Merlin (2008-2012)

So, my husband and I have just recently finished watching BBC's The Adventures of Merlin, and, as promised, here is my review of the series! I usually review (and watch, come to think of it) movies as opposed to TV series, so we shall see how this fits into my review template! (I'm assuming nobody cares about spoilers, but...there are spoilers below.)

Quality/Aesthetic/First Impressions:

Alright, here we go. I thoroughly enjoyed this show, and it is even on my (mental) list of things to re-watch. Although it is a bit dated as far as the sets, effects, etc., the medieval, fantasy/fairy-tale aesthetic is appealing to me, and I think that there is a bit of a Narnia-like feel to the show? If you have seen the Disney Prince Caspian and enjoyed the stylistic elements of that as far as the setting and magical-ness, then I think you would enjoy Merlin. In fact, I would even dare to say that this show is executed better than Prince Caspian in terms of where the original material and inspiration came from. Showing Merlin, the greatest wizard of all time, as a gangly, dorky young man is a great change, although I will forever love old, white-bearded Merlin. I really appreciated the different perspective on Prince/King Arthur and how he and Merlin were such good friends, even though it is quite different from the original lore, if you care about that sort of thing. But anyway, I felt like this was a fresh take on worn, overused characters.


Characters:

Speaking of characters, I absolutely LOVED most of them. I like how the writers managed to fit so many different types and characters into one show, and make them all work perfectly together. While some of the acting was not quite up to a feature film standard, most of the main characters' acting and portrayal was excellent. Colin Morgan did a fabulous job in the title role, managing to keep a consistent character throughout all five seasons. Arthur and Guinevere were great, too (my husband doesn't know what an OTP is, but they are his OTP). I found Morgana good at first, but I felt that her descent to the show's main villain got a little bit overplayed and predictable near the end. She started to seem like a broken record in her futile attempts to overtake Camelot, and was only refreshed once we had Mordred on her side. Overall, however, the characters were fun, had plenty of variation, and the writers managed to give us enough backstory without overdoing it. The knights of Camelot are the prime example of this -- each one has specific traits and a specific personality, and although they are still side characters, they have enough personality to seem like real people. 

King Arthur and the Camelot Knights, a.k.a. "Me and the Boys"

Also I just found this character quiz and I thought I should share....let me know your results in the comments!! 

https://www.playbuzz.com/gueenorio10/which-bbc-merlin-character-are-you?utm_source=pinterest.com&utm_medium=ff&utm_campaign=ff&pb_traffic_source=pinterest

Content:
 

This show, in my opinion, falls somewhere right between PG and PG-13. There is barely any language, and no vulgar profanity. There are quite a few shirtless men, so if that bothers you, I would stay away, but that is where Netflix gets its "nudity" rating from -- there is no actual nudity shown at any point. There is one scene where Arthur has no clothes, but it is played as a humorous scene, and nothing is shown. A lot of the women wear rather low-cut dresses, but nothing worse than Pride and Prejudice or BBC's other period dramas. Violence-wise, this is very close to the Narnia movies, although it is more suspenseful in certain episodes. There is also a lot of witchcraft and sorcery, with potions, spells, and, in a couple episodes, mandrake roots, which are something like voodoo dolls -- there are some weird moments with connections between the living and dead (ghosts or visions), so if you are sensitive to the portrayal of medieval witchcraft, I would stray away from this show. 

Plot:

Like I said earlier, the take on Merlin and Arthur as young men is a refreshing change. I know that the show had different writers in different episodes, so it is not completely consistent, but overall, the general arc of the story is well-done and cohesive, which is impressive for a five-season TV show. I was also impressed by the amount of detail and attention to the plot was present from even the first few episodes -- everything was very obviously planned in a meticulous manner. The villains can get a little bit lame and predictable, I will admit...but the plot itself was intriguing and coherent. 

Overall Impressions: 

When people start talking about their coherent, well-plotted nightmares

I would definitely watch this again. It was something that was fun, easy to follow, and engaging, with lots of fun characters, hilarious shenanigans to outweigh the dramatic and serious moments, and even decent acting! The good definitely outweighs the sometimes laughable special effects and less impressive moments. But can we all agree that the Great Dragon was THE WORST character, ever, in the history of mentor characters???? 

