So why am I reviewing a movie adapted from a teen book I've never read in to a film on a channel meant for preteens starring a bunch of actors I've never heard of before? Well, because admittedly, "Avalon High" really peaked my interest while changing the channel (and uh... staying on... "Wizards of Waverly Place for a half hour, don't judge me) and I really had to see what kind of movie "Avalon High" was. As a kid in middle school I was absolutely enamored with the legend of King Arthur and always found the myths and folklore to be absolutely amazing. From the lady in the lake, Excalibur, Merlin, the round table, Mordrid. Camelot, the love triangle of Arthur, his best friend Lancelot, and Guinevere, it's all rather entertaining and compelling to research, and watching "Avalon High" I realized if I was thirteen this movie would have been watched by me thirty times a day.

Realistically though "Avalon High" is geared a little more toward the girls of the audience appealing to the female empowerment aspect, as well as portraying the men as hunky and charming while never quite pandering to the boys as most Disney movies do. I assume the whole myth about the round table and knights will appeal to the male persuasion. "Avalon High" is pretty goofy in the finale, but for what it does with the Arthurian mythology, it's actually quite interesting and clever. Allie Pennington and her parents just moved in to town and her parents, both fanatics about Arthurian legend, just alerted their daughter that after years of jumping from town to town they're staying for the duration allowing Allie, an optimistic and fierce young girl, to socialize and engage in school activities. Allie's life is so peppered by Arthurian legend that she is also plagued with vivid dreams of herself and other knights battling on the beach in full regalia.

Any of this sounding familiar yet? While "Avalon High" does take the route of romanticism by focusing more on the love triangle and less on the mythos, the movie does have some fascinating twists to its premise offering up characters who are re-incarnations of Arthurian figures that will leave its audience guessing over and over and wondering where this will all play out in the end. Every character has their own gift and their own prophecy, and Allie seems to be intent on convincing Will that he may be Arthur and fulfill his destiny the night of the big game with the help of Miles, and school teacher Mr. Moore. As I said before "Avalon High" is not perfect, it's really goofy and can cause an eye roll or two, but for its faults, the movie is quite clever with strong performances from its young cast particularly Brittney Robertson and Joey Pollari, and I also enjoyed Steve Valentine as the kind Mr. Moore who helps Allie in her quest to save Will and harbors his own little secret no one will see coming. As you may guess, the movie does offer some melodrama, but it also has a rather fantastic action packed climax charging head first in to swords and sorcery and offering some great twists and surprises that will make this a worthwhile venture for an experimental fan of Arthur and his knights.

In the mindset of the thirteen year old me, "Avalon High" is a cool and clever twist on Arthurian Legend with some wonderful direction, strong performances, and wicked swords and sorcery play that keep us smiling, but sadly it's all brought down by the head scratcher ending that leaves many unanswered questions and anachronistic twist that is just pandering to the girls of the audience. There were no female knights, sorry kids.