Product description

The Tempest [DVD] [1979]

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Average customer rating: 2.5

Binding : DVD
EAN : 5028836030560
Label : Second Sight Films Ltd.
Manufacturer : Second Sight Films Ltd.
Publisher : Second Sight Films Ltd.
Release date : 2004-02-16
Title : The Tempest [DVD] [1979]
Actor : Array
Audience rating : Suitable for 15 years and over
Format : PAL
Languages : Array
Number of items : 1
Original release date : 1979-01-01
Region code : 0
Running time : 91
Studio : Second Sight Films Ltd.
Theatrical releaseDate : 1979
Number of discs : 1

Customer reviews

review by: acowie date: 2009-02-14 rating:

superb interpretation if you already know the play
I originally saw this film at the cinema in 1979 and I found it dark, scary and disturbing. it still is, but now I know the play I can understand why. Jarman's Tempest is the story of Miranda's growth from girlhood to woman; Prospero has retreated to a world of ideas but it is cold and loveless, he condemns Caliban as a monster but all Jarman's Caliban is guilty of is possessing carnal appetites, the same appetites which Miranda is starting to discover for herself. This is no island paradise but a prison which is brought to life by the arrival of the shipwreck survivors and which they, and the audience, are glad to escape from.

review by: date: 2008-12-30 rating:

A Curse on Jarman
A curse on Jarman for creating not just a bad version of 'The Tempest' but a complete traversty which manages to lose ALL of the magic, replacing it with boredom.

review by: look_it_up date: 2007-02-21 rating:

Guaranteed to put you off Shakespeare
I usually grit my teeth and see things through, but with this film I hadn't the courage. Its start was slow, dreary and pretty much inaudible. I didn't know the story of The Tempest before watching this version, and within 15 minutes I was completely discouraged that I ever would know the story. I think Prospero is supposed to be a "goodie", but he seemed mad, bad and dangerous to me. Although I was mildly intrigued at the appearance of Toyah Wilcox as the heroine, it wasn't enough to keep me watching. Other Shakespeare adaptations I have enjoyed are Much Ado About Nothing (Brannagh) and Hamlet (Mel Gibson).

review by: date: 2006-09-26 rating:

Ghastly, awful, a complete travesty
I found nothing to appeal in this 'Tempest' adaptation. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the staging. It turned a magical and appealing play into a slow, disagreeable, agonising torture. It was almost impossible to follow the plot, much less make sense of the characters or the major issues explored in such depth in this last play of Shakespeare's. It's such a shame. What a waste of talent.

review by: SheCat date: 2005-05-27 rating:

Disappointment reigns!
I expected great things from this film having read the reviews but boy! was I disappointed? The greatest thing about Shakespeare is the language and at times this was almost unrecognisable and overall the whole thing was very slow. The raucous laughter of Christpher Biggins' character drowned out everyone else except Caliban who really was an uncouth monster (a good performance).Prospero conjuring up the storm in his sleep could barely be heard and the scenes were so DARK! I dislike filming in the dark to try to give atmosphere rather than actual performances and the setting was practically obscured because of this. The costumes were unusual and added to the outre feeling. I had heard of Derek Jarman before but he is (or was)not for me. The characters all seemed to be miming to a previously recorded soundtrack and if this was intended it succeeded very well. I thought that Toyah Wilcox was great but her performance was wasted because of the attempt at feyness by the director. The whole thing was more like a very dark nightmare than a fairy tale, again it succeeded very well if this was the intent. I have left Ariel to last because I have played this character and the beautiful poetry I loved was almost lost in performance by weird phrasing. The best thing was Prosperos' final speech which fulfilled its design. If you like cinema noir you might enjoy this, I didn't.

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