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DVD Description
Suddenly, condemned arch-swindler Moist von Lipwig found himself with a noose around his neck and dropping through a trapdoor into...a government job? By all rights, Moist should be meeting his maker rather than being offered a position as Postmaster by Lord Vetinari, supreme ruler of Ankh-Morpork. Getting the moribund Postal Service up and running again, however, may prove an impossible task, what with literally mountains of decades-old undelivered mail clogging every nook and cranny of the broken-down post office. Worse still, Moist could swear the mail is talking to him. Worst of all, it means taking on the gargantuan, greedy Grand Trunk Clacks communication monopoly and its bloodthirsty piratical headman. But if the bold and undoable are what's called for, Moist's the man for the job--to move the mail, continue breathing, get the girl, and specially deliver that invaluable commodity that every being, human or otherwise, requires: hope.
Lavish television adaptation of Terry Pratchett's hugely popular Going Postal novel, part of the Discworld series.
Special Features:
• Exclusive Terry Pratchett Introduction
• Deleted Scenes
• Blooper Reel
• Image Gallery: props, set drawings, storyboards
• Cast, Crew and Terry Pratchett interviews
• Director audio commentary
Stills from Going Postal (Click for larger image)
Lavish television adaptation of Terry Pratchett's hugely popular Going Postal novel, part of the Discworld series.
Special Features:
• Exclusive Terry Pratchett Introduction
• Deleted Scenes
• Blooper Reel
• Image Gallery: props, set drawings, storyboards
• Cast, Crew and Terry Pratchett interviews
• Director audio commentary
Stills from Going Postal (Click for larger image)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Okay, so first thing first, I absolutely love Terry Pratchett and all things Discworld, however probably because of that I have high expectations when it comes to the adaptations. Hogfather was great, although of course the book is immensely superiour, Colour of Magic I wasn't a huge fan. Going Postal I really enjoyed, a lot of the actors were perfect (imo) for the roles, Charles Dance IS Vetinari (albeit a blonde one, but hey, we managed to get over the whole 'blonde bond' thing so why not Vetinari), Adora, Stanley and Reacher were pretty much as I saw them, Moist wasn't, but he grew on me and now whenever I re-read GP or MM I shall imagine him.
Going Postal does deviate from the plot of the book, in my mind there are only three major variations, one of which I think they got away with leaving out, another was a 'slight' deviation which I can see why they did it and it works for the screen, and the last that annoyed the hell out of me. But life isn't perfect, and books always lose something in the translation to screen. Saying that GP works
Of course one of the best parts about Pratchett's books are the footnotes, the little asides and further jokes and explanations to the reader, this was always my biggest problem with the idea of the adaptations, but with Going Postal I didn't miss them that much, this could have been because they weren't as fixed in my mind or numerous as with the Hogfather, which all the way through I kept remembering the asides that were absent in the adaptation.
All in all I really enjoyed it, and I hope they adapt Making Money soon (and by gods I hope they keep all of Gladys' lines). Yes it's not an exact adaptation of the book, but I personally prefer it to the COM adaptation and it's about even with Hogfather, and of the two I (of course) prefer the book but I have to admit it is a close thing, much closer than Hogfather and COM for sure. And I could enjoy it as something seperate-although eternally entwined to the Discworld. If you're a Discworld fan you should definitely see it, and if you've never heard of Terry Pratchett or the Discworld (where have you been?) I think this is definitely worth a look.
-Oh and watch out for Terry at the end!
Going Postal does deviate from the plot of the book, in my mind there are only three major variations, one of which I think they got away with leaving out, another was a 'slight' deviation which I can see why they did it and it works for the screen, and the last that annoyed the hell out of me. But life isn't perfect, and books always lose something in the translation to screen. Saying that GP works
Of course one of the best parts about Pratchett's books are the footnotes, the little asides and further jokes and explanations to the reader, this was always my biggest problem with the idea of the adaptations, but with Going Postal I didn't miss them that much, this could have been because they weren't as fixed in my mind or numerous as with the Hogfather, which all the way through I kept remembering the asides that were absent in the adaptation.
All in all I really enjoyed it, and I hope they adapt Making Money soon (and by gods I hope they keep all of Gladys' lines). Yes it's not an exact adaptation of the book, but I personally prefer it to the COM adaptation and it's about even with Hogfather, and of the two I (of course) prefer the book but I have to admit it is a close thing, much closer than Hogfather and COM for sure. And I could enjoy it as something seperate-although eternally entwined to the Discworld. If you're a Discworld fan you should definitely see it, and if you've never heard of Terry Pratchett or the Discworld (where have you been?) I think this is definitely worth a look.
