The date was December 2004.  In a quiet, snow covered fraternity house in upstate New York, all were preparing for initiation/finals/binge drinking.  In those days the TV was mostly used for Law & Order reruns, and due to the TNT advertising blitz, we were soon made aware of a wonderful event coming the next weekend: a TNT original movie!  This was no ordinary made-for-TV film, however, it was a groundbreaking work of genius, starring such luminaries as Noah Wiley, Bob Newheart, and Kyle MacLachlan. 

The story is timeless: Noah Wiley, a lovable nerd with a heart of gold, has 23 degrees but can't manage to find a suitable job or romance.  His mother worries.  Then one day, a magic letter totally different than the ones in Harry Potter arrives!  His wide array of knowledge lands him the job: Librarian at a secret, undercover archive where all the magic artifacts throughout human history have been kept.  One of these is the Spear of Destiny, an artifact that gives unparalleled power, and for that reason was broken into thirds.  Even still, Hitler rose to power with just one piece!

Soon enough the spear is stolen by a sexy Asian assassin and a ridiculously scenery-chewing Kyle MacLachlan, and a world-spanning chase not at all a blatant ripoff of Indiana Jones follows.  It climaxes in Bob Newheart's only fight scene, as he rips off his tie, shouts "Semper Fi" and starts punching ninjas. 

We watched, entranced, as TNT played the film three times in a row.  By the end, something like Stockholm Syndrome had taken over, and to this day The Librarian: Quest for the Spear is cherished.  An inferior sequel followed, and honestly I don't remember a whole lot about it aside from not having the same love interest from the first movie.  It was also more toned down and a little less silly, which was a bad call.

But this weekend, The Librarian: Quest for the Judas Chalice debuts!  Noah Wiley vs Dracula.  They're going there, and if you appreciate fine film, you'll be there too!