Ponderous, pretentious 'Earthsea' misses mark Plodding two-part miniseries cribs from "Potter," "Rings" movies

Sci-Fi Channel's two-night miniseries "Legend of Earthsea" has itsmoments, to be sure.

Like the sight of a rat scurrying about wearing a tiny cowl.

Or the scene in which a dragon who sounds like Andre the Giantwith a lisp tells a young wizard he will answer two questions. "Isn'tit usually three?" the kid says, to which the dragon responds:"Correct, but with that, you're back to two."

Most of the (STAR)(STAR) "Earthsea," set for 8 p.m. tonight andTuesday, is silly. Too rarely, however, is it silly in a way thatmakes you smile.

More ridiculous exchanges with dragons and less overwroughtbabbling about good, evil and the fate of the world would have …