The Librarian: Quest for the Spear

This is a movie "made for TV". For those who do not live in an English-speaking country, what this phrase means specifically is that the movie was produced by an American television network for broadcast on American network television, which is supported by private-sector advertising. It was not made for release in movie theatres, and should not be seen as being of the same quality.

This means that the producers and filmmakers were restricted by various broadcasting codes, a mass-consumer orientation and a very limited budget, and they were under no particular pressure to create a movie that would actually attract moviegoers to spending money for a ticket at the theatre.

So this is a cheaply made Indiana-Jones romp that takes us from an imaginary library containing all the world's great books and artifacts to the Amazon jungle and Shangri-La in Tibet. A major role is played by pseudo-mysticism borrowing very loosely and without much accuracy from Christian, Mayan, Egyptian and Buddhist themes (or at least American pop television renditions of these themes). And of course there is a secret brotherhood (two actually -- one to protect the library, one to, um, conquer the world.)

None of it is logical or realistic or believable. The cheap special effects are fake-looking. The acting and writing is all ham and cheese. The dialogue is ridiculous and even camp at times. I believe the relationships are not even meant to be believable. It's not really a movie for thinking adults.

And yet I sort of enjoyed it. This movie is on the same creative level as Xena: Warrior Princess. Once you accept that it is brazenly stupid, anodyne, camp, unrealistic and essentially cartoonish, you can relax and just enjoy it for what it is. The movie equivalent of orange Kraft Cheese slices. Served on white Wonder Bread.

Strangely, the movie includes performances by a handful of very well-known television stars, including Kyle MacLachlan, Bob Newhart and Jane Curtin. This movie is way beneath them, but I suppose the television studio has some kind of arrangement that gets them to participate in this.

The thirty year old nerd professional college student Flynn Carsen (Noah Wyle) has twenty-two graduation courses; lives with his mother and has no girlfriend. When his Professor Harris (Mario Ivan Martinez) releases him from his class and asks Flynn to find a job and face the real world, Flynn receives an invitation for an interview in the public library for the position of librarian. He succeeds and is hires, and finds a secret brotherhood that protects Excalibur, Pandora Box and other treasures of mankind. When a magic spear is stolen by the evil Serpent organization, Flynn is assigned to travel to Amazonas to retrieve a hidden part of the magic object. He teams-up and is helped by the sexy bodyguard Nicole No one (Sonya Walger) and together they face dangerous situations chased by the Serpent's agents.

"The Librarian: Quest for the Spear" is an entertaining adventure that follows the non-stop action style of Indiana Jones. The clumsy Flynn is very funny and shows a great chemistry with the athletic and gorgeous Nicole. Now I intend to watch the sequels of this enjoyable story. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Guardião – Em Busca da Lança Sagrada" ("The Guardian – Quest for the Sacred Spear")

This is a truly great movie. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes spoofs, and comedy. I loved the character development of Flynn, and Noah Wyle did a wonderful job portraying him. I also liked the way they made Nicole seem really snobby, but turned out to be really helpful. If you are looking for a good family movie you might want to try this one. This is one of my top 3 alltime favorite movies and even if it doesn't have real depth to it it's still a truly funny, great movie, and should be seen by all movie lovers. If you want a good way to spend an evening, this is a very good option, it has wit, daring, and a spastic librarian who has to hold his own against the bad guys. Truly inspiring.

I personally loved this movie, It was fun. Finally a movie where the smart guy/nerd is glorified and isn't the villain. It had hilarious moments and I guess I'm just weird that I like it so much. I mean, people take it way too seriously, People, ITS NOT THAT SERIOUS! It's just a good adventure and the characters are fun and funny. The jokes are laughable, as they are supposed to be, unlike in so many movies I've seen where the jokes are unbelievably corny. Obviously, these people know what they're doing.(referring to directors and screenplay writers, et...) I loved the main character, Flynn, he was a riot, and so was very lovable. There were many parts of this movie that I loved and will always love. Anyway like I said, maybe I'm just a nerd.

The Librarian: Quest for the Spear is a film that doesn't take itself too seriously. Though having a few minor errors in the proper names in legends, and having a protagonist that knows more and can put things together better than anyone ever really could, this movie is a very entertaining look at a work where every legend and fantasical story is completely true.

The basic concept is that Flynn Carsen (Noah Wyle) is a 30 something professional student with upwards of 27 advanced degrees. After his Egyptology professor graduates him early to force him into getting out of school and into the real world, he gets a job as the Librarian for the Metopolitan Public Library. Immediately after his interview he finds out that the Library that he is to be in charge of contains such wonderous treasures as the Ark of the Covenant, Pandora's Box, and the Golden Goose, as well as a fragment of the Spear of Destiny. Shortly after starting his new job the fragment is stolen by the nefarious Serpent Brotherhood. Flynn is sent to recover all of the pieces of the Spear with the help of Nicole No one.

While fairly predictable in resolution, this film offers light hearted romp though an interesting view on a more or less obscure legendary artifact.