Merlin (1998, miniseries) - Theatrics and bad styles rule in never-ending turkey

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Star Sam Neill looks determined at us ensconced in smoke and co-stars on this poster for Steve Barron's Merlin

The English legend of Merlin the wizard, his love, Nimue, sir Lancelot, Camelot, queen Mab and the Lady of the Lake are explored.

 

Merlin is written by Peter Barnes (The Professionals (1960)) and David Stevens (Homicide (1972-76)), with Edward Khmara (Dragon (1993)) contributing story elements, and directed by Steve Barron (Electric Dreams (1984)). This review is based on the video release of the film in the form of one epic-length film.

The length is inexorable, and the impressive cast cannot salvage this folk lore botch-up. Theatrical overacting and childlike hysterics is the general rule in the performances: Sam Neill (Alcatraz (2012, TV-series)) does pretty well in the title role but is regrettably outfitted to resemble an utter moron. Miranda Richardson (Fred Claus (2007)) is dressed as a 1990s goth version of a witch; she fights Martin Short (A Simple Wish (1997)) as a gnome and Helena Bonham Carter (Live from Baghdad (2002, TV movie)) in the contest of who looks dumbest in Merlin.

The effects are mostly failures, (the speaking rock being an exception.) The photography of this hideous jumble is horrid and over-lit, entirely without vision. All things being equal though, one can't rob Merlin of having a certain enthusiasm about its own narrative.

 

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1998 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

 

 

Watch a trailer for the miniseries here

 

Cost: 30 mil. $

Box office: None - TV miniseries

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[Merlin premiered 26 April (US and Canada) and runs 182 minutes over the course of 3 episodes. Shooting took place in Wales and England from October 1997 - February 1998. It aired on NBC and achieved record ratings with viewership of estimated 70 mil. people. It won 4/15 Primetime Emmy nominations and was nominated for 4 Golden Globes among other honors. Hallmark Entertainment followed up with miniseries Merlin's Apprentice (2006) with returning Neill and Richardson. Barron returned with Arabian Nights (2000, miniseries) and theatrically with Rat (2000). Neill returned in The Horse Whisperer (1998). 21k IMDb users have given Merlin a 7.1/10 average rating.]

 

What do you think of Merlin? 

Alice in Wonderland (1999, TV movie) - Adults may want to locate the exit for this one

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A star-flashing poster for Nick Willing's star-studded TV movie, Alice in Wonderland

Adolescent Alice gets lost in her large garden and falls down a rabbit hole, encountering several incredible creatures.

 

Nick Willing's (Jason and the Argonauts (2000), TV movie) UK/German/US co-production of Lewis Carroll's (A Tangled Tale (1885)) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking Glass (1871) is possibly a very successful children's movie, - but for an adult person, it is more like a two and a half hour desert walk. It is written by Peter Barnes (Breakout (1959))
Particularly the sequences with Miranda Richardson (Southland Tales (2006)) as the screaming queen are headache-inflicting. Among many other oddities is a long scene in which Gene Wilder (The Producers (1967)) is dressed as a turtle.
The effects are, - although the film won four Primetime Emmys for them, - uneven and often old-fashioned to look at now.
This version of Carroll's classic novels is a weird film that I don't really understand. I was attracted to it by its impressive ensemble cast, which also includes Peter Ustinov (Death on the Nile (1978)), Christopher Lloyd (InSight (2011)), Martin Short (Clifford (1994)), Ben Kingsley (Three Cards (2010)) and Whoopi Goldberg (Showboy (2002)), but they ultimately cannot pull up this stale adaptation.
Carroll's underlying story of performance anxiety is, however, still a great one, but perhaps we had better read the novel, especially if the alternative is to watch this film.
Alice is played by Tina Majorino (Veronica Mars (2014)), who subsequently left acting on screens for five years.

 

Related post:

 

1999 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 
 

 

Watch  a 13-minutes behind the scenes feature here

Cost: 21 mil. $

Box office: None (TV movie)

= Uncertain

[Alice in Wonderland premiered 28 February (NBC) and runs 129 minutes. Shooting took place in England and Los Angeles from August - October 1998. In the US the film reached 25.34 mil. viewers at its first airing, becoming the week's most-viewed item. It won 4/6 Primetime Emmy nominations. Willing returned with 2 episodes of Jason and the Argonauts (2000, miniseries). Majorino returned in Napoleon Dynamite (2004). 10,000+ Rotten Tomatoes users have given Alice in Wonderland a 3.6/5 average rating.]

 

What do you think of Alice in Wonderland?