Meanwhile, there's no Merlin and no magic, no Mordred or Morgan le Fay, no knights who become real characters, no real depiction of what Camelot is meant to represent in the dream of King Arthur. What we have here is just another action picture, with the framework of the Arthurian legend and a distinctly '90s sensibility.

A number of supporting characters are introduced with flourish, but they soon disappear, never to be seen again — even when they seem important enough to resurface. This is perhaps most noticeable with John Gielgud, as Guinevere's right-hand adviser. He has nothing to do. (Alfred the butler gets more screen-time in "Batman Forever.")

There are a couple of fairly exciting set-pieces — the film is seldom boring. But screenwriter William Nicholson ("Shadow-lands," "Nell") has obviously watched too many other action pictures and read too little Arthurian lore. Meanwhile, director Jerry Zucker ("Ghost") is content to concentrate on downbeat, doomed romance, with upbeat music in the background.

In fact, if John Williams' booming, familiar "Indiana Jones" theme were to suddenly come up on the soundtrack, it wouldn't seem all that out of place.

"First Knight" is rated PG-13 for considerable violence, albeit relatively bloodless when compared to something like "Braveheart."