- Actors: John Gielgud, Michael Clark, Michel Blanc, Erland Josephson, Isabelle Pasco
- Directors: Peter Greenaway
- Writers: Peter Greenaway, William Shakespeare
- Producers: Denis Wigman, Kees Kasander, Masato Hara, Michel Seydoux, Philippe Carcassonne
- Language English
- Classification: 15
- Studio: 4 Front
- VHS Release Date: 12 April 1999
- Run Time: 124 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004R6I0
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,287 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
spirited,
By
This review is from: Prospero's Books [VHS] (VHS Tape)
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 else you have ever seen. (What sort of casting agency can come up with about 100 people aged from about 5 to about 80, all naked for all of the time? Perhaps they are the members of a naturist club? They play the "spirits" of the island.) The idea of focusing on the Books is original, and developed to good effect. If this film has a weak point, it is Miranda. Isabelle Pasco's acting is wooden (maybe we're spoilt by Toyah Wilcox's performance in Jarman's Tempest film).
Why no DVD? One of the mysteries of modern life. Incidentally there is a "book of the film" consisting of photos of the cast mostly "off-stage". It's called Prospero's Subjects, was published in Japan and is almost impossible to get hold of. But worth trying.
32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Magical interpretation misses widescreen,
By A Customer
This review is from: Prospero's Books [VHS] (VHS Tape)
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 that have been sent with him to his fair Isle. The desciptions of which provide entertaining and often humourous interludes to the build up of the well known text of the story and perhaps our book The Tempest. A must see, again and again. Four stars only though as without a widescreen version too much is missing.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A remarkable film of great depth and imagination.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Prospero's Books [VHS] (VHS Tape)
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 level. Although difficult to find, Noel Cobb's book Prospero's Island will add greatly to your enjoyment since it contains a very lucid explication of the psychology of The Tempest on which Prospero's Books is based. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the director, Peter Greenaway, read this book as part of the preparation for this film. I would also like to issue the following challenge: try to detect even one individual among the dozens of actors, extras and dancers in Prospero's Books who does not appear to be completely immersed in the creation of this remarkable film.
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