Sci Fi Channel Movie(s) Report

I'm currently watching The Phantom on the Sci Fi Channel. I knew that it starred Billy Zane and Kristy Swanson but I had no idea that Catherine Zeta-Jones was in it too! (Other actors of note include Treat Williams and James Remar.) It's actually not such a great movie but I like it all the same, largely due to the actors and actresses involved, not to mention the comic book (strip) ties and sci-fi aspects.

Two Sci Fi Channel movies of note and potential interest:

Darklight premieres next Saturday, Sep. 18, at 9 PM. The story:

A secret society fights evil with evil in this atmospheric original thriller.

Shiri Appleby (TV's Roswell), Richard Burgi (The Sentinel, SCI FI Pictures' Decoys), John de Lancie (Q from the Star Trek franchise) and David Hewlett (Stargate Atlantis, SCI FI Pictures' Boa vs. Python, the indie hit Cube) star in this tale of an ancient demoness named Lilith, who has been captured by a secret society known as The Faith.

Her true nature concealed by a powerful spell, Lilith lives as a 24-year-old woman with no memory of her ageless past — until William Shaw (Burgi) of The Faith recruits her to help him stop the Demonicos, a rampaging monster that is spreading a lethal plague across the Earth and whose only vulnerability is to Lilith's unique mystical power, known as Darklight.

As the duo race to slay the creature, they unwittingly expose a treacherous conspiracy within The Faith itself. Lilith has the power to set things right — but now that she has been reawakened to her true nature, will she resume her own evil ways? Trusting her is a life-or-death gamble for humanity, but it's one that William Shaw has no choice but to take.

This one certainly intrigues me! I guarantee I'll watch it and report back to you.

In December, the Sci Fi Channel will show Earthsea:

An angry, headstrong youth, whose magical power could rival that of the greatest wizards....

A beautiful young priestess, introduced to evil....

A warrior king who wields words and weapons with equal force....

All on a world of islands and incantations, mystics and maidens, prophesies and power. All on EARTHSEA.

The SCI FI Original Miniseries Earthsea will premiere as a two-night television event in December 2004. The four-hour coming-of-age fantasy stars Shawn Ashmore as the young mage-in-training Ged; Kristin Kreuk as the priestess Tenar; Isabella Rossellini as High Priestess Thar; and Danny Glover as the master wizard Ogion. Produced by Hallmark Entertainment in association with Bender-Brown Productions, Earthsea is written by Gavin Scott (The Mists of Avalon) for executive producers Robert Halmi, Sr. (Merlin, Gulliver's Travels, Animal Farm), Lawrence Bender (Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction) and Kevin Kelly Brown (Roswell).

Adapted from Ursula K. Le Guin's award-winning Earthsea novels, this epic fantasy follows the tale of a reckless youth destined to become the greatest sorcerer that the mystical world of Earthsea has ever known. When the difficult and rebellious Ged discovers the extent of his magical powers, he seeks to master the ancient arts — and his own impulses as well. As he journeys to manhood, he will combat dragons, fall in love, cross death's threshold and ultimately wield the power to reunite a planet.

Frequently mentioned in the company of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth and C.S. Lewis's Narnia, Earthsea is thought to be one of the great fantasy creations. Le Guin, beloved by readers of all ages, has received accolades including five Hugo Awards, five Nebula Awards and the National Book Award. The Earthsea books have been translated into 16 languages, with millions of copies in print.

This one also intrigues me. Unfortunately, I'll have to wait about three months to report on it.

I have fairly high hopes for these two Sci Fi Channel Movies. I've watched some good ones in the past, e.g. Absolon, Cliver Barker presents Saint Sinner, Matthew Blackheart: Monster Smasher and The Breed.