18 May 2013

The Name of the Rose

I own this movie on both VHS and DVD (Portugese audience, but with an English sound track). I've watched it several times and recommend the purchase of the DVD so you can do the same. Each time the film shows me something new, something deeper. To save space here, I will "ditto" the reviews above. Don't bother reading any film critics reviews of the film. I have and most them appear to have given the film a superficial viewing consequently missing the several threads running through it. The Name of the Rose is more than a mystery book and film.

leoesharkey

17 May 2013

Atmospheric and educational, interesting

I watched two different versions, the usual cinema version and anunusual longer version released on Irish TV with an extra sceneinvolving the trial at the hands of the inquisition. Brilliant and thearguments at the core of the movie have stayed with me for years,especially when they talk of the use of humour by Aristotle.I had only a basic high-school education, and was of course naive inthe ways of the world when i watched in in 1987, years later havingstudied at the university of life i have a different view of the worldand the world as it was in medieval Europe. i enjoyed watching it in a very different way recently.My hat goes off to Eco and it is an example or international filmmaking at it's best, a British and American actor in the leads a frenchdirector and an Italian writer with a film and production crew frommany places, watch it and enjoy.

17 May 2013

Life in the Middle Ages

This review is from: The Name of the Rose [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) The quality of the Blu-ray transfer is very good. This movie is an excellent detective story and also provides an interesting glimpse of just how difficult life was in Europe during the Middle Ages.

16 May 2013

Thought provoking! Hilighting religions sciences feud

Set in the mountains of 13th century abbey in Italy, the Name of the Rose weaves a complicated tale of faith, science and murder in a way that will keep audiences guessing. Sean Connery's portrayal of a learned monk (William of Baskerville) who uses the tools of science and logic to solve a series of murders, which are cleverly set to mimic the biblical book of Revelation, is one of his best. And audience members will find themselves thinking about the issues this picture brings to light, long after the movie is over. One of my all time top five!

classicalsteve

12 May 2013

Jean-Jacques Annauds Accurate Depiction of the Late Middle Ages a Must-See for Medievalists

