Colibel Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

Tockinit not horrible nor great

Humbersi The first must-see film of the year.

Michelle Ridley The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

Mikael Eriksson This films is possibly the single greatest TV-film I've ever seen, and even by big screen stanards this movie is spectacular. First, there is the script. The script is splendid. It focuses not on Arthur, but on Merlin, which in this take is a far more interesting character in terms him being involved on and behind the scenes in Albion for a far longer time period, thus the length of the story is expanded and can cover more interesting points. The characters are generally well fleshed-out and feel very alive. Like in a typical GRRM-book, there isn't necessarily a knife sharp line between good and evil. While queen Mab might seem like a full-fledged witch, you can to some extent understand her desperate attempts to save the world of magic. Morgan le Fay simply seems immature and isn't comparable to the pure-evil Emperor Palpatine. The only real demonic characters are possibly Vortigern and Mordred. However, Merlin, Arthur and the knights are not the diametrical opposite of them. Many of the "good" characters shows flaws from time to time, emphasizing the complex and shifting nature of Man.Second, there are the actors. Sam Neil as Merlin does an outstanding job in conveying a lifetime of experiences as wizard who has seen it all and grown weary of it. Miranda Richardson brings a good mix of hectic and creepy (with her whispering voice) as the manipulative Queen Mab. Martin Short as Frik brings some cheerfulness to an otherwise serious film. Helena Bonham Carter is perfect in playing the spoiled brat.Third, the score. The music by Trevor Jones are simply a m a z i n g and gives the film a very epic touch. Fourth, the setting and the clothing. One particularly irritating aspects of other films based on the Arthurian legends is that they tend to sport late-medieval armor and weapons in an era that is supposed to be 400-500 A.D. This film on the other hand sports leather armor and roman-looking cuirasses. While not 100% historically correct it sure makes you feel a lot more like you are watching the Romano-British era compared to when you see the Gothic armor of other films. There is also the magic – it never feels like "too much". While there are magical creatures a plenty, the magic doesn't overtake the dark age setting. The magic feels more subtle.To summarize, the film is a must watch if you have any sort of interests in epic-, historic- or fanasy films. Ten out of ten.

Harmonee-831 I definitely have this in a movie format.. Was it really a miniseries on TV? Where would you split it up?I like it better as a movie, personally. It all flows nicely and it'd be too short for a miniseries anyway. I actually had a heck of a time trying to find it on Netflix and Hulu and others mostly because I couldn't find it as a movie (couldn't find it at all, actually.)Does anyone know where it went from TV to movie and where I can find a copy of it? Otherwise, I thought this was a great movie. Showed things from a different point of view for the story of King Arthur and that era. I recommend.

runamokprods I'm shocked to say I found this 3 hour TV mini-series more entertaining, more human, and more emotional, than almost all the huge sword and sorcery epic features of late (Lord of the Rings, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, etc.). By staying closely to the legend of Merlin and King Arthur, and putting character first and effects and battles scenes 2nd (though there are plenty of both) I felt I understood the story of King Arthur for the first time. I was very caught up and rarely bored, and even quite moved by a fairy-tale which has a happy ending tinged with bitterness and loss. The cast is generally first rate with Sam Neil, Martin Short and Miranda Richardson all doing excellent work. This felt true to the spirit of stories that are not just about good people winning, but also about loss, grief and moral compromise.

AnotherSideToYou A slow beginning, but a great movie all in all. In the beginning, I found myself wondering why I rented this movie in the first place. It seemed like one of those tired films that was randomly produced for television (and wastefully so). However, as the movie progresses, it becomes more entertaining. There are several subplots, as well as the overall plot, and it is wonderful to try to keep up with everything. My personal favorite subplot was that between Frik and Morgan. Truth be told, by the end of Morgan's appearance, I found myself crying. However, I was glad to see that there was a happy ending after all.Despite the slow beginning, this is a very good movie, and not just another fantasy movie at all. A must see!