The film is indeed part soap opera, as is the Lancelot/Guinevere part of the Arthurian Cycle, but these interludes are done in a matter of fact, rather stark manner. This and the copious action scenes make for a fast moving, absorbing pace with little down time. The dialogue is a bit clipped and less theatrical than in most epics but this only adds to its realistic qualities.
The sword of Lancelot or Lancelot and Guinevere
