Customer Reviews

Merlin

5 star:		(159)
4 star:		(54)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(108)

 

 

There is nothing on this disc, that was not already in the previous one.

Nothing except perhaps the Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Stereo sound, which in the previous appearance had been reduced to a simple 2.0 Channel Stereo sound.

The specials are the very same you had before.

The screen ratio remains the classic TV 1.33:1 ratio screen resolution, which can be "expanded" to Full Screen, but watching the actual filming of the movie in the Making of, I seemed to have recognized a Panaflex camera moving around, hence it could have been transferred either in 1.78:1 or even in a matted 1.85:1 screen ratio as well.

But perhaps they already lost that copy.

Anyway, the acting by everyone involved in this project is magnificent and involving. Sam Neill, Martin Short, Miranda Richardson and Helena Bonham-Carter, without forgetting brief appearances by Rutger Hauer and John Gielgud give their very best and seem to truly have fun playing their respective roles.

The story flows and grips you from the very first shot, to the very last, without ever becoming too obvious or boring.

The special effects for a TV Movie of that era (late Nineties) are exceptional and very well interwoven within the story, without ever becoming overbearing on the plot.

This is the true Family Movie everyone should have. It has fun moments, dramatic moments and even magical moments for everyone to enjoy.

If this movie had been made to be shown in movie theaters, I am sure it would have won an Oscar for best leading Actor (Sam Neill as Merlin) and also best supporting Actress (Miranda Richardson in her double role as Mab, Queen of the Old Ways and as the Lady of the Lake).

I can highly recommend it in the present format.

I missed this movie when it was on TV, and I totally regretted it. The next day at school, EVERYONE was talking about how great it is. I resolved to see it when it came out on video. When I did, I was totally blown away! I mean, the acting was spectacular *special kudos go out to Miranda Richardson for her fabulous job as Queen Mab, and Isabella Rosselini, for being an excellent Nimue*, the plot was excellently written, and the setting/costumes were fabulous! Some of you biased reviewers *you know who you are* insist that Merlin "doesn't measure up" to Excalibur and that it isn't "historically correct". Gimme a break! First of all, why does Merlin have to be compared to Excalibur? Why can't you people just enjoy it for what it is? Secondly, let me say this loud and clear: THE ARTHURIAN LEGENDS ARE NOT HISTORY! THEY ARE LEGENDS! THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG TELLING OF THEM! Now that I've said that, I hope that everyone reading this will take my thoughts into consideration. If you haven't seen this movie and you like tales of adventure, romance, and magic, I DEFINITELY recommend it.

I own several movies that tell the same tale in different ways, the tale of Merlin and King Arthur and Sir Lancelot. Of these the ones that have really stood out are "The Mists Of Avalon" , "Excalibur" and "Merlin". Of these 3 I must say that Merlin is my favorite. This is because the first 2 while wonderfully told and acted out, the endings were far from happy and feel good and more remeniscent of classic French movies with their tragic endings with only small glimmers of brightness. Merlin,however, is a fairy tale movie with a fairy tale ending..a happy one.. There is also quite a lot of humor and wit blended in this movie as well. If you enjoy movies that take place during the Arthurian time period then this is one you will want to add to your collection!

Those who are fans of the oft-repeated Arthurian legend and the way in which Merlin is commonly portrayed may find this adaptation fails to meet their expectations. However, before dismissing it out of hand, one might want to consider how little of Merlin's life is shown in the stories of Excalibur/Arthur and how one-dimensional his character usually is.

This miniseries seeks to show Merlin's story from conception to "retirement". The part he plays in Arthur's life is shown but only as one thread in the tapestry of Merlin's life. This miniseries is about why Merlin was born, who gave him his power, and what motivated him. It also portrays him as having more mortal interests than being mainly interested in magic and power. As a story, it's well-structured and offers much to an open-minded viewer. The motives of most of the characters are credible (even for a fairy tale) and even the central "bad guy" (Mab) has a good reason for all the things she does.

The story is built around a "war" between the beliefs of the old world based on the world of fairy and those who embrace the newer belief system of Christianity. Merlin is created as a tool of Mab, a powerful sorceress in the world of fairy, in her struggle to keep belief in her alive so that she may continue to exist.