A lot of our perception of the Middle Ages comes from previousHollywood movies, such as Robin Hood and Excalibur. In reality, Europeof the Middle Ages was dark, damp, and dirty, there was nomiddle-class, and the clergy and the nobility ran society likedictators. Consideration of personal hygiene was almost non-existent,medical practices were atrocious, and the search for knowledge wasdiscouraged by the church. Aside from the great Gothic cathedrals, muchof the architecture was comprised of either large stone buildings orsmall shacks for the peasantry. And religious fanaticism raged all overChristendom. If you weren't fearing for your life in the hereafterbecause of sin, you might be worried that the church would haul you inon charges of heresy. But there was one small consolation: it was theperiod when some of the most beautiful books ever created firstappeared by the artistic hands of monks in scriptoriums. This is theworld of "The Name of the Rose", the film adaption of the novel byUmberto Eco.The story concerns several murders that take place in a medievalmonastery circa 1327. But this monastery is special (althoughessentially fictional): it contains one of the greatest and mostextensive libraries in all of Medieval Europe. Not all aspects of theMiddle Ages were gloom and doom. The age produced some of the mostextravagantly beautiful hand-written books western society has everseen. The large ornamented calligraphy was adorned by beautifulilluminations in the margins, artwork that surrounded the text. (Theart of hand illumination has been subsequently lost to modern printinginnovations.) William of Baskerville (Sean Connery), a Franciscan monk, and his pupilAdso (Christian Slater) arrive at this Benedictine monastery hidden inthe snow-clad mountains presumably near the border of Italy andmodern-day Switzerland. At this time, the Franciscans were a relativelynew monastic order, their order barely 100 years old, as compared tothe Benedictines that by this time had boasted an 800-year history.William and Adso learn about the death of one of the monastery's bestilluminators who worked in the monastery's scriptorium. The scriptoriumwas the area of a medieval monastery in which monks copied, illuminatedand illustrated books. The story becomes a narrative about medievalbooks, classical writings, and the power of thought--medieval thoughtversus classical (aka Ancient Greek) sensibilities. As William ofBaskerville (so-named referencing Sherlock Holmes) begins to piecetogether the puzzle, he realizes that the death has much to do with thelibrary and its books, and possibly one book in particular.Although this is a loose adaption of the book, the film "The Name ofthe Rose" is one of the best depictions of the Middle Ages. Unlike mostHollywood offerings concerning the same period, the actors in "The Nameof the Rose" were probably similar to the strange-looking and care-wornmonks that habituated 14th-century monastic life. Most of these people(save the two Hollywood actors Sean Connery and Christian Slater) aregaunt and less unattractive people occupying large drafty buildingsfull of stench and grime. Their lives amounted to sleeping, eating,working, and worship. Leisure was not just avoided, it was largelyunknown. Their only solace is the beautiful Gregorian Chant that echosthrough the Church Sanctuary during morning and evening services.No one in this movie is particularly attractive, and there are even acharacter or two who will make you cringe. The cast, mostly made up ofFrench, Italian, and American actors, is outstanding with a few notablestandouts. Ron Perlman as Salvatore, a dim-witted hunchback who doesn'tknow whether he's speaking Latin, Italian or French is the absolutetour-de-force performance of the film. His portrayal is worth the priceof admission alone. I didn't realize the actor was actually Americanuntil much later! Feodor Chaliapin as the venerable Jorge, an agingblind monk that does not let his age nor his blindness interfere withhis expressing opinion gives a stalwart performance. Volker Prechtel asthe stoic librarian and supervisor of the scriptorium; his charactercould give any modern-day spinster a run for her money. William Hickeyas Ubertino of Casale, an exiled Franciscan who is strangely lovabledespite his age and his dying teeth! And F. Murray Abraham (of Salierifame in Amadeus) is also memorable as the historical figure BernardoGui, a true-to-life 14th-century inquisitor. You really believe you arewalking in the 14th century among these people. But would you want toinvite them for coffee?This is an outstanding film, granted not exactly escapist anddefinitely not for the feint of heart. Simultaneously, this movieprovides a window into the world of Western Europe 700 years ago, whendemocracy did not exist, people were stratified, religious fanaticismthe norm, and the world was lit only by fire. A compelling time and acompelling subject. Personally I love to study Middle Ages and itshistory and culture. Would I ever want to live back then? Not on yourlife. I'll use movies and books instead like the Name of the Rose.

11 May 2013

Name of the Rose

This review is from: The Name of the Rose [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) I have always loved this movie. To have it in my collection is wonderful. The upgrade to Bluray really enhanced the graphic aspects of the film.

04 May 2013

Who wanted us to believe in what?

Great cinematography allowes full inmersion in the part of history that is kept unknown: A monastery in the Middle Ages. A male world. They decided what we are going to believe nowadays. For 1000 years they wrote what we were suposed to read today. Umberto Eco's novel and the movie are very eye-opening.

03 May 2013

Dank, Cold Life In A Medieval Monastery, With Murders Solved By William Of Baskerville

