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| Author: Posted: Nov. 17, 2002 | This Page Viewed: 3,889,725 |
Question of the Week: 51 - 7/23/2001 What Did You Think of 'The Mists of Avalon"? What did you think of the TNT mini-series, 'The Mists of Avalon'? How well did it compare with the book? Were you happy or disappointed with the interpretation? Even if you have not read the book nor seen the movie, what do you think about the Arthurian Legends? Why are they so enduring? Which Arthurian Legend character most speaks to you and why? Do you think that there is a real-life historical basis for the Legends? |
| Reponses: There are 44 responses posted to this question. | Reverse Sort |
| I Can't Even Begin To Comment On How Well The Tv Movie... | Jul 23rd. at 10:28:48 am EDT |
| Richard Gant (Erlanger, Kentucky US) | Age: 29 - Email |
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I can't even begin to comment on how well the TV movie captured the book, because I haven't read the book or seen the movie. (Wow, you'd almost think there was no point to me commenting here. ^_^) However, I think that the Arthurian legends stick around because they speak to a view of "the good old days" (although exactly what "the good old days" means depends on the author...). At some point, I think that everybody has wanted to be a knight in shining armor, riding around the countryside righting wrongs and seeking glory and adventure. It just sounds so much better than a 9 - 5 job. (Hmmm... I can't start a new paragraph. Please bear with my problem hee.) If there is any particular Arthurian character that speaks to me, it would probably be Sir Kay. Boistrous, loud, cheerful, and devoted to his friends. He's a minor character, but I like him. (I like Arthur as well, but I have a harder time relating to him.) (Hmmm... I still can't start a new paragraph. Very disconcerting.)Is there a historical basis for the Arthurian legends? Probably. I think that there is a real-life historical basis for *any* legend. The problem (particularly in the case of the Arthurian legends) is determining *which* legends. The Arthurian legends are a mish-mash (myth-mash?) of Celtic mythology, independent stories of Charlemagne and Lancelot, local folktales, and actual history. This has been told, edited and modified and retold over and over again to the point that it's difficult to impossible to extract history from fiction. I have no doubt that there was a historical basis for Arthur, Merlin, Gwenievere, Lancelot, Morgaine, and all the others. In fact, I'm sure that there were several, all blended together. Because of that, I don't think it will ever be possible to say definitively about *any* historical figure: "*This* is Arthur." |
| After Watching The Mists Of Avalon, I Couldn't Help But Have Two... | Jul 23rd. at 10:28:37 am EDT |
| Akima (Gorham, Maine US) | Age: 30 - Email |
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After watching The Mists of Avalon, I couldn't help but have two different thoughts. As a fictional movie about King Arthur, and the events surrounding him, I applaud. It was great! The movie consentrated more on the legend, and less on special effects and Hollywood hoopla. (Some people may rather see the latter) The acting was great and although it was long enough to make it a two-part mini series, it was not slow moving and dragged out as many mini series are. As a movie based on a legend, or in some people's beliefs, some facts, I thought it was very thought prevoking. Many things in the movie contradicted other stories or legends, which I found to be refreshing, but at the same time, confused. For exsample, not many of the other King Arthur legends or stories mention the Lady of the Lake, or even Arthur's sister. Or the thought of him being Pagan. Again, although confused, I found it a bit refreshing. Also, in all other stories, Lancelot betrayed Arthur the first time he slept with Gwenyvier. (spelling?) In the movie, not only did Arthur know of it, but he also ENGAGED in it. I found this rendition believeabe due to the amount of orgy or sexual parties that happened in that era. To sum it up, I thought it was excellent and applaud the author's intention of bringing Avalon and Paganism into the whole King Arthur legend - BRAVO. |
| I Loved The Movie. I Have Seen It Every Time It Has... | Jul 23rd. at 10:22:47 am EDT |
| Heather (Milton, Florida US) | Age: 19 |
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I loved the movie. I have seen it every time it has aired (three times so far) and by the time it ends, I am always smiling. I'm very happy with it. Its so refreshing to see something that reflects our beliefs on tv, out in public for all to see. Hopefully, it will spread the word on what Paganism really is, to another degree. I'm also in the process of reading the book. I found myself doing both at the same time, and getting more understanding from each as a result. The book takes things much deeper than the movie..goes into the thoughts and feelings of the characters. I know that I will love the rest of the book as I loved the movie. |