Why Can't We Have A Decent Treasure Island Movie?? Thoughts On Casting, Etc.

So, this evening, I just watched Disney's Treasure Planet for the very first time. Yes I know it was released in 2002...don't judge me. While I was watching it, I started wondering: is there a "good" movie version of the actual book? I have seen the Muppet version, but I have always felt that R.L.Stevenson's Treasure Island deserves a movie that is not Muppet-ized or Disney cartoon-ized.

Naturally, I hopped on IMDb to see what was up. It looks like there have been plenty of adaptations of the book: 1990, 1998, and most recently, a TV movie made in 2012, but none of these look exactly wonderful (correct me if I'm wrong, I mean, I haven't actually seen any of them). They either look old or badly produced. The 1990 one could be interesting, looks like the best bet for a decent film, but it is 30 years old (nothing wrong with that but I feel like an updated version is in order).

The 2012 version basically relies on the fact that Elijah Wood plays Ben Gunn, which is horribly miscast (again, don't get me wrong, Elijah Wood is a great actor, but Ben Gunn is NOT his character). 2012 also looks much less family-friendly than any other adaptation, which I don't think was Stevenson's intent: I think he was intending his story to be read by adults and children, though of course I'm no expert. And, of course, there is fighting, it's a pirate movie--there's going to be a little violence, but can we keep it at a Pirates of the Carribean style of violence, please? (Plus, it's a TV movie...not a feature film.)

So hear me out: a new, feature-length production of Treasure Island that is accurate to the book, well done, and has good acting. Is that too much to ask? Probably, since I'm not a Hollywood producer....

Of course I have to share my ideas on casting, etc...because what would be a movie idea without casting ideas????? What would be the point????

Let's start off with the protagonist, Jim Hawkins. He's about 15, a good kid, works hard, needs a father figure in his life, and of course he has to be a precious cinnamon roll who must be protected. He seems like a really sweet kid who gains courage and agency throughout the story. I know a lot of you are thinking "Tom Holland, Tom Holland!!!"

To that, I say:

Mr. Tom Holland is not correct for Jim Hawkins, I'm sorry. My idea is actually someone around his age, but not quite as famous. You remember Bard's son from The Hobbit? 

Remember???? This guy??? 

That's who I think of as Jim Hawkins: John Bell. He's grown a bit since The Hobbit, but still has a very young face, and I think he could pull of a 15-year-old pretty well. He's a blond in real life, which is a no from me, Jim is a brunette OBVIOUSLY, but ya know...that sort of thing is easily changed in the movie industry. 

On to the next characters, Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney. You'll have to forgive me because I haven't read the book in a While, but I'm remembering him being a kind, logical, serious, and competent fellow...of course, I'm going to cast someone who I think could fill that role very well. He isn't too young or too old, and I think he's played enough heroic main characters (or villains...). It's time for Tom Hiddleston to step into a logical, gentle mentor role as the kind doctor. 

As for Squire Trelawney, I feel like he's kind of the rich sponsor of their adventure, the one who is all excited about setting out but really doesn't know how to go about the mission...he gives them money and decides to tag along, basically. So, I'm thinking that Dan Stevens could perform a somewhat clueless, cheerful sponsor. 

I know this is from Sense and Sensibility, but still...

All right, on to Captain Smollet! He is a competent, shrewd sailor who is hired (by Trelawney and Livesey) to captain the hired crew and the ship. He recognizes most of the crew as the pirates that they are and is uncomfortable from day one, but still faithfully does his duty. I'm thinking Martin Freeman for this role. 

This leads us to the exceedingly tricky task of trying to pin down an actor for Long John Silver. He is a pirate in every way. HOWEVER, he also becomes a sort of father figure to Jim, at least for a while. He's a Bad Guy, but he's not totally evil. He is also brilliant in a pirate-y way, and people listen to him. I think that Matthew McConaughey would do a great job capturing both Long John's villainous side and his soft side. In addition, he also has the kind of molasses-drawling voice that I imagine Long John would use to cajole people into joining his side. 