"But what is so alarming about laughter?" asks William of Baskerville (Sean Connery) of the aged, righteous, milk-eyed monk, Jorge de Burgos (Feodor Chaliapin, Jr.). "Laughter kills fear," the Venerable Jorge snarls, "and without fear there can be no faith, because without fear of the Devil there is no more need of God." The Name of the Rose is a fascinating, and at times confusing, overlay of murder and philosophical disputation that takes place in a frigid medieval monastery perched on a mountain in the year 1327. A young monk has been found, his body crushed and mutilated, on the rocks below a high window placed in a stone tower. The window, however, could not be opened and there was no access to the roof above. William of Baskerville, journeying with his young assistant, Adso (Christian Slater), is asked to find out what happened before a debate begins at the monastery between the monks and representatives of the Pope on the question of material wealth by the religious. Soon William, a Franciscan monk who takes pride in using his mind and not simply relying on belief, finds himself immersed in murder, with more gruesome deaths among the young monks, and even deeper mysteries hidden in the locked rooms of this secretive monastery. We also learn that the representatives of the Papal debate will be accompanied by Bernardo Gui (F. Murray Abraham) of the Inquisition. This raises the stakes not just for the monastery, but for William of Baskerville. "I too was an Inquisitor," he tells Adso, "but in the early days, when the Inquisition strove to guide, not to punish. And once I had to preside at a trial of a man whose only crime was to have translated a Greek book that conflicted with the Holy Scriptures. Bernardo Gui wanted him condemned as a heretic; I acquitted the man. Then Bernardo Gui accused me of heresy, for having defended him. I appealed to the Pope. I...I was put in prison, tortured, and... and I recanted." "What happened then?" Adso asks. "The man was burned at the stake and I am still alive."Eventually the secrets of the monastery and the reasons for the murders, using deduction, logic and many questions, are uncovered by William...but not before hidden doors are opened, catacombs filled with the mouldering bones of deceased monks are explored and a musty, great library of parchment books is discovered in a labyrinth of stairways and rooms. This is one of those movies that I like a lot but wish it had been just a little better. The mystery keeps building and the deaths are satisfyingly unpleasant. One monk is found head first in a vat of pigs blood, another in a tub of water scattered over with herbs. They all have ink stained thumbs and darkened tongues. But what I like best about the movie is its look, its grotesque recreation of squalid medieval life in a monastery. You can feel the lice and the fleas crawling and biting, smell the unwashed bodies and dirty woolen habits and cloaks, see the yellow, rotting teeth and red-rimmed eyes, sense all the suppressed sexual tension and, above all else, feel the dank, unremitting cold. There's almost no warmth. Noses run, hands are chapped. The faces of the cast are just as memorable, as uncomfortable to look at as the carved stone gargoyles found throughout. Malachio (Volker Prechtel), the librarian, with a scheming, unforgiving face like a skull; Brother Berenger (Michael Habeck), fat, bald and androgynous, who whips himself at night and stares at other young monks during the day; Ubertino of Casale (William Hickey), creased, wrinkled and eccentrically wise; Salvatore (Ron Perlman), a simple-minded, shuffling hulk who loves to catch and eat rats; the Abbot (Michael Lonsdale), a well-fed, slightly greasy man who is prepared to be supple in his conclusions; and, most of all, the Venerable Jorge, unforgiving and certain in his rigid beliefs.For me, there are two drawbacks to the film. First, the plot lines could have been clearer. Second, two thirds of the way into the story the dispute involving Gui and the Inquisition brings the momentum of the movie to a halt, and we stay becalmed until we're back to William finally solving things. Those looking for the complexities, erudition and asides of the book will probably be disappointed unless they accept that books and movies are two very different mediums. The movie, for me, stands as a fascinating and grotesque look at a medieval way of life, combined with a clever, violent and even thoughtful mystery.The DVD looks very good, but, as much of the movie was photographed to be dark and clammy, be prepared for gloomy, overcast scenes during day and lots of nighttime shots. It's not always possible for a clear look at what's going on. The extras include a commentary by the director, Jean-Jacques Annaud, a making-of documentary and an interesting discussion by Annaud of how he developed the look of the film.For fans of Annaud (and Ron Perlman) his Quest for Fire is an interesting and at times amusing look at the adventures involving two, then three, early hominids.

30 April 2013

Medieval Masterpiece

This is truly a great movie. Although it has been out for quite some time, it is still a great movie to see the daily lives of monks inside a monastary and the quest for knowledge/laughter. Did anyone ever notice that the peasant girl in the movie seems to be very well kept up considering she was just a peasant? Just a little something people should look for. I mean did peasants really have straight white teeth.

