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VHS : Prospero's Books [1991]

starring: John Gielgud, Michael Clark, Michel Blanc, Erland Josephson, Isabelle Pasco
directed by: Peter Greenaway


Audience Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 0044005180435 Format: Dolby, PAL, Surround Sound Label: 4 Front Video Manufacturer: 4 Front Video Number Of Discs: 1 Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: 4 Front Video Release Date: April 12, 1999 Running Time: 120 minutes Sales Rank: 495 Studio: 4 Front Video Theatrical Release Date: 1991	Average Rating:
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating:

- spirited
I must admit I don't like Greenaway as a rule, and I find Prospero one of Shakespeare's least appealing characters. But this film is quite extraordinary in all sorts of respects. Nyman's music is fantastic, and used here to good effect (Nyman didn't think so, and broke up with Greenaway as a result, but that's his problem). Ditto Sarah Leonard's singing. An ancient Gielgud is splendid as Prospero. Michael Clark's performance as Caliban has to be seen to be believed. The visuals are unlike anything ... Read More

Rating:

- One of a kind: Peter Greenaway's mesmerizing images combined with 86-year-old John Gielgud speaking
Prospero's Books is nothing less than an almost overwhelming feast of images, stuffed with charms, magic and metaphors. It is Peter Greenaway's vision of what The Tempest might have been had Prospero used those 24 books of great knowledge and magic he took with him when he was sent into exile by his brother. Prospero had been the Duke of Milan when he was overthrown. Twelve years later he inhabits an island with his daughter, Miranda, who was three when they were sent away. There is Caliban, of course, ... Read More

Rating:

- A remarkable film of great depth and imagination.
It may be useful to keep in mind the following story, possibly apocryphal, when discussing Prospero's Books: a famous practitioner of Far Eastern music was being entertained in Europe and was taken to a concert featuring the music of a Baroque master. Afterwards he was asked how he enjoyed the music. He replied that it was nothing but childish drivel.

If you enjoy Shakespeare, "art", "film-making", music, dance, visual spectacle, and originality, then you will likely enjoy this film at some ... Read More

Rating:

- I was glued to my seat...
....which is a real shame, because otherwise I would have left the cinema after 30 minutes of this film!

Being a semi-fan of Greenaway, I realised that it was actually the music of Michael Nyman that I was more interested in, and Nyman's music is one of only a handful of good points about this picture.

For someone with a somewhat sketchy knowledge of 'The Tempest', the play upon which this film is based, I really didn't stand a chance of following what was supposed to be going on. ... Read More

Rating:

- Magical interpretation misses widescreen
Prospero's Book's is for me the height of Peter Greenaways'skills. Shakespeare's 'Tempest' transformed into a truely mystical and magical world as it should be in the most picturesque way. Using film to it's fully potential with insent boxes, etc. You wonder sometimes which film you should be watching. Gielgud's performance enhances the magical qualities by giving us a Merlinesque portrayal of Prospero as a man whose already capable powers as Duke of Milan are enhanced by the fabulous and fantastic books ... Read More

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