hall and could seat 150 knights.

Incidentally, the Table was supposed to have been a wedding present from Guinevere's father, later fortified with the magician Merlin's magic. In the movie, however, Guinevere's father is dead and Merlin doesn't even exist.

Arthur's knightly entourage is not the same as Arthur fans may remember, either. Agravaine is the only familiar name Connery's Arthur speaks. And while Sirs Gawain and Gareth are in the film's credits, they are unidentified during the movie, and Sir Lamorack, Sir Bors and Sir Pellinore are absent from this retelling.

First Knight's most obvious departure from the traditional legend, however, is the substitution of "Prince Malagant" for the traditional Arthurian villains.

The film's Malagant, who does not exist in traditional Arthurian legends, is supposedly a fallen knight of the Round Table who seeks to rule Camelot for himself.

Malagant's character in the film takes the place of Arthur's son Mordred, the product of an incestuous liaison with his sister Morgan la Fay, who brings about the fall of Camelot by exposing the affair between Guinevere and Lancelot.

Such sinuous twists of plot may have proven too difficult for this retelling to navigate, however, and it is not altogether bad that Zucker decided to change the story.

For in essence, the Arthurian legend is not so much a story, with fixed plots and characters, as it is a message and a feeling.

Passion, courage, honor, loyalty and betrayal--these form the foundation of the story of Arthur. And by bringing out these qualities, First Knight succeeds completely and incomparably.