Gormenghast
by Andy Wilson
List Price:
Our Price: $18.48
You Save: $16.50 (47%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $17.57 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Christopher Lee, Ian Richardson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Stephen Fry, Zoë WanamakerDirector: Andy Wilson
Brand: Warner Brothers
Producer: Al Burgess
Producer: Estelle Daniel
Producer: Hilary Salmon
Producer: Michael Wearing
Producer: Rebecca Eaton
Writer: Malcolm McKay
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 240 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-09-26
Audience Rating: Unrated
Model: E2675
Studio: BBC Worldwide
Product features:
- A charismatically evil kitchen boy threatens the power of a thousand-year-old dynasty in this fantastic presentation of theic novels by Mervyn Peake. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR Age: 794051267528 UPC: 794051267528 Manufacturer No: E2675
DVD Reviews of Gormenghast
DVD Review: Fantasy Genre Revived
Summary: 4 Stars
I ordered "Gormenghast" on the basis of the favorable reviews offered by other Amazonian viewers. Having only "perused" the Peake novels, I came into the Groan's world as a newbie, with no real expectations of liking, loving, or disliking the mini-series.
I was pleasantly surprised with the vigor and boldness of the direction. The wide camera angles, the purposely muted colors of all of the characters' clothing, all added to the trippy-dippy feel that is the daily life of Gormenghast.
It was interesting to see the huge view of the castle from the opening scenes (and throughout the film), then gain an almost claustrophobic feeling in the quite small bedrooms of the main characters. Metaphorically, it shows that although one may live in this large, open space, our inner sanctums are what's most important; the veritable fishbowl of life.
Zoe Wanamaker and Lynsey Baxter do a superb rendition of the "simple sisters," Ladies Clariss and Cora. Christopher Lee can do no wrong in any role he tackles (although for me, he is the quintessential Saruman of the LOTR trilogy). Although I do agree with an earlier reviewer that Neve McIntosh was a *touch* too mature to play Lady Fuchsia in parts 1 and 2, she's a welcome part of acts 3 and 4. Celia Imrie (who was fantastic in CALENDAR GIRLS) was virtually unrecognizable in her puffy suit. Even underneath all of that unattractive veneer, she gives an impressive performance. The young actors playing Titus convey a potent sense of loneliness and frustration over his lack of options in life.
This miniseries belongs to 2 actors though: John Sessions as Dr. Prunesquallor and Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Steerpike. Sessions' Prunesquallor is equal parts absurdity and calculating wisdom. But young JRM is a marvel (as always). Not overdoing it, chomping scenery, his Steerpike is a grasping, sucking, social climber, whom will let nothing (nor anyone) get in his way. This is possibly Rhys Meyers' strongest performance to date.
If you're a fan of sci-fi, this is an interesting work to pick up and view. Reading of the Peake novels isn't a prerequisite to enjoying "Gormenghast."
Description of Gormenghast
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/26/2006 Rating: NrThe BBC's lavish, glowingly designed adaptation of Mervyn Peake's eccentrically brilliant novels Titus Groan and Gormenghast is a triumph of casting. Ian Richardson's Lear-like depiction of the mad earl of a remote, vast, ritual-obsessed building is matched by the brutal pragmatism of Celia Imrie as his wife, the synchronized madness of Zoë Wanamaker and Lynsey Baxter as his twin sisters, and the duplicitous charm of Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as Steerpike, the kitchen-boy determined to take over no matter how many deaths it costs. John Sessions is surprisingly touching as Prunesquallor, the family doctor who realizes almost too late what Steerpike intends.
It is always tricky to film a book dear to the hearts of its admirers. Wilson and his design team achieve a look rather more pre-Raphaelite than Peake's own illustrations--shabby velvets, garish sunlight, and dank, stone passages. The score by Richard Rodney Bennett is full of attractive surprises--fanfares and waltzes and apotheoses--and John Tavener's choral additions are plausibly parts of the immemorial ritual of Gormenghast. --Roz Kaveney
Bestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
The TesseractRelease date: 2004-10-26; Published: 2004-10-01; DVD
Best price: $1.97
Price in other shops:
Flambards - The Complete SeriesPBS; Release date: 2011-03-22; DVD
Best price: $26.23
Price in other shops:
A Hazard of Hearts / Lady HamiltonRelease date: 2005-01-01; DVD
Best price: $0.95
Price in other shops:
The GovernessDRIVER,MINNIE; Release date: 1999-02-16; DVD
Best price: $3.24
Price in other shops:
Elvis: The Mini-SeriesSTARZ HOME ENTERTAINMENT; Release date: 2007-08-14; DVD
Best price: $7.48
Price in other shops:
The Magnificent AmbersonsA and E Home Video; Release date: 2002-02-26; DVD
Best price: $4.90
Price in other shops:
Velvet GoldmineBuena Vista Home Video; Release date: 1999-05-18; DVD
Best price: $8.03
Price in other shops:
The Gormenghast Novels (Titus Groan / Gormenghast / Titus Alone)by Mervyn Peake
Overlook Press; Published: 1995-12-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.98
Price in other shops:
Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey Season 2 (Original U.K. Unedited Edition)PBS; Release date: 2012-02-07; DVD
Best price: $19.99
Price in other shops:
The Children of Huang ShiSony; Release date: 2009-01-20; DVD
Best price: $4.21
Price in other shops: