Review of the Movie: The Mists of Avalon
By Tessa Hebert, © 2001TNT's The Mists of Avalon, based on Marion Zimmer Bradley's magical version of the legend of King Arthur, premiered on July 15 and 16th, 2001, with encore showings on July 20th, 21st, and 30th.
Anjelica Huston, Julianna Margulies, and Joan Allen star in the 4-hour miniseries, along with Samantha Mathis, Caroline Goodall, Edward Atterton, Michael Vartan and Hans Matheson.
I love the magic and romance of Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon and had hoped that the movie would do the book justice. Disappointingly, the movie seemed more of a vehicle for politically-correct views of the 1990s, women's rights, and the promotion of three actresses who played the starring roles, than it did a rendition of Bradley's story. If you have read the book and imagined the characters in your mind, you will probably be as disappointed as I was with the casting of the actors in the movie. The movie lacks the beauty of Bradley's novel, mostly because of poor casting and contrivances which were not true to the book. The changes in the movie, unjustified and unnecessary, were most disturbing to a lover of the book who would have preferred a faithful rendition of the story.
Bradley's story is essentially the story of Morgaine, Arthur's half-sister, defending her role in his demise as one of a loving sister, powerless against the manipulations of those around her. The story includes the details of priestess life in Avalon, ruled by Viviane, high-priestess, aunt of Arthur, and consort of Merlin. The struggle between emerging Christianity and the old Mother-Goddess religion of Avalon, alongside the Celtic struggles against the Saxon invasions, is a constant thread throughout the book, revealed by many of the characters, especially Gwenhwyfar's, who believes her barrenness is the Christian God's punishment for her's and Arthur's sins.
Bradley's male characters are strong and fierce warriors, men of the times who fought terrible battles against the Saxons to protect Britain. Her women are victims of their religions and fears, attempting to control and change things with either the magic of Avalon or the fearful preachings and prayers of Christianity. All her characters seem to be well-intentioned, although fated to perform their roles in spite of their beliefs, with evil results.
The movie claims to be "The story of legendary Camelot ... as seen through the eyes of the women who wielded power behind King Arthur's throne." Regrettably, the movie portrays Arthur and Lancelot as rather weak men who were not equal to their women. Edward Atterton and Michael Vartan, the actors who played Arthur and Lancelot looked like they would not survive a short game of tennis, much less be able to wield heavy weapons and fight as warriors. The actor who played Uther Pendragon was the only important male character in the movie whose physical appearance and demeanor was appropriate for that of a fierce warrior.
One scene in the movie shows Morgaine giving an aging Arthur a pep talk about how the land survives because he is King, as she hands Arthur his sword. That scene gives the impression that Arthur was such a wimp that he did not know his true role in life and needed his sister to tell him what do to. It was such a disappointment to see that scene, and not be shown such ones as the young virginal and innocent Morgaine wielding her magic and embroidering the sheath for Author's sword, to protect him in battle against severe blood loss.
Hans Matheson's portrayal of Modred, Arthur's evil son, was very believable, especially his occasional maniacal twitching of his face as he spoke his lines with sarcasm and bitterness, yet showed regret and longing for what would never be.
I could not help but wonder why he had such a bad hairstyle, though. The other characters were allowed the benefit of combs. Was his braided, messy short hair intended to portray slovenliness as equivalent to evil?
The scene of the great marriage of Beltane, where Arthur and his half-sister Morgaine conceive Modred, was changed to show Arthur and Morgaine wearing masks, thus explaining why they did not recognize each other. In Bradley's story, their failure to recognize each other was easily explained by the fact that they had not seen each other since they were young children. The wearing of masks seemed very contrived and was not true to the book, although the masks were beautiful and artfully done.
While it might be politically correct to have actresses over 30 in this movie, it certainly damaged the movie's credibility to see them portraying young Igraine, Morgaine, and Morgause.
The maturity and appearance of Caroline Goodall did not exemplify Igraine's youth, innocence, and inexperience in the affairs of men, and belied the fatal attraction of Uther Pendragon to her character in the movie. Her scenes later in the movie as the aging Queen Mother were well done and her appearance was age-appropriate, but not true to the story where Igraine died without seeing Morgaine for many years.
Anjelica Huston, a tall dark-haired aging Amazon type, played the role of Viviane with power that matches the character of Viviane in the book, but she did not do justice to the role, much less did she match the description of Viviane, who in the book is described as a very-small woman whose appearance revealed her fairy ancestry.
The role of Raven, Avalon priestess, was delegated to such a minor one that it makes her appear to be only a servant woman. Raven's hairstyle of shaven head with three braids hanging from the top of her head was not only unattractive, it was not explained, nor is it true to the book.
Joan Allen's portrayal of Morgause, sister to Viviane, Igraine, and Morgaine and foster-mother to Modred, was extremely well-done and very believable.
It was very disappointing that the movie showed Morgause being killed by Vivian in self-defense, and Vivian being slain by Modred in retaliation for Vivian's death, something which did not happen in the book.
Julianna Margulies gave a strong performance as Morgaine, and her appearance matches the expected resemblance to Viviane. However, her age and mature appearance did not match the youthful priestess who was tempted to forsake her virginity vows with Lancelot.
The actress who portrayed Gwenhwyfar, Samantha Mathis, was also too old for the role.
In short, a movie that was a great disappointment and did not measure up to Marion Zimmer Bradley's great novel about the roles of women in the magical, mystical, and romantic story of King Arthur.
