Earthsea (2004) (TV)

Director:

Robert Lieberman

Writers (WGA):

Ursula K. Le Guin (novels)
Gavin Scott (teleplay)

Release Date:

13 December 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Drama | Adventure

Plot:

A reckless youth is destined to become the greatest sorcerer that the mystical land of Earthsea has ever known...

Plot Keywords:

Island | Wizard | Dragon | Amulet | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 7 wins & 6 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Dec. 1	10:00 AM	SYFY
Tue. Dec. 1	12:00 PM	SYFY

Cast

Shawn Ashmore	...	Ged
Kristin Kreuk	...	Tenar
Isabella Rossellini	...	High Priestess Thar
Danny Glover	...	Ogion
Sebastian Roché	...	King Tygath
Chris Gauthier	...	Vetch (as Christopher Gauthier)
Jennifer Calvert	...	Kossil
Emily Hampshire	...	Rosa
Mark Hildreth	...	Jasper
Alan Scarfe	...	Archmagus
Alessandro Juliani	...	Skiorch
Erin Karpluk	...	Diana
Dave 'Squatch' Ward	...	Dunain (as David Ward)
Mark Acheson	...	Gebbeth
John Tench	...	General Doar

Also Known As:

Legend of Earthsea (USA) (promotional title)

Runtime:

90 min (2 parts)

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:M | UK:12 | Finland:K-11

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Hallmark Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: Shortly after Ged and Oigon turn their backs to the goat, the crystal from Oigon's staff falls to the ground. After the cut, the crystal is back.

Quotes:

Tenar: So this is our destiny?
Ged: If not us, then who?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#34.9)" (2005)

So, so disappointing!

Two-thirds through last night's show--the first half of EARTHSEA--I muttered to my wife, "This is so bad." She said, "So tomorrow you'll be at the computer typing up your gripes to someone." I looked at her indignantly and said something like, "Ah, why waste my time?" Of course, she was right, so here I am. An Earthsea adaptation is long overdue; I'm just so sad that it was done so shabbily, with such an eye (apparently) toward anticipating what the unimaginative masses would like to see, as opposed to the rich, subtle, mystical world that Ursula Le Guin so beautifully created in her great Earthsea novels. I don't have the heart (or time) to break the mini-series down, bit by bit, to show what's wrong with it. Let's just say that the screenwriters, producers, and director insisted on reshaping a great work of popular art into a cookie cutter shape, substituting clichés for subtleties and an "epic" (read Lord of the Rings) war story for what should have been a personal struggle with good/evil. Worst, I suspect that in Part II, tonight, we're all gonna see Ged, whose little cheek scar only adds to his overall "hotness," smooching a princess (the SMALLVILLE babe). This thing is almost as bland as last month's elections. Mr and Ms. Producers, either do Le Guin justice and tell the story right or don't bother!