The Last Templar miniseries on NBC (1 Viewer)

[Nelson Au]

I didn't see any comments on this miniseries that just aired last Sunday and Monday. I had no idea it was to air or what it was about. I just happen to have caught a short interview with Mira Sorvino talking about it and thought it was a made for cable project.

I saw it and enjoyed it. I read it was based on a novel which I have not read. And I have no knowledge of the Templars, so this was all new to me. From what I read, the film changed a few things from the book.

It was a fun little romp and I liked the characters. Mira Sorvino did well in her role as an archaeologist. (If not a female version of Indiana Jones) Scott Foley was engaging as well and I liked the relationship that developed between the leads. Always nice to see the versatile Victor Garber back in action as a bad dude. In this case, a priest with a secret!

I had to wonder about the many Indiana Jones references. Were they attempts at paying homages or cheap rip-offs. I refer to the scene in the church where there are rats running around.

I was a little confused by what the Templars were up to during the flashback sequence at the end, but I got the idea.

Nice production values too. I have a feeling Sorvino would like to do another one as I guess this is a series of books? Nice to see her do TV work.

 

[todd s]

So it was 2-parts? I just happen to see it listed right before it aired. So I set it on my dvr. Then I saw it on again last night and wasn't sure if it was a second part or they were re-airing (which NBC does sometimes). When I looked up the info. It said nothing about it being part 2. Oh well. I guess I can delete part one.

 

[Josh Dial]

I watched this, and while I am generally extremely easy-to-entertain, I found this mini-series to be borderline unwatchable.

Virtually every cliche in the book was called upon (from falling through the building, to the "kiss," et cetera), and none of them were implemented well. The last 30 minutes on the island was just stupid, and the entire religion/science stuff was just phoned in.

Further, there were some moments that were just moronic, like when Sorvino realized a day later, that the site would be under metres of volcanic ash and soil. Gee, no kidding genius, perhaps that's why you brought the frakking shovels?!

The first 2 hours were utterly useless, and could have been cut to about 30 minutes (with commercials), and the last hour or so was just poor.

Rest assured I won't be watching "The Last Templar 2: Electric Boogaloo."

However, the one thing I liked about the show was that the technology, such as the cell-phone GPS and the digital photo enchancing, actually looked real. I'm sure this was partly due to the fact that a limited budget forced the show to use real props, rather than CGI, but it looked authentic, which was nice. Also, the gun play was actually pretty good, too.

 

[todd s]

The one part I did see was the scene where the Templar Knights ride into the museum and rob the place. Now, as soon as they beheaded the first cop. The others would have drawn their guns and fired before they all went inside and taken a hostage.

 

[Nelson Au]

I missed the whole museum part, I tuned in late. I was enjoying watching Sorvino, her faced looked so different.

I agree it was riddled with cliches and you knew what was going to happen. No surprises. The plot was interesting enough to get me to watch part 2 and I knew the romance was going to start picking up.

But I agree, i was not a great piece of film making, but it was fun enough.

 

[Karl_Luph]

After seeing the commercials the last 2 or 3 weeks,I was looking forward to seeing this. Needless to say, after watching the first 10 minutes, I was disappointed at how cheesy this show was going to be. Yep, Todd S. had it right about that opening scene, after the first cop got killed,there would have been so much lead flying into these guys on horseback, come on, is the viewing public supposed to be so gullible as to believe there wouldn't be more armed security??? Anywho, I watched both nights and will give it 4 stars out of 10.The best part would be seeing Mira Sorvino again after many years, she looked nice.

 

[Diallo B]

this was laugh out loud terrible. i can't believe that the networks suits greenlit this after seeing the first ten minutes. HOWEVER, it was one of the best video and audio presentations that i have ever seen on nbc. i watched it simply for that. the ac-3 mix was outstanding. wide, expansive, clear with good and accurate bass punch. it even had good use of the surrounds without making them seem out of place.

with that said it was still damn terrible.

nbc cancels journey man, my own worst enemy and keeps knight rider and puts this crap on. no wonder they are hurting.

 

[todd s]

++++1