IMDb >
Merlin (1998/II) (TV)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsMerlin (1998/II) (TV) More at IMDbPro »
| Videos (see all 7 NEW) |
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
26 April 1998 (USA) moreTagline:
The most magical adventure of all time. morePlot:
The legendary wizard tells his story of his war against Queen Mab of the Sidhe and his creation of Camelot. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 7 wins & 15 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(9 articles)
Campbell Scott and Martin Short Join Damages (From MovieWeb. 22 September 2009, 11:43 AM, PDT)
Bryan Singer Developing Excalibur
(From FilmShaft.com. 20 August 2009, 11:31 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
The best Arthur film....period. more (135 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Sam Neill | ... | Merlin | |
| Helena Bonham Carter | ... | Morgan Le Fey | |
| John Gielgud | ... | King Constant | |
| Rutger Hauer | ... | King Vortigern | |
| James Earl Jones | ... | Mountain King (voice) | |
| Miranda Richardson | ... | Mab, Queen of the Old Ways / The Lady of the Lake | |
| Isabella Rossellini | ... | Nimue | |
| Martin Short | ... | Frik | |
| Paul Curran | ... | Arthur | |
| Lena Headey | ... | Guinevere | |
| Jeremy Sheffield | ... | Lancelot | |
| Mark Jax | ... | Uther | |
| John McEnery | ... | Lord Ardente | |
| Thomas Lockyer | ... | Cornwall | |
| Jason Done | ... | Mordred |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
182 min | 60 min (3 episodes)Language:
EnglishColour:
ColourAspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 moreSound Mix:
DolbyFun Stuff
Trivia:
Actors Nickolas Grace and Robert Addie, best known for their roles as the Sheriff of Nottingham and Sir Guy of Gisburne in the TV series "Robin of Sherwood" (1984), have a cameo scene together in this miniseries - a nod to fans of the beloved '80s fantasy show. moreGoofs:
Revealing mistakes: Obvious contact lenses on the young Merlin. moreMovie Connections:
Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Matthew Broderick/Natalie Merchant (#23.19)" (1998) moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (135 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Merlin (1998/II) (TV) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Excalibur | The Adventures of Sir Galahad | Willow | Arthur the King | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Adventure section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |






How do you pack together centuries of legends about the great King Arthur? It might seem like an impossible task, but Merlin finds a way to make it work: they change the focus.
I have always been a huge fan of the King Arthur legends, and I am familiar with most of them. Some films only cover portions of the legends, such as the disappointing "First Knight" and the stomach-churning Disney crud "Sword and the Stone." I was really wanting a film to come out that would cover all the important legends of the epic story, yet I realized it was a nearly impossible task. An excellent early eighties film did it, which was called "Excalibur," and I was hoping that they could do it again, with a more nineties zing to it, what with the new special effects coming out nowadays that could no doubt enhance the legends onscreen. Before "Merlin" came out, the only real films to come out in the nineties featuring Arthur were "First Knight" (which eradicated all myth and magic and put the legends on the status of Chick Flick) and "A Kid in King Arthur's Court" (which I won't even bring up).
Enter "Merlin." It covers everything, from the affair of Lancelot and Guinevere, to the Lady at the Lake, to the birth of the sword Excalibur, to Morgan la Fay and Mordred, and they even throw in the Lady of Shallot. And the cool thing is, they make it work so that it doesn't seem overplotted. Merlin is also given a side story which is beautiful and well-constructed, about his birth and his love life. It all is webbed together well, and the climax and characters are wonderfully painted.
Before this film, I saw Merlin only as a secondhand character, who is Arthur's mentor and friend, kind of like the world's first Obe Wan Kinobe. But now, I see him in an all new light, and to say the least, it is very effective, and I can say that it is the finest Arthur film ever made (though "Excalibur" is so close, it's barely worth a comparison). If you are interesting in Arthur, or if you are an Arthur fan who was discouraged that there were no good films about his awesome, thought-provoking legends, I urge you to watch this film. It will move you in a way few films can!
10 out of 10!