| I Love It! And Now I Must Read The Book! Only Thing... | Jul 23rd. at 10:10:49 am EDT |
| Ember (Salisbury, Maryland US) | Age: 23 - Email |
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I love it! And now I must read the book! Only thing I didn't like was the costuming on the "Pagan Extras" and the lack of a May Pole at the Beltain festivals.... The "Pagan Extras" looked like they were dressed kinda like half african, half native american and were very savage looking. The whole point of the movie is that Pagans weren't savages, they were educated people. I did realy like the grain Goddess ritual with the milk and honey being poured into the ground, that was awsome! I have no clue why there was no May Pole for Beltain.... Oh well, other than that It was awsome! |
| I Would Not Know About The Book Or The Series If I... | Jul 23rd. at 8:37:25 am EDT |
| Ciarrai (Somewhere in Somerset County, New Jersey US) | Age: 34 - Email |
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I would not know about the book or the series if I didn't read it here! I don't have cable, but my boyfriend does, but his tv is on the "fritz, " and fades out every 30 minutes, so it would be "movie, snow, movie, snow." I would like to read the book first and plan on doing so. I've always been that way. I haven't made the opportunity for myself to get into Arthurian legends since high school. I remember enjoying all of that "required reading" -- I'm sure I'll enjoy it more now. Thanks as always for "looping" with us! |
| I HavenÕt Read The Books, Nor Watched The Movie, Nor Do I... | Jul 23rd. at 8:06:28 am EDT |
| John (New Naumkeag) | Age: 34 - Email |
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I havenÕt read the books, nor watched the movie, nor do I plan on doing either; it (King Arthur, etc.) just isnÕt that interesting to me. (That said, I must confess that I did enjoy the movie ÒExcaliburÓ years ago ...) As for the Arthurian legends, I donÕt know (IÕm not a medievalist). Personally, it seems to me that they are dimly remembered accounts of the fall of Roman-Celtic Britain to the invading Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes) after the Roman government and military left, embellished with Celtic folklore and Ògood olÕÓ national pride. I suppose they are so enduring because, frankly, itÕs a good story and it fits into the archetype of the Tragic Hero. The Arthurian Legends really donÕt ÒspeakÓ to me beyond that: a good story with good illustrations of heroic archetypes. To me, if there are any contemporary applications, it would be yet another reminder of (IMO) the central lesson of the Hero story: we are all called to be the ÒHeroÓ . . . not in spite of our flawed humanity but because of it and through it, when our lives are lived in Truth. Blessed Be. |
| I Haven't Read The Book, But After Watching This, It's Next On... | Jul 23rd. at 1:26:43 am EDT |
| Mike (Port Orchard, Washington US) | Age: 25 - Email |
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I haven't read the book, but after watching this, it's next on my to read list. And for someone who has no interest in Arthurian Legend, this really held my interest, whic to me is a big feat to accomplish. I know so much more know, as before, my knowlegds on Arthurian Legend extended only to: The Lady "in" the Lake, Arthur, Merlin, The Kights of the Round Table, Excalibur, Sir Lancelot, and Gwynnivir. I had no idea the legend was so rich. The only complaint I have with this mini series is that, as a student of Wicca (I've still a lot of basics to learn, ) it relied too much on the Goddess. I only saw one mention of the God. "The King of the Hunt." Whom Arthur represented in the fertility rites. -Mike |
| Hi, All!; Mists Of Avalon, Or Aurthurian Legends? Well, Moa Has Not... | Jul 22nd. at 11:17:33 pm EDT |
| Tarostar (Toronto, Ontario CA) | Age: 59 - Email |
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Hi, All!; Mists Of Avalon, or Aurthurian Legends? Well, MOA has not reached the level of a cultural classic and icon, yet. The Aurthurian Sagas seem to hold sway over the mind of the Western World, because, on a deep level, they speak to the spiritual essence of most people. Xtrianity is conspicuous by its absence, due to the Authur Saga being a repository for the fading Pagan Lore of the Celts. It holds secrets which pull on the subconscious and inner levels of being only intuitively grasped unless studied in depth. It is the glory of the Pagan Twilight, as MOA just may be a glory of the Pagan re-awakening. MOA shows Paganism as a life-affirming, kind and humane religion and the xtian contrast as coarse, and hard. There seems to be some Hell-fire spewing from some xtian quarters about that. However, that always happens when the judgmental shoe is on the other foot, eh? |
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