Customer Reviews

Merlin of the Crystal Cave [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This BBC film closely follows Mary Stewart's novel The Crystal Cave. It captures the feelings of the people that lived in this time period. It accurately shows the architecture and landscape of the 400's AD Wales. Merlin's childhood is illuminated and vividly described. The film illustrates Merlin's learning with his teacher Galapas, The film shows how he used his knowledge and unique power to rebuild the Giant's Dance as a monument to his father, a new interpretation of how Stonehenge was built. Merlin's relationship with his father is very believable. The characters of Ambrosius and Uther Pendragon are very strong and fit the time and situation. Historical figures such as King Vortigern are illustrated extremely well. The Roman, Christian, and Pagan beliefs are mixed into the story and offer some variety to the film's plot. One thing to watch for though is that the Roman and Christian religion's are well represented while the pagan is brought down. This might be a prejudice of the filmmakers. If there were ever any doubts in your mind that Merlin really existed then this film will help put them to rest.

Originally a series for young adults from the BBC, based on the novel 'The Crystal cave' by Mary Stewart. Young Merlin, or Emrys, is a cast-out due to his illegitimate birth. Growing up in solitude, he aqcuires great knowledge through the hermit Galapas. When he is kidnapped he accidentally lands with his real father, after which his role in the shaping of the kingdom of Arthur can start. A great movie, though I liked the series just that little bit better. Though the story itself is not a historical one, the makers of the series have gone to great lenghts to get very near to a Dark Ages setting. A pity the other three books werent's put to celluloid as well.

I know that this should be a review specifically about the movie but I don't think that is completely possible when reviewing a movie based on a book. This is especially true when the book is one of my favorite books as is the case with the novel The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart.

The novel is a very introspective affair that is very narrative in execution with a great deal of time spent on emotions and self examination by the main character (Merlin). I give the movie credit as it does attempt to capture the same feeling and emotion. The problem is, in my opinion, that the movie attempts to do this by narrating and exploring the story in the same manner as the book. In my view this does not work. What works for a book does not work for a movie. An intriguing and engrossing novel becomes a boring movie.

The movie itself had decent acting and a low budget. I wasn't really bothered by the low budget but the pacing was a problem for me.

If you are a fan of the book this is worth a try. Other reviewers obviously saw something that I did not so perhaps you will enjoy it more then I did.

This film is a sad disappointment in its banal rendition of the exquisitely sensitive and so very well researched novel by Mary Stewart. Read the book once - or twice - and judge for yourself.

Got a shipping notification the day of ordering, and it arrived the first expected day of delivery.

Would definitely order again!