29 April 2013

melk momistary

This review is from: The Name of the Rose (DVD) Y wife and I resently visited Austria.we visited Melk momistary. We were given the inpreshenthat 'the name of the rose' was filmed here. That is way I purchesed the DVD. But after veawing the filmI saw that it wasnot. But is was still interesting.

16 April 2013

This was the Church in the Middle Ages

The performances were great. However, this film ( I did not read the book ) adheres to all my research on the corruption of the Roman Church which is actually the continuation of the Roman Empire. These types of events went on for hundreds of years as the actual words of the apostles were kept from the people. Thanks to the Greeks, the actual manuscripts of the life and teachings of Jesus were saved. This film is a remarkable recount of the evils of the church prior to the Reformation.When I was a child this type of film, book, or similar description of the truth of the behavior of the clergy would have been banned by every Roman Church. Thanks to Sean Connery, a Christian from the Reformation faith, we all can get a glimse of reality.

IvanKaramasov

15 April 2013

Great film based on a great book

I remember this film made a huge impression on me when I first saw itin the cinema almost 20 years ago. I think I watched it three times ina couple of months. Recently, I purchased the DVD and my memory did notprove me wrong, the film is still great. It is a quite free adaption ofUmberto Eco's novel, and if you have just recently read it, you may beirritated by all the deviations from the story of the book. But it isimportant to remember that to fit a 600-page, quite academic novel intoa two-hour movie one just have to make adjustments. In fact, I have toadmit that I think the movie is superior to the book. The book is verygood indeed, but to my taste slightly too dry. The movie is perhapsmore "shallow", but it has a totally unique atmosphere and an excitingplot. Sean Connery does one of his best, if not the best, role as acombination of Sherlock Holmes and a medieval philosopher. Veryentertaining indeed! If you buy the DVD, the extra material is almostas interesting as the movie itself. The almost two-hour interview withthe director Annaud is very inspiring, and he really comes over asalmost a renaissance man. Very thoughtful, yet energetic and with areal purpose to his work. I remember when I first saw the movie, that Ifelt I had never seen any movie which so convincingly pictured life inthe middle ages. When we hear about all the painstaking work that wentinto making the movie historically correct, this is no surprise.

burgan6203

12 April 2013

A movie that must be watched straight from the beginning

I was channel surfing one evening and came across "The Name of theRose" on FMC. It was about halfway over when I tuned in and I didn'thave a clue about what was going on. However, I was intrigued enough bywhat I did see to rent it and watch it from the beginning.When all is said and done, I liked it very much. The acting was goodand solid by all involved, from the charismatic Sean Connery toChristian Slater(this is the only film I've liked him in)to theensemble cast of European unknowns.The movie also truly excelled in itsdepiction of a fourteenth century monastery;this probably has some ofthe most accurate period detail of any movie I can think of.It is incredibly dark(story and lighting both)and violent, but forthose who enjoy suspenseful mystery and anyone interested in medievalchurch politics, "The Name of the Rose" is good choice.

12 April 2013

connery only gets better as he gets older.

Taped this late one night, only because Sean Connery was in it. So glad I did!! I have worn out my copy over the years, and just wish it would be released. I would be first in line.

