Dragons of Camelot

I finally got around to watching The Dragons of Camelot (2014).

Directed by Mark K. Lester, the production was filmed on location in Wales and serves as a continuation of the Arthurian story that pits Arthurian heroes against Morgan le Fay (and her dragon allies) for rule of the country after Arthur's death. Lancelot and Guinevere play pivotal roles as does their son, Galahad. He is aided in his quest by former Grail seekers Bors, Percival and his sister, Dindrane. Merlin is also featured and is instrumental to Morgan's defeat. There are some notable divergences from the tradition, but the film does make a useful contribution to the After-Arthur subgenre.

The dvd release includes a short documentary on the making of the film.

Brennan on BBC's Merlin

From the latest number of Arthuriana:

Brennan, Joseph. “ ‘You Could Shame the Great Arthur Himself’: A Queer Reading of Lancelot from BBC’s Merlin with Respect to the Character in Malory, White, and Bradley.” Arthuriana 25.2 (Summer 2015): 20-43.

Accessible at Project MUSE at http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/arthuriana/v025/25.2.brennan.html.

TF1's Merlin Mini-Series

The French television network TF1 aired a two-part miniseries called Merlin in 2012 . There is sparse information online about the series (see the sidebar under 2010-2019 productions), but the film, a comedic retelling of the Arthurian legend, offers yet another Merlin-centered version of the story.

Part one opens with a very Gandalf-looking Merlin (played by Gérard Jugnot) at the court of Uther Pendragon, where he helped raise and educate the young Arthur and (sometimes) Guenièvre. Ten years later, a less hirsute Merlin retires to Brocéliande after Arthur has grown up and begins to live with Viviane and her son Lancelot. However, Merlin is called back when Camelot is threatened by Arthur's cousin, Morgane, (herself a powerful magic-wielder, trained by her aged aunt) and her ally the barbarian king Vortigern (!) on the eve (?) of Arthur and Guenièvre's wedding. (Morgane had, apparently, expected to marry Arthur and become queen.) Merlin, Viviane, and Lancelot spend some time at court here, and (I think) the two mages are instrumental in stopping Morgane and Vortigern at this time. However, the villains return in part two, and Merlin is ill-prepared because the title of part one, "L'Enchanteur Désenchanté," refers to the fact that Merlin loses his powers as the years pass and he falls in love with Viviane and becomes a surrogate parent for Lancelot.

Taking place seven years later, part two, "Le Secret de Brocéliande," centers on Merlin's struggles to regain his magic in order to save the realm and restore Guenièvre to flesh after she has been turned, by the returned Morgane, into stone. This section also focuses on a quest for the Grail undertaken by Merlin and a teenaged Lancelot--the prophesied Grail-winner--to save Viviane, who is held by Morgane.

There are lots of images and some plot summary at the series official site (http://www.tf1.fr/merlin/) but no video. The following trailer comes from YouTube:

Lancelot in Night at the Museum 3

A bearded and long-haired, Dan Stevens (of Downton Abbey fame) is set to play Lancelot in the upcoming film Night at Museum 3, which takes place at the British Museum. Some fuzzy images of Stevens have been posted on the Daily Mail website at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2548648/Dan-Stevens-gallops-London-set-Sir-Lancelot-installment-action-franchise-Ben-Stiller.html and the first trailer is promised to be released soon.

Lancelot on Once Upon a Time

A much belated post:

The recent episode "Lady of the Lake" (14 October 2012) of the ABC fantasy-drama series Once Upon a Time featured an extended appearance by Sir Lancelot, played by African American actor Sinqua Walls. Walls offers details about his role in an interview for TV Fanatic at http://www.tvfanatic.com/2012/09/sinqua-walls-speaks-on-sir-lancelot-dangerous-addition-to-once-u/ and the Once Upon a Time Wiki includes some details about the character at http://onceuponatime.wikia.com/wiki/Sir_Lancelot.

The following trailer appears from the televisionpromos channel on YouTube:

Merlin on BBC America

BBC America begins this month airing the BBC1 series Merlin. A marathon of season one starts this Friday (8 June) night at 8 PM and runs through Saturday (9 June) morning at 8 AM. Conveniently, the season is also rerun Saturday from 9 AM through 10 PM followed at 10 PM with episode one of season two. Check out the online schedule for any changes: http://www.bbcamerica.com/schedule/. The network also now includes a page (http://www.bbcamerica.com/merlin/), filled with information and images, for the series on its website.

