Search - Gormenghast on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Movie Release: 2000 DVD Release: 07/03/2001 Format: DVD SwapaDVD Credits: 2 Number of Discs: 2 Run Time: 4 hrs 30 mins Studio: BBC Warner Members Wishing: 14 Genres: Fantasy, Sword-and-Sorcery, Fantasy Adventure, Gothic Film See Also: Gormenghast

The Groan family has led the people for years from their castle, Gormenghast. Although a new heir, Titus Groan, has just come into the world, a scheming kitchen boy, Steerpike, begins an elaborate attempt to take control. Surprisingly Steerpike faces his stiffest competition from the usually mild-mannered Titus, the Earl of Goran. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers - Steerpike
Christopher Lee - Flay
Neve McIntosh - Fuchsia Groan

The first thing one notices in this DVD edition of the BBC's adaptation of Mervyn Peake's -Gormenghast is the stunning color presentation. Whether it's the face of a huge high-rise clock or the tapestry-like vest of the castle doctor Prunesquallor, the screen explodes in vibrant color. Though Gormenghast was made for television, the imagery and the digital transfer suggest a fantasy-turned-reality. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Sound is an equal match for the visual presentation. Dialogue is punchy, immediate, and crystal clear; Richard Rodney Bennet's twisted score makes for a nightmarish, tactile experience. The four-hour miniseries is split in half across two DVDs, and while there's nothing outside a chapter list in the way of extras, the superior production values of the original production and the equally fine production values of this DVD edition make for an interesting, bizarre ride. Fans of Peake's fantasy world won't need an introduction to the characters, but newcomers will appreciate the character synopses inside the DVD case. With little in the way of extras, Gormenghast still thrives through its own peculiar power. ~ Tim DiGravina, All Movie Guide