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Arabian Nights

2000, Movie, NR, 175 mins

Arabian Nights: Review

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Having murdered his wife because he learned she was having an adulterous affair with his own brother, the insomniac and half-crazed Sultan Schahriar (Dougray Scott) is forced by custom to take a new bride. Although he plans to have his betrothed, Scheherezade, (Mili Avital), strangled on their wedding night, lovestruck Scheherezade determines to distract him from honeymoon homicide with these bedtime stories: Ali Baba (Rufus Sewell) outsmarts a master thief after overhearing the password to his treasure cave; the accidental killing of a beloved court jester results in buck-passing by a terrified populace; Aladdin (Jason Scott Lee) must match wits with the tricky genie of the Lamp; a sultan who's fond of practical jokes plays the perilous game of trading places with a beggar; and three siblings must prove their worthiness to rule by combing the kingdom for the perfect present for their ill father. Can Scheherezade save her neck by keeping her new husband on the edge of his seat? Although network TV's recent infatuation with classic literature and folklore has resulted in bowdlerized must-miss viewing, this family-friendly ABC miniseries, like MERLIN, is a welcome exception. Extravagantly produced, this fantasy-adventure presents the moral of each fable with a sense of fresh discovery, yet never loses its focus on Scheherezade, the Storyteller, whose very life depends on keeping her audience hooked. Although there's little doubt as to the happy outcome, the screenplay infuses the interwoven tales with a veneer of suspense as the Sultan's brother prepares an assault on the reign of his unhinged sibling. Gracefully directed and lavishly mounted, this delicious adaptation bears the earmarks of a sturdy classic. leave a comment --Robert Pardi
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Rhymes And Rhythms And Arabian Nights Entertainments
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The Arabian Nights Entertainments
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