avedicg Reviews

Merlin (2008–2012)

See it as it should be seen

[8/10 · 9 June 2010]

Merlin does not strive for perfection. It is not suppose to be a master-piece and it should be seen with an open mind ready for an hour of adventure and fantasy. Merlin is the solution to the nights when your loved one asks: What should we watch before we go to bed? It is simple, to the point, it has no greater expectations than what it represents: watching something fun.

The characters are well-defined by their features, almost caricature-like, Merlin and Arthur being always in opposition. Arthur's limitless arrogance is shadowed by Merlin's humility. Yet, behind that humility, Merlin is also very powerful and sometimes surprisingly clever. As for the other characters, they are also mostly arch-types. However, the connections between them is what makes this show pretty great. (Oh yeah, and the Dragon is pretty awesome in every way with the unmistakable voice of John Hurt)

The lines and conversations are mostly cheesy, clever and somewhat simple, and only on occasion they go deeper. As for the effects(not the best), i say it's only understandable.

I do hope that Sci-Fi will not get picky with Merlin. It's supposed to be what it is; it's supposed to be fun. Give it a chance.

Can't wait for season 3. I give it a well-deserved 8/10.

Heartless (I) (2009)

A vision of a dark abyss

[8/10 · 9 June 2010]

Philip Ridley brings us a new style of horror. Mesmerizing and twisted, Heartless tries to appeal to our deepest senses - fear simply being one of them - by means of psychology. The "monster" in this so called horror drama, is not a monster at all but an inner pattern of what makes us humans; of what our feelings may turn us into.

Perhaps the movie is slightly underrated because the point of view that should have been used to look at this movie was not from the outside of the box but from the inside.

The performances were pretty good especially from Joseph Mawle(Papa B) whom i have only seen in Merlin, Eddie Marsan("Sherlock Holmes") and his charismatic flavor and of course Jim Sturgess who proves once again that he is a British star on a dark sky. However i expected somewhat more from Clemence Poesy("War and Peace", "In Bruges) other than a lovely accent.

Overall, i give "Heartless" an 8/10 for the feelings they tried to bring up but failed in a small measure. I do believe that concentrating even more on the feelings and less on the horror part would've brought this movie a greater rating. Nonetheless, it is worth two hours of your spare time.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)

Not gold, but definitely silver

[9/10 · 8 June 2010]

It is certainly not the best movie based on a video game but it is amongst them. Prince of Persia brings us an interesting story, somewhat similar to that of the game but adapted for the silver screen. Adding more characters, such as the two brothers of Dastan(our prince) and much more background story regarding these given characters was only a necessary sacrifice. I am a great fan of the video game and i must say, i quite enjoyed this.

The story follows Dastan and Tamina(the new and improved Farrah) in a journey to stop Dastan's uncle(Perhaps the Vizier?) from destroying the world by unleashing the sands of time with a magical dagger. Although the story is not spectacular in any way, the screenplay is written with wits and unexpected(sometimes) situations. Time traveling and its consequences has been one of the screenwriter's most favorite topic and it has transformed into somewhat of a cliché but this movie makes no exaggeration.

The acting was not fabulous but it was not disappointing either. I believe Jake Gyllenhaal proved he is more than a mid-class actor and as for Ben Kingsley, i was gladly surprised he still had it in him.

Overall, the movie was a good fantasy-adventure film, with a bit of comedy and action as well. We have to give them credit, we don't see many of these every day. Give it a try, you might not be disappointing.

I give it a 9/10.