The Mists of Avalon (2001)
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43% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
74% of users liked it
(13,226 ratings)
This three-hour miniseries adapts Marion Zimmer Bradley's feminist recasting of the Arthurian mythos into a big-budget cable television event. In ancient England, Christianity is spreading and the Saxons are invading. It's up to Viviane (Anjelica Huston) -- Lady of the Lake and high… More This three-hour miniseries adapts Marion Zimmer Bradley's feminist recasting of the Arthurian mythos into a big-budget cable television event. In ancient England, Christianity is spreading and the Saxons are invading. It's up to Viviane (Anjelica Huston) -- Lady of the Lake and high priestess of the kingdom's ancient pagan religion -- to make sure that the next king will honor both the old and new faiths and thereby banish the barbarian hordes. Viviane manipulates her sister Igraine (Caroline Goodall) into marrying King Uther Pendragon (Mark Lewis Jones) and bearing a son, Arthur (Edward Atterton) -- much to the consternation of Viviane's other sister, the power-hungry Morgause (Joan Allen). Arthur grows up happily with his older half-sister, Morgaine (Julianna Margulies), until Merlin (Michael Byrne) spirits him off for training and Viviane brings Morgaine to the mystical island of Avalon to develop her magical connection to the Goddess. Years later, the siblings reunite in a masked mating ritual, unaware that their union is incestuous -- or that their son, Mordred (Hans Matheson), will fall into Morgause's clutches and destroy the delicate balance that Viviane has sought to maintain. As Arthur gathers the knights of the round table and ushers in a golden age with Queen Gwenhwyfar (Samantha Mathis) at his side, the seeds of his destruction, and Avalon's, have already been planted -- by Arthur himself. Filmed on-location in Prague, The Mists of Avalon premiered on the TNT cable network July 15 and 16, 2001. Director Uli Edel, best known for his feature adaptation of Last Exit to Brooklyn, had previously helmed Purgatory for TNT. The titular mists -- developed by Edel and executive producer Mark Wolper -- utilized custom fluid dynamic software designed specifically for the project. Celtic musician Loreena McKennitt added her theme music to composer Lee Holdridge's score. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
- Directed By
- Uli Edel, Ulrich Edel
- Written By
- Gavin Scott
- Genres
- Drama, Television, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jul 15, 2001 Wide
- Studio
- Warner Home Video
Critic Reviews
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James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
the spirit of the story remains sturdy, even if some intriguing details and characters had to be sacrificed for the sake of time.
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Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
As a fantasy, The Mists of Avalon lacks the fantastic, as a war film it lacks compelling battle scenes, and as a romance, it lacks, er, romance.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Anjelica Huston
as Viviane the Lady of the Lake
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Julianna Margulies
as Morgaine
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Joan Allen
as Morgause
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Samantha Mathis
as Queen Gwenhwyfar
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Caroline Goodall
as Igraine
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Edward Atterton
as King Arthur
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Michael Vartan
as Lancelot
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Michael Byrne
as Merlin
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Hans Matheson
as Mordred
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Mark Lewis Jones
as King Uther Pendragon
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Clive Russell
as Gerlois
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Tamsin Egerton
as Young Morgaine
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Edward Highmore
as Young Arthur
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Christopher Fulford
as Lot
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John Comer
as Capt. Talbot
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Klára Issová
as Raven
