Prospero's Books [VHS]
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VHS Movie Reviews of Prospero's Books [VHS]
Movie Review: Heigh, My Hearts!
Summary: 5 Stars
When I talked about Tarkovsky, I borrowed an expression from the truly Shakespearean literary critic Harold Bloom, who says that Shakespeare transcends all possible genres; so you can already see the reason for my enthusiasm toward this project, where the greatest writer that has ever lived has found a match in a cinematic mind perhaps the greatest now embracing this earth.
I am particularly interested in 'Hamlet' and 'The Tempest' from the Shakespearean Canon, partly because they seem to travel further into the mind of the reader than any other of his plays; that is, in a sublime way they entangle a role for inside the play itself and at the same time give us the opportunity to experience it from the outside. And especially in these two plays, we are given the possibility to be present in the making of the experience itself, with Hamlet and Prospero.
What Greenaway gives me is different yet much alike what Tarkovsky gives, which may sound absurd considering the styles of film-making: the theatrical visual exuberance of Greenaway with overlaid images scarcely brings to mind the ethereally lingering camera shots of a Rublev or a Nostalghia. But if we go further, we notice that they are both as adventurous, going far away the horizon to uncharted visual territory--this is a sign of a daring and often important film-making, yet it needs a talent to bind this together. I presume that if you see this without any preparation your mind will reject it, and at least you should prepare for this film by watching some earlier Greenaway, perhaps 'The Pillow Book', which, although being exuberantly visual, is far more accessible. But Greenaway is a talent, perhaps so greatly that he has to be so self-conscious.
I believe this film to be the richest ever made, because not only is this based on the richest of plays, it is a tempest in itself, as well as a Prospero's book, a creation of an original mind--an annotation we find from Gielgud's role, which switches between Shakespeare the Writer and Shakespeare the Prospero. Yet we have all other sorts of strands I believe that are there, in the character. Prospero the Writer and Prospero himself. There are many layers, by which I mean many levels of cinematic reality where we may visit, that are often overlaid and accessible by some particular items or places. In this case those items are the books given to Prospero, as well as his ability as a Magi. shrouded in his cloak and channelled through his staff.
A notable thing, Michael Nyman's music. They never worked again after this, yet what greatness is here, even though heavily muted in the film, it is still perfect. If you have the chance to buy the soundtrack, by all means do it, and enrich your daily routines by just listening to it. A wonderful experience on its own, Nyman's compositions have the power to amplify and annotate the images we see, and the effect works both ways. And the dancing is superb, as well as the architectural nature of Sacha Vierny's camera, that is, how it dwells in the space that surrounds it. That is, Tarkovsky was one of the masters in this, as was Orson Welles. Perhaps a wonderful shortcut through Nero-Antico would be to watch Welles' 'Othello', then move to 'Nostalghia' and then to this. Makes reading Shakespeare all the more fascinating.
Now, you can't find this film in any form or edition for the home viewer that would make the film justice. But do look for it, even if it is an obsolete VHS.
Movie Review: Greenaway Baroque
Summary: 5 Stars
Greenaway is a master of framing the most visually amazing scenes. This film is rich beyond belief. Why in God's name is this film not on DVD?Movie Review: Baroque, Bookish, Burlesque
Summary: 5 Stars
Shakespeare's play known as The Tempest is the most mysterious play one can imagine. Greenaway who is the most uncommon English filmmaker gives to the play a visual meaning that the text cannot have. He keeps the text, most of it, adds rather little to it, also keeps the characters, the situation, the period, and many other things. Yet the adaptation is extremely original because of the visual wrapping Greenaway adds to the play itself. First the style : baroque, modern baroque with loads and loads of visual elements and visual special effects. We are overwhelmed by them so that we end up not seeing the details. There are too many details. Hence we capture this visual spectacle as a ballet and we follow trhe general movement. The second element is of course the nudity of the actors and actresses. But since most of them are nude after a while it is not seen any more. Greenaway has in a way bared our own minds so that we have dropped all the preconceived ideas we may have and we can follow the show with virginal, or nearly virginal, or more virginal eyes. Greenaway insists then on two elements. The first one is on water, hence the tempest itself. This is quite in the tradition, just heavily present, including with inserting images in the main screen. Then Greenaway adds a visual element that gives a meaning and a semiological structure to the film : the books. And he also adds some presentation and commentary of these books. The meaning, as it seems to appear, is that books are the most human part of man and man can survive any treachery, any evil act if he is able to retain his books. The choice of books insist on science and knowledge. Books are the shrine in which humanity has invested and condensed its knowledge that is its power over the world and nature. But the strangest part is the end. After justice has prevailed and the Duke is back in his dukedom, he burns, along with his Ariel and other spirits, all the books, or rather he throws them into the water, the sea, the ocean where they burn. The meaning of that ending is not easy to imagine and any interpretation would be tentative and controversial. I lean towards thinking that this burning of his books by Prospero himself means that humanity can get to justice thanks to its accumulated knowledge but that books can die, because there will always be a new level of knowledge, a new generation that will write its own books. Losing books is not a catastrophe in other words. I am aware that this reading is optimistic, and that a very pessimistic reading is possible like books are useless. Justice is always the result of pure accidents and private interests. If circumstances are right one can expect to get some justice from one's fellow human beings. But the favorable circumstances are like a tempest : rare, unpredictable and destructive. Be my guest to propose another.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Université Paris Dauphine, Université Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne
Movie Review: Horrendous quality tape - stunning film
Summary: 1 Stars
Truly one of my favorite movies of all time, marred by an ugly, blurry, muddy, pan/scan VHS transfer. I'd advise you not to buy this and instead urge the studio to release a DVD in the US.Movie Review: GReat film, skip this VHS
Summary: 1 Stars
This VHS version of the film for sale here is eight minutes short (118 vs 126) and pan and scan.
IE it is the "Blockbuster" video store version of a film, hacked to pieces in content, and 1/2 the picture lopped off the sides.
Boycott this version. get the DVD just released in Europe. A few minutes of research will tell you haow to play it just fine in the US