While the basic premise may sound silly, it's only because the fictions of Mab, fairies, etc. are less well-known than the legend of Arthur (whose lady of the lake, sword in stone, dragon's breath, and powers of illusion are also pretty preposterous). The writers drew on existing lore for much of this miniseries just as the tales of Arthur do.

As for the cast, Miranda Richardson is extremely impressive as both Mab and the Lady of the Lake. Martin Short is nearly unrecognizable both as a gnome and a blond-haired blue-eyed suitor of Morgana le Fay. He's also both funny and capable of unexpected emotional depth in some rather painful scenes. Sam Neill is fine as Merlin but he always seems a little too calm in his roles in my opinion.

The special effects are really quite nicely done and there are many lovely scenes which add to a magical feel (especially Mab's cave and the look of the Lady of the Lake wearing little living fish as a necklace) but it's the story that really draws one in. You care about the characters and want them to live happily ever after and feel empathy for them when they suffer.

I'll be honest and say I was less impressed by this miniseries the first time I saw it than the second time. I found all the new elements very strange and hard to take in but the story stuck with me and I found I really wanted to see it again and enjoyed it much more the second time. This is a rare piece of entertainment which actually is better after you know how the story goes. There is a lot of subtlety and detail you only pick up on subsequent viewings.

If you're looking for a fairy tale with well-drawn characters and imaginative elements you haven't seen before, you will likely enjoy this miniseries. If you are a fan of the Gandalf-like, manipulative Merlin of Arthurian legend and seeking a retelling of his story in that mold, you will probably be disappointed.

I have been studying the Arthurian legends for well over 15 years, and guess what, folks? They're just that... legends. So all of the ranting about "historical" accuracy is a contradiction of terms. It seems people judged this movie more on their expectations and preconceived notions of Arthurian legends than having an open mind to Barron's interpretation. And will everyone please get over Helena Bonham Carter's leather outfit? I, for one, enjoyed it, and if most were honest, they did too. Everyone talks about how WONDERFUL Excalibur was, Boorman being a visionary, blah blah blah. Excalibur WAS a great film, but it annoyed the hell out of me as well. EXCALIBUR was designed for us who knew something about Camelot, because if you don't, you are lost and bored 10 minutes into it. And the most severe detriment to EXCALIBUR is Boorman's dumb decision to redub every damned line of dialogue. At times it comes off as cartoonish as the voice inflection sometimes is mismatched with what's going on on the screen. After reading all 140+ mostly negative reviews of MERLIN, it's time for me to add my own. This was an AWESOME version of the Arthurian legend, and showed some great elements of MANY works on Camelot, including the beautiful imagery of Marion Zimmer Bradley's MISTS OF AVALON, just to name one. Reading some reviews, I wonder if we saw the same movie? I know this will blow some narrow minds up out there, but Malory's MORTE D' ARTHUR is not the end all and be all of the legend. Expand your minds! Read as many versions as you can get your hands on! And stop blathering about historical accuracy, and enjoy Merlin for what it is: A great retelling, from the wizard's perspective, of the FAIRYTALE of Camelot. If you want historical accuracy, hit the encyclopedias and historical texts like THE MILITARY HISTORY OF KING ARTHUR, and you won't be so mystically enchanted with the character of Arthur, if he existed at all. And yes, there is still question to his and Camelot's existence, no matter how hard any researcher tries to tell you they've discovered EVERYTHING. There simply isn't enough evidence to give credence to even the consistencies OR generalities of the Camelot legend. It was creative people filling in the blanks that have given us the wonderful legends we have today, and I cherish them all.

It was refreshing that this MERLIN was a great version for the whole family, too, without being to childish and cookie cutter like in execution of its story. The VHS version is great for kids who have a short attention span (it leaves all the JUICY parts in), and the DVD version is great for us who love this story and the rich tapestry it weaves. The DVD has some great MAKING OF extra goodies, as well. We finally see Vortigern (Rutger Hauer) and Europe's early kings for the bastards they were, in this version, if you're still hung up on "history". The special effects were outstanding, but what captivated me was the telling of the story, and, contrary to those who profoundly proclaimed this version had no point and was aimless, MERLIN had an excellent moral that needs to be told again and again, no matter what age you are: even when you act in the best interest of something, whether it be a friend, a king or a an entire kingdom, you are still fallible and can make a tragic, costly mistake.