From the 2012 film Mud, which I have not seen

Billy Bones is one of the trickiest to cast, I think. He's an old, washed-up pirate who ends up spending his last days alive in Jim's mother's inn, hiding from the black spot. He's gruff, refuses to pay bills for his excessive drinking, and eventually dies in the inn, leaving behind the treasure map that spurs the whole adventure. I'm almost tempted to cast Liam Neeson, but I am really unsure about this one. Also, using Sean Bean as the "haunted guy who dies" is just cliche and I could never live with that...

AH-HA! Andy Serkis as Billy Bones!

Before the only female character in the film (Mrs. Hawkins), I think that the role of Ben Gunn, a marooned sailor/ex-pirate who is able to start a new life, belongs to Mark Ruffalo. I'm not totally sure why, but the role seems to fit him.

And lastly, Mrs. Hawkins, Jim's mother. This is actually not a huge part, but it is central to Jim's character, and so she is important. I would like to see Emily Watson as Jim's mother. She has a motherly face, but can pull of the matter-of-fact, shrewd personality required by a woman running an inn with only her son's help. 

Also here's a quick collage putting all of the pictures together...I literally threw this post together so I apologize for how haphazard it is! 

So there we have it, folks! These are just my ideas for a new Treasure Island  movie...any thoughts? 

The Fantastical and Felicitous Character Blog Tag

Well, today I have another tag for you all!

I have been tagged by Natalie for this one, so thank you!! :) Let's dive right in...I'm eager to get this done because it's all about fictional characters...and I always love talking about them. :D

Rules:
•Answer every question honestly. 
•Use as many gifs and images as possible. *ehehehe*
•Incorporate at least one YouTube video with a favorite scene of a character.
•NO VAGUE ANSWERS ALLOWED. Explain why you chose that favorite character to fit that description. I love details, my friends.
•If you can’t choose just one, that’s okay – give us a few answers and geek out if that’s what it takes.
•Tag at least 3 people.
•Use fictional characters from any fictional story.
•If you get nominated and/or decide to participate in this tag, please put a link back to this post in your post and credit yours truly (Emily at The Altogether Unexpected, *whose original post is excellent*) as the creator.
•Have fun and obsess over fictional characters! 

*consults Pinterest, my bookshelf, and the furthest reaches of my movie-watching history*

Goody-two-shoes: A character who was just so morally good

Good old Mr. Knightley...he is such a GOOD person that the extent of his goodness is almost unrealistic, if you know what I mean. Of course, I still think he's a wonderful character. He is always watching out for everyone at once, but isn't afraid to give people what-for if they are being stupid. ("Badly done, Emma!") And when he dances with Harriet at the ball, when nobody else dances with her and she's so lonely....awwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heartbreaker: A character who made you cry?

I am ashamed to admit this, but Miguel and Mama Coco from Pixar's Coco made me sob like a BABY. It was so beautiful but also so heartbreaking, and I love it...the way he simply picks up the guitar and sings, and how she remembers it....*sobbing* It really hit home. 

*weeping*

Parrot: A character who won’t stop talking

Holdo (she doesn't even deserve the title of "admiral" or "vice-admiral") from The Last Jedi. 

Now, she doesn't talk and talk and talk in the sense that Sid the Sloth does. But when she DOES talk, she takes things way too far. She says the wrong things at the wrong time and refuses to tell people the right things, the things that would help their situation. For instance...had she told Poe what her real plan was, he wouldn't have gone gangsta on her. Instead, she insulted him to his face and told him to leave. So rude. 

Devilish: Your favorite villain

Aw yessss!! I enjoy well-written villains, and there are a plethora. Saruman, Loki, Iago...I know the original post had Iago, so I won't steal that, though.  And even though Loki is is Fantastic, I think I'm going to be a little bit unconventional and pick...Megamind. 

Now, I know that TECHNICALLY, Megamind turned good in the end..."he was just a silly and misunderstood person," you may say. 

However, hear me out:  at the beginning of the movie, he is breaking out of prison, where he is supposed to serve multiple life sentences. We aren't sure exactly what he has done, but things have been blown up, Roxanne Ritchie has been kidnapped many, many times, and everybody knows that Megamind is a terrible villain. As soon as their hero is gone, they stop treating him like a joke, and we see the city in terrible ruin after Megamind takes control. 

