I was in Best Buy the other day and happened to see "Merlin's Apprentice" in the new arrivals section. I was excited to see that a sequel was done with Sam Neill and Miranda Richardson reprising their roles. I bought the DVD and hurried home to watch it, only to be truly disappointed. All the "magic" of the first one is missing in this unworthy "sequel". The budget on this one was obviously far less than the first and it shows.
Sam Neill and Miranda Richardson seem to sleepwalk through the movie, leaving me to be believe they must have been under some kind of contractual obligation to do this film. If you watch the "making of" video in the Bonus Feature section of the DVD, Sam makes every effort to warn people off, if you read between the lines. Miranda only plays the Lady of the Lake in this film, but she looks more like Queen Mab, a confusing departure from the original. Her interview is equally apologetic in tone.
If I do my very best to forget the first film, I can see that this one has some value. John Reardon's performance as Jack was somewhat endearing; although, I believe it was his own charisma and not the lines he was given. Jennifer Calvert as Mistress Deborah, has a natural way of making you realize she is a "villain" long before the story reveals it. Although her role in "Earthsea" was a much better display of her talents. The Canadian wilderness scenery is quite breathtaking, but hardly believable as England.
At any rate, I gave this movie 4 stars. I'm not advising people to avoid it (misery loves company, after all), but be warned that this is not a sequel!
Sam Neill and Miranda Richardson seem to sleepwalk through the movie, leaving me to be believe they must have been under some kind of contractual obligation to do this film. If you watch the "making of" video in the Bonus Feature section of the DVD, Sam makes every effort to warn people off, if you read between the lines. Miranda only plays the Lady of the Lake in this film, but she looks more like Queen Mab, a confusing departure from the original. Her interview is equally apologetic in tone.
If I do my very best to forget the first film, I can see that this one has some value. John Reardon's performance as Jack was somewhat endearing; although, I believe it was his own charisma and not the lines he was given. Jennifer Calvert as Mistress Deborah, has a natural way of making you realize she is a "villain" long before the story reveals it. Although her role in "Earthsea" was a much better display of her talents. The Canadian wilderness scenery is quite breathtaking, but hardly believable as England.
At any rate, I gave this movie 4 stars. I'm not advising people to avoid it (misery loves company, after all), but be warned that this is not a sequel!