Enough said. Now go watch it with an open mind, and critics, get over yourselves... just have FUN, for God's sake, and put your movie checklist clipboard away for this one. Nicol Williamson was great as the mysterious supernatural Merlin in Excalibur, and Sam Neill is simply outstanding as the all-too-human MERLIN...

In an age when Hollywood (particularly--but not limited to--televised Hollywood)churns out script after script that was written in five minutes by a group of apparent hacks, this film excels for a number of reasons. We have before us an ambitious project, one that attempts to amalgamate a number of disparate Arthurian, medieval legends into a cohesive whole, and present it in a watchable three-hour film. A daunting task, but 'Merlin' succeeded with aplomb. It even dared to be so bold as to be ORIGINAL. 'Merlin' presented its own view of the myth: making our wizard a very human, regretful, yet approachable character; elevating the shadowy figure of the legendary Queen Mab to highlight the Paganism Vs. Christianity saga; brushing aside Lancelot and Guenivere as incidental adulterers(a fine dismissal, if you ask me, and a brave move); preserving the centrality of Arthur; emphasizing the threat of Mordred; making the love between Nimue and Merlin central to the tale. This film WAS, after all, entitled 'Merlin.' The script was fine in every facet; never brilliant, but never stilted, and imbued with RESPECT for the mood of mythology and the average viewer's sensibilities. It was thoroughly accessible and elegant, never degenerating into the triteness that disfigures so many films. The performances were very worthy, indeed, and never over-the-top. Sam Neill was quite competent as Merlin (nothing more), Miranda Richardson was spectacular as Mab (this is a real triumph, in a role that other actors could have easily turned into a piece of pure Hickory Farms Ham), Martin Short was an absolute joy and robbed of an Emmy for a marvelous performance as Frick...never muddying the character with slapstick or lack of grace, despite his costuming. Issabella Rosselini was a delight as Nimue. The effects were marvelous and appropriately scattered throughout the story. Cinematography was spell-binding and haunting in most cases. This was, all in all, a thoroughly enchanting venture in every way. For packing so much legend into three hours running time, the creators of 'Merlin' have done a job that will resonate with far more people than the equally fine (but dated) Excalibur ever shall. It seems that the peole bothered most by this film are purists who mistake their pre-conceived notions about Arthurian legend as being Biblically infallible tenets. The truth is, the seminal legends were notoriously complex and pliant, and there is really nothing technical or substantial to criticize about 'Merlin': not script, not cinematography, not perfomance, not effects. It is quality film-making in every fasion. Naysayers may wish to reconsider, or conjure up "a clue," as they say. Four Big Shooting Stars.

I was skeptical at first about the retelling of the Arthurian legends from Merlin's perspective. I am not a real Sam Neill fan either, so this movie had two strikes against it to start. Then I watched it. Whil some might think the special effects are cheesy, I found them to be at just the right level. Too many movies today go for the great special effects and forget the story. Merlin has a strong, human story that is not overwhelmed by the special effects and gives the viewer a full range of emotion.
I enjoyed how Arthur was seen as a pawn in a game of much higher stakes. I also enjoyed the way Morgan la Fey and Mordred were used. Merlin's perspective is well worth the time the movie takes to view. I most heartily recommend it to fans of knights in shining armor and people looking for an emotional film that does not try to cover a weak story with glitter.

I remember liking this when it first aired as a mini-series on NBC in 1998. My recent reading of The Mists of Avalon (and the inevitable compare/contrast-a-thon with the TNT mini-series version of that book) as well as a recent viewing of the 1981 Excalibur movie, prompted me to buy the DVD.

The Arthur legend in itself is a rich story filled with plot twists, intrigue, manipulation, deceit, religion and magic. And, in my limited experience with the legend, no two stories are exactly alike. The Merlin mini-series, told from the Wizard's point of view, is a very enjoyable version of the legend that keeps you interested.

The acting is mostly first-rate. I was particularly surprised and pleased by the performance of...Martin Short(!) as Queen Mab's sidekick, Frik. Frik appears in several guises throughout the film, each played with gusto. The only detractions were Morgan Le Fey's (Helena Bonham Carter's) forced lisp and Queen Mab's (Miranda Richardson's) scratchy voice. Was that part of the legend?

