Swashbuckling adventure of epic proportions

Rating: 9/10 (12 July 2003)

"The Man who would be King" is truly a joy to watch for fans of Sean Connery, Michael Caine, director John Huston, or just quality films of epic adventure. "Man" mixes masculine bravado with intellectual-based humor to produce an effective vehicle for it's action stars. Huston's work provides perhaps the best pre-cursor to the "Indiana Jones" movies of the early 80's, as British mercenaries Carnahan and Dravot travel the seeming ends of the earth in 1800's South Asia, getting in and out of as much trouble as Connery's Bond character could ever hope to. Based on Runyard Kipling's novel,The movie is epic in it's adventure, but still deep enough to outline the philosophical roles of the king archetype as well as the absurdity of 19th century British imperialism. Connery (The man who longs to be king) climbs the traditional spire to monarchy through military prowess and the superstition of the masses, (not to mention a little luck!) Yet once king he suffers the same scrutiny that the pharaohs of Egypt and modern dictators face; a ruler's power rests with the people's contentment, when expected services are no longer delivered, the "King" will lose his mandate. Carnahan and Dravot are products of British imperialism, which operated on "racial" mandates of European supremecy. By the time Connery realizes the fallacy of his mindset(Like the tragic hero, when he begins to believe his own myth the downfall follows), it is too late. Still to the end the two men reaffirm the values of bravery, loyalty and brotherhood...The kind of things that make a man a true man.