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Legend of Earthsea, The (2004)
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Movie Review by The Gravedigger
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01.13.05
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The events in this fantasy movie take place on a world that is mostly ocean. Instead of any continents there are a thousand islands, each having their own culture. Magic also works here. Ged (Shawn Ashmore of XMEN), a young man who works as a blacksmith with his father, yearns for adventure. He has never traveled beyond his island, which greatly frustrates him. He also has waking 'visions' of a beautiful young woman and doesn't know what it quite means.When their homeland is invaded Ged is able to summon a fog so that the soldiers run off a cliff to their deaths. He hadn't realized his own magic was so strong. Soon, a wizard named Ogion (Danny Glover) comes and wants to teach Ged the ways of the wizard. Ged quickly agrees, though is quickly impatient about Ogion's teachings. So he goes off to an island where there is this school for soon-to-be wizards. He meets some friends and makes enemies. Along the way he also breaks several of the school's rules-the worst being summoning the dead--and is expelled. Because he has summoned the dead he is haunted & hunted by this skeletal spectre, which desires his destruction. This is basically Ged's dark side given form.He eventually comes to the island where he meets that girl from his dreams. Her name is Tenar (Kristin Kreuk of SMALLVILLE) and she was next in line to be a high priestess, which guards a sacred temple.She also has some big problems. A jealous woman has framed her for poisoning the current high Priestess (Isabella Rossellini) and is imprisoned until a judgement is made. Ged comes just in time and rescues her, though they see their troubles are just beginning.I've never read any of the EARTHSEA books by Ursulla K. LeGuin so I can't say as to how faithful the adaptation this is, but I did find it an entertaining movie. If it wasn't for the success of the LORD OF THE RINGS and HARRY POTTER this movie would have never been made. Hopefully more fantasy films are on their way.
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Rating: 7.0 out of 10.0 - 1 vote cast total
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