In Earthsea, a world of one thousand and one islands, priestesses leaded by the High Priestess Thar (Isabella Rossellini) lock in the tomb of Atuan the diabolic Nameless Ones. However, the ambitious King Tygath (Sebastian Roché), who intends to unite the realm, wants also to release the demons to learn their secret of immortality, and uses his mistress Kossil (Jennifer Calvert) to poison Thar. Kossil expects to be nominated the next guardian and get the keys and enchantment that keeps evil apart, but Thar selects the pure Tenar (Kristin Kreuk). Meanwhile, in the island of Gont, the reckless and rebel son of a blacksmith Ged (Shawn Ashmore) dreams on being a wizard. He is sent to the island of Roke to learn magic, but in a dispute with a corrupt mate, he summons a powerful Nameless One that becomes The Gebbeth and wants to devour his soul. Now his only chance to survive is to follow the lead of a dragon and find the two parts of an amulet to destroy the Nameless Ones.
"Earthsea" is a delightful travel to a world of fantasy and magic and very underrated in IMDb. The story is attractive, the cast has great names and the special effects are excellent, considering this is a movie for television. I glanced some reviews in IMDb and I noted that users that read the novels are giving the lowest ratings. Of course a movie will never be better than a book associated with the imagination of the reader, since the language in cinema is completely different, there is the need of giving adequate pace, explain situations through images and so on in a limited running time. How explain in a movie, for example, that Kossil is the mistress of King Tygath and that is the reason of her betrayal, and not loyalty to Tygath? I believe that the "bedroom scene" briefly explains their relationship. The acting is very good, and the CGI is never lame; actually it is great for a TV movie. If the reader of my review enjoys fantasy movies like "Merlin", "Lord of the Rings" or "Harry Potter", he or she will probably appreciate this film. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "O Poder das Trevas" ("The Power of Darkness")
"Earthsea" is a delightful travel to a world of fantasy and magic and very underrated in IMDb. The story is attractive, the cast has great names and the special effects are excellent, considering this is a movie for television. I glanced some reviews in IMDb and I noted that users that read the novels are giving the lowest ratings. Of course a movie will never be better than a book associated with the imagination of the reader, since the language in cinema is completely different, there is the need of giving adequate pace, explain situations through images and so on in a limited running time. How explain in a movie, for example, that Kossil is the mistress of King Tygath and that is the reason of her betrayal, and not loyalty to Tygath? I believe that the "bedroom scene" briefly explains their relationship. The acting is very good, and the CGI is never lame; actually it is great for a TV movie. If the reader of my review enjoys fantasy movies like "Merlin", "Lord of the Rings" or "Harry Potter", he or she will probably appreciate this film. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "O Poder das Trevas" ("The Power of Darkness")