Top Ten Pretty Shots Vol.01

We analyze a lot of media here in the Fortress.  (Amongst all this monochromatic ice and crystal can you blame us?)  Some shots struck us as memorably pretty, but either there was no room for them in the take or we chose not to even make a take.

So here are 10 shots we thought were pleasing to the eye and not to be overlooked:

Melanie Thierry from Canone Inverso. A film we cared little about, but she sure looked good.

You may recognize Thierry from Babylon AD. Another film in which we were more interested, but still did not feel strongly enough to write a take.

Upon reexamination of those two above pictures we surmise an 87% chance of lip injections.

Michelle Ryan had the bad girl look some guys find appealing in Merlin.

Reviewing the two above pictures we surmise there is a 96% chance Ryan has nailed the “confident bad-girl smirk”.

While we could take or leave Rise of the Lycans, Rhona Mitra left an impression.

Katie McGrath is reason enough to watch Merlin.

There is a 64% chance that Mitra and McGrath are going to start a British trend in female stars with pretty, well-defined jaws.

Here is our take on Merlin Season 1.

Olga Kurylenko is easier on the eyes than her name is on the lips. That aside, she has a versatile look that can go both hard and cute.

Here is our take on Quantum of Solace.

Kathleen Mealia stole the show in Au Pair III. As Senator Palpatine said to young Anakin at the end of Phantom Menace, "We'll follow your career with great interest."

Despite the high probability of artificial parts, there is a 100% chance that Mealia is a hottie.

Here is our take on Au Pair III: Adventure in Paradise.

Merlin [2008] (BBC) Season 1. 13 Episodes

This BBC production is a different take on young Merlin and his introduction into the era of Camelot.  Merlin is still learning about his powers, Arthur is still a prince, Morgana is still good, and Guinevere is still a… servant girl?  Well, they may take some creative license, but on a whole it works.  In many ways it is an “Arthurian Smallville”.

The quality is high but done cleverly on a budget in a number of ways including limiting expensive effects shots and shooting in a real castle.  The quality and good casting helps you buy into the pre-traditional premises.  The whole cast with two exceptions fit their parts from the start with little adjustment.

Katie McGrath as Morgana. She has a lovely jaw.

The two exceptions are Guinevere and Merlin himself.  No offense against Angel Coulby who plays a very non-traditional Guinevere, she seems like a nice girl.  Just miscast.  Perhaps the producers were going PC and wanted to round out the ethnicity of the olde English cast.  As for Merlin, we are so used to seeing him in a skull cap and wielding his staff.  This young, scrawny and unsure version is different, but even so quickly grows on you as the underdog.

Arthur (Bradley James) is brash, but with a heart. (Morgana kicks butt with a sword too? We in the Fortress can appreciate a girl with all these qualities. 😉 )

Michelle Ryan played the hauntingly pretty Nimueh (and did so without her Bionics).

Since the cast is not yet ready for their traditional roles the producers dug into the lore for the season 1 arc villain.  They found Nimueh, a practitioner of the old magics.  She is angry at Arthur’s father, King Uther for his ruthless suppression all magic users.  It is a slightly shallow message against intolerance but it works as her motivation.

The magic is interesting but inconsistent.  In one episode Merlin seems to locally stop time, and in another where such a power would save him he seems to not have it.  Thus it is hard to get a grip on his magical limits.  This undercut some of the plot complications.  Regarding those the writing quality was high overall, but the magic usage per episode was inconsistent.  This was due to budget and to the occasionally questionable writing choice.

Merlin (Colin Morgan) and Nimueh:  Ahh, this can only end badly.

In the final episode of the season they ramp Merlin’s magic up from out of nowhere.  It makes for great shots as Merlin confronts Nimueh in some old ruins.  You almost feel sorry for Nimueh.  Everybody comes to her with requests, which she grants – clearly explaining the terms.  But Merlin does not like it and displays powers out of step with his growth and character.  The duel is entertaining and what you probably were hoping to see more of this season.

Merlin kicks butt at last in episode 13. If only he had known earlier that the key is splaying his fingers.

There is a dragon wonderfully voiced by John Hurt chained under the castle.  The computer generated creature is well done and plays a part in the creation of another Arthurian icon, Excalibur.  In fact, they managed to touch on most of the important Arthurian plot points including a young Mordred.

Merlin & friend?:   Seeking advice from a dragon with a British accent.

I especially like the portrayal of Morgana by the lovely Katie McGrath.  She is sympathetic and a scene stealer.  It is sad really that she has to eventually go bad.  So watch this season if you want to get behind her while you can.  Her transition is made somewhat possible by the depiction of King Uther as a conflicted and tragic authoritarian figure bent on destroying magic despite its role in his past… or because of it.

There is a lot of schlock out there.  Merlin is not.  It is worth your time if you have any interest in the genre.

Our Takes on all the Merlin Seasons:

Merlin [2008] Season 1

Merlin [2009] Season 2

Merlin [2010] Season 3

Merlin [2011] Season 4

Merlin [2011] Season 5

See a couple more pics of Katie McGrath and Michelle Ryan in Top Ten Pretty Shots Vol.01.