buckwheatnoodles

I hate it when otherwise serious shows decide to do a musical episode. If I wanted this kind of entertainment, I'd watch Glee or High School Musical.

Musicals should be left on stage or in a Disney film. Very few musicals translate well to film and cannot match the Golden Age of Hollywood when musicals were choreographed, scored, directed, and performed by those at the top of their craft.

I have no idea who green lit this idea but it makes me have less respect to the powers that be at Paramount.

With the actors and writers strikes in full swing, it is episodes like this that make me question whether or not they come back to work is even worth it.

It seems like the script was cut in ways which inhibited character development. The studio should have paid for a better director of photography. Joey King did a good performance. Direction was good considering what the DP had done. Overall I'd say the fault lay in script, photography, and editing.

Watching this movie made me wonder yet again "How does some of this crap get green lighted by Hollywood?" I could hear the pitch for this film in my head, "Yeah, uh. It's Excalibur meets Star Wars set in Medievel England." Come on, the only worse combination someone could come up with would be "Cowboys and Aliens". (Sorry Mr. Spielberg. Maybe it's time you get rid of your "Yes Men.") The not-so-special effects were so cheesy it was impossible not to rip on it a la "Mystery Science Theater 3000" style. The acting was horrendous in the lead roles and the direction lacked inspiration. The costume department had no concept about the importance of "aging" a costume and the make-up effects for the cyclops were poor even by 1983 standards. (Keep in mind "Star Wars" and "ET" had both been out before this film.

The only redeeming quality was the James Horner musical score. It's a good thing I saw this for free online because if I saw it anywhere else I would've walked out (even if it were an "in flight" movie) and demanded my money back.