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Coriolanus [DVD]

Ralph Fiennes , Gerard Butler , Ralph Fiennes    Suitable for 15 years and over   DVD
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
Price: £5.00 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Coriolanus [DVD] + The Tempest [DVD] + King Lear [DVD]
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Product details

  • Actors: Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave
  • Directors: Ralph Fiennes
  • Format: PAL
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired: English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Lionsgate
  • DVD Release Date: 4 Jun 2012
  • Run Time: 123 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B006H11NMK
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,855 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

Reviews

From Amazon.co.uk

The common people of Rome are hungry – never has the social inequality between themselves and the wealthy ruling classes been so apparent. Riots are widespread and the people’s fury rapidly becomes focussed on the Republic’s most courageous general, Caius Martius (Ralph Fiennes), who has publicly expressed his scorn for their suffering. But, Rome is also at war with the Volsces, a neighbouring state whose guerrilla-style army is led by Martius’s sworn enemy, Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler). Following the latest, brazen Volscian taunt, Martius and his comrade-at-arms Titus Lartius (Dragan Micanovic) are called to a council of war by their commanding officer, General Cominius (John Kani). Rome must retaliate. Martius’s outstanding courage and leadership on the field of battle secures the Volscian city of Corioles for Rome. It is a crushing defeat for the Volscians and, in honour of his victory, Martius is awarded the title ‘Coriolanus’, meaning conqueror of Corioles. The anger of the Roman people has now subsided and Coriolanus has become a hero. With his recent triumph, Coriolanus’s politically ambitious mother Volumnia (Vanessa Redgrave) joyfully anticipates her son being elected to the powerful Senate position of Consul. Influential Roman Senator, and Coriolanus’s political mentor, Menenius (Brian Cox) encourages him. Always in the background, Coriolanus’s gentle and loving wife, Virgilia (Jessica Chastain), worries for her husband’s continued safety.

To become Consul, Coriolanus knows he must first secure the people’s support and at first he is loath to engage in the necessary glad-handing. He sees it as hypocritical and an affront to his personal honour code. Under pressure, he finally relents but, not a natural politician, he handles his canvassing without the required good grace and arouses ill feeling in his audience. His past public declarations have already established him as a threat to the people in the minds of their representatives, the Tribunes. And now the conspiratorial Tribunes, Brutus (Paul Jesson) and Sicinius (James Nesbitt) take full advantage of Coriolanus’s rapid fall from public favour to persuade voters to refuse him the office he seeks. The Tribunes campaign is further supported by an underground group of left-wing rebels, led by Cassius (Ashraf Barhom) and Tamora (Lubna Azabal), who also speak out against Coriolanus’s election. Their combined arguments work and he is defeated.

Coriolanus is enraged and his verbal retaliation leads to further public rioting. Disgraced, the Senate banishes him from Rome. Now stateless and seeking revenge for Rome’s ingratitude and treachery, Coriolanus journeys to the city of Antium, the Volscian capital and home to his enemy, Tullus Aufidius. With nothing to lose, he seeks out his old adversary and boldly offers him a choice. Aufidius can either take Coriolanus’s life or accept his help in defeating Rome. Confronted by his greatest enemy, Aufidius must decide whether to finally destroy his rival or join forces with him in battle….

Product Description

Ralph Fiennes' directorial debut transposes Shakespeare's tragedy from ancient Rome to present-day Eastern Europe, Total running time 123 mins Lionsgate DVD PAL Format, Region 2

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
59 of 63 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Convert to Coriolanus 7 Mar 2012
By Antenna TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
Although based on a dark, grim and bloodthirsty Shakespearean tragedy, I was very impressed by this film which I went to see with some trepidation.

Well-paced and not excessively violent (compared to what it could have been) the acting is excellent, the words spoken with such expression and clarity that the sense comes through very strongly, even to someone like me unfamiliar with the text. It does not bother me that some passages and plot details may have been omitted in the interests of making the plot easier to digest. Likewise, a dialogue which sounds at time surprisingly modern compensates for the lack of any memorable "To be or not to be"-style soliloquies which may not come across well in a film.

The modern setting is not irritating and gratuitous as is too often the case, but also enabled me to see the film's relevance to our divided and violent world. Rome is represented as a typical concrete western city, ruled by the cynical "haves" ("patricians") while the mass of "have-nots" are beginning to riot over lack of bread, although they are easily swayed by cunning politicians.

