Gormenghast | Celia Imrie, John Sessions

Gormenghast | Celia Imrie, John Sessions | Gormenghast, a great mini-series from great novels

DVDs:

Gormenghast

	Gormenghast Celia Imrie, John Sessions BBC Warner, 2006 average customer review:based on 99 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A charismatically evil kitchen boy threatens the power of a thousand-year-old dynasty in this fantastic presentation of the classic novels by Mervyn Peake.

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a really beautiful, faithful adaptation of the books. the characters and set are rightfully surreal, grotesque, and comical, and the series definitely captures the decaying quality of gormenghast. i only wish it could have gone on longer, and would have loved to have seen them continue with titus alone.

Gormenghast, a great mini-series from great novels

The Groans have ruled over the earldom of Gormenghast for seventy-six generations. Just as the future seventy-seventh Earl, Titus, is being born, rebellion rears its head in Castle Gormenghast, within whose walls dwell a collection of madmen and grotesques.

This BBC mini-series retells Mervyn Peake's epic fantasy novels, Titus Groan and Gormenghast, in a very faithful treatment. This one is a must-see for those who have read the novels, and for those that haven't, it presents a wonderful tail of romance, betrayal, comedy and treachery.

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Fantasy Genre Revived

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."

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Great followup to the book

If you have read the book and enjoyed it, as I have, then this is a very good video. I'm not sure how it would be received by someone who had not read the book first.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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