Light and enjoyable
Added 10/20/2009
Not a bad kiddie type show. Predictable. Special effects are ok...not the type of movie that would win an award, but, it is the type you can safely watch with your children..and not worry about death and mass destruction being flashed across the screen in technicolor blood.
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Good movie.
Added 8/14/2009
I was sitting in my bed bored, so I flipped through my amazing basic cable. I found nothing interesting of course. But then I cam accross this movie. So I figured: "Hey, I'm familiar with the whole King Arthur, Merlin, Camelot story. Plus I love Medieval movies." So I watched it and it was very interesting. I'd suggest this movie for anyone who shares the same interests.
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A New Spin on Camelot
Added 2/25/2009
This film looks at the time after Camelot when Arthur is no more. Merlin is trying to figure out what happened to Camelot when he finds a young man who shows signs of hidden magical talent. As the film continues Merlin trains the young man who will later take over for Merlin in an attempt to restore the ideals and place of Camelot.
This follow up is well done and it is great to have Sam Neil back as Merlin.
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Not Really a Sequel
Added 12/25/2008
I enjoyed the original Merlin miniseries, despite the liberties taken with the Arthurian legend. It benefited greatly from Sam Neill's gentle charm and good acting as well as having a colorful and engaging supporting cast. Unfortunately, Merlin's Apprentice pretty much introduced a new cast of characters and used so little of the two characters that were kept, Merlin and the lady of the lake, that this could hardly be considered a sequel.
Putting aside the fact that this is really a production unrelated to its predecessor, there are other serious problems with the storyline. One is that the pacing is awkward. The story isn't told in a manner which engages the viewer. There is a relentless march of misery and hardship for the characters with little pay-off at the end. In fact, the ending is the equivalent of a reset button so the characters really don't do much except complain, fight, suffer, and die.
Another part of the problem is that the outcome for some of the characters is too sudden and lacks explanation. I won't put a spoiler in this review, but I will say that one character seems to take a 180 degree turn at the 11th hour. Also, the lady of the lake was a positive character in the original miniseries and suddenly she has become a villain for no reason in this one. Would it have cost so much to explain why she started out benevolent, but turned evil? The fact that there was a ripe explanation available because of the ending of the original miniseries (revenge for her sister's demise) made it all the more of a waste not to provide some sort of motive for her change in direction.
This isn't a total disaster, but it's also not very compelling. Certainly Sam Neill's and Miranda Richardson are good to see in their roles, but there isn't enough of them to make up for the shortcomings of this production.
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A new tale about Merlin and Camelot
Added 12/23/2008
Having watched Hallmark's 'Merlin' and being impressed by it, I turned to this film, expecting a sequel. This is where most of the other reviews have gone wrong. It most definitely is not a sequel to 'Merlin', but a companion story.
This fact is obvious right from the start, where the Camelot we find is very different to the Camelot at the end of 'Merlin', as is Merlin himself, even though the character is played again by Sam Neill, who handles the role deliciously in both mini-series. So be prepared to see a totally new story which draws on the Camelot legends for its basis, but follows none of them.
This new story starts slowly from a demolished Camelot. Merlin has been in hibernation for 50 years, but a young, undisciplined magician, as yet not very skilled, has appeared to partly fill the gap created by the missing Merlin. Merlin returns and with the remnants of the citizens of Camelot sets out to create a new Camelot. Along the way, he acquires the afore-mentioned young magician as an apprentice.
The story is beautifully constructed, slowly developing, taking on twists and turns and leading to an ending which the cynical might see as corny, but the lover of such fantasies will see as almost inspiring. Some of the dialog can be a little pedestrian, but most is quite competent and at times rises to scenes of near-brilliance.
As in its earlier companion film, 'Merlin', the technical aspects of film making are excellent. The photography is of quite a high standard, as is the editing, but they are both handled in such a responsible way that they do not draw attention to themselves. Color and 5.1 sound on this widescreen film are also excellent. And, an important contribution to most films, it has a delightful music score.
Although a different director to 'Merlin', the direction skillfully draws together all the elements of the film to create a result which I thought was superior to 'Merlin'. Certainly it had less special effects, at least obvious ones. but I don't watch a film for its special effects, I watch for the telling of a good story or the exposition of a good character study. And in this I found quite a good story. As in 'Merlin', neither the story or the film is a masterpiece, but at least there is a solid well-developed story, a rarity in most films.
I was slightly disappointed in the acting of the pivotal character, the apprentice. The character portrayed was exactly right for the story and he looked very good for the part. Unfortunately, his acting was marred by a little rigidity. However, he got away with this failing. Surprisingly, Miranda Richardson, the focus of evil in the story, was unusually bland.
In total, I thought this a good film, not one to go down in history, but superior to most of what we see in our cinemas (this is a TV two-part mini-series). If you like this type of fantasy, buy it. But don't expect a sequel to 'Merlin' or any other Arthurian film you have seen. It is a new story that stands alone from the rest. Approach it as any sort of sequel and you will be disappointed. Approach it on its own merits, and you should experience enjoyable viewing.
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