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The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice
Score: 70%
Rating: Not Rated
Publisher: Sony Pictures Home
                  Entertainment

Region: 1
Media: DVD/1
Running Time: 90 Mins.
Genre: Action/Adventure
Audio: English 5.1 (Dolby Digital)
Subtitles: English

Features:
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Visual Effects Deconstruction Sequences
  • A Look Behind the Monastery Scene Featurette

The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice rounds out the trilogy of made-for-TV movies starring Noah Wyle (ER) as a protector of a secret collection of artifacts hidden under the New York Metropolitan Public Library.

While seeing the previous two films will make this one easier, the story itself isn't dependant on that feat. But if you didn't see them, then you might feel a little lost in the beginning since the movie doesn't introduce the series' main characters, so here is a brief back-story rundown. Wyle plays Flynn Carson, the still relatively new employee of the museum who is constantly sent out on missions to retrieve various legendary artifacts. His previous missions include fetching the Spear of Destiny and finding the Mines of King Solomon (as well as learning a bit about his unknown familial history). Because of these constant adventures, and frequent losses of relationships, he feels it's time for a vacation, much to the chagrin of his boss Charlene (Jane Curtin) and the mysterious inhabitant of The Library, Judson (Bob Newhart).

So Carson heads down to New Orleans for a little R&R, but he doesn't soak up much of the Mardi Gras atmosphere (at least I assume Mardi Gras was going on. I hope the writers don't think the floats run year-round) before he gets caught up in another mystery. This time, he has to unravel the history of Dracula and the Judas Chalice. Supposedly this is the chalice that was made from the silver Judas was paid when he betrayed Jesus, and it has the power to restore a vampire to its full power.

So not only does Flynn have a new female interest in Simone Renoir (Stana Katic), but also a new foe in former head of the KGB, Sergei Kubichek (Dikran Tulaine). Flynn will also pick up some new friends in famed Romanian expert Professor Lazlo (Bruce Davison), as well as Flynn's guide and cabbie while in The Big Easy. But his adventure will be perilous and he might have to use all 22 of his degrees in order to solve the mystery at hand (and stay alive).

Okay, so the graphics are a bit cheesy, and it definitely feels like the made-for-TV child of Indiana Jones and Night at the Museum (though not as much as the first two), but it is an enjoyable film that is worth catching on TV (or renting at the most). The special features are moderate, but what it has gets the job done. Along with the deleted scenes, there is a behind-the-scenes filming of one of the scenes from the movie and footage to show how many of the sets looked before and after visual effects were added. Like I said, there isn't a lot here to make you want to own The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice, but fans of the adventure genre should check at least one of these movies out at some point.



-J.R. Nip, GameVortex Communications
AKA Chris Meyer
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