So tonight was the 3rd installment of the Librarian series on TNT Network. The series stars Noah Wyle as the titular character, essentially the foremost uber-nerd. His character is the vessel of facts both obscure and pertinant as documented throughout written history. And he is our vehicle to plumb the truth of many of the legends we have all heard of, to some degree.
The start of the program takes us through a very specific path through the prior 2 features. It focuses mainly on the first adventure, and the assistant to the Librarian Nicole. I found that interesting to note since the female lead in the 2nd feature was about as emaciated as fish after a cat has gotten thru with it. Seriously, all I could think about when that actress was on the screen was how anorexia is so pervasive and acceptable in Hollywood.
But focusing on this new story we find that our near hapless hero is stressed out. He can't keep a single girlfriend for more than 6 months, and its driving him mad. Or at least highly unfulfilled. And so he needs to take a vacation.
This program being what it is, the mystical and legendary take a strong role in what we learn of. Thus it is a vision of a woman calling for our hero that determines where he will vacation. And many is the guy (or woman) that wishes the person of their dreams would lead them on a vacation.
This then takes our adventure to New Orleans. The plot from this point takes it's cues from various Anne Rice and other similar pop culture on vampires.
The real question is if this entire television movie is worth the time to see it. And the answer is both yes and no. The majority of the program is enjoyable enough. Wyle is a good actor and his portrayal is humorous and likeable. At this point in the series though his character is both terribly naive and more than a bit gullible. You have to wonder, and as Bob Newhart's character notes, does he realize where he is work?
The location shots are nice. The plot is thin if not constantly in motion so as to hide the plot holes as much as possible. And the acting of all the other characters is par in general. Were this a movie in a theater it just wouldn't do, but for the small screen it's better than most offerings.
But the main problem the series has had is the casting of the female leads and love interest. For me I have to wonder why they have run from the attractive, interesting, and feminine Nicole character to generally women that look like they are suffering from starvation. Even the vampiress is woefully in need of a cheeseburger. For a woman that was born some 400 years ago, a time when only the poorest of peasant women were so thin, you wonder why a vampire would pick her as a victim.
Of course the series further developed the storyline of the purpose of the Librarian, the battle of good and evil it represents, and the boss of the librarian. This means that barring all the actresses in Hollywood going to a McDonald's and eating a burger - and thus being incapable of performing - there will be a 4th telemovie.
Perhaps in this next movie we will finally see the uber-geek get and keep a girl. Perhaps the Librarian will finally come to full terms with his job and the oddities that exist in the world. I mean he does practice swordsmanship with a floating self-aware Excaliber.
In all, I found Quest for the Judas Chalice to be a fair program. It was not on par with the first and marginally better than the second. IF the series further devolves it won't make it past a 4th. Which would be a shame as it has the potential to be a quasi-mystical geek version of James Bond. But if you see it on TNT and there isn't a copy of one of the Jason Bourne movies, or Die Hard, or so on take a look.
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