Therefore, he is, in fact, a villain - a SUPER one.

Love interest: A character who, if alive in reality, you would want to marry

Now, this is a tricky one. Before I answer, let me make it clear that I am married, have been since last July, and there is no fictional character EVER who I would choose over my dear husband, who is a fantastic individual and my favorite person. Not if I had a chance to make a character real would I choose another man to marry. 

So, with that being said...

I'm currently studying the movie Interstellar for a screenwriting class and falling more in love with the film every time I watch it or read the screenplay or do any research. Cooper (which is his last name but they never use his first, which is, we think, Joseph) is simply a wonderful character. He's not a simple character, but the way that he loves his children!!! *sniffs heavily* I know he's not a "conventional heartthrob," but I have a soft spot for characters who are good fathers and loyal husbands. Cooper wears his dead wife's wedding ring all throughout the movie, sacrifices himself to save his kids, and is a super intelligent, down-to-earth guy. 

(Quick side note...my actual, real husband is also a loyal, intelligent, down-to-earth guy....HMMMM)

Here are two of my favorite scenes from the movie to illustrate--the first one is just before he sets off on a mission in space to save the world. The second is when he has been in space for over 20 years (due to time relativity and wormholes, I won't get into it, but now he and his daughter are the same age galaxies apart) and now gets to see the messages collected for him. You can see his love for his children on his face, and it's heartbreaking. (his angry daughter calls him something rude in the second one, and I apologize for that) 

"I love you forever, you hear me? I love you forever...and I'm comin' back." 

Sidekick: A character who was always loyal no matter what

:) :) :) :) 

Honestly, John Watson is THE SWEETEST and most noble, loyal sidekick ever. Yes, he grumps about Sherlock and is often annoyed, but he's always there, ready to help out. And this isn't just in Sherlock (I just happen to like Martin Freeman's Watson the best of all the Watsons), this is in every (almost) iteration of John Watson I have seen: annoyed, frustrated, but still always there to give a selfless helping hand. I found this picture of Sherlock and Watson in Tim Burton-esque art, and I thought it was rather well done. 

Complicated: A character you love and hate

Jack Sparrow...mainly because of his moral ambiguity. I mean, he is a pirate...a criminal, thief, drunkard, womanizer...but then, in the end, he always turns around and does something unexpectedly kind and Good. Plus, he's just absolutely hilarious, quirky, and fun, and I do love characters like that. 

Queen: A female character who you admire and aspire to emulate

Minerva McGonagall!!!! She really is a fantastic person...one of the only really great characters in the Harry Potter series, honestly. She's clever, strong, confident, a good teacher, and, although stern, has a soft heart underneath a tough exterior. 

Plus, her snarky sarcasm is absolutely the best...I can only hope to be such a clever and revered old woman someday. 

Savior: A character who oddly reminds you of Christ

Sydney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities. The end of the book is a beautiful one, worthy of a few shed tears. Now, the thing is, Sydney isn't a "good" person. In most of the book, he is one of the least Christ-like characters in the story. But at the very end, he demonstrates amazing sacrificial love for his friends, and through that he realizes the sacrifice that Jesus made to save him, which kind of brings Sydney to salvation and calls him out of his sinful nature, into peace that can only be found in Jesus. Even as Sydney is beheaded, marching to the guillotine, he has a praise in his heart for Jesus and is not ashamed or afraid to die for his friends. 

All right, that's that! Thanks again, Natalie! Now to tag three other people....

Rakayle Hier
MovieCritic
and
MiddleEarthMusician

Have fun, everybody! :D


Goody-two-shoes: A character who was just so morally good

Heartbreaker: A character who made you cry?

Parrot: A character who won’t stop talking
Devilish: Your favorite villain
Love interest: A character who, if alive in reality, you would want to marry
Sidekick: A character who was always loyal no matter what
Complicated: A character you love and hate
Queen/King: A female/male character who you admire and aspire to emulate
Savior: A character who oddly reminds you of Christ

The Star Wars Character Tag!!!

Well, as you can probably tell, this post is a filling out of the Star Wars Character Tag, for which I was tagged by the lovely MiddleEarthMusician a while ago! According to rule #4, the "Sorta Rule," I need to treat her to a pizza dinner at my favorite pizza chain, so here are some Lego stormtroopers delivering your dinner, Mem!!! 

