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Product Description
Ben Barnes takes the title role in this 2009 adaptation of Oscar Wilde's 1891 novel. When Dorian arrives in London he is introduced to a rakish, dissolute lifestyle by the larger-than-life character of Lord Henry Wotton (Colin Firth). When one of Wotton's artist friends paints Dorian's portrait, Dorian makes an offhand vow to always stay as young and handsome as he is in the picture, even at the cost of his soul. As his behaviour becomes ever more corrupt and hedonistic, Dorian's comely countenance remains unchanged; but the portrait begins to tell a different story...
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Commentary, Deleted Scenes, Featurette, Interactive Menu, Making Of, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Forever Young. Forever Cursed. Dorian Gray is Beautiful. Charming. Powerful. CURSED. Young Dorian Gray (Ben Barnes) arrives fresh on the London social scene and is taken under the wing of corrupt, devilish Lord Henry Wotton (Colin Firth) who introduces him to the seedy pleasures of London life. Desperate to protect the youth and beauty captured in his portrait, Dorian swears he would give anything to stay as he is...even his soul. Slipping deeper and deeper into a world of sin, sex and celebrity, his deeds grow ever more evil in an attempt to hide his secret. But when he eventually finds love, Dorian struggles to hide the secret behind his eternal youth. Is it too late for redemption or can love un-lock Dorian's humanity and save his soul? ...Dorian Gray (2009)
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32 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Ben Barnes stars in this watchable remake of Dorian Gray. Dorian, a young handsomely beautiful nobleman, is cursed and blessed with a strange gift after an exquisite portrait of him is painted. The eerily lifelike painting begins to haunt Dorian, showing strange signs of life and aging while he himself remains forever, young and flawless. But the curse of the painting comes with consequences as the young man begins to lose all sense of himself and evil begins to envelop his life.
While not as atmospheric or entertaining as the black and white original, the movie is still watchable. Almost touching the epitome of old gothic horror, this has a feel of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street about it (almost Burton-esque in feel). Ben Barnes is an ideal cast of Dorian, as although he is certainly handsome, also has something of a charcoal-eyed alien ugliness about him that fits the latter of his performance quite well. The film embodies the underground of the Victorian era quite well with it's flashes of unabashed eroticism, blatant drug use and the superior attitudes of male upper-class.
While not as atmospheric or entertaining as the black and white original, the movie is still watchable. Almost touching the epitome of old gothic horror, this has a feel of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street about it (almost Burton-esque in feel). Ben Barnes is an ideal cast of Dorian, as although he is certainly handsome, also has something of a charcoal-eyed alien ugliness about him that fits the latter of his performance quite well. The film embodies the underground of the Victorian era quite well with it's flashes of unabashed eroticism, blatant drug use and the superior attitudes of male upper-class.
113 of 132 people found the following review helpful
By Amanda Pike
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
I finally was able to see the 2009 version of Dorian Gray, adapted from the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.
I am writing this review AS an Oscar Wilde fan. I have read The Picture of Dorian Gray twice and I have read The Canterville Ghost twice.
I am going to tell you right now that these negative reviews that claim that this film is an insult to Oscar Wilde are WRONG! It's as if people who know very little about th works of Oscar Wilde are following a trend.
Those that say this would make Oscar Wilde roll over in his grave clearly have never seen the dreadful mid 2000s version of The Picture of Dorian Gray that re-sets it in the 1960s with a female Basil with horrendous acting. And they clearly have never seen the 1940s version of The Canterville Ghost that turned the entire story into World War 2 propaganda about a solider having to prove himself against a nazi.
I will admit that this not a word for word faithful adaptation of the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray however it is very true to the heart of the novel, the meaning and purpose. The character portrayals are perfect and accurate. All changes are purely superficial. I know Ben Barnes as Dorian does not resemble the character of the novel however he does resemble Oscar Wilde himself and since Oscar Wilde saw himself in Dorian I felt this was a brilliant use of visual symbolism in Wilde's own relationship with Dorian Gray.
I know that some people have complained about the adding of the character Emily Wotton, whom does not exist in the novel. What people fail to remember is that nearly all film versions of The Picture of Dorian Gray have this 'redeemer' character. In the 1940s movie her name was Gladys.... Read more ›
I am writing this review AS an Oscar Wilde fan. I have read The Picture of Dorian Gray twice and I have read The Canterville Ghost twice.
I am going to tell you right now that these negative reviews that claim that this film is an insult to Oscar Wilde are WRONG! It's as if people who know very little about th works of Oscar Wilde are following a trend.
Those that say this would make Oscar Wilde roll over in his grave clearly have never seen the dreadful mid 2000s version of The Picture of Dorian Gray that re-sets it in the 1960s with a female Basil with horrendous acting. And they clearly have never seen the 1940s version of The Canterville Ghost that turned the entire story into World War 2 propaganda about a solider having to prove himself against a nazi.
I will admit that this not a word for word faithful adaptation of the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray however it is very true to the heart of the novel, the meaning and purpose. The character portrayals are perfect and accurate. All changes are purely superficial. I know Ben Barnes as Dorian does not resemble the character of the novel however he does resemble Oscar Wilde himself and since Oscar Wilde saw himself in Dorian I felt this was a brilliant use of visual symbolism in Wilde's own relationship with Dorian Gray.
