Just what I expected

Just perfect...

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Visually stunning about a fictional world with good and evil not easily defined within the context of the story. Unique in storytelling, this makes for difficult-to-define protagonists/antagonists. Eventually, the main character transforms into a villain, but when contrasted against the morbid reality of Gormenghast, we can still sympathize with his intentions, pathetic as they may be. A hero eventually arises to save the realm, but is delivered from the claustrophobic and decrepit confines of Gormenghast.Gormenghast probably represents civilization in general. But this civilization runs so smooth and is so old, that it exists for no other reason than existence. There is no reason to improve, no reason to explore, and little reason to question authority. Everything is run by a book of rules. There is government, a monarchy, but like its realm, it exists for a reason long forgotten. No question that Gormenghast is a philosophical offering about the purpose of society and the meaning of existence.A comparison to THX 1138, Brazil, 1984, Quintet, or even Apocalypto could be made, but Gormenghast is different in its portrayal of the individual within a unique, and perhaps even more disturbing reality.

Having succeeded in reading the Mervyn Peake Gormenghast trilogy, I finally looked forward to the TV series of which there was much curiosity. Could Peake's sprawling tale of Steerpike's Machiavellian rise and grave descent really be translated that well on TV or would it be better realised as a film? The truth is it works very nicely on the TV and who better to do it justice than the superb cast who are the cream of British and Irish acting.The tale starts with a brief look at the rituals and boredom of the Groan family who rule Gormenghast. Set in a sort of mad, medieval world of rules, rituals and regulations, the Groans are a tortured family of ageing upper class royalty. There is Lord Groan, played in brilliant torment by the late Ian Richardson, Lady Groan wonderfully realised by Celia Imrie and Fuchsia Groan, their lovely but half mad child-woman daughter. There is also the usual assorted collection of hangers-on and nobility such as Dr Prunesquallor and his sister, various servants like Flay (brilliantly realised by Christopher Lee) and Mrs Slagg and, much later on, grotesques like the Cook played by a horrific looking Richard Griffiths. Enter into this colourful mixture the youth Steerpike who comes from the kitchens and attempts to kill, drive mad or seduce his way into the Groan family.The castle itself is a wonder to look at and the set design is why Britain is so good at making these sort of series.

I read some Mervyn Peake years ago, so I know a little of his penchant for the bizarre and his love of language. I was ready to like Gormenghast, which I had not read before. This didn't work for me at all, and now I have no desire to go back an read the original.Positive: good production values, typical of British period film-making. Good actors, many familiar faces again from other UK TV films.Review. I found no characters with enough redeeming qualities to relate to in any fashion. The message is negative, ugly, gruesome, grotesque and distasteful. Likely someone involved with the production would argue that that is just the point: this is an allegory of a brutal, hateful and inhumane society. That it is, but I don't want to watch it! For entertainment to work, you have to have something that the typical human viewers can latch on to, usually by being able to empathize with at least one character. I particularly found the incessant squealing, whining, aching, hurting, yelling, and hollering of just about every character in the production very grating after only a few minutes into the film. An unpleasant viewing experience altogether.

OK, OK, I admit I enjoyed it! Now, that's out of the way. Yet somehow I feel manipulated by someone who put several plot outlines into a computer and came up with this combination of 'Hamlet' meets 'Phantom of the Opera' meets Grimm's Fairy Tales. The actors (being English) are terrific to watch go through the paces. My, we Americans can learn a lot from them. For me, Celia Imrie steals the show with her stone-faced portrayal of Mommie Queen Dearest. Second, are Zoe and Lynsey as the Siamese twins, Clarice and Cora, who are just mesmerizing to watch and fun on top. One has to root for them to the end. Mr. Meyers enjoys his evil a bit too much for me--although, I think such a part would be difficult to not become too hammy with. However, at times, I wanted nothing more than to slap him upside the head for his spoiled brat episodes when he doesn't get his way. It's all grim, grimy and gory darkness wrapped in Christmas colors, so enjoy and I guess forget about being too analytical as I am. I must say, in some ways it echoes the nightly news these days--most upsetting.