Merlin: The Return (2000)

Gag me, please!

First of all, I wouldn't even give this a star! This was a waste of plastic for the DVD! This so-called "movie" shouldn't have been allowed to be released and associated with the original Merlin movie. Adrian Paul and Tia Carrere should be ashamed of being in this movie. The plot is a stretch, but might have worked if they had a better cast and a lot less overacting. For his part, Adrian Paul did his best to try and save the movie, but he just couldn't carry it alone. June 2, 2008

Merlin The Return

I have seen a number of movies in my lifetime about Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. This one would be in my bottom three.

It had some good moments, but the bad sequences went on for ever (seems like 1500 years). They could have done a great movie with a better script and special effects. The acting was sad. I have seen better acting in elementary school plays.

Craig Sheffer's acting talents were never utilized in playing Mordred. Patrick Bergin's Arthur was more like a court jester than the boy who drew the sword from the stone to become the great king of legends. Guinevere and Lancelot were bit players in a bad production. The tragedy of their illicit love caused the fall of Camelot aided by Morgana was captured a bit by this movie.

The two children, Kate and Ritchie, had some good moments, especially when they helped Merlin in the laboratory of Joan Maxwell who was never called Doctor Maxwell, but Miss Maxwell unless I missed it. There was an opportunity with Joan Maxwell to explore why she wanted to free Mordred. She wanted the freedom to do her research without interference. Too many times scientists become pawns of the powerful. This would have been a good theme to explore, but it was left as a passing comment. Unfortunately, too many great themes were left on the floor in this movie.

One of these themes was that Guinevere still loved Arthur. After spending 1500 years with Lancelot, she realized that a piece of shining armour is not always a comfort in another dimension.

When Guinevere gave Kate her wedding ring, this was another opportunity since Ritchie was knighted by Arthur that he and Kate would carry on the legacy of Arthur under Merlin's tutorage. This is definitely implied, but the theme could have been expanded.

One star may seem harsh to those who love this movie, but given the context of the Arthurian vault of movies in existence, this is why one star was given.
February 27, 2008

What happened

I really enjoyed Merlin, but where were those great writers when it came to Merlins return?! The cast was good but the visual effects were missing and the story line was not that great. I was very disappointed in it. I was expecting a high rated movie but it sure was not that. The only good parts in the whole movie was Adrian Pauls comedic side. February 25, 2008

MERLIN'S RETURN

THIS MOVIE MADE NO SENSE TO ME. I REALLY JUST DID NOT LIKE IT. January 17, 2008

Merlin, the INFERIOR RETURN

The special effects are nothing compared to the first movie, Merlin. They exposed the fact that the director filmed on a very small budget. The plot is nothing. The acting is substandard. It's just an excuse to create a spin-off from the original Mervin.

It's not even worth watching.
June 26, 2007

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