(photo from Pinterest)

Now here we go! 

The rules…

1. THERE ARE NO RULES.
2. Refer To Number 1.
3. There is one absolute rule: You MUST use your own characters (OCs) for this tag. (Brownie points if you add pictures of your characters.)
4. The Sorta Rule: Scream a huge thank you to whoever tagged you for this whilst treating them to a pizza dinner at your favorite pizza chain. 
5. The Kinda Rule: Include This Link In The Post So That The Penny Can Read Everyone’s Answers To This Smol Strange Tag: https://asouthernbellewithstoriestotell.wordpress.com/2019/02/18/the-star-wars-character-tag-i-made-my-own-tag-halp/
6. The Rule That’s Not Really A Rule But It Would Be Great: Include The Graphic and Tag at Least Three Jedi or Sith Lords.

#1 Who’s your Obi-Wan Kenobi? (sassy, a great mentor, but can be a bit strict)

Lehye'ahl, I think...he's a little more of a jerk (okay, a LOT more of a jerk) than Obi-Wan, but  he's definitely sassy and strict. He would also be a great mentor (if he had anyone to mentor, that is, most of the people he could have mentored died, hehehehe). 

#2 Who’s your Leia Organa? (feisty, incredible comebacks, does their own thing)

Dehmatthir...he totally fits all of those categories.

#3 Who’s your Finn? (overeager, adorable, cinnamon roll)

Lutea Coggins (who I have a picture for but have not officially "cast" yet). She is a small person filled with the cheeriest personality ever and can also be TOO bubbly at times...however she will not hesitate to Fight You to defend her friends or family. 

#4 Who’s your Padme? (kind, loving, but also kickbutt)

Jorgen, a young and gentle dwarf who smiles a lot but has excellent skills. He hates fighting but does it when necessary, and is also a great cook.

#5 Who’s your Count Dooku? (deliciously evil, extra, and sick burns)

Well...I don't know...none of my villains really fit that category. None of my characters at ALL fit that category....*frowns* I need more villains, apparently. *making a note to work on that* 

#6 Who’s your BB-8? (too cute, everyone loves them, can do no wrong)

Darot...now, this little fellow experienced a great deal of emotional and psychological trauma at a young age and never really recovered from it (that sounds super insensitive and rude to say, but it's true). He has remained a living ray of sunshine and childlike happiness in all of his friends' lives. 

#7 Who’s your Yoda? (underestimated, extra, wise)

Amris...this elf...is too smart for his own good. He knows something about everything and is always ready with some sort of an answer for any question. 

#8 Who’s your Anakin Skywalker?  (bratty, rebellious, whiny)

Eyellyn. This character is a female dwarf who is somewhat the guardian and parent figure to her younger siblings. She can be extremely grumpy, rebellious, and isn't much for giving her companions explanations or information. She doesn't Whine so much as Complain, but you know, it's close enough. 

#9 Who’s your C3-PO? (always worrying, gives depressing information, constantly wailing)

Colderan, definitely! He doesn't MEAN to be a Nervous Nellie, but he has a very soft heart and doesn't want anyone to get hurt. This of course means that warnings come very often from him and he has to make sure that everyone knows the odds. 

#10 Who’s your Luke Skywalker? (hero, has been through a lot, has their share of flaws)

Prince Rhondin!! He is one of my favorite main characters, a young man who....well...he goes through a lot. But somehow he still stays cheerful and bright throughout it all. :) :) 

Bonus #11 which I have made up to add since my answer for #5 was pathetic: Who's your Han Solo? (calls people "kid," has traveled, "I'm making this up as I go" planning)

Ateke, who is an elf and a great friend (and brother-in-law) of the aforementioned Lehye'ahl. However, they are totally different personality-wise and it's kind of surprising that they get along...(oh also I've decided that he would be excellent played by Elijah Wood)

Well, that was fun! :D Thank you so much again, Mem!!!! Ah yes, and as far as tagging goes...hmmmmmmmmm....literally anybody who wants to do this tag. If you own a toy lightsaber, consider yourself tagged!!!!!