I know that some people have complained about the adding of the character Emily Wotton, whom does not exist in the novel. What people fail to remember is that nearly all film versions of The Picture of Dorian Gray have this 'redeemer' character. In the 1940s movie her name was Gladys.... Read more ›
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By R. Omolekulo
Format:DVD
i have to say i absolutely love this film, the moral behind captured in the film was as thought provoking to me as the book is to me so far. By watching the film i was immediately inspired to read the book which i am in the middle of right now. i believe Oliver Parker illustrated the film very well; he chose the perfect actors to carry out his vision and didn't mess around with the story too much. I especially admire Ben Barnes portrayal of Dorian, he executed Dorians' descent from a naive, humble boy into a man practising acts of decadence, debauchery and secrecy so naturally. Also, Colin Firth being one of my favourite British actors was very successful in portraying Lord Henry; a virtuous man, posing to be an man of anarchy. this film really enabled Firth to show his versatility as an actor and captured Lord Henry's power and influence so well you didn't see Firth as an actor but as real life character.
all in all, my love for the film truly lies with the intensity and atmosphere of it all. Parker captured the film with subtle traces of melancholy and gloom visually which made the film seem more attractive to me alongside the well presented story.
all in all, my love for the film truly lies with the intensity and atmosphere of it all. Parker captured the film with subtle traces of melancholy and gloom visually which made the film seem more attractive to me alongside the well presented story.
23 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By Androcleas
Format:DVD
This film is just awful. I couldn't manage more than 40 minutes, before giving up. All the subtlety of the book has been taken away. In the book, one of the most interesting things about Dorian Gray is that he gradually gets drawn into a debauched life, by the persuasion of his friend Henry. In the beginning he is really rather naive and at times guilt stricken.
In this film, he is a sex monster from the outset. He makes love with Sybil Vane (not in the book), he goes to brothels right from the beginning (in the book only later on). He has sex with a mother and daughter in the same room, in a totally preposterous and unbelievable manner (not in the book). He has gay sex with Basil the painter (also not in the book). Why all the sex scenes? They aren't in the book, and actually make the naive Dorian of the book into a far less interesting character.
The whole episode with Sybil Vane, which in the book is exceedingly tense, and at the end comes back to haunt Dorian, is glossed over (in my opinion) in an unacceptable manner.
The book is a brilliant description of its times, and sets out an interesting moral dilemma - what the real consequences are of the kind of life that Dorian is leading. It also sets out a moral conflict between desire (in the book not always sexual) and the consequences of that desire.
Forget this film. Read the book.
In this film, he is a sex monster from the outset. He makes love with Sybil Vane (not in the book), he goes to brothels right from the beginning (in the book only later on). He has sex with a mother and daughter in the same room, in a totally preposterous and unbelievable manner (not in the book). He has gay sex with Basil the painter (also not in the book). Why all the sex scenes? They aren't in the book, and actually make the naive Dorian of the book into a far less interesting character.
The whole episode with Sybil Vane, which in the book is exceedingly tense, and at the end comes back to haunt Dorian, is glossed over (in my opinion) in an unacceptable manner.
The book is a brilliant description of its times, and sets out an interesting moral dilemma - what the real consequences are of the kind of life that Dorian is leading. It also sets out a moral conflict between desire (in the book not always sexual) and the consequences of that desire.
Forget this film. Read the book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Strange... but good :)
Having already read dorian gray I had high hopes for this film and I can honestly say I wasn't disappointed =)
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. S. J. Baldwin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
An excellent film and the effects are very well done. A good story line and well worth watching if you want something a little different.
Published 2 months ago by goddess
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent version of a classic tale
Fine acting, vivid portrayal of the best and worst of Victorian England (for rich and poor alike), great fun. Highly recommended.
Published 2 months ago by Richard Haggis
1.0 out of 5 stars
Great Price
Bought this as it was cheap, and I can certainly see why, the film was very slow, and totally unbelievable, I was bored within 10 minutes of it starting. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Marc Sutton-beynon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wilde would surely approve.
Every screen adaptation of Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray has disappointed me. Expecting to regret it I nonetheless decided to give this version a go. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Cineman
4.0 out of 5 stars
Decent story well delivered
Every now and again I go on a film spree on films that are around £3 noramlly buy about 10 and this was one of the better choices (I have over 150 DVDs and 40+ Bly-rays) I enjoy a... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Aron
5.0 out of 5 stars
very good film
Atmospheric,Powerful and sizzling with sexiness. This is definitely for the adults !!! Very good story. Very interesting .I really enjoyed this film.
Published 4 months ago by Loopy loo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dorian Gray
Everyone is familiar with the story of Dorian Gray so I won't dwell too much on the plot. Basically Dorian Gray gives up his soul in return for always being able to look young and... Read more
Published 4 months ago by N. L. Ellam
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simple maybe but sonorously horrifying
Such a master piece of English literature is very tempting if not mesmerizing for film makers. The problem is that it is so well known and so famous that it is very difficult to do... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jacques COULARDEAU
5.0 out of 5 stars
Poor Mr Gray was led astray by the naughty Lord Henry
A brilliant film about the young and handsome Dorian Gray, who inherited his cruel uncles estate, and goes to London a morale and virtues person, like a boy in a sweet shop, but as... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Ms. C. A. Lorac
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