Dom Robinson reviews
Gormenghast
Six murders, two seductions and three tragic deaths...
who will rule Gormenghast?
Distributed by
- Cert:
- Cat.no: BBCDVD 1017
- Running time: 232 minutes
- Year: 1999
- Pressing: 2000
- Region(s): 2 (UK PAL)
- Chapters: 48 plus extras
- Sound: Dolby Surround (Dolby Digital 2.0)
- Languages: English
- Subtitles: English for the hard of hearing
- Widescreen: 16:9 (1.77:1)
- 16:9-enhanced: Yes
- Macrovision: No
- Disc Format: 2 * DVD 9
- Price: £29.99
- Extras : Scene index, Booklet, Featurette, Character Profiles,
Design Gallery, Deaths, Interview Clips
Director:
Andy Wilson
Producer:
Adapted from the novel by:
Music:
Starring:
Steerpike: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers
Lord Groan: Ian Richardson
Lady Gertrude: Celia Imrie
Titus: Andrew Robertson
Fuchsia: Neve McIntosh
Clarice Groan: Zoë Wanamaker
Cora Groan: Lynsey Baxter
Gormenghast
is a BBC production based on a trilogy of books by Mervyn Peake and if I recall
correctly, only the first two were used here and then not all of it will have been converted
into four hours of sumptious costume drama. Downsizing things further, how can I summarise
the plot in a handful of paragraphs? I can't really, but I'll have a go.
Frumpy Lady Gertrude Groan (Celia Imrie) has just given birth to a boy, Titus, the 77th
Earl of Gormenghast. Nothing has changed in the Gormenghast household for thousands of years
but new kitchen-boy Steerpike (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) has more than a few plans up his
sleeve to throw a spanner in the works. Only Titus can possibly stand in his way and must do
if the Gormenghast culture is to continue.
There's nothing else to say in this paragraph other than to list the others actors in the
production, some with more of a part to play than others, Ian Richardson, Zoë Wanamaker,
Sean Hughes, June Brown, Windsor Davies, Stephen Fry, Richard Griffiths, Christopher Lee,
Spike Milligan, Warren Mitchell, John Sessions, Fiona Shaw and Eric Sykes.
Gormenghast was first broadcast on TV in the UK from January 2000.
Presented in an anamorphic 16:9 widescreen ratio, one thing that can't be denied
is that it looks superb. Nothing in the way of artifacts, plus exceptional and
colourfully-designed set pieces make this a joy to look at, even if the script
isn't.
The sound is presented in Dolby Surround (Dolby Digital 2.0) and is either
standard dialogue at normal volume, or over-the-top sounds which dominate
the speakers and give you a headache when played at the top of the scale.
It's all perfectly clear though.
Extras :
Chapters :
12 chapters to an episode, making 48 in total which is fine.
Languages & Subtitles :
Dolby Surround in English only, plus subtitles for the same.
And there's more... :
Presented in stylish silver, the Booklet includes brief summaries
of each episode, a summary of the characters and comments from set designer,
Christopher Hobbs.
A 32-minute Behind the Scenes Featurette is included and the expanded
version allows you access to more info when clicking on icons that appear throughout.
A Design Gallery is also included showing the costumes and Deaths pin-points
those who didn't make it. The former two extras mix in both Character Profiles
and Interview Clips as they go. All of the extras are in anamorphic 16:9 widescreen.
Menu :
Nicely and subtly animated and scored for most menus apart from the static scene selection.
Overall :
Whether you buy this will be determined as to whether you liked it. It's a programme
that will divide people - some will love it, some will hate it. The single star I've
awarded it will not suggest the former although it's worth a look for the set design.
The extras are well-presented and the picture and sound are great, so if you are a fan
there's no reason not to buy it.
FILM CONTENT
PICTURE QUALITY
SOUND QUALITY
EXTRAS
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OVERALL
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Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 2000.
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DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV
connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and
played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.
PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
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