Avalon High

As much as I like the actors who make up the cast, I was expecting this to be very similar to the book. It differed greatly. I finally decided to watch the movie and as I was watching, I felt like it wasn't like the book I read years ago. I reread the book right after I finished the movie and yup, different. For a disney channel movie (I think this premiered on there), it's not bad. I think what happened was that Disney deemed the book too dark and possibly more romantic for it to be a kids/tween/teen movie. The movie changed a lot of important details and missed out on many scenes. I was disappointed bc I love the book. I would have preferred for it to been a tv show or have another company with less censorship do it, such as Netflix.

I haven't read the book but from what I have researched into it the movie actually brought surprises and switched it up compared to the book. So I appreciate that.

The overall plot is very slow and what promises a "fantasy" genre story isn't the case until the last 20 minutes. Before that it's full of teen melodrama that is stretched so thin that you really don't care for any characters.

I stumbled on this one after reading Britt Robertson's biography. Britt plays the lead role of Allie Pennington.

Being a television movie and a Disney Channel one at that, I didn't expect much, but what a surprise.

Very well acted, funny, lots of action especially near the end, a bit of romance and general all round good fun. I really liked Allie Pennington's parents played by Don Lake and Ingrid Park, they did a very good job and made me smile each time they were on screen.

A great movie that all ages could watch, no over the top violence to speak of and the sword fighting is quite well done.

I haven't read the book that this is based on so can't say whether it is true to the book or not, but based on some of the reviews by reviewers who have it doesn't do the book justice. I can not comment on that, I liked the movie for itself. It stands on its own. Well done Disney Channel.

Highly recommended and I would very likely watch this again, it is a feel good movie.

This is not your average review and this is not your average movie.

Imagine a world when someone not familiar with western culture stumbles onto a random Harry Potter movie? Or a Matrix entry? Do you think with no prior point of reference they would "get" the film as intended? My point is this -- I am a big fan of the Arthur legend and have read a lot about it, both fiction and non-fiction. I am one of several million people (approximately) who finds the core story moving and compelling and almost visceral.

This movie, which even a casual observer will see does not follow the "usual" Disney formula, and is almost entirely plot-driven, and was clearly written by a Arthur buff. And if you are an Arthur buff when you see it, it will have much more impact than the reviews here would indicate.

So, that said, this is a solid film and a young Britt Robertson has more than enough charm to keep things moving to the conclusion.

For those intrigued by the POV expressed in this review and want more, I suggest Excalibur (1981) for film buffs and "The Forever King" by Molly Cochrane for readers.

It will be well worth the effort.

Allie Pennington transfers to a new school, Avalon High, where she discovers that her classmates are reincarnated King Arthur and his court. Now her mission is to solve the school's mystery before Mordred wins again. Allie also meets the school's football quarterback, Will Wagner (Gregg Sulkin), who brings the Arthurian legend back to a contemporary high school. Allie believes that Will is King Arthur and that Marco, the evil half-brother is Mordred.

Despite all the fantasy around, about King Arthur and his Round Table, which sounds banal and childish, silly and silly, however I found the romance, betrayal, past-present, very nice to watch, all very predictable, just like the real thing villain, nothing surprising, the effects, simple, almost fiasco, but who cares, focus on Disney magic and exalted female power (this one is surprising), cute...