Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Extremely disappointing, 15 April 2006
Extremely disappointing
If you're a fan of the Merlin film made in 1998 and expecting this to be a sequel, you will be very disappointed. It bears no relation to the original film, in fact it's as if the earlier film doesn't exist, as huge parts of the back-story are completely different. The only thing that's the same is Sam Neill plays Merlin.
Miranda Richardson is back, except she plays the Lady of the Lake, who for some reason is evil, looks like Mab, and Merlin has never met her before.
The "plot" of the film is this. Merlin leaves Arthur in Camelot, goes to have a kip, and wakes up 50 years later. In that time, Camelot is in disarray and the Holy Grail has disappeared. It has to be found. That's basically it. There is also some pointless subplot about the granddaughter of Sir Gawain having to be protected as well. And some barbarians.
Jack the trainee magician first encounters Merlin when he sneaks into his house attempting to steal a wand. Merlin only takes him under his wing because he might be the key to finding the Grail. In the cast of characters is a knight who is so obviously a female (who bears a resemblance to Ellen McArthur) pretending to be male, and we're supposed to believe the other characters have no idea that she is in fact a woman.
It really is a poor film. Without giving it away, at some point during the story, Merlin finds out some information about Jack's past. It's at that point if I were watching this film in the cinema, I would have walked out. But as it was on TV and I had nothing better to do, I stuck with it to the bitter end.
I can only assume that Sam Neill and Miranda Richardson are desperate for cash to appear in this. They can both do better than this, much better. I had pre-ordered the DVD before I saw the film on TV. As soon as I watched it, I cancelled the pre-order.
So to sum up - if you liked 1998 Merlin, or just like good films in general. Don't buy the DVD, it will be a waste of money.
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
By the end I was shouting at the TV, 15 May 2006
I wonder if the writers of this depressingly bad sequel to the brilliant 'Merlin' actually watched the origional. It was like they had thrown away the origional concept and decided to change it all around. Firstly, if you cannot get the origional Arthur, then please don't confuse us by bringing him back from the dead. Secondly, The Lady of the Lake is a) meant to be dead, and b) is NOT evil at all in the original and there is no explaination as to why she is now.
Nimue was such an important role in the original, so why no mention of her.
I won't spoil the ending for those who are yet to watch the film, but considering the end of the first film, it really makes no sense at all, and just left me screaming at the TV.
The acting of Sam Neill is brilliant, and Miranda Richardson is always superb in these dark roles, but I have to question why they read the script and still did it despite it's contrasts to the brilliant story of 'Merlin'.
By all means, however, watch the DVD, It's fun just to pick it apart!
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Horrible!!!, 11 May 2006
I really loved the original "MERLIN" film and expected this to be more or less a follow up. Not at all,there's no continuity, no decent acting (Miranda Richardson stole the show in the first film,in this one I think she just needed the money)
A talking pig (one for the childrens film foundation?) A girl who looked liked a girl & talked like a girl but pretended to be a boy & everyone thought was a boy (are they all insane/blind?)
And lets not forget the incidental music which all the time is telling us "hey this isn't serious it's meant to be funny"
The concept of the first film was a loose adaption of Mallory's Morte D'Arthur and was,all in all, an excellent film.This is just a pile of ..... (insert your own adaption there)
Sequels are often produced as a follow up to an excellent premier - these guys are just raking in money under false pretences - DON'T BUY IT (or even rent it)
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