Wake up, Netflix generation: that wasnt just a couple years back.
That was 2006, which is now officially ten years ago.
Can you believe it?
Its been a whole decade sinceBasic Instinct 2came out.
Its aGame of Thronesrip-off!
Somebody step on it!
Its okay.The Shannara Chroniclesisnt a blatant rip-off ofGame of Thrones; its just marketed that way.
WhatShannarais blatantly ripping off is, actually,Star Wars.
Oh, and Tolkien too.
All the Tolkien ever.
Cant forget to pay homage to him if youre an epic fantasy book series.
(There might be a dash ofHarry Potterthrown in there too, just to taste.)
And speaking as someone who has been an over-stimulated eight year-old, I dig that.
When I found out that Millar and Gough were the team behindShannara, I was surprised.
In that respect, its the better series of the two.
Its vision is more realized, it has a clearer direction, and (most importantly) momentum.
Plus, its kind of gorey.
Yes, its derivative.
Yes, itsStar Warschased with a shot ofLord of the Rings.
But its the light-hearted high fantasy TV series that we wished existed in the 1980s but didnt.
We have it now.
You dont have to get by onLegend of the Seekerreruns anymore.
The atmospheric touches manage to elevate the most contrived plot point to blockbuster material.
Is there a more perfect time for a show likeThe Shannara Chroniclesto come out than now?
No way in Helheim would another series get away with the sheer amount of recycling this show does.
Its not what you say, its how you say it.
This must have been the mantra during production onShannara.
The acting, on the other hand, is merely adequate.
Thats the most realistic adjective I can use to describe the performances.
The actors know that theyre there to sell the story, but theyre not the stars of the show.
Theyre there to compliment the special effects.
(No, I take that back.Shannaras acting iswaybetter.)
WIl is Luke Skywalker as played by Isaac Hanson, with Elijah Wood as inspiration.
Eretria is a sexy gypsy thief portrayed by the girl fromPans Labyrinth.
Jonathan Rhys Davies, who was in Lord of the Rings too, plays King Eventine.
Dagdas sequences were so creatively delivered and visually realized that I was spellbound whenever he was on screen.
Is he Wils dad who used to Elfstones too much?
And, still, each snipped that is coughed up doesnt sound so bad.
They manage to keep the action going and the majestic set pieces coming, so who cares.
So,The Shannara Chronicles.Star Warscover band, orLord of the Ringsfan film?
(Or a sequel toKrull?)
Ill let you decide that.
This is MTV, after all.
I, for one, am going to enjoy it for what it is.
Rating:
3.5 out of 5