12 April 2013

A film about God, science, fear and laughter

Unfairly maligned, this well made but flawed atmosperhic adaptation of Umberto Eco's novel manages to capture the flavor of the book quite well. Someone expecting Eco's novel would be advised to look elsehwere; film is a narrative medium and Eco's complex novel had to be boiled down to the essential story at the heart of his penetrating look at Christianty in the middle ages. The film features an outstanding performance from Sean Connery as William of Baskerville (a nice tug of the forelock to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes) Franciscan monk who uses science to understand the mysteries of our world and in service of God.William travels to a monestary with a young apprentice Adso of Monk (Christian Slater)to debate the issue of Christ's poverty with representatives of the pope. Just before he arrives a young monk is killed. William dives int trying to solve the mystery of the boy's death when he realises that the clues don't quite add up. Suddenly the body count increases as more and more monks mysterious vanish or die. What terrible secret is the murderer trying to hide? Just as William thinks he may have the answer inquisitor Bernardo Gui (F. Murray Abraham) arrives with a quick and easy solution; it's the work of the devil. Bernardo hates William's passion for science believing him to be nothing more than a heretic in a monk's robe. William has little time because Bernardo will indict the monk of hersey if he can.Director Jean-Jacques Annaud ("The Bear", "Seven Years in Tibet", "Black and White in Color", "The Lover") tackles the challenging material admirably recreating 14th century Europe in intimate detail. The gritty locations and creation of a monestary for the film (Annaud couldn't find the location he wanted so much of his budget went into building a 12th century monestary on location. The DVD box states in error that the film was shot at a 12th century monestary.)help impart a sense of realism to the movie. The diverse cast reflects (according to Annaud)the fact that monks from all around Europe would live in a monestary doing God's work and illuminating (illustrating) biblical texts. The final screenplay by Andrew Birkin (one among four credited writers "King David", "The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc")manages to distill the important story points of Eco's novel and Annaud creates the world around it that was so skillfully portrayed in the book.Featuring a sharp looking transfer, the DVD of "The Name of the Rose" looks remarkably good although some of the sequences are a bit too dark. The use of a high speed grainy film enhances the sense of gritty reality for the film and isn't a flaw of the transfer. The remastered soundtrack available in Dolby Digital 5.1 for the first time makes good use of the surround channels smothering the viewer in the atmosphere of the middle ages. As usual Warner Home Video has done an outstanding job with the extras; we get an hour documentary on the making of the film originally shot for German TV. Unfortunately, the narration is in German so you end up having to read Connery and the other actors/crew members comments in the subtitles. It's an extremely well done documentary that captures the behind-the-scenes intimate moments frequently missed in these types of productions. There's also an exceptional photo video journey with the director. We also get the original theatrical trailer. The best part of this DVD is the informative commentary track by director Annaud. He doesn't blather away but only speaks up when he actually has something interesting to say about a particular shot or share a behind-the-scenes story about the production. Annaud comes down hard on actor F. Murray Abraham noting that his Oscar win inflated Abraham's ego to such a degree that he was extremely difficult to work with during shooting. Abraham insisted that Connery had to arrive at the set first because Abraham was an Oscar winner and Connery wasn't. We also find out quite a bit of detail about the building of and location shooting of the sets and his unusual casting decisions. He extols the virtues of actor Ron Perlman stating that he was a delight to work with and literally made it a joy to come to work with every day. Likewise, he discusses the challenges of working with Connery who was much more established than Annaud at this time. Nevertheless, they had a marvelous time working together with Connery taking a keen interest in the production. Interestingly, Annaud had to fight for Connery in the role. After a series of flops, his star power had dimmed and Michael Caine and Albert Finney were first choices for the role by the studio. The low lighting and dimished budget proved to be a challenge to the director; he couldn't afford a dolly for the film nor could he afford the time to have his director of photography Tonino Delli Colli (a frequent Fellini collaborator)light the set for complex cameramoves. Annaud points out that many of the shots are static and those that aren't are simple pans. He also discusses actor Helmut Qualting a hero during who fought against the Nazi party during World War II. It seems Qualting frequently forgot his lines or would pause during the takes because he was in enormous pain during the shooting. He died shortly after completing his role. An unusual mystery that doesn't focus on whodunnit but, instead, on why (were clued in early as to who the murderer might be), "The Name of the Rose" hasn't wilted with time but has actually bloomed. This rose has many thorns that make it a less than perfectly smooth mystery but given the challenges that director Annaud faced, it's still one that smells sweet.

