The Mists Of Avalon is the magical retelling of the legend of King Arthur and the powerful women behind his throne. Based upon the acclaimed novel by author Marion Zimmer Bradley, TNT's version does the story justice while adding a flavor all of its own. In this rendition, The Mists Of Avalon becomes a story about the struggle between Christianity and Paganism seen thru the eyes of one woman, Morgaine (Julianne Margulies).

When we first enter Camelot we meet the current Queen of England, Igraine (Caroline Goodall) and her two sisters, the devious Morgause (Joan Allen) and Viviane, the High Priestess of Avalon (Angelica Houston). The three adult sisters have taken very different paths in life only to be forever connected by the fates of the mists. Viviane comes to Igraine who still secretly practices paganism, in a vision before ultimately showing her face again in England. When she arrives, Viviane comes out of desperation to save her mysterious world of Avalon. At the time, nay Sayers of Avalon were beginning to outnumber those who believed, and for that the world of Avalon was suffering. Igraine quickly realizes the only way to help Avalon is to sacrifice the life she holds so dear, never knowing the full repercussions of her actions before it is too late.

Before they know it Igraine's children, Morgaine and Arthur, are taken away to follow their destinies. The children are shaken and scared, having being uprooted from their mother, and each other. It is then that Arthur begins his training as a fierce warrior who will one day be the King of England, while Morgaine becomes the apprentice as the next in line as High Priestess of Avalon.

When Morgaine and Arthur (Julianna Marguiles and Edward Atterton) resurface as adults the world that they once knew is very different. Although the children are now grown, they live in a time where it is next to impossible to know who to trust. The battle between Paganism and Christianity is still largely unresolved, as are the individuals who led them to their destinies. The journey that leads us to the magical lands of the mists, to England and back again is an entertaining one full of intrigue, passion and faith.

The Mists Of Avalon, though based on an old legend, is a story that in many ways that is much before its time. The Mists paints a life in which men reigned in terms of supremacy and combat, but truly it was the women who controlled the power behind these men. The fact that the men just prior to and during King Arthur's reign worshiped and obeyed women be it out of fear or respect is a concept not often explored when diving into history. It is refreshing to see a positive portrayal of a strong woman in such otherwise backward times.

Another asset of The Mists Of Avalon is its creation of rich characters. The cast is a large ensemble piece where it must become hard to focus on all the players. One of Mists' greatest strengths however is its intricate portrayal of all characters, big or small. Watching the battle of power unfold between the three sisters, Viviane, Morgause and Igraine, the viewer truly understand each woman's motives for her actions.

Excellent story development goes hand in hand with notable acting performances by the many leads. Joan Allen, known for playing mostly good girl roles, takes a turn her turn at being bad as the selfish and jealous Morgause. At the same time, actress Angelica Houston, known for mainly evil roles, is a force of goodness as Viviane. Samantha Mathis as the confused Gwenhwyfar shines as well. In addition, Julianna Margulies portrayal of Morgaine perfectly captures idealism and strength.

The lead males, although not the main focus, in The Mists Of Avalon, do not disappoint either. Edward Atterton as the adult Arthur captures both the look and the essence of the young king. Also Michael Vartan as Lancelot conveys a strong man with a sad soul convincingly.

Even those who are not fans of the book and/or reading up on the time period will be entertained by this movie. Not unlike recent period pieces Robin Hood, Gladiator or The Last Of The Mohicans, The Mists Of Avalon has all the trappings of a turn of the century classic, with good old-fashioned action, suspense and romance thrown in that is sure to grab any viewer.

Janet Branagan is a freelance writer and pop culture addict from New Jersey.

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