15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
stunning visuals highlight gay art house masterpiece., February 5, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Edward II [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Derek Jarman seems to have come within reach of mere human understanding. This film actually has a narrative, which is unusual for Jarman and satisfying for us regular folk. Edward II is based on a play by Christopher Marlowe, a playwright who,like the subject of this film, was persecuted for his homosexuality in his own time.
Steven Waddington lustily portrays the doomed king. Jarman places the sexuality square in the audience's face with enough edge to make it interesting, yet avoids gratuitous tastelessness and boredom.
One especially memorable Jarmanesque event is the surprise appearance of Annie Lennox singing the haunting "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" by Cole Porter. Ms. Lennox is quite simply, Ms. Lennox. Other striking touches are the contemporary clothing on some of the characters and the appealingly moody sets.
As for historical reality,I suggest you consult your English history books for the grim facts of this king's life and death. Matthew Shepard's death reminds us that animal brutality is alive and well in our own time. The film does make obvious reference to the modern day persecution of gays and lesbians, and perhaps this is at least part of Jarman's reason for filming this story.
I can't say enough about this film. When my local video store was about to liquidate its supply of seldom rented video, I bought the only copy. It saddened me to see that little piece of art taken out to make room for the everyday and the mundane.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Give in to the senses, forget common sense, September 25, 2001
This review is from: Edward II [VHS] (VHS Tape)
First off, I have to say that this movie should not be viewed as a rendition of the Marlowe play, but as its own creation. If you are expecting a faithful adaptation, you will be disappointed. However, if you come to it without prejudice, it is an impressive cinematic work of scope and vision.
Jarman's directing style is not for everyone--plot continuity or story structure is not very important to him--but he crafts each scene of the film with such care and skill that the sensuousnes of the cinematography becomes the central point. The film is presented as a gallery of images: every shot is a painting. Everything is subordinated for the effect of these images: the narrative is presented in a series of symbols and allegories, switching between times, places, reality and fantasy, until it all blends together in a wonderful cascade of pure visual exhiliration. This movie is first and foremost an aesthetic experience: watch it for the sake of watching it, enjoy first and alalyze later.
Should you wish to analyze it after all, you will find that the seemingly aimless or irrelevant images are actually an integral part of the story, carefully distributed throughout. There is meaning in everything that is presented in the film, from the extraneous vision of an Apollo with a golden snake, to the huddle of Rugby players Edward's son stumbles upon during his midnight forays. It is telling that the final scene has the Queen and Mortimer sitting inside a cage, caked in flour, while the son (wearing a suit and his mother's earrings and listening to a walkman) dances on top. Jarman goes with the maxim "a picture is worth a thousand words," and prefers to tell his story through abstract yet meaning-laden images.
Another approach that Jarman has to the play is taking literally the figurative language of it. Many of the images come from the words the characters say, adding new dimensions to the language. Thus, when in the play, Edward's actions are compared to that of a butcher, during those scenes in the film, he is literally a butcher: coat, knife and all.
There are also elements that are outside the play, such as the gay rights protests that form a background but necessary part of the movie. Injecting new interpretations to the text, Jarman's work is a comment on boith the modern and the ancient problems that intolerance causes. Substance is something this film has a-plenty, convention is something that it does not. Don't expect logic or an easily (if at all) understandable story, but do expect an aesthetic experience that you will remember.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Moving and thoughtful, February 28, 2003
This review is from: Edward II [VHS] (VHS Tape)
A unique blend of older dialogue and modern dress, all wrapped up in a castle that has seen better days. Thoroughly enjoyed the drama. Great acting by Steve Waddington. Makes me want to look up the entire period in books to see what the whole environment was like back then. Would I recommend the video? Absolutely. Sure wish a DVD version (with extras!!) would rear its head soon. My VHS copy won't last forever! Cheers, Jack
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