The Mists of Avalon (2001) (TV)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Uli Edel

Writers (WGA):

Marion Zimmer Bradley (novel)
Gavin Scott (teleplay)

Release Date:

15 July 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

Passion. Mysticism. Adventure. Journey beyond the legend of Camelot.

Plot:

Based on the bestseller by Marion Zimmer Bradley It tells the story of the women behind King Arthur; including his mother...

Plot Keywords:

King Arthur | Arthurian Legend | Sister | Brother Sister Relationship | Incest

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Anjelica Huston	...	Vivianne
Julianna Margulies	...	Morgaine
Joan Allen	...	Morgause
Samantha Mathis	...	Gwenwyfar
Caroline Goodall	...	Igraine
Edward Atterton	...	Arthur
Michael Vartan	...	Lancelot
Michael Byrne	...	Merlin
Hans Matheson	...	Mordred
Mark Lewis Jones	...	Uther
Clive Russell	...	Gorlois
Tamsin Egerton	...	Young Morgaine
Christopher Fulford	...	Lot
David Calder	...	Uriens
Hugh Ross	...	Bishop Patricius

Also Known As:

Die Nebel von Avalon (Germany)

Runtime:

183 min | 60 min (3 episodes)

Country:

Czech Republic | Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Brazil:14 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Spain:13 | USA:Unrated | Malaysia:(Banned) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

Constantin Film Produktion

Trivia:

Last film role for Edward Jewesbury.

Goofs:

Continuity: When young Morgaine and young Arthur run away on horseback, it is obvious that the next two shots are a stuntwoman on the horse with the young boy in front of her in the saddle.

Quotes:

Lancelot: The King himself asked me into his bed, with the Queen.
Morgaine: All *three* of you?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#27.9)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

The Mystic's Dream

This could have been so good, if only...

If whomever was in charge of the script & casting had actually followed the original story, this could have been fantastic. Sadly, this is another story altogether and not one that made a lot of sense. Julianna Margulies is a great Morgaine, Ian Duncan as Accolon Michael was a almost perfect fit, Michael Byrne made a good Merlin, and Klára Issová was a convincing Raven; aside from these actors, everyone else seemed either horrid & prone to overacting, sorry Ms Houston, or just wrong. Edward Atterton and Michael Vartan did well with the script that was given, but didn't pull off the roles convincingly, in my opinion that is. They both did the wimpy male thing that MZB originally wrote well, so in that sense they were true to character.

Great Music, Cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond is AMAZING, the costumes by James Acheson & Carlo Poggioli were pretty fantastic and Julianna Margulies are the reasons I would give for watching this film. But if you, like me, were hoping for a version of the MZB book, don't bother. Again, this is a completely different story, and not the best one either.