Arabian Nights (2000) (TV)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Steve Barron

Writer (WGA):

Peter Barnes (written by)

Release Date:

30 April 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Fantasy | Adventure

Tagline:

When Night Falls, the Adventure Begins!

Plot:

To cure a prince's murderous madness, Scheherezade tells him a series of wonderous stories.

Plot Keywords:

Harem | Arabian Nights | Paranoia | 1001 Nights | South Asian

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Nov. 19	3:00 AM	SYFY
Fri. Nov. 20	3:00 AM	SYFY

Cast

Mili Avital	...	Scheherezade
Alan Bates	...	Storyteller
James Frain	...	Schahzenan / Harun al-Rashid
Tchéky Karyo	...	Black Coda
Jason Scott Lee	...	Aladdin
John Leguizamo	...	Genie of the Lamp / Genie of the Ring
Vanessa Mae	...	Princess Zobeide
Dougray Scott	...	Sultan Shahryar / Amin
Rufus Sewell	...	Ali Baba
Jim Carter	...	Ja'Far
Peter Guinness	...	Chief Executioner
Hugh Quarshie	...	Mustappa
Pik Sen Lim	...	Aladdin's Mother (as Pik-Sen Lim)
Amira Casar	...	Morgiana
Andy Serkis	...	Kasim

Runtime:

175 min | Germany:156 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Antalya Studios, Turkey

Company:

Golden Horn Films

Trivia:

Last film of John Hallam.

Goofs:

Continuity: There are about 20 oil jars in the cart when it is tipped over (in "Ali Baba"). As soon as the jars are shown rolling down the hill, there are obviously far more.

Quotes:

Sultan Schariar: If I marry, my wife should be executed!
Ja'Far: Well, I'm sure we've all felt that way from time to time, sahidi.

Romantic spectacle at its best

Wow. Somehow I had gone through the winter without seeing a trailer for "Arabian Nights," which was why I was all the more astounded when I caught it on tv that Sunday night. This is pure myth-and-magic candy, people, but unlike most effects-laden tv-series, it gets better. A lot better.

Okay, so it gets a little anachronistic at parts, but what really blew me away was the frame tale that held it all together. Scheherazade was played to an intelligent, beguiling perfection by Avital, and Scott was simply spectacular as the half-mad Schariar. These two had great chemistry, and their interactions made for some electric, yet subtle, scenes. Their characters -- and characterizations -- were great, better and more complex than what you normally get in this genre of telemovie-making.

It's a beautiful escapist fantasy with lead characters to root for. Music was on point, direction was well-stylized (though gimmicky and will probably be dated in a little while), performances top-notch without the actos taking themselves too seriously. If you want some classy, sexy, mystical entertainment, give "Arabian Nights" a try. You won't regret it.