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Customer Reviews of Gormenghast

Bloody Fabulous!
This has to be one of the best fantasy movies without magic that there has ever been. I adored Jonathan Rhys Meyers' portrayal of Steerpike, and he seemed to be made for the part. Not to mention he's bloody gorgeous. But, as for Titus, Andrew Robertson plays the part well. He seems to understand the pressures of a ritualized life as if he has lived it himself. All the actors and actresses do every part they play a justice that is rare in a movie based on a literary masterpiece. The scenary and sets make you believe that you are actually in a place called Gormenghast, that it is more real and alive than just a fictional place in a book. If you have read the Gormenghast trilogy, or just fell in love with the idea of it, watch this movie! It is the ultimate escape from reality with a handsome, powerhungry kitchenboy, a romantic, lonely dreamer, and a strong, spirited heir.

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Excellent, a triumphant fantasy!
Gormenghast was a set of videos I checked out of the library on a whim. It turned out to be an exellent choice - Gormenghast is a rich, imaginative and passionately acted movie and well worth the investment of 4 hours to absorb.

Although I never read the books, I am now determined to. The movie was excellent, the casting superb and the costumes rich in a "Romeo and Juliette", Franco Zeffirelli fashion. I think some American movie goers might laugh at some of the blue-screen outdoor shots, which is the only technical point on which I could find any fault, but the backdrops were beautiful and the props detailed.

The acting is what really makes this movie superb, however. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as Steerpike was Clockwork Orange superb. He brought a brilliant, angry, slightly psychotic presence to the movie that would have made it fasinating without a supporting cast. Combine his performance with a host of comic and dramatic big name actors, not the least of which are Christopher Lee, John Sessions, Ian Richardson, Eric Sykes and at least 12 others, and you have a film rich in pure talent and passionate execution in every area - a rarely acheived feat.

There are many excellent web sites and web rings devoted to the author, Mervyn Peake, with information about him, his work, and excerpts of the book that are worth checking out in relationship with this movie. Although much of the story was left out in the film, so the book readers say, they seem as happy with it as I was.

Gormenghast gives you a sometimes comical, sometimes groteque, look at the aristrocracy, and at the hearts and motivations of just about every kind of person. It's easy to sink into, the actor's being so over the top in their performances, and when the yanks come at your own feelings, you fall into them with a willingness to explore. An excellent film, worthy of a laugh and a cheer - and consideration of the different faces you may wear and wish to celebrate or change.

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Extremely well-done
This is an extremely well-done and COHERENT adaptation of the novels, which are not easy reading by any stretch of the imagination. Rhys-Meyers is probably too pretty to be Steerpike, but we shouldn't hold that against him; he did an excellent job. However, Celia Imrie was my favorite. At first I thought she was a man in drag, but she certainly sounded like a woman. Then I realized she was a woman in heavy makeup. (You can see her in CALENDAR GIRLS and realize that she's actually pretty attractive.) Great production values, music, et. al. Here,I think, is the ultimate compliment. When I saw this it was about 20 years since I had read the book, and the miniseries brought it all back to me.