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Chemical Wedding on DVD (2008)

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Average rating: 45%
1219101716209814
2.5
from 449 members
 
Starring: Simon Callow, Kal Weber, Lucy Cudden, Jud Charlton, Paul McDowell, John Shrapnel, Richard Franklin, Terence Bayler, Robert Ashby
Director: Julian Doyle
Studio: WARNER MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Certificate: 18
Genres: Thriller
Languages: English
Released: 08/09/2008

Brief synopsis of Chemical Wedding

The year 2000, Cambridge University, Dr Joshua Mathers' state-of-the-art virtual reality suit is being linked to the world's biggest super computer, the Z93. Local programmer, and occult obsessive Victor Neumann has been secretly uploading all of late Edwardian magician Aleister Crowley's black magic ceremonies into the Z93 in binary form, with the intention of fusing science and magic with the help of his accomplice, the stuttering Classics lecturer Dr Oliver Haddo. Haddo enters the suit without realising that Mathers has made it 'intelligent' by adding a random chaos equation into the mix and the result is his transformation into Crowley himself. In order to reinstate his place on Earth he must perform the ultimate occult ritual, the Chemical Wedding within 3 days...

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 1 stars out of 5 Derek Adams, Time Out

Simon Callows always a good bet for a humourous slice of thespian camp and thats often the case with this paean... Read more on www.timeout.com

Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 1 starsVery poor script

dbuk from Derby [Highly rated reviewer] , 01/06/2008

Poor script.

Poor acting.

  16 out of 19 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsChemical Wedding

A customer from London , 04/09/2008

I thought the film was ok but I think that if you are in to occult and fantasy films you would like it even more. Give Dickinson a break as he is trying to explain an interesting character but as it’s very hard to explain Alistair Crowley so I did think he tried his best.

  6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsGood in all the wrong ways!

Morgan2010 from Cardiff, Wales , 17/09/2008

I agree with the customer from London who reviewed this film on 04/09/2008 it probably helps if your into occult and fantasy films or a huge Iron Maiden fan. Knowing a little bit about Crowley probably helps as well. And I'm willing to admit I fit all those categories.

Despite that I still didn't like the film the first time I watched it. Having watched it a couple more times (once with commentary) I have to say I actually quite like it.

As I bought rather than rented it I'm not sure whether the rental copy comes with the documentary, commentary and notes on the characters but they are worth a look/listen if it does.

Watching the film the first time I picked up the fact that a number of the names related to people from Crowley's life (Rose = First wife, Lia = Leah one of his lovers, Mathers = One of the members of Golden Dawn and Haddo = Character in Somerset Maugham's Magician that was based on Crowley). On repeat views I picked up more little references. That said a lot of the things the Haddo/Crowley character does don't reflect the actions of the real Crowley but then again it's not a film about the real Crowley.

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsnot bad

jpm from Weston-super-Mare , 27/09/2008

cheaply made but simon callow made it work with good acting. check out bruce dickinson cameo's (iron maiden lead singer)

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 3 starsChemical Wedding

A customer from London , 04/09/2008

I thought the film was ok but I think that if you are in to occult and fantasy films you would like it even more. Give Dickinson a break as he is trying to explain an interesting character but as it’s very hard to explain Alistair Crowley so I did think he tried his best.

  6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsnot bad

jpm from Weston-super-Mare , 27/09/2008

cheaply made but simon callow made it work with good acting. check out bruce dickinson cameo's (iron maiden lead singer)

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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