Product Description: The king is dead long live the king but who will it be? the answer is found on the battlefields and in the mystical and powerful manipulations of fate emanating from the women of the legendary isle of avalon in this intrigue-filled retelling of the king arthur/camelot legend. Studio: Turner Hm Entertainm Release Date: 09/07/2004 Starring: Anjelica Huston Joan Allen Run time: 180 minutes Rating: Nr
Amazon.com: 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
5 star movie ^ I remember this movie coming out before I went to 11th grade. I was really looking forward to it. This movie is amazing. I had forgotten it until I ran across it while skimming through Amazon. 9 years later, I have the DVD. This movie is full of adventures, conspiracies, magic, religious battles between the "Old Way" and Christianity.
At one point, the future King Arthur is in a burning building with his dying father. He father dies, then he calls on the Goddess of the Earth and the God of the Heavens. His sister, Morgaine, had told him as a child that he could serve both higher powers. Well, when he asked for assistance to save his life, it's very telling of "which" higher power answered. If you've never seen this movie, you might be quite surprised. It is certainly something worth starting a discussion over. Great purchase. I'm thinking of making the Merlin movie (if I can find it)a part of my King Arthur collection: this movie, Excalibur, and Merlin.
Not The Mists of Avalon ^ Let me start by saying, I like this film but only on it's own. It's NOT the book - not by a long shot - and I'm surprised they were even able to call it "The Mists of Avalon." So many flaws! Where to start! Viviane killed by the wrong person entirely. Igraine alive when she should be dead. Actually, Morgaine hated Arthur when they were little. No Kevin the Bard. No Nimue. No faeries (the book has faeries). No mention of dragons. No mention of Atlantis. No magical sheath. No giants. Handles Christianity with kid gloves. And not enough sex.
Look, I'll make this simple for you. What more could a movie ask for?! WAR. SEX. VIOLENCE. SEX. LUST. VIOLENCE. MAGIC. SEX. PAGANISM VS. CHRISTIANITY. VIOLENCE. CAMELOT. SEX. AVALON. VIOLENCE. DRAGONS. SEX. GIANTS. VIOLENCE. FAERIES. SEX. ATLANTIS. AND SEX. Oh... and spirituality. Oh... and personal struggles. Oh... and women rock. Who couldn't sell that movie!?!?!?!
Is that the movie they made? No. Absolutely not. THAT movie wouldn't have to be made for TV. And since The Mists of Avalon is a HUGE work, you could easily make an attention-grabbing trilogy out of it on the scale of The Lord of the Rings. I'm still waiting for THAT movie. The problem is that so much of the casting for THIS movie was well done. All of the main female characters were perfectly cast (IF! you ignore the changing or ignoring of the characters ages), even if poorly directed with a crap script. Uther and Accolon were also very well cast though not given enough attention in my opinion. And... you will never get that cast again in another version. I adore Anjelica Huston but she's just too old to play Viviane again. Even Julianna Margulies couldn't reprise her role as Morgaine.
This movie is basically only useful when you're craving a certain mood/theme because it's hard to get anywhere else. Like it or not, Pagans are the fastest growing religious group in the country and we want good films that aren't just fantasy but really speak to a Pagan's soul. Maybe someone smart will make a proper version of this film some day. Until then, read the book. You'll be glad you did.
I fell in love with this movie couple of years ago but i could never remember the title and for many years I look under the curse of the avalon and I never found the movie until I went to the internet and sow the face of the lady who long played the movie the Adams Family and I told my roomate this is the movie I was very exited and I wanted to buy it right of way and when I went to the Amazon.com for movies I right of way order it.
Thanks for the selection you guys offer to us and make it possible to us for our collection of movies
I am one happy customer that I will buy more as soon I get back my overtime from work.
Thank Jayleen Gilstrap
A Thinker ^ This movie portrayed, at least for me, Arthur in a new light. It is a great story from beginning to end. And the ending really gives you something to think about ... Really worth owning to watch as often as you like and to introduce your friends to the story.
A GEM OF A DVD ^ I RECEIVED MY DVD IN A TIMELY MANNER. IT WAS IN PERFECT SHAPE AND OF GOOD QUALITY VIDEO. I HAVE ENJOYED IT OVER AND OVER. I WILL CONTINUE TO ORDER MY DVD FROM AMAZON BECAUSE OF QUALTIY AND PRICE.
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