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iainjclarkAgainst all expectations I quite enjoyed that.
It's very far from the horrible teen travesty I was expecting, and nowhere near as glib and "modern" as the BBC's Robin Hood. Indeed it's about as literal and sincere a take on an Epic Fantasy novel (by way of Harry Potter) as you're likely to see on TV. The cast is good, and Merlin himself is a nice mixture of wit and self-deprecation. The atmosphere is well-served by some effective digital matte paintings and a rich John Williams-esque orchestral score. Even the dragon is well done, albeit exactly the same as the last few talking dragons I've seen1. I particularly like the fairy tale quality of Gwen-from-Torchwood's plot.
Probably the worst-judged aspect is the Jocks-and-Nerds relationship between Arthur and Merlin, but it's a long way from grating.
Whether the world actually needs "Arthur and Merlin: Before They Were Famous" is another matter, but the pre-Arthurian premise is almost incidental to the fact that this is a surprisingly decent bit of Epic Fantasy2.
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1 In films I mean. Rumours that I've been seeing talking dragons are scurrilous and should not be listened to.
2 i.e. Entirely hackneyed and predictable, but in a good way.
It's very far from the horrible teen travesty I was expecting, and nowhere near as glib and "modern" as the BBC's Robin Hood. Indeed it's about as literal and sincere a take on an Epic Fantasy novel (by way of Harry Potter) as you're likely to see on TV. The cast is good, and Merlin himself is a nice mixture of wit and self-deprecation. The atmosphere is well-served by some effective digital matte paintings and a rich John Williams-esque orchestral score. Even the dragon is well done, albeit exactly the same as the last few talking dragons I've seen1. I particularly like the fairy tale quality of Gwen-from-Torchwood's plot.
Probably the worst-judged aspect is the Jocks-and-Nerds relationship between Arthur and Merlin, but it's a long way from grating.
Whether the world actually needs "Arthur and Merlin: Before They Were Famous" is another matter, but the pre-Arthurian premise is almost incidental to the fact that this is a surprisingly decent bit of Epic Fantasy2.
--
1 In films I mean. Rumours that I've been seeing talking dragons are scurrilous and should not be listened to.
2 i.e. Entirely hackneyed and predictable, but in a good way.
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no subject
Date: 2008-09-20 07:54 pm (UTC)I think you may have lost a closing tag somewhere
ETA: If there isn't already I am damned sure there will be Arthur/Merlin slash by morning.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-20 08:19 pm (UTC)Arthur/Merlin slash by morning
The fact that this may spontanesouly appear now, rather than at any point in history since the Arthur myth started, must say something about fandom. but I have no idea what. ;-)
Fool of a Clark
Date: 2008-09-20 09:11 pm (UTC)Re: Fool of a Clark
Date: 2008-09-20 09:20 pm (UTC)Re: Fool of a Clark
Date: 2008-09-20 09:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-20 09:50 pm (UTC)I don't believe it!
no subject
Date: 2008-09-20 09:57 pm (UTC)