War Requiem details
| Format: | 12 DVD |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Milo Bell, Nigel Terry, Patricia Hayes, Sean Bean, Tilda Swinton, Laurence Olivier, Harvey Cooper, Claire Davenport, Nathaniel Parker, Owen Teale, Rohan McCullough |
| Director: | Derek Jarman |
| Genre: | Music/Musical |
| Studio: | SECOND SIGHT FILMS LTD. |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
War Requiem |
12 Feature |
DVD Information
| Run time: | 1 hour 29 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | 10 Nov 2008 |
| Main languages: | English |
Write your own review
Most helpful review
Superb Cinematic experience
By Halliwelll (13 reviews) from Harlow , 22 Sep 2008[Highly rated reviewer]
The new digitally re-mastered HD print of WAR REQUIEM is totally staggering. Twenty years after the first theatrical release, the astonishing beauty and visceral immediacy of Jarman’s cinematic visualisation of Britten’s oratorio has lost none of its power to deeply move.
Conceived at the close of the Cold War, in a Post-Falklands and Thatcherite climate WAR REQUIEMS pacifist message is clear. Shown in a different time and completely different context - after the invasion of Iraq and the continued conflict in Afganistan - this is extraordinarily resonant cinema. However, Jarman’s film is much more than merely a political statement. The texture of his highly crafted painterly approach to Wilfred Owen’s poetry, the Latin mass for the Dead, wide landscape shots, and painterly tableau’s set against the naturalism of archive documentary footage of WW1, the bombed out cities of WW2, Vietnam, Angola and Afghanistan – transform and transcend that idea.
With incredible theatrical performances from Laurence Olivier, Tilda Swinton, Nathaniel Parker and Sean Bean, WAR REQUIEM is often compared to a piece of modern silent cinema. Particular highlights are the lingering camera sequences on Tilda Swinton’s Eisensteinian acting style, Jarman’s ironic use of religious iconography and exquisite colour transitions.
A superb cinematic experience.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (10) Yes |
- No (1)
All reviews
(3)War Requiem
By gattonero (2 reviews) from Sutton Coldfield , 08 Jan 2010Most disappointing, such wonderful music and poetry spoit by a mismatch of images. Occasionally the film and images would have been impressive without the music. But the music and poetry stands on its own, not needing any addition, they create images, siffienciently strong, of the horror and pathos of war.. The images were a distraction.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (1) Yes |
- No (0)
Disappointing
By a customer from Glasgow , 03 Dec 2008Music can obviously supplement film and even poetry(Elgar's 'Sea Pictures' for example). Jarman tries to add visuals to poetry, which negates the whole point of poetry. His film is pretty dire, a guddle, with a series of unconvincing,rather crass tableaux,which are pretentious,if not baffling. Only the too-few WW1 archive clips gel with the music, notably the 'Dies Irae'. The closing scenes are risible.The sound track is fantastic. Buy the CD instead.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (3) Yes |
- No (0)
Superb Cinematic experience
By Halliwelll (13 reviews) from Harlow , 22 Sep 2008[Highly rated reviewer]
The new digitally re-mastered HD print of WAR REQUIEM is totally staggering. Twenty years after the first theatrical release, the astonishing beauty and visceral immediacy of Jarman’s cinematic visualisation of Britten’s oratorio has lost none of its power to deeply move.
Conceived at the close of the Cold War, in a Post-Falklands and Thatcherite climate WAR REQUIEMS pacifist message is clear. Shown in a different time and completely different context - after the invasion of Iraq and the continued conflict in Afganistan - this is extraordinarily resonant cinema. However, Jarman’s film is much more than merely a political statement. The texture of his highly crafted painterly approach to Wilfred Owen’s poetry, the Latin mass for the Dead, wide landscape shots, and painterly tableau’s set against the naturalism of archive documentary footage of WW1, the bombed out cities of WW2, Vietnam, Angola and Afghanistan – transform and transcend that idea.
With incredible theatrical performances from Laurence Olivier, Tilda Swinton, Nathaniel Parker and Sean Bean, WAR REQUIEM is often compared to a piece of modern silent cinema. Particular highlights are the lingering camera sequences on Tilda Swinton’s Eisensteinian acting style, Jarman’s ironic use of religious iconography and exquisite colour transitions.
A superb cinematic experience.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (10) Yes |
- No (1)
- < Prev
- 1
- Next >
