Earthsea (2004)

...it was based on the first two novels of Ursula K. Le Guin's trilogy. Earthsea was first shown on sci-fi channel and never was released in theaters. I got a DVD copy just recently and had the chance to watch it in full 3 hours just today. It's plot is close to that of LOTR and HP combined (only less complicated). Though production was far too inferior to that of either the two sagas and was poorly acted, it got me hooked still. Blame Shawn Ashmore's character--Ged--who is focused to becoming the person he has in mind he will become as opposed to who he is in the eyes of the world. He knows he is more than just a blacksmith which the world doesn't seem to agree. He is on his way to becoming a great Wizard (which he envisions himself to become) when eventually the fate of the world lives in his hands as the battle between good and evil begins to leaf...

It's the cliché desire to be somebody else (also witnessed in various films) that keeps this movie alive initially, then further sustained by the search for the one true love which the hero himself knows he'll find. Beautiful Tener (Kristin Kreuk) on a different perspective is introduced fast becoming the high priestess she never expects herself to become. Yet as fate wills it, she has to embrace the responsibility which is quickly put to test by the "supposed" successor who turns out to be in corroboration with the King who is also after Ged... Eventually the two of them (Ged and Tener) meet and have to work together to protect Earthsea from the unprecedented evil.

Though the ending being a disappointment, still the movie had me magnetized and somehow is worthy of praise. The interwined characters weaving an almost complicated plot and the catchy turns of phrase were enough to have your three hours willfully compromised....

© 2006 Jonathan Susvilla