The writing was well done...way better than Excalibur (Excalibur's corny Arthur: "We shall all sit in a circle as equals...why, I shall build...a round table!" Merlin's less-corny Arthur: "Let this circle be a symbol that we are all equal."). Some parts were a bit slow, but the splash of humor here and there adds to the overall fun of the film.

The special effects are great because they are mostly subtle and don't upstage the actors or the story. I particularly liked the bits with Frik's turn-around-costume-changes.

Overall, this epic overview of the King Arthur legend is lots of fun...and family fun at that!

Of all of Hallmark's made for TV movies, I consider this as one of the best. Coming in at 3 hours in length, the movie tells the tale of Merlin and other characters of medieval England. The story starts with Merlin's literal and figurative conception within the mind of Queen Mab, and ends with him retiring from magic with his love Nimue. In between, we see the lives and deaths of King Arthur, Morgan le Fay, Mordred, Lord Vortigan and a host of other regal and not-so-regal characters.

This made for TV movie is impressive in numerous counts. First, the music is good but not overbearing. It complements the onscreen action and dialogue quite well. Second, the cinematography is beautiful, and captures the beauty of the English and Welsh countryside; remember, the Arthur legend is based in Wales.

Third, the dialogue is spot on. No snappy one-liners or overlong soliloquoys. Instead, the dialogue is realistic and true to real emotions that real people undergo. Fourth, the action scenes are quite realistic. The heroes do get killed in battle. Battle scenes are chaotic, and most importantly, war is a strenous exercise of human bodies. This is probably the only action movie I have seen where soldiers in combat actually pant for breath and heave their chests for air under the burden of heavy armor. Bravo for the realism. Fifth, the romance scenes are magical and beautiful but are not cheesy and do not show too much suckface. Last, the story is built around relationships, and shows the intricacies involved when humans of various goals, ethics, beliefs and backgrounds are forced to deal with one another in relationships that can alternate between adversarial to friendly.

Overall, a great movie appropriate for everyone. It is in the same lines as Lord of the Rings, Willow, etc...

There are three Hallmark mini-series that left a deep print on my heart. One of them is "Merlin", by Steve Barron (who already was a winner in my book after the hilarious "Coneheads"). The fact that it was made for TV may seem like a reason to underestimate this movie, but you'd be making a big mistake. "Merlin" is one of the greatest fantasy films ever made, and a worthy competitor for some of the genre's classics, like "Legend", "The Never-ending Story", or "Excalibur", its main influence.

"Merlin" tells the story of the most famous wizard of all, narrated trough the reigns of the first four Christian kings of England: Constant, Vortigern, Uther, and Arthur. Besides the obvious conflicts of men and their quest for power, there is another battle: this one between the new Christian religion and the Old Ways of Pagan magic, lead by Queen Mab. It is Mab who creates Merlin in an attempt to restore the power of magic to the world, but when her creation meets Nimue, the love of his life, he leaves it all behind in pursuit of his own dream: to find a good man who can heal the land, regardless of his religion. In the end, Merlin will find himself trapped between these two wars, and his human heart will be torn between the obligation he has towards his destiny and the possibility of getting away from it, seeking refuge in the arms of his true love.

Because of its 3-hour length, the move can really reach some substance with its characters. The cast is supreme, with 5-stars talents like Sam Neill, Isabella Rossellini, and Martin Short. All of them make their characters a treat. I specially love the character of Queen Mab, played by Miranda Richardson, who seems like a Pagan Mephistopheles, always whispering into people's ears. The special effects are beyond anything else I've ever seen for TV, and the director has some very interesting camera work, which gives this film an astonishing technical level, as well as great performances by the actors.

Now, for this edition, there are some features, but they're not all that great. They have a TV featurette, but it's so lame that you may want to skip it. I appreciate the bios and filmographies for the main stars, as well a the sort-of-history of the character Merlin. One thing bothered me, though: the DVD has an option for Spanish subtitles, but the translation is one of the worst I've ever seen in my life! Even I could have done better!

But this doesn't change my opinion for the movie. You should get it, because it surely is a jewel worthy of any decent fantasy collection.