Rome is under threat from a Balkan-type community called the Volscians, against whom the professional soldier Caius Martius (Ralph Fiennes) gains a celebrated victory over the city of Corioles, thus being rewarded with the surname "Coriolanus". This leads naturally to his appointment as a consul, but "honest to a fault", he refuses to conceal his contempt for the people. His political enemies play on this to get him banished, which of course turns him from a loyal supporter of Rome to a man bent on revenge.

On a personal level, this is an interesting psychological study of pride, fanaticism and jealousy. The complex relationship between Coriolanus and his mother Volumnia, played brilliantly by Vanessa Redgrave, shows how a strong man may be controlled as a tool of his physically weaker but mentally stronger mother's ambition.

If I had studied this play at school, I think I might have hated it - although a good teacher enabled me to appreciate the drama of Julius Caesar. Hopefully, this intelligent modern rendition may enable many students - and general viewers as well - to understand and value this very interesting play.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars A different take. 25 Oct 2012
By Mike France VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
I must confess my knowledge of Shakespeare is somewhat limited, mainly confined to English Literature classes of long ago and latter day occasional forays into the world of classical culture. So my approach to this film was somewhat hesitant.

Shakespeare's play and words in a current Roman setting, I found it surprisingly entertaining and on the whole, quite easy to understand once my ear had `tuned' to the language. It struck me how easily the words of the bard fitted into today, a reflection on the acting skills of the fine cast of players, and Fiennes as the director.

The story is a dark tale and a play that I had never heard of before. The strutting pride of the principal character [Coriolanus] and his refusal to bend his principles, leads to banishment from Rome. Once again his pride comes into play, leading him to apply his military skills on behalf of his former enemies against Rome which has rejected him.

To me, the grim scenes were reminiscent of the Balkans conflicts and perhaps this is what Fiennes meant them to do.

Enjoyable enough for the `uncultured viewer' perhaps but probably more appreciated by those with knowledge and liking for Shakespeare's works.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Astonishingly good... 10 Oct 2012
Format:DVD
This is a truly remarkable adaptation of Coriolanus, and a brilliant directorial debut for Ralph Fiennes. Fiennes as Coriolanus, especially in the latter half when he joins forces with Aufidius in Antium, possesses a similar sort of disturbing and charismatic energy as Brando as Kurtz in 'Apocalypse Now'. Butler, Redgrave, Chastain and Cox all give stellar performances, and I was captivated from the opening sequence right through to the finale. Excellent stuff.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Superb
Coriolanus is a superb take on shakespeare's play. Engaging throughout; with an incredible twist at the end, I would recommend this to all shakespeare lovers, and anyone who... Read more
Published 1 day ago by Matthew
2.0 out of 5 stars Bloodied, brutal, didn't enjoy it!
Personally, I didn't enjoy this film. The modern day setting vs original Shakespearian language just didn't work for me. Read more
Published 9 days ago by A. Kinson
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent version of a little seen play
Really enjoyed this updating of a wonderful play. Necessarily abridged (the long speeches shortened on occasion to a few words - none the worse for that) and set in an apparently... Read more
Published 13 days ago by Anneli
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
A well made modern adaptation of Shakespeare's final tragedy. Well filmed and gripping with good performances from the cast. A bit bloody.
Published 27 days ago by Paul
5.0 out of 5 stars Corialanus
This is one for ardent Shakespear Fans. Not one of his better known plays but fantastically acted and worth a view. Also commentary by Ralph Fiennes well worth a listen too
Published 1 month ago by DCA
4.0 out of 5 stars Good try but
I'venever found Coriolanus a very appealing play...he's something of a prat really! However the acting from all the luvie turns is excellent... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Julie Cutler
4.0 out of 5 stars Chilling interpretation of an unfamiliar play. Not for everyone
This is a challenging and demanding film. Don't be misled by the star attraction of Gez Butler and Rafe Feinnes - it's still Shakespeare, it's still Elizabethan dialogue and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Rowena Hoseason
4.0 out of 5 stars Coriolanus
Good film but heavy going. I found this rather long and drawn out. Much more dialogue than I expected. Would recommend this to people who were great fans of Shakespeare, only.
Published 1 month ago by micradriver
1.0 out of 5 stars CORIOLANUS DVD
CORIOLANUS DVD WAS DIDAPPOINTING AND i LOVE GERARD BUTLER AND RALPH FIENNES,BUT I MUST SAY I WAS VERY DIAPPOINTED IN THE DVD.
Published 1 month ago by NORMA JEAN
2.0 out of 5 stars Coriolanus
Adapting Shakespeare has never been an easy task and quite often looks cheesy or theatrical without intending too. Read more
Published 1 month ago by T. Cosens
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