Bird's Product Review Log

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Merlin (1998)[TV] SAM NEILL
(This review is in progress REVISION 2 to be completed shortly -8/05)
How do you make a compelling story out of the full life of a single beloved character? Merlin has become so entertwined with the stories of King Arthur's court. What of his orgins, his loves and losses, even faults? While imbued with loftier intellect and startling special effects for television (not a surprise, really, being a Hallmark Hall of Fame production), Merlin is carried more by the acting and the scope of the story than anything else.

Foremost, make him both human and mystical. Then, you make him a pawn. But dramatically, you give him a spirit that will accept neither. The first look you get at young Merlin (DANIEL BROCKLEBANK), you think, " That young man's face is an excellent match to Sam Neill's (I love those kind of movie afficiando moments that don't draw me too much out of the production)

For myself, the story takes on more heart once Sam Neill is present and his troubles with Vortigern (RUTGER HAUER)and decisions about Nimue (ISABELLA ROSSELINNI) surface. Merlin is older and wiser, yet like any man he is still young enough to be unsure of himself. Seeking one of the old powers, The Lady of the Lake (), Merlin is given Excalibur to bring down the villian. MARTIN SHORT has an excellent role in this production - he could just be the flunky of

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