Earthsea (2004) (TV)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Robert Lieberman

Writers (WGA):

Ursula K. Le Guin (novels)
Gavin Scott (teleplay)

Release Date:

13 December 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Drama | Adventure

Plot:

A reckless youth is destined to become the greatest sorcerer that the mystical land of Earthsea has ever known...

Plot Keywords:

Island | Wizard | Dragon | Amulet | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 7 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Shawn Ashmore	...	Ged
Kristin Kreuk	...	Tenar
Isabella Rossellini	...	High Priestess Thar
Danny Glover	...	Ogion
Sebastian Roché	...	King Tygath
Chris Gauthier	...	Vetch (as Christopher Gauthier)
Jennifer Calvert	...	Kossil
Emily Hampshire	...	Rosa
Mark Hildreth	...	Jasper
Alan Scarfe	...	Archmagus
Alessandro Juliani	...	Skiorch
Erin Karpluk	...	Diana
Dave 'Squatch' Ward	...	Dunain (as David Ward)
Mark Acheson	...	Gebbeth
John Tench	...	General Doar

Also Known As:

Legend of Earthsea (USA) (promotional title)

Runtime:

90 min (2 parts)

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:M | UK:12 | Finland:K-11

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Hallmark Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: Shortly after Ged and Oigon turn their backs to the goat, the crystal from Oigon's staff falls to the ground. After the cut, the crystal is back.

Quotes:

Vetch: - Speaking to the cook at Roque - Is there anything eadible in there?... Hidden away?... It's his first day... have some compassion.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#34.9)" (2005)

Worst Adaptation EVER. Shame on you, Sci Fi Channel.

The Sci Fi channel should have put some of their marketing money into production, because this was not only a BAD adaptation of an incredible book, it was the worst I've ever seen. If you have read the books, you'll know exactly what I mean. If you haven't, go to the library or bookstore (they're worth owning) and spend the time in the book instead of wasting it on this worthless show.

A few key points of my utter disenchantment (pun intended): 1) Ged was the same age throughout the entire movie when in the books we get to follow him from age 10 to 80. 2) There is absolutely no sex in the book, but you get a nice bedroom scene in the first 5 minutes of the movie. COME ON. The books offer MORE than enough material to engage the reader. You don't need to whore the characters, although Sci Fi managed to make one up for just that purpose. 3) Bad acting. It took me back to the days of MTV's "Undressed". 4) Lame ass CGI. After seeing Sci Fi do OK with Dune, I was hoping for much better graphics in this movie. 5) Most importantly, Le Guin's books won awards for what they are. IMHO, Sci Fi showed an inordinate disrespect for that by bastardizing the plot into something completely different. BOOOOOOOOOO!

To sum up, don't see it. Don't even give it a second glance. Anyone associated with this atrocity needs to have their head handed to them on a magician's staff. If you want to see an Earthsea worth seaing (a pun on the level of the Sci Fi production), get the books. Or borrow mine; but you'll have to wait a few days as I read them again to regain the enchantment.