-Oh and watch out for Terry at the end!
44 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
As a devoted Pratchett fan I have watched the good, the bad and the ugly come to screen (the latter two mostly occuring in COM). For this third outing we see the unfortunately named Moist Von Lipwig narrowly avoid a hanging (and that's 'narrow' with a capital 'N') to awake to find he has a destiny to follow - the re-opening of the Post Office and all the problems that go with it. These problems include; escaping from his Golem Parole officer, Angua of the City Watch (werewolf), his arch enemy Reacher Gilt, and trying to get Adora Dearheart to go on a date with him. Yet all of these pale into comparison to the terror of the ancient letters that show his dark past and need deliverance.....literally!
As a huge fan of the books, I knew I would be a hard crowd to please. The Hogfather I loved, yet there was something missing from it, Colour Of Magic I disliked and would not watch again (mostly due to major casting errors), so I was hugely surprised when I found myself hooked watching this adaptation. Going Postal was one of my least favourite books, that I decided to give another chance when I found they were making a t.v. adaptation and grew to love.
There are obviously major flaws; the Post Office and the letters not getting enough time, and the deaths of the previous postmen being explained on the deadly banshee, Mr Gryle, instead of on the time-warping power of the letters and their need to be delivered. Also, the character of Moist and his people pleasing nature, his con-man skills did not seem apparent until the second part of it which also detracted from the major point of the book. The Golems are not right and look rather comical rather than intimidating. Oh, and don't forget Tiddles.....
However, for whatever reason they relinquished these points, they did so, and it was only looking back that I missed their presence.
I was hooked! The casting was near perfect and also inspired and unusual; Vetinari, Moist, Adora, Stanley, Groat, and especially Reacher (I've never seen Poirot so evil!) they were all brilliant. Even the smaller parts, such as Pony, were acted with brilliance. All the changes made were done so that the story could fit the screen (as always with Pratchett, the best bits are usually in the footnotes, the imagination, the witty asides and cannot be translated appropriately).
Overall then, a triumph! And definitely one I shall be purchasing and watching again! Let's hope that the next adaptation continues on this upwards slope.
As a huge fan of the books, I knew I would be a hard crowd to please. The Hogfather I loved, yet there was something missing from it, Colour Of Magic I disliked and would not watch again (mostly due to major casting errors), so I was hugely surprised when I found myself hooked watching this adaptation. Going Postal was one of my least favourite books, that I decided to give another chance when I found they were making a t.v. adaptation and grew to love.
There are obviously major flaws; the Post Office and the letters not getting enough time, and the deaths of the previous postmen being explained on the deadly banshee, Mr Gryle, instead of on the time-warping power of the letters and their need to be delivered. Also, the character of Moist and his people pleasing nature, his con-man skills did not seem apparent until the second part of it which also detracted from the major point of the book. The Golems are not right and look rather comical rather than intimidating. Oh, and don't forget Tiddles.....
However, for whatever reason they relinquished these points, they did so, and it was only looking back that I missed their presence.
I was hooked! The casting was near perfect and also inspired and unusual; Vetinari, Moist, Adora, Stanley, Groat, and especially Reacher (I've never seen Poirot so evil!) they were all brilliant. Even the smaller parts, such as Pony, were acted with brilliance. All the changes made were done so that the story could fit the screen (as always with Pratchett, the best bits are usually in the footnotes, the imagination, the witty asides and cannot be translated appropriately).
Overall then, a triumph! And definitely one I shall be purchasing and watching again! Let's hope that the next adaptation continues on this upwards slope.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have this habit when watching movies based on books of on the one hand comparing them with the original - how could one not? - and on the other hand allowing them to be an independent thing is a different medium altogether. As an independent thing, I enjoyed Going Postal very much. It is a lush, well-paced, fun movie. As an adaption of the book, it is a very mixed blessing. When I first read the book, I felt it was almost perfectly suited for a movie adaption, because it is so very visual. The film has certainly brought out this visual quality - set, costumes and props are great. The Smoking Gnu for example looked absolutely wonderful. On the other hand, there were strange changes and omissions that I considered unnecessary. Why didn't we get to see a bit of the restoration of the post office? Why was the Postman's Walk left out? Why was the couple reunited by Moist's letter a young couple instead of an old one?
Vetinari is a good example of how the movie both delighted and annoyed the Pratchett fan in me. His voice and demeanour were spot on, as was his costume - I was glad they hadn't gone for the Stephen Brigg's style Catholic priest robe. But then, wouldn't it have been easy enough to dye the actor's hair and beard black? A ginger-haired Vetinari is seriously jarring. He was also too old. Using simple arithmetic based on his age in Night Watch, Vetinari should be around fifty at the time of Going Postal, not mid-sixties as he looked here.
