It is always tricky to film a book dear to the hearts of its admirers. Wilson and his design team achieve a look rather more pre-Raphaelite than Peake's own illustrations--shabby velvets, garish sunlight, and dank, stone passages. The score by Richard Rodney Bennett is full of attractive surprises--fanfares and waltzes and apotheoses--and John Tavener's choral additions are plausibly parts of the immemorial ritual of Gormenghast. --Roz Kaveney

Description
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?

The show came on every Saturday, and I watched each hour or so segment every week. The story revolves around an old castle called Gormenghast. The people themselves are born into caste systems, and adhere to the strict rules and rituals of the Kingdom. Nothing changes; the culture won't let it. That is, until Steerpike, a young kitchen hand, grows tired of the kitchen life and denounces his caste. His goal, to seek for better things, and for him better things can only mean greater power.

Now, after the reading the books, I was all the more impresed with the BBC rendition. While the series had to cut out a lot of scenes, as the trilogy itself is huge, they were very prudent with their cuts. While they couldn't capture the absurdity and creative flair in its entirety, they also didn't rehash Mervyn Peake (the author's) tendency towards pointless, self-indulgent waste (i.e. cliche romance scenes/dialogue), and occasional repitition (i.e. conversations and thoughts of characters). However, the acting was superb, the costumes elegant, and the plot as unique as ever. Above all is Jonathan Rhys-Meyer (Steerpike), and Christopher Lee (Flay). Also, Zoe Wanamaker and Lynsey Baxter did a superb job playing the mad twin sisters(and stroke victims) Cora and Clarice Groan. Gormenghast runs miles around anything America produces (i.e. Noah's Ark, The Tenth Kingdom), and deserves, despite its minor flaws (even those from nitpicky Peake fans), nothing short of 5 stars.


An unsettling and captivating dark fantasy   May 28, 2004
 31 out of 33 found this review helpful

"Gormenghast" is an odd series, a little too odd at first glance. I have never read the books, and didn't even know that a "Gormenghast" series existed when I watched it. I just thought it looked like an interesting fantasy series, so I gave it a try.

It was very surprising, and I had to watch the first episode twice before I got a feel for the series and could get captivated by its peculiar meter and character. However, when you get sucked in it is as complete a world as "Labyrinth," "Legend" or any other such darkly gothic fairy tale kingdoms. The endless rituals, the conflicting costumes, the affected accents and speeches all combine to create a disturbing reality of crumbling decadence and a society that has run its course, aching for change and new blood.

The amazing actors in this series, many with an impressive fantasy film pedigree, are what pull you in, and force you to believe in the topsy-turvy kingdom. Christopher Lee ("Lord of the Rings"/"Star Wars"/"Dracula"/Too many to name...) brings you home right away as the brutish but loyal Flay. It is interesting to see him play such a sympathetic and nobel character, after watching him is so many villain roles. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers ("Bend it Like Beckam," "Titus") is perfect as the charming anarchist Steerpike. who plays a necessary role as a bloody catalyst for change. Zoe Wanamaker ("Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone") and her sister Lynsey Baxter play the bizarre twins perfectly, with an unsettling atmosphere each time they are on screen. Ian Richardson, who comes with an impressive Shakespear resume, portrays the descent into madness of the Earl of Gormenghast, as crumbling as his realm.

The BBC again proves that they know how to make quality programs, allowing for a slow wicked pace and a weird mood along with bright costumes and talented actors. I highly recomend "Gormneghast," but give yourself some time to get into it. You might have to watch the first episode twice like I did.


5 Star Movie, 1 Star DVD   July 9, 2001
 23 out of 26 found this review helpful

When I first watched this mini-series, it was on BBC America. It was divided into 4 episodes. Each episode was an hour long. It was also in widescreen (1.85: 1). The second time I watched it, was on PBS, two weeks ago. This time it was divided into two episodes, with the first one being episodes one and two, seemlessly edited together. The same applied for the second half. This version was also in widescreen. Then the DVD came out. Now, it's been my experience with DVD's based on TV a mini-series (Merlin, Joan of Arc, The Stand) that they should be presented better then they were on television, not worse. The DVD version is not in widescreen, it is Pan-and-Scan (Although, there is no message on the case telling you that it has been edited from it's original version). Also, they didn't edit the episodes together. Instead, they put the first three on disc one and the last one on disc two with the special features (which, along with the packaging, were the only pluses). And the picture has serious artifacting problems. Here's a little note to BBC and Warner Brothers, so that they can make a version of the movie that I and other fans of the film will buy:

Put the first two episodes, seemlessly edited together, on disc one. Put the second two episodes, edited together, on disc two, along with the special features. Make it anamorphc, so that it can be watched on widescreen TV's. If you can't handle this, then maybe you should hand the job over to PBS and Artisan. They know what there doing.


Avoid the pan and scan travesty   May 29, 2003
 22 out of 23 found this review helpful

This was a thoroughly enjoyable movie . . . on TV, where it was broadcast in widescreen format. Then somebody had the bright idea to butcher it with a pan and scan DVD transfer. This movie will be worth buying, when it eventually shows up in the original widescreen aspect ratio.