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DVD The Mists of Avalon
This adaptation of Marion Zimmer Bradley's sprawling and perennially popular book, whose retelling of the Arthurian legends focused on the role of powerful females, compresses a wealth of mysticism, family intrigue, and bloody swordplay into three hours. While the plot can meander slowly and can sometimes seem, well, mystifying, the work of three notable actresses holds the production together, and the numerous complications do eventually get resolved. As Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, Anjelica Huston endeavors to perpetuate the old religion as pagan Britain comes into contact with Christianity. The scheming Morgause, played to evil perfection by Joan Allen, conspires to her own ends. And Avalon priestess Morgaine, played by Julianna Margulies, travels the heroine's journey, overcoming tragedies, injustice, and all manner of obstacles in her duty to both "the goddess" and her younger brother, King Arthur. Although the action lags at times, the production is quite lavish for a made-for-television feature and the film is ultimately entertaining. --Robert J. McNamara
I loved this movie, and when i first saw it on TNT i knew i had to buy the DVD when it came out. This movie puts a whole new twist on the Arthurian legends which i find amazingly rare these days. All of the actors and actresses in this movie were phenomenal, and their roles were perfect for them. Even though, like all Arthurian legends, the end is depressing, it was still a really intriguing and inspiring movie.
Boring and dull distortion of the Arthurian legend
The movie goes on the premise that the Arthurian legends are all wrong--which, of course, they all are, because they are legends after all--and that this movie is going to tell the "true" story. Now, the movie was marketed as a look the legends from the female perspective, but this is a tad understating it. In fact, the movie suggests that it was in fact the female characters in the whole spiel that were the key figures. Needless to say, some of the females who traditionally had certain negative attributes are in fact not all that bad after all, and it's only because of the workings of certain corrupting males that they happen to do bad things. I'm sure this is the reason why the movie (and I suppose the book, which I haven't read) is seemingly so popular among females. But while the traditionally bad female characters have been vindicated, interestingly enough the whole story hinges on one female's--Vivien, the head godess--ruthless attempt to save Avalon from the onslaught of the Saxons and their male-dominated religious belief, Christianity. For the head-goddess of a belief system that is supposedly more peaceful and egalitarian, she doesn't conduct herself in all that pleasant of a manner; she ruins lives through manipulation and coercion, and if anything, actually assures the demise of the belief system that she cherishes so dearly. Evidently it doesn't occur to her that in the course of her "doing everything" in her power to perserve the old ways, it's men who are expected to do the fighting; there are no female warriors in this story, and no indication that the women were even inclined to take up arms for the cause. It's no wonder then that many of the men turned to Christianity during the course of the movie.
A Lose Adaptation of the Novel.
I was a big fan of the book but the movie reminded me a cheesey soap opera. I thought the acting was alright but it certainly didn't live up to my expectations. The only real redemption of the film was casting Michael Vartan as the hottie Lancelot! Being a HUGE "Alias" fan, seeing him was a real treat! In the end, it was mildly entertaining but a huge dissapointment for an avid lover of the book.
What kind of guy was the wizard Merlin, anyway? He lives a long time, raises a boy to be a king, props up a Utopian empire with his magic and wisdom, and then watches as it all crumbles under such banal forces as vengeance and betrayal. This four-hour miniseries re-tells the story of Camelot and King Arthur from the perspective of the magic man who sacrifices a great deal to guide mortals toward a better destiny. Sam Neill plays Merlin as an accessible, flesh-and-blood fellow of real passion, powerless to undo the spell of a rival (Rutger Hauer) who has virtually imprisoned Merlin's great love, Nimue (Isabella Rossellini), but gifted enough to counter the treachery of Morgan Le Fey (Helena Bonham Carter) and the wicked Queen Mab (Miranda Richardson). The battle sequences and special... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Sam Neill - Helena Bonham Carter Director(s): Steve Barron DVD Release Date: Released the 08 June 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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This epic 10-hour miniseries from the Emmy-winning writer of Gulliver's Travels was a ratings bust on television, but on video and DVD, where it can be enjoyed at one's leisure, it has a better chance to cast its magical spell. Kimberly Williams has never been more enchanting than as Virginia, a waitress who still lives with her janitor father (John Larroquette) and yearns for something exciting to happen to her. Her wish comes true when she and her father are transported from New York City into a dimension that, with apologies to Rod Serling, can only be called the Fairy Tale Zone; nine kingdoms populated by characters from fairy tales of yore. They team up with a dog who's really a prince--Wendell, grandson of Snow White--changed into canine form by the evil Queen (Dianne... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Herbert Wise - David Carson DVD Release Date: Released the 28 May 2002 Usually ships in 24 hours
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This lush retelling of the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is a dark and engrossing tale. Director John Boorman (Deliverance) masterfully handles the tale of the mythical sword Excalibur, and its passing from the wizard Merlin to the future king of England. Arthur pulls the famed sword from a stone and is destined to be crowned king. As the king embarks on a passionate love affair with Guenevere, an illegitimate son, and Merlin's designs on power, threaten Arthur's reign. The film is visually stunning and unflinching in its scenes of combat and black magic. Featuring an impressive supporting cast, including early work from the likes of Liam Neeson and Gabriel Byrne, Excalibur is an adaptation of the legend both faithful and bold. --Robert LaneMore Info about this DVD Actor(s): Nigel Terry - Helen Mirren Director(s): John Boorman DVD Release Date: Released the 21 September 1999 Usually ships in 24 hours
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There's a war goin' on in this bit o' blarney, but it's more than the feud between the fairies and the leprechauns, upon which most of the overwrought tale hangs. It's also a struggle between competing, derivative story lines in this bloated, plodding film that can't decide what it wants to be. It's part Romeo and Juliet, via the seemingly doomed romance of the princess fairy and teenage leprechaun; part contemporary romance, with an uncomfortable-looking Randy Quaid in the romantic lead; and a large part unfocused fable that fills out its Irish stew with a feud reminiscent of Ireland's Catholic-Protestant conflict while throwing in fantastical Braveheart-style battle scenes and Riverdance-like interludes. The most stunning scenes are the fairy sequences that take... More Info about this DVD Director(s): John Henderson DVD Release Date: Released the 14 March 2000 Usually ships in 24 hours
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