:
Jonathan Rhys-Meyers,
Christopher Lee,
John Sessions,
more...
:
Andy Wilson
see all cast/crew...
: Not Rated
: Warner Home Video
: Foreign, Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, UK, Miniseries
see additional details...
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Since its publication at the end of World War II, Mervyn Peake's masterpiece, The Gormenghast Novels, has stood unchallenged as one of English literature's most extraordinary flight of imagination. Its themes of treachery, decay, madness and honor have come to be regarded as a metaphor for the fall of an empire, the passing of an age, and the rise of fascism. The glorious castle of Gormenghast is home to the ancient family of Groan, where nothing has changed for thousands of years. The dynasty is threatened by the charming and evil kitchem-boy, Steerpike. With the birth of a new heir, Titus Groan, Steerpike begins his ruthless ascent to power. As he charms, outwits and terrorizes the castle's inhabitants, only the young and timid Earl of Groan, Titus, stands in Steerpike's way. Who will ultimately rule Gormenghast?
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| Oddly appealing
by Battie
April 11, 2005 - 9:54 PM PDT
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2 out of 2 members found this review helpful
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{Referring to the first disc.} When I first began watching this, I wasn't so enarmored of it. I was, in fact, bored. But the more I watched, the more I needed to see what happened. Add in the characters, who were far from typical, and I found myself enjoying Gormenghast. The Earl's wife, who at first struck me as completely oblivious to anything but her pets and her needs, now strikes me as insidiously clever. Her daughter, once acting like a spoiled, oblivious brat, seems to be a *little* more like her mother than my initial impression suggested. Steerpike, the main character, is as downright evil and manipulative as any character I've come across, and yet I find myself almost hoping he succeeds in his plans, though I can, so far, only guess what they are. It helps that the actor playing him is very, very good at being maliciously kind and an overdramatic, but good, liar.
Gormenghast's fault lies in it's slow pace and the fact that some characters get away with the most absurd actions (and facial expressions) without it being noticed by a handful of other characters. But, that very absurdity is sometimes very amusing. Can't say whether I'd recommend this or not, as I'm still debating whether or not to get the second disc when I have so many other movies I want to see, but it is enjoyable. |
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