Prospero's Books [VHS]
![Prospero's Books [VHS]](/images/Prospero-Books-VHS-6304076517-L.jpg)
|
Our Price: $84.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $21.99 (click here) Category: VHS Video See more movie releases |
|---|
Buy this VHS video movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
VHS Movie Reviews of Prospero's Books [VHS]
Movie Review: Visually Rich, Thoughtful ,Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
The first movie I was from Peter Greenaway was "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover", which I loved for the rich tapestry of the movie, not to mention the offbeat and unexpected story. Prospero's Books matches the former for the rich tapestry that is presented on the screen. The story, however, from the Shakespeare play "The Tempest", is complex, difficult to follow, and over the top. This isn't a turnoff, however, as I have found that I have continued to gain understanding about the story each time I watch this movie. This movie mixes multiple levels of reality and dream simultaneously, making your first viewing confusing, but each additional viewing a treat for the mind, in addition to the eyes. This is one of my favorite movies of all time.Movie Review: Cinema is too important to be left to the storytellers- P.G.
Summary: 5 Stars
Here's a film in which one man's visual imagination puts to shame all the computer simulation Industrial Light and Magic could throw at us. Peter Greenaway retells "The Tempest" through his peculiar, personal obsessions: the "collaboration" with the audience which art requires, the paradoxes of self-referentiality, skepticism towards "official" classificatory schemes, and the usual heavy dose of iconoclasm (including against Shakespeare himself--check out the image Greenaway chose when his name as director appears on the screen, accompanied by cackling laughter, during the unbelievable opening credits...) To see this film is to truly enter a new "possible realm of cinema", and in this, which is one of Greenaway's publicly stated aims, he clearly succeeds. Being an art historian amongst his many pursuits, he stunningly packs each shot with quotations from 2000 years of painting and sculptures, making a "hypertext" of "The Tempest". And somehow all the visual busyness doesn't detract from John Gielgud's amazing multiple performances--quite a feat. The idea of this film can be summed up thus: Greenaway (the invisible interpreter) directs Gielgud (the flesh-and-blood presence) as Shakespeare (the wordsmith/illusionist) as Prospero (the exiled magician).Movie Review: A retelling of The Tempest
Summary: 3 Stars
As the opening credits state, this is an adaptation of the play by Shakespeare. I feel it is more of a retelling or an interpretation of The Tempest. The characters are there, but unless you are very familiar with play, this movie will leave you a little bewildered. If you don't know who is who going into the film, you will have to stop and do some reading.From the change of the scenery and the change of narration, you are in the play, in the character's head, and watching the play. This perspective changes to draw your attention. This manner is quite engaging.
Nonetheless, there is a lot of nudity and interpretive dance. If these are not your cups of tea, then I would recommend giving this a skip. It can be a little distracting if you are watching this for the Shakespeare connection. You need to watch this for the film work.
Movie Review: Welcome to Hyper-Shakespeare!
Summary: 5 Stars
Prospero's Books is not just another of many "Shakespeare modernized & set in a different era" film (not that I don't like those). This is Shakespeare's most fantastic work, The Tempest, hyped up with incredible sights & sounds. It's a dazzling work of imagination based on a dazzling work of imagination. I imagine it hasn't shown much or received much acclaim because of the nudity (LOTS of nudity!), but it certainly is NOT porn. This film is a trip!Movie Review: Ummmmm . . . . .
Summary: 5 Stars
Am I too uncreative to come up with a subject . . . no, but that is the way this film will make you feel. As a film version of Shakespere's the Tempest it is hardly comparable, but that is coming from a know it all college kid. I loved this film and have watched it many times. The visual candy is outstanding and the directing is top notch. I still don't understand a lot of it, but that is part of it's beauty. I can understand the plot, but watch it over and over and gain some new piece of insite every time. For any non-lazy film watcher this is a must have . . . if you'd rather your movies had no point and explained any deeper itself then you may want to let this one pass.