Earthsea [DVD] [2005] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

I feel that this film has been unfairly criticised because of the fact that it differs so significantly from the source material. However, I found this to count in the film's favour. In general, when I have read a book, and especially if I've enjoyed it, I feel that a film adaptation should, or MUST, differ significantly from the book. Why? Because if it doesn't, then the film is completely redundant and serves no purpose whatsoever. I feel that if and when I want to go through the same plot, with the same characters, I'll simply read the book again.

If you are a die-hard Le Guin fan who wants to see a faithful adaptation of the story that you love, then you should give this movie a miss. It will not only disappoint you, but probably ENRAGE you. However, if you are a fantasy movie fan who has not read the books, then this should be on your wishlist as you will probably enjoy it thoroughly. You will probably also enjoy this film if you have read the books and either didn't love them, or don't mind a significant departure from the original works.

As a made-for-TV miniseries, Earthsea is very well produced and highly enjoyable. The acting for the most part is good. Shawn Ashmore, Kristin Kreuk and Danny Glover all give commendable performances. A few minor characters were played by somewhat sub-par actors (especially Ged's father, who was almost intolerably bad), but this seems to have been resolved by the middle of the film. In terms of plot and character, the writing was as good as that of similar productions such as the Hallmark fantasy mini-series. I found myself drawn to the characters and really cared for them. I also found the plot to be thrilling, exciting and fast-paced. However, in the earlier parts of the film, some of the dialogue (but luckily not too much) tended towards being a bit clumsy and goofy.

The cinematography, art-design, costumes and other visuals are consistently excellent. The special effects are among the best to be seen on TV, except for one or two instances (the dragon could have been a bit more "polished"). The producers did an amazing job of creating an enthralling fantasy setting in which you could completely lose yourself for three hours.

Technically and artistically, as an independent and free-standing work, this film is quite good indeed. But as an adaptation of the novels, opinions will differ.

I read the Earthsea novels a few years ago and re-read them about a month before watching this film. I did enjoy the books, but they are not among my favourite fantasy novels of all time. I know that some of the other reviewers will want to crucify me for saying this, but I think that the novels did have a few flaws which the film did to a large extent compensate for. (Please remember that this is just my personal review and is not intended to offend or initiate debate).

What I did not enjoy about the novels was that the plots were very linear and simplistic, a typical A to B to C to D progression, without any significant subplots like the interwoven threads that you would find in books such as Lord of the Rings. Also, each novel tended to tell a completely independent story, largely unaffected by the events of the novel(s) before it.

This film is based on the first two novels. While these books told completely separate and independent stories, the film threads the two plots (and a third, original one) together into a single but complex tale. The execution of this was ingenious and very well done.

Another thing to remember about the books, especially the first two, was that a GREAT deal of the actual plots consisted of Ged and Tenar's internal conflicts and developments. This would have been impossible to adequately adapt into a film. That is why I am glad that the producers of the film re-wrote the plots so drastically. If they had tried to create a faithful adaptation, there would have been too many crucial elements that could simply not be filmed, and the result would have been an extremely dull and boring mini-series (which this is most certainly not).

Yes, there were a lot of colourful details from the books which were either excluded from the film or unnecessarily changed, but very few of them are crucial to either the plot or the characters. The "switching around" of Ged's two names in the film were, in my opinion, an inspired move as, within the context of the film, it simply worked better. Secondly, in the first two books at least, the fact that most of the characters were dark-skinned (and the enemies light-skinned) was an interesting detail but nothing more - it had zero significance to either the plot or the actual character profiles. So the change in the film was inconsequential and did not in my opinion take anything away from the story.

I have watched this DVD twice now and have yet to get bored with it. No, it is by no means brilliant, and is not destined for "classic" status, but is well worth the price of the DVD and a treat to watch. When I bought this I wanted a rich, exciting and enthralling fantasy movie, and that is precisely what I got.

The first Earthsea book is about self discovery not a buddy boat trip that featured here, and the second story is about escaping from oppressive evil religion, not a quasi convent protecting the world from evil. This miniseries totally misses the point of both books. It also seems to have missed the basics of the plot, like making Ged the secret name the use name, and

One of the miniseries few saving graces is the wonderfully over the top portrayal of King Tygath by Sebastian Roché, think Alan Rickman in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. Apart from Roché seldom have so many talented actors performed so badly at once. Shawn Ashmore is totally miscast, Kristin Kreuk seems only to do sweet and puzzled, Isabella Rossellini seems to be only in it for the money and Danny Glover thinks he's Gandalf when he isn't.

The CGI is strange. It is not very good dealing with the big things yet certain small things are well done.

This is truly dire and after seeing how well the same team did two Dune miniseries it is even more so.

I was hoping for a true reflection of the books, but this is not the case. No doubt the true die hard fans of Ursula Le Guin will be up in arms at this, but I don't think it sets itself out to do that. However, I thought that the acting, effects and the overall story line was pretty decent. It certainly made a wet February Sunday afternoon go quite quickly!

However, the story as portrayed by the film, is not as good as the original books. Quite why they decided to change the story is beyond me, and the scope is still there to do it. I just hope that someone gets round to doing it soon!!