Jun 022013
Gothic
This story goes into the circumstance of the night that Mary Shelley wrote the story of Dr Frankenstein at Lord Byron’s Swiss estate. The guests use hallucinogens and play bizarre games resulting in tales of horror.This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com’s standard return policy will apply.Lurid, kitschy, over the top–what more does one expect from Ken Russell, director of The Devils, Tommy, and Altered States? Gothic purports to tell the story of a nigh
List Price: $ 9.99
Price: $ 9.99
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slapdash transfer,
I won’t go into the pros or cons of the movie, which many other reviewers have covered earlier. If you like Ken Russell, can tolerate some ambiguity, and enjoy the darkness of Romantic poetry, you probably like this movie; if you don’t, you won’t.
What I will mention is that Artisan has provided us with a DVD that defines “lackluster.” There are no, repeat no, extras on the DVD. Not even an original trailer or still of an A sheet. The format is pan-and-scan, and I do not believe any attempt was made to restore the print. In fact, I would venture so far as to say this is simply the earlier VHS-formatted movie transferred directly onto DVD. If, like me, you no longer own or use a VCR, or your VHS version is worn out, this DVD is worthwhile. If not, then wait until someone who cares about movies, perhaps Anchor Bay, gets permission to produce this movie on DVD, and does it right.
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|BEWARE!!! Awful DVD transfer.,
I cannot believe how awful this transfer is from Synergy Entertainment. Someone actually took a BAD VHS recording and slapped it onto a DVD-R. I just realized after complaining to Amazon’s customer service that it is briefly mentioned under the Editorial Review that it is a DVD-R disc that the company made based on “demand”. BS. Had I known this, I could have ordered the OFFICIAL out-of-print DVD for even less than this piece of garbage cost. I am very surprised Amazon is selling such a “bootleg-like” item.
Until something better comes along, take my advice and buy a used copy of the out-of-print Lion’s Gate release. That’s what I am going to do. It has to be much better than this.
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|A Master Piece,
Gothic is one of Ken Russell’s best films. Of course his work isn’t for everyone, and I know some people just hate his movies, and complain about their content and self indulgence. But for me, these are some of his strong points, being prepared to experiment with his subject matter, and produce his own unique vision. Gothic tells of a meeting, in Switzerland, between: Byron (Gabriel Byrne), Shelly, Mary Shelly (Natasha Richardson), and two lesser known figures: Clair Clairmont and Dr Polidori. The beginning and end of the film both look like period piece dramas. What comes in between is Ken Russell’s unique vision. The characters, during a stormy knight, invent stories and create a monster of their own imaginations. These involve all of Ken Russell’s favorite images for film (and hence the self indulgent criticism): Religion, vampirism, sumptuously films sets, a plot that verges on the fantastical, and nudity. Of interest though is the way the narrative deals with death, as there is an interesting sequence where Mary Shelly has visions of the demise of all the principles in the film. Of course it all ties in with the Birth of one of English literature’s most memorable books: Frankenstein (by Mary Shelly). Gothic is a Master Piece from Ken Russell, one of his most interesting films that challenges the viewer immensely. Sadly, however, not all will get it.
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