Science Fiction and Fantasy Books
By Tessa Hebert, © 2001TNT's The Mists of Avalon, based on Marion Zimmer Bradley's magical version of the legend of King Arthur, premiered on July 15 and 16th, 2001, with encore showings on July 20th, 21st, and 30th.
Anjelica Huston, Julianna Margulies, and Joan Allen star in the 4-hour miniseries, along with Samantha Mathis, Caroline Goodall, Edward Atterton, Michael Vartan and Hans Matheson.
I love the magic and romance of Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon and had hoped that the movie would do the book justice. Disappointingly, the movie seemed more of a vehicle for politically-correct views of the 1990s, women's rights, and the promotion of three actresses who played the starring roles, than it did a rendition of Bradley's story. If you have read the book and imagined the characters in your mind, you will probably be as disappointed as I was with the casting of the actors in the movie. The movie lacks the beauty of Bradley's novel, mostly because of poor casting and contrivances which were not true to the book. The changes in the movie, unjustified and unnecessary, were most disturbing to a lover of the book who would have preferred a faithful rendition of the story.
Bradley's story is essentially the story of Morgaine, Arthur's half-sister, defending her role in his demise as one of a loving sister, powerless against the manipulations of those around her. The story includes the details of priestess life in Avalon, ruled by Viviane, high-priestess, aunt of Arthur, and consort of Merlin. The struggle between emerging Christianity and the old Mother-Goddess religion of Avalon, alongside the Celtic struggles against the Saxon invasions, is a constant thread throughout the book, revealed by many of the characters, especially Gwenhwyfar's, who believes her barrenness is the Christian God's punishment for her's and Arthur's sins.
Bradley's male characters are strong and fierce warriors, men of the times who fought terrible battles against the Saxons to protect Britain. Her women are victims of their religions and fears, attempting to control and change things with either the magic of Avalon or the fearful preachings and prayers of Christianity. All her characters seem to be well-intentioned, although fated to perform their roles in spite of their beliefs, with evil results.
The movie claims to be "The story of legendary Camelot ... as seen through the eyes of the women who wielded power behind King Arthur's throne." Regrettably, the movie portrays Arthur and Lancelot as rather weak men who were not equal to their women. Edward Atterton and Michael Vartan, the actors who played Arthur and Lancelot looked like they would not survive a short game of tennis, much less be able to wield heavy weapons and fight as warriors. The actor who played Uther Pendragon was the only important male character in the movie whose physical appearance and demeanor was appropriate for that of a fierce warrior.
One scene in the movie shows Morgaine giving an aging Arthur a pep talk about how the land survives because he is King, as she hands Arthur his sword. That scene gives the impression that Arthur was such a wimp that he did not know his true role in life and needed his sister to tell him what do to. It was such a disappointment to see that scene, and not be shown such ones as the young virginal and innocent Morgaine wielding her magic and embroidering the sheath for Author's sword, to protect him in battle against severe blood loss.
Hans Matheson's portrayal of Modred, Arthur's evil son, was very believable, especially his occasional maniacal twitching of his face as he spoke his lines with sarcasm and bitterness, yet showed regret and longing for what would never be.
I could not help but wonder why he had such a bad hairstyle, though. The other characters were allowed the benefit of combs. Was his braided, messy short hair intended to portray slovenliness as equivalent to evil?
The scene of the great marriage of Beltane, where Arthur and his half-sister Morgaine conceive Modred, was changed to show Arthur and Morgaine wearing masks, thus explaining why they did not recognize each other. In Bradley's story, their failure to recognize each other was easily explained by the fact that they had not seen each other since they were young children. The wearing of masks seemed very contrived and was not true to the book, although the masks were beautiful and artfully done.
While it might be politically correct to have actresses over 30 in this movie, it certainly damaged the movie's credibility to see them portraying young Igraine, Morgaine, and Morgause.
The maturity and appearance of Caroline Goodall did not exemplify Igraine's youth, innocence, and inexperience in the affairs of men, and belied the fatal attraction of Uther Pendragon to her character in the movie. Her scenes later in the movie as the aging Queen Mother were well done and her appearance was age-appropriate, but not true to the story where Igraine died without seeing Morgaine for many years.
Anjelica Huston, a tall dark-haired aging Amazon type, played the role of Viviane with power that matches the character of Viviane in the book, but she did not do justice to the role, much less did she match the description of Viviane, who in the book is described as a very-small woman whose appearance revealed her fairy ancestry.
The role of Raven, Avalon priestess, was delegated to such a minor one that it makes her appear to be only a servant woman. Raven's hairstyle of shaven head with three braids hanging from the top of her head was not only unattractive, it was not explained, nor is it true to the book.
Joan Allen's portrayal of Morgause, sister to Viviane, Igraine, and Morgaine and foster-mother to Modred, was extremely well-done and very believable.
It was very disappointing that the movie showed Morgause being killed by Vivian in self-defense, and Vivian being slain by Modred in retaliation for Vivian's death, something which did not happen in the book.
Julianna Margulies gave a strong performance as Morgaine, and her appearance matches the expected resemblance to Viviane. However, her age and mature appearance did not match the youthful priestess who was tempted to forsake her virginity vows with Lancelot.
The actress who portrayed Gwenhwyfar, Samantha Mathis, was also too old for the role.
In short, a movie that was a great disappointment and did not measure up to Marion Zimmer Bradley's great novel about the roles of women in the magical, mystical, and romantic story of King Arthur.
Science Fiction and Fantasy Books