SNMR 4.13: "The Mists of Avalon"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "The Mists of Avalon" (2001, NR, 183 minutes), starring Juliana Margulies, Anjelica Huston, Joan Allen, Michael Vartan, Samantha Mathis, Edward Atterton, Hans Matheson and Caroline Goodall. The made for television miniseries was directed by Uli Edel.

I had taped this miniseries when it originally aired on TNT in 2001 but never got around to watching it. Then, having lost the VHS tape, I saw the DVD version in the bargain rack at the store about four years ago and couldn't resist buying it, especially because the film was released in WIDESCREEN format on the DVD. Strangely, I never got around to watching it until this week. I'd seen the novel in the bookstore and had always wanted to read it, too but never did.

PLOT SUMMARY: Based on the novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley, this is the accounting of the Arthurian Legend, told from the female perspective of Morgaine (Margulies), elder brother of Arthur Pendragon (Atterton). The tale involves the intrigues of Vivienne, the Lady of the Lake (Huston), Morgause (Allen), Igraine (Goodall) and the love triangle between Arthur, Lancelot (Vartan) and Gwenwyfar (Mathis).

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS MOVIE: I thought this was an interesting and overlooked aspect of the King Arthur legends. The script is good and seems to stay focused for the most part, though I don't know how far it strays from the novel. Production values are excellent, and the casting is top notch. The length of the film is decent for a one sitting viewing, considering it probably aired originally over two nights with lots of commercials.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THIS MOVIE: With Arthurian Legend, there is always more of the intrigue that can be told. It would have been nice to know a little bit more background on why the mysterious incestuous sexual encounter between brother and sister that produces Mordred (Matheson) is necessary. We see Lancelot's marriage but there is no background to it and nothing further is offered.

***1/2 out of *****