The remaining episodes of season two air Saturday nights later in the month with two episodes each night, the first at 9 PM and the second at 10 PM.

More Fate/Stay Night

The English dub of the animated feature film Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works, which features various mythological and legendary figures (including a female King Arthur) in combat for the Holy Grail, comes to home video this month from Sentai Filmworks:

Having spent the last ten years of his life studying under a mysterious sorcerer, Shiro Emiya has become a Magi. As such, she can summoned the mystical female warrior, Saber, to stand in the ultimate test of sorcery and magic: the Holy Grail War. While seven teams will enter the battle, only one will leave. Is that worth the price Shiro must ultimately pay? The battle is on in FATE/STAY NIGHT – UNLILMITED BLADEWORKS!

The film follows the "official" storyline of the franchise as opposed to the composite one presented in the anime series Fate/Stay Night, which (as far as I can determine) is the only one to expand on Saber's past as King Arthur.

Apparently, there is also a prequel series Fate/Zero currently showing as an anime series on Japanese television (and now on Hulu.com at http://www.hulu.com/fatezero). The series depicts the last Holy Grail War ten years ago and introduces Lancelot.

Merlin on DVD

Season three of Merlin has just been released to DVD and Blu-Ray for North American audiences. Extras include the following:
 

• Audio Commentary

• Making of Merlin Series 3
• Deleted Scenes
• Outtakes
• Wallpaper
• Gallery

This was an important season in terms of the Morgana arc and, under the tutelage of Morgause, saw her turn completely to the "Dark Side," while Merlin grew in power and confidence in his abilities. Arthur also matured as a man and leader, and the genesis of the Round Table fellowship was featured near the end of the season. Season four premiered this month on SyFy. 

Arthurian TV This Month

I just posted (late as usual) to the Medieval Studies at the Movies blog regarding upcoming releases on Chiller and SyFy. Relevant programming for the remainder of the month includes:

Chiller:
WEDNES., 7/20
10:00A ET The Twilight Zone (1985): The Last Defender Of Camelot


SyFy: (Legend Quest is a new reality show)
WEDNES., JULY 20
10:00 PM Legend Quest: Excalibur/lost Cintamani Stone

THURS., JULY 21
12:00 AM Legend Quest: Excalibur/lost Cintamani Stone

WEDNES., JULY 27
10:00 PM Legend Quest: Holy Lance/incan Golden Sun Disc

THURS., JULY 28
12:00 AM Legend Quest: Holy Lance/incan Golden Sun Disc

FRI., JULY 29
12:00 AM Legend Quest: Excalibur/lost Cintamani Stone
01:00 AM Legend Quest: Holy Lance/incan Golden Sun Disc

Merlin Season 3 Coming to SyFy Next Week

SyFy premieres season 3 of BBC1's Merlin next Friday. Here is the teaser from BBC1's YouTube Channel:

Avalon High on iTunes

The recent telefilm Avalon High, which aired earlier this month on The Disney Channel, can now be downloaded from iTunes for $9.99. No official word yet on a DVD release or if/when it might be available for download on Amazon.com.

Early Avalon High Review

The following was posted on EW.com and featured in the 12 November 2010 edition of Entertainment Weekly:

Avalon High

Even by the standards of wholesome movies about teenage reincarnations of King Arthur's court, Avalon High is as silly as cutting down a tree with a herring. Nevertheless, Britt Robertson (Life Unexpected) is a capable lead and the New Zealand locales impress. B-— John Young

The telefilm airs Friday, 12 November, from 8-9:45 PM EST. 

More on Avalon High from The Disney Channel

An assortment of videos on the upcoming Avalon High from The Disney Channel's YouTube Channel (FYI some of these may repeat earlier posts):

More on Avalon High

AVALON HIGH Trailer

The Disney Channel has recently posted the trailer for Avalon High on its YouTube channel:




Photos from the film can be viewed at The Disney Channel's MediaNet site, and some additional interviews with the cast have also been posted online: Greg Sulkin and Chris Tavarez.

