Review of Merlin`s Apprentice (Merlin 2)

Introduction

This mini series, also known as Merlin 2 and made by Hallmark Entertainment, received its three-and-a-half-hour UK television premiere on Good Friday, 14th April on Channel Four. It`s a sequel to, surprisingly, the 1998 Merlin mini series. The disc reached shops the following Monday on the 17th, and consists of the two 90 minute episodes arranged as 32 chapter stops.

It is fifteen years after the death of King Arthur. Merlin returns from an enchanted sleep to a Camelot vulnerable to the regular ills of the world since the theft of the Holy Grail. The Lady of the Lake is stirring up the hairy hordes and the only person standing in their way is trickster Jack (the Apprentice of the title) and his pig sidekick.

The original mini series had an impressive cast, but this sequel is almost entirely made up of unknowns with original cast members Sam Neill (as Merlin) and Miranda Richardson (as the Lady of the Lake) making brief or limited appearances. Stylistically the show is very post-Xena - full of hairy psychopaths with swords and few discernable good points. Chivalry is in short supply and so is much of the wit normally associated with the post-modernist approach to these sorts of adventures.

Video

An excellent 16:9 anamorphic transfer of the show with good colour and contrast. John Spooner`s photography is lyrical and on the money for this kind of show. Shot in Canada, there are plenty of beauty shots of locations, but little to make up for the less-than-engrossing storyline.

Audio

The sound is bog standard Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround. Laurence Shragge`s score is very sub-Joseph LoDuca (Xena`s tunesmith), full of Enya-ish ethereal voices. The R1 edition comes with DD5.1 and DTS sound but I can`t see that being a real benefit.

Features

Subtitles, and that`s your lot. Doesn`t even come with the cast interviews on the R1 edition.

Conclusion

A disappointing mini-series on a disappointing disc. The $12million budget is more than visible in the sets and special effects, but veteran Hong Kong action director David Wu does little with the project to make it stand out. The only encouraging point I can make is that the disc is released by Channel 4, rather than US makers Hallmark.