Barnes & Noble

Inspired in equal measure by unabashedly retro action movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark and the exotic high-adventure novels of Talbot Mundy and H. Rider Haggard, this TNT cable network movie combines an interesting premise with cute characters and theatrical-quality production values. ER's Noah Wyle portrays Flynn Carsen, a 30-something egghead whose encyclopedic knowledge of ancient cultures lands him a job as curator of a secret museum that reposes beneath the mammoth New York Metropolitan Library. This subterranean structure houses many of the world's most amazing historical artifacts, among them the fabled Golden Fleece, the sword Excalibur, and even the Ark of the Covenant. When one of these incomparable treasures, the Spear of Destiny, is stolen from under his very nose, Flynn embarks upon a lengthy and dangerous quest to recover it. Wyle, definitely a sensitive, intellectual type rather than a rugged hero, is perfectly cast as the slightly dorky protagonist. An attractive female counterpart appears in the shapely form of Sonya Walger, playing no-nonsense soldier of fortune Nicole Noone. Twin Peaks' Kyle MacLachlan makes a suave villain, and Kelly Hu is not only decorative but also blood-curdling as his lethal henchwoman. (Note to Ms. Hu's agent: This young woman is talented, but she has played a nearly identical role in at least one film too many.) As good as the principal players are, it's Bob Newhart who very nearly steals the show as a hard-boiled ex-Marine with seemingly magical powers. Director Peter Winther, obviously aware that he's working with familiar plot material, does his best to play up the relationship between mild-mannered Flynn and tough-as-nails Nicole. The story unfolds at a measured pace, with action sequences taking place at appropriate intervals, and while there's never much doubt as to the ultimate outcome, you can count on some surprises along the way. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

A "professional student" lands a truly remarkable job in this witty made-for-TV fantasy adventure. Flynn Carsen (Noah Wyle) is a 30-year-old graduate student who has managed to collect a whopping 22 university degrees; despite his brilliance, shy Flynn seems to have a hard time with the real world, and his mentor at school finally has him expelled so he can start putting his knowledge to work. Things are not much better for him at home, where his mother, Margie (Olympia Dukakis), wants him to meet a nice girl and settle down on his own. Needing a job, Flynn finds an unexpected opening with the New York Metropolitan Library, where Judson (Bob Newhart) and Charlene (Jane Curtin) hire him to look after a special collection. And a very special collection it is -- unknown to the world, the library has been caring for the world's most precious relics, including the Holy Grail, Pandora's Box, the Golden Fleece, the Sword of Excalibur and the Mona Lisa (the real one...turns out the Louvre only has a copy). It isn't long before Flynn learns how dangerous his job can be when he's approached by Lana (Kelly Hu) and Rhodes (David Dayan Fisher), members of a secret underground mob known as the Serpent Brotherhood who happen to know that Flynn is the new guardian of the Spear of Destiny -- and will stop at nothing to take it from him. Mark Deming

Product Details

• UPC: 053939690125
• Source: TURNER HOME ENT
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital Surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Español
• Time: 1:46:00
• Sales Rank: 986

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