Earthsea
Originally broadcast asLegend of Earthseain December 2004, the Sci-Fi Channel's four-hour miniseries ofEarthsearides the coattails of theLord of the Ringstrilogy with its quest-driven story of humble blacksmith Ged (Shawn Ashmore), a wizard-to-be who is mentored by the magical Ogion (Danny Glover) as he seeks to preserve the realm of Earthsea from the evil King Tygath (Sebastian Roché). Ged's adventures lead him to the priestess Tenar (Kristen Kreuk, fromSmallville) and with secrets shared by High Priestess Thar (Isabella Rossellini), they gain the power to prevail over Tygath. As presented by Robert Halmi Sr. (producer ofMerlin,Gulliver's Travelsand several other fantasy miniseries), this skeletal rendering ofEarthseaboasts a wealth of digital effects and semi-lavish set design, but Ashmore's lack of charisma hampers a production already fraught with problems. It provoked the wrath of fantasy fans and a firm rejection by author Ursula K. Le Guin, who had watched helplessly (she wasn't involved or consulted) as her classic novelsA Wizard of EarthseaandThe Tombs of Atuanwere racially "whitewashed" (in Le Guin's words) nearly beyond recognition. As TV fantasy goes,Earthseais admirably ambitious, but best enjoyed by those with no awareness of the classic books it isveryloosely based on.--Jeff Shannon