Merlin and the War of the Dragons

Merlin and the War of the Dragons-480P

Merlin and the War of the Dragons-480P

I find it hard to believe this movie was made in 2008. It has horrible acting, and even worse special effects. The graphics were terrible. It was a decent story-line if you want to go along with the myth behind the Arthur story rather than the historical record we see in the 2004 movie King Arthur. Granted, there is the typical myth behind Arthur with Merlin "the wizard" and the Lady of the Lake, but I think that the actual historical Arthur is a better story than the myth, because it actually happened, rather than making up a bunch of things to embellish it. Anyway, the story was OK, but the scenes especially with the dragons were ridiculous. I could photoshop a dragon that looks more realistic than those did. And why wasn't there any blood on their swords when they killed people? The costumes need a lot of work as well.

I really don't understand what people see in this production, my wife watches it religiously, and I have seen several episodes, but never at any point have I reached the point where my disbelief is suspended. How can anyone reconcile this low budget, poorly written, show with the Legend of Arthur, nothing is big enough, nobody is heroic enough. I can't lose the feeling that I'm watching inexperienced actors trying to fill boots way bigger than they are. I love the Arthurian legends, I've read Mallory and many others since, but this is like watching a college production, just doesn't do it justice in my opinion. I do understand that it's a low budget production, but surely that allows for a little bit of more impressive scenery? the closed shots suggest it's filmed in some council estate woods, open up show us some of the awe of the Welsh mountains and forests.

This movie was disappointing in every aspect. Everything is just "low budget". The story is too simple. The special effects are outdated (to be polite). The "big battle" consists of ten people. (Ask Monty Python how to make a cheap good looking battle scene) There seems to be no blood in this great Britain. (Is blood really that expensive ?) Everything is clean all the time. (Is dirt really that expensive ?) Excalibur is a copy of the sword of Gandalf. (You could get a copy of Excalibur for 300$) Most events you don't see. You only see the actors watching it. (Maybe better than more cheap special effects)

Likes : * The CGI dragons are great - very mythical and more appropriate than a more Hollywood/Spielberg style would have been * The location - totally fitting moody Welsh landscapes * Some of the acting was good * The music was a bit overblown but quite professional Dislikes : * The acting direction was non-existent so despite the individual actors doing a reasonable job there was no sense of interaction or timing. * The camera work was atrocious. Most of the film is shot in close up with occasional distant shots where you cant actually see whats going on. Ironically although most shots are static (i.e. no dolly or tracking)the degree of camera shake tells you its hand held. * Editing was poor and uninspired. Some of the conversational sequences were obviously pieced together from shots taken at different times. Even low budget films can be successful if well directed - this one unfortunately wasn't. There are so many bizarre mistakes - hand held cameras that don't actually move; gorgeous open Welsh landscapes that you cant see because the camera work is too tight, good enthusiastic actors that end up sounding like a school play through lack of direction.

This movie was pretty bad. The best thing that it has going for it is the scenery. The acting is horrible with few exceptions, the special effects are VERY bad, almost like there was no effort put forth. Merlins character looks like McLovin from Superbad, and the antagonist looks like someone who got beat up everyday in high school. I don't remember his name, but one of the warriors gives a really cheesy motivational speech to his army of 15 people that was ripped off from braveheart. The massive armies that are battling it out are comprised of about 30 ugly actors and occasionally some poor CG. Half of the actors couldn't control there horses. I wouldn't recommend watching this movie. Sorry of my review is a little disjointed.

This Movie is pretty bad, to begin with something, the framing of the entire movie doesn't go anywhere beyond CU. The SFX are OK for a low budget, but an army of 30 ugly men is not.... Most of the costumes where a little off. One of the warriors didn't know how to wear his own helmet! But one of the worst thing if not the worst part is that the sword "Exalibur" is a rip off of Glamdring, Gandalf's Sword. If you are going or make a movie with low budget and bad acting, at least try to be original with Props.... I strongly recommend to see this movie as an example of how a movie shouldn't be made. It had a good cover in the DVD which made me think it would be worth it, however after the first 10 minutes I decided to finish the movie just for the fun of it, since I wasn't going to get anything out of it, by the time they showed "Excalibur" I was totally off... Watching this movie to the very end (out of respect more than anything else) was a huge pain. You couldn't pay me enough to watch it again.

I found the movie to be very entertaining, which is really what is important. Right? The story was interesting. There were one or two surprising twists to the plot. The acting was quite solid. The special effects were good (not great, but this wasn't a very high-budget film). Nia Ann as Lady Nimue and Carys Eleri as Lady Vivianne were excellent, as was Simon Lloyd Roberts as a youthful, inexperienced Merlin. (A side note: Nia Ann, a relative newcomer to acting, really stole my heart away. I look forward to watching her career grow.) The way themovie ended obviously left it open to a possible sequel. If it happens, I am very much looking forward to watching it. All in all, a really great movie!

This movie, if one can even call it that, is bad all the way around from the cameraman who seems to be epileptic, to the silly battle scene in which all 20 cast and crew took part in and the utterly ridiculous attempt at a troop rallying speech (picture a mentally challenged version of Mel Gibson's Braveheart speech). Although I have to say at this point it was good for a laugh, watching them try and make 20 people look like 20,000 by quickly changing camera angles (which may have been the epilepsy again). Total budget for this movie, $24.65. $20.00 on props, $2.00 on CGI, $2.00 on the script and .65 cents on acting lessons. If you like fantasy movies stay away from this one... far far away!!!