AVALON HIGH Telefilm Updates

The Disney Channel's Avalon High is now set to premiere on 12 November according to the following press release distributed online:

LEGEND LIVES ON AT AVALON HIGH

BRITT ROBERTSON AND GREGG SULKIN STAR IN DISNEY CHANNEL'S ORIGINAL MOVIE "AVALON HIGH," A MODERN DAY TWIST ON CAMELOT, PREMIERING FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12

"Avalon High," a new Disney Channel Original Movie that puts a contemporary twist on Arthurian legend, premieres FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel and Disney Mobile for Sprint TV, MobiTV and Flo TV. Starring Britt Robertson ("Life Unexpected") and Gregg Sulkin ("Wizards of Waverly Place," Disney Channel UK's "As the Bell Rings"), the movie is based upon the award-winning novel by best-selling author Meg Cabot ("The Princess Diaries"). It follows Allie, a transfer student to Avalon High, who discovers that her new classmates are reincarnations of King Arthur and his Court.

Beginning Friday, October 15, DisneyChannel.com invites users to participate in a weekly "Trivia Challenge" on Arthurian legend. Each week a new set of questions will be released leading up to the premiere. Players must complete all five weeks of trivia to earn virtual gems that will unlock a mystery game.

An exclusive preview of "Avalon High" will be available beginning Friday, November 5, on Disney Channel on Demand to a variety of affiliates including Cablevision, Time Warner and Verizon FiOS TV customers.

In "Avalon High," Allie Pennington is ecstatic when her parents, traveling professors, tell her she will be staying at Avalon High until she graduates. She can finally join the track team, make new friends and be a normal high school student. But shortly after arriving, Allie discovers that something strange may be afoot. While researching a term paper on King Arthur's legacy, she begins to notice some interesting parallels between the past and the present - from handsome quarterback Will, his cheerleader girlfriend, Jen, and their best friend, Lance, to Will's brooding step-brother, Marco, a quirky kid named Miles and football players who act like knights of the roundtable. The deeper Allie searches, the more convinced she is that her school is a contemporary Camelot, and it's up to her to solve the mystery of Avalon High before notorious traitor Mordred wins again.

The movie stars Britt Robertson as Allie Pennington, Gregg Sulkin as Will Wagner, Joey Pollari (Disney XD's "Skyrunners") as Miles, Devon Graye ("Dexter") as Marco, Molly Quinn ("Castle") as Jen, Chris Tavarez ("Big Momma's House 2") as Lance, Don Lake ("The Bonnie Hunt Show") as Allie's Dad and Steve Valentine ("I'm In The Band," "Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie," "Crossing Jordan") as Mr. Moore.

The teleplay, based upon the book written by Meg Cabot, was written by Julie Sherman Wolfe ("JONAS," "Phil of the Future") and Amy Talkington ("Confessions"). "Avalon High" was directed and co-produced by Stuart Gillard (Disney Channel's "Hatching Pete," "90210"); executive produced by Michael Jaffe ("The Informant!") and Howard Braunstein ("The Informant!") and produced by Janine Dickins ("Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior," "Power Rangers Operation Overdrive"). "Avalon High" is a production of Sudden Motion Productions, Inc. and Ranger Productions Ltd.

Disney Channel is a 24-hour kid-driven, family television network that taps into the world of kids and families through original series and movies. Currently available on basic cable in over 99 million U.S. homes and to millions of other viewers on Disney Channels around the world, Disney Channel is part of the Disney/ABC Television Group.

Avalon High pictures

I found some downloadable pictures of the cast. In order, here are Jen, Marco, Allie, Will, Lance, Miles, and Mr. Moore in the back.

Avalon High pictures posted

The Disney Dreaming web site has a series of informal cast shots of the actors featured in the upcoming Disney Channel film Avalon High based on the best-selling young adult novel by Meg Cabot. Images can be accessed at http://www.disneydreaming.com/2010/07/31/disney-channel-avalon-high-pictures/.

According to the accompanying information, there also appears to be two new characters, Miles and Sean, being introduced but it is unknown at this time if they too are reincarnations of an Arthurian figure like A. William "Will" Wagner (Arthur), Elle Harrison (Lady of the Lake) (called Allie Pennington here), Lance (Lancelot) (now of African descent [like Guinevere in the BBC1's Merlin), Jenny (Guinevere) (called Jen here), Marco (Mordred), and Mr. Morton (Merlin) (called Mr. Moore here).