In case you missed the two-part movie the first time, TNT will be rebroadcasting it on Saturday, July 21st @ 11am andÊMonday, July 30th @ 7pm.

Or you can buy the book the movie was based on from Amazon:

MISTS OF AVALON ON TNT
by Willa, ATF Staff Writer

I have to admit that I'm not all that "in the know" about King Arthur and his court. I mean, I have watched Monty Python's Holy Grail and Disney's Sword in the Stone and a slew of other movies that had to do with the subject, but this mini series, The Mists of Avalon, was a whole new look at everything at the round table.

TNT had been teasing us for a while with this original movie. I can remember as far back as wintertime when they had "behind the scenes" things making us want to see more. Unfortunately, either they ebbed that or I just didn't watch TNT as often because the past few months I had heard nothing about it. It was only because I happened to be browsing through my TiVo's upcoming goodies section that I found it was now playing. So, I set both parts to be recorded and tried to wait patiently.

I do have to say that the wait was rather well worth it. I enjoyed the story and the characters immensely. The basic premise is that the entire story is told through the eyes of the women "behind the throne", which is mainly done by Morgaine (played by Julianna Margulies, formerly of ER), who is the half-sister/tragic lover/confidant to King Arthur. She does a brilliant job of narration (she grew up in England, which explains why she does such a good accent) and her character is a lot more likable than in any of the other movies I've seen her portrayed. You understand where she's coming from a lot more.

Of course, I was a tad bit disappointed that the Lady of the Lake (played by Anjelica Houston) never actually comes up out of the lake. And when she "gives" Excalibur to Arthur, it's not really as dramatic as it could have been. But this is the story from the women's point of view, so I can see where they would back off from the phallic symbols.

Morgaine (known as Morgan La Fey in other versions of the story) is also my favourite character for the shallowest of reasons: she has great costuming. Every one of her dresses is orange and it made me salivate and covet each fiber. I also spent a great deal of the movie lusting after Morgaine's, Morgause's and Gwenhwyfar's (don't worry that's the Welsh spelling...it's still pronounced Guinevere) hair. I haven't had hair lust like that in a long while. I wished that I was one of those dolls with the button on my back so you could push it and watch my hair grow. I wanted to throw all of the scissors out of the house so that I would never be tempted to trim again! (Okay, so I'm a bit dramatic...but you get the picture.)

There was a lot more sex in this movie than I thought there would be. A lot more kinky stuff. Incest, threesomes...you name it, they had it. Made for interesting viewing, that's for sure.

All in all, I would have to say that not only would I buy this movie and watch it over and over again, I would also buy the soundtrack and listen to it as much as I listen to my Owain Phyfe CD. High praise for the high priestesses.

But next time, can the Lady of the Lake just come up out of the water once? Please?

Help keep us online. Book your travel here, or patronize some of these folke:

1. Des Moines Ren Faire (IA)
2. Iowa Ren Festival (IA)
3. Iowa-Minnesota Pirate Fest (IA)
4. Greater Quad Cities Ren Faire (IL)
5. Midlands Pirate Festival (NE)
6. Nebraska Ren Faire (NE)
7. Ren Faire at Sleepy Hollow (IA)

1. thescotsdragon.com
2. threegryphons.com

1. danzamystique.com
2. gypsycomedyshow.com
3. mydragonstories
4. phoenixswords.atthefaire.com
5. piratecomedyshow.com
6. queenbea.atthefaire.com
7. revelers.atthefaire.com
8. wenchville.com

1. anothercrappypodcast.com
2. atthefaire.com
3. crocolyle.atthefaire.com
4. perin.atthefaire.com
5. renbanner.net
6. renreporter.com
7. sirclisto.com

Host your site with ATF and be listed here! $50/year (and the publicity is free!)

Permanent festivals in our area: Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Bristol Renaissance Faire, Des Moines Renaissance Faire and Minnesota Renaissance Festival.
Other ATF sites: DisneyFans.com DMHauntedHouses.com