“Three Thousand Years Of Longing” (** out of four) was an earthbound fantasy adaptation of A.S. Byatt’s short-story about a lonely scholar (Tilda Swinton) who goes on a trip to Istanbul and encounters a Djinn (Idris Elba) who offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom but she never realizes how this will fully change her life. Director George Miller throws expensive visual effects and sets at you but it all rings hollow since there is hardly any magic in the story itself or characters and thus the film itself. A well-intentioned effort that simply runs dry. Cinematographer John Seale came out of retirement to film this movie and his glowing work is an undeniable plus.