MovieChat Forums > Merlin (1998) Discussion > What Makes this movie awesomely great?

What Makes this movie awesomely great?

posted 19 years ago by CoIn-OpErAtEd-BoY
10 replies | jump to latest

I'll go out on a limb here and say this was one fo ym favourite tv movies to date (and that's before i've seen the sequel). Yes it is long but that is because it holds a great deal of interesting and traditional Arthurian Legends. I hate how most Arthurian movies are about, well, Arthur. This movie had a brilliant sense of time, and the way in which it presented the rise and fall of feudal systems and how Merlin was HUMAN, and did NOT know it all. I think it had some wonderful gentle parts in this movie, espeicially between Merlin and Nimue, and the characters of both seem alot more vivid and delicate than they have been shown before. It's very easy to disregard human emotion with special effect magic i think, but it avoided it brilliantly.

And how about those Special effects! For 1998 the freezeframe magic scenes, the dragon and even the makeup put this tv movie in another league.

And not forgetting the cameos! Look at the cast list, and even half way down there are still names (both english and american) actors that leap out at you. The fact they have Ingrid Bergman's daughter in it should be screaming something at you! And i'd personally like to mention the beautiful Jeremy Sheffield, Rutger Hauer and Helena Bonham Carter as actors that add alot of beauty, and weight to it! (ok maybe not Jeremy Sheffield, it's just coz he's pretty).

All in all, while my video machine records Merlin's Apprentice i am rmeinded of this brilliant film, and how at the cynical age of 12 i was still completely enthralled by this movie. A MUST SEE.

x

[–] seepyou 19 years ago

If you are realy 12 and you are realy writing this on your own, then I cannot wait to see what you will write about when you grow up...

The world needs 12y olds that think and write like you. Hope you wont let it down.

[–] CoIn-OpErAtEd-BoY 19 years ago

Psssht in 1998 i was 12! Although my typing and spelling may suggest such an age :D
x

[–] BeatPoet1972 19 years ago

I cannot but agree:) When I first saw this movie, buying it on a whim, I was stunned and blown back by the quality of the storytelling.. And I still am, to be brutally honest.

You seldom find such great craft when it comes to moviemaking anymore.

[–] pdarbythedude 18 years ago

stop talking like a moron. what ur tryin 2 say is not many ppl kno how 2 make a decent film.

[–] universe56 18 years ago

This film has such great effect through the actors. Miranda Richardson is just perfect as Mim, Sam Neill is perfect as Merlin. The little details like the lady in the lakes fish necklace which symbolizes life. The undying James Earl Jones rock god. You feel like you're there, you want to know what's going to happen next. this movie has action, suspense, horror, love, it has everything and they do it very well. JMHO though, just remember that movies are subjectively interpreted and people will disagree about what movie is good or bad but the only opinion that matters is your own.

[–] doctawho42 18 years ago

I saw this movie when I was 7 and now at 13 I am completely in love with everyone in the movie. Ive followed all of the actors and actresses careers and i would have to say that its one of my favorite movies of all time. Its played such a big part in my life, ive been called a tom-boy, freak, weirdo because i love magic and sword fighting and those kind of things.The effects are laughable now, but back them i was completely engrossed and diddent question the authenticity of anything, most of all the dragons of which i was completely freaked out by. Sam Neil is one cool frood.

[–] pilsburry 18 years ago

The cast makes it awesome. With lesser actors, this film would be terrible. But the actors are all brilliant, so the film is engrossing.
But I must say the clincher for me is Miranda Richardson.

I'm watching it now in fact. I can't help but say that when Arthur is talking to Merlin on the road and says, "Camelot...Camelot..." I'm terribly tempted to reply, "It's only a model!"

[–] sintancos_empress 18 years ago

Yep, and then Merlin and all the knights start singing "Knights of the Round Table".

*is slightly too busy laughing to reply further*

Oh yes, I also agree about Miranda Richardson. She makes the film.

Try not to panic. Just think of it as landing a little more vertically than usual

[–] verucablack 18 years ago

dresden dolls nice title, but my actual point was what about Mordred? Jason DOne was *beep* awesome a mordred but he doesnt really get any credit...

[–] solman_66 18 years ago

There are so many things that make it great, but the biggest one to me is one that is SO lacking in film (and in life, in general) over the past 25 years...genuine emotional depth. Strip that out and it just becomes another melodrama with decent special-effects.

It contains an internal longing that we can all relate to...that includes a simplicity of life that now escapes us...but a life that we all inherently KNOW we should be striving to return to.