However, what disappointed me most, from a book point of view, was the lack of depth. I adore the book for the concept of the overhead, the idea of the dead clacksmen being "sent home," the fact that John Dearheart's name is continuously kept going by the clacks operators and I absolutely love the message Moist sends to Genua. In the movie, all this is lost and the replacement message is little more than grassing. Moist becomes a man with a conscience reformed by feelings of guilt. This is very trite, especially in comparison to the book, where he is a man who find against his own expectations that running the post office is something he enjoys and who almost against his own will becomes fond of the people involved. The actor also failed to convey Moist's flair, charisma and light-heartedness; he seemed heavy and clumsy most of the time.
Finally, whatever happened to the sorting machine? Without it, the state of the post office is hardly a credible one. One doesn't get such mountains of letters just from being a bit behind schedule.
Having said all that, I enjoyed the film and I will certainly watch it again. It has many fine moments and many fine performances, the most excellent of which was Ian Bonar as Stanley.
Vetinari is a good example of how the movie both delighted and annoyed the Pratchett fan in me. His voice and demeanour were spot on, as was his costume - I was glad they hadn't gone for the Stephen Brigg's style Catholic priest robe. But then, wouldn't it have been easy enough to dye the actor's hair and beard black? A ginger-haired Vetinari is seriously jarring. He was also too old. Using simple arithmetic based on his age in Night Watch, Vetinari should be around fifty at the time of Going Postal, not mid-sixties as he looked here.
However, what disappointed me most, from a book point of view, was the lack of depth. I adore the book for the concept of the overhead, the idea of the dead clacksmen being "sent home," the fact that John Dearheart's name is continuously kept going by the clacks operators and I absolutely love the message Moist sends to Genua. In the movie, all this is lost and the replacement message is little more than grassing. Moist becomes a man with a conscience reformed by feelings of guilt. This is very trite, especially in comparison to the book, where he is a man who find against his own expectations that running the post office is something he enjoys and who almost against his own will becomes fond of the people involved. The actor also failed to convey Moist's flair, charisma and light-heartedness; he seemed heavy and clumsy most of the time.
Finally, whatever happened to the sorting machine? Without it, the state of the post office is hardly a credible one. One doesn't get such mountains of letters just from being a bit behind schedule.
Having said all that, I enjoyed the film and I will certainly watch it again. It has many fine moments and many fine performances, the most excellent of which was Ian Bonar as Stanley.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
I hated the first 5 minutes but was then hooked...
Yes Vetinaria isn't blond, yes many of the actors don't meet the physical description in Terry's book but it doesn't matter! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Rickath
Going Postal Review
Love Pratchett's books, and this is in my opinion the best film/TV version of them.
I hope that many more are adapted for the big screen...
I hope that many more are adapted for the big screen...
Published 2 months ago by AndyP
Going Postal
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It was just as I had imagined it while reading the book. It's Terry Pratchett, what's not to like!
Published 2 months ago by 3x4paws
Great fun
We really enjoyed this. I loved the book and this rendition was as close as you can get to what you imagined while reading Terry Pratchetts novel. Read more
Published 4 months ago by wld
fantastic interpretation of a brilliant book!
Really enjoyable, perfect casting and a good way to spend a rainy Sunday! Loved the vision of the discworld and Ankh-Morpork; almost as I imagined it when I was reading the book.
Published 9 months ago by jak
But words... words have a totally different power. They enter in...
In the city of Ankh-Morpork, all long-distance communication is done by the clacks (sort of platform telegraphs). Read more
Published 9 months ago by E. A Solinas
Going Postal
An absolute must for any Terry Pratchett fan!!!
No lag between the book and what you see on the screen, exactly as Imagined. Brilliantly done. Read more
No lag between the book and what you see on the screen, exactly as Imagined. Brilliantly done. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Sylvana
Going Postal
I'm loving the Terry Pratchett novels on DVD and also animated. I hope a lot more of his work finds its way onto DVD. Very funny and clever adaptation of books. Great acting. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Smokey
Funny movie, not ecstatic
Pros: It's a decent movie, with funny bits.
Cons: It doesn't really do justice to the book, or any of its satirical ideas.
Cons: It doesn't really do justice to the book, or any of its satirical ideas.
Published 11 months ago by J. Adler
Good, but not great
It helps that I haven't read Going Postal in a while, but I quite enjoyed this adaptation. I thought the two leads were brilliant - I actually liked Adora Belle better in the film... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Ascribenz
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