11 April 2013

A good rendition of the book

I had just finished the book, and was so taken with it that I had to see the movie. Particularly since Sean Connery was playing William of Baskerville, which, it seemed to me, was excellent casting.I got the book from one of Amazon's used book suppliers. It is out-of-print and unavailable new.Anytime a film is made from a book--particularly a long book, like this one--a great many compromises must be made. So it was here. But, although there were many facts and scenes left out, and the story line was significantly condensed and changed at both the beginning and the end, the gist of the book was retained, and it was definitely an entertaining film. Two changes from the book I appreciated: the fact that the Inquisitor, Bernard Gui, got his, and the fact that the girl was saved from the stake. Thanks, Hollywood.A good story. I recommend it. Umberto Eco is a great writer. I'm currently reading his Foucault's Pendulum.Joseph (Joe) Pierreauthor of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenanceand other books

07 April 2013

Monks, Murders and Mysteries.

_The Name of the Rose_ is an extremely bizarre movie based on an Umberto Eco novel set at a Benedictine monastery during the 1300s. It even has an appropriate subtitle: "They believed in God but traded with the Devil." William of Baskerville (Connery) is a Franciscan intellectual traveling with a young novice Adso (Slater) who visits a Benedictine monastery to prepare for a debate between Franciscan brothers and the Catholic Church's papal emissaries regarding the status of the Church's immense material wealth. While at the monastery, a series of seemingly inexplicable deaths have been centered on a controversial, potentially heretical Greek text of Aristotle. Several monks have turned up dead in mysterious circumstances and the officials in charge of the monastery attribute the casualties to the presence of the Devil. The Holy Inquisition is brought in to investigate while Br. William (like his namesake Sherlock Holmes) attempts to piece together the puzzle to find out why the monks are dying off and to gain access to the mysterious book. Ensuing is a conflict complete with a hunchback, witch-burnings, a peasant uprising and a battle with a blind monk in a towering inferno. This movie does its best to present its subjects in a very unsavory light in its setting at an actual medieval abbey. Although it is a horror/mystery thriller, the movie even has its humorous moments especially in its depiction of the ultra-superstitious and dogmatic life and mindset of the dark ages.

Robert R

07 April 2013

One of my favs!

Just saw this movie again last night, for the hundredth time? Hmm perhaps, I never get tired of it. I love to watch it over and and over. I suppose I enjoy the era that it depicts those hard troubled times in which the Church excerted its power and influence in order to destroy all heresy and promote the correct Church teachings. I also enjoy books, have worked in libraries and thus can appreciate all of the hard work that went into medieval book illumination. There is also alot of mystery and suspense in the film. And of course the wonderful and talented Sean Connery, and Murray Abraham always are a delight to watch. All in all a great film to watch over and over, perhaps you might wish you lived in that time like I do.

Robert

29 March 2013

A stunning glimpse of Medieval Monasticsm

As a graduate student studying Medieval Religious and IntellectualHistory,specifically popular pietistic movements of the 13th and 14th centuries,this movie is quite a meaty guilty pleasure. Physical deformities of themonks are exaggerated (Although one must admit that Salvatore is actuallyrather cute in a grotesque sort of way!) they all interestingly bearphysical evidence of their moral failings. This was consitant with 14thcentury thought! I also love watching Sean connery as an ancestor(perhaps?)of Sherlock Holmes! The chief thrill was, when watching the end credits,seeing Jacques LeGoff, a serious scholar, listed as "Historical Advisor."Ihave used this film in Western Civ classes I have TA'ed. Definately thefullstar's worth!And last, but certainly not least... Valentina Vargas, as the nameless"Girl" who stirs Adso's desires, has been my personal fantasy since thefilmfirst appeared!

29 March 2013

An excellent movie

This review is from: The Name of the Rose (DVD) This is one of my favorite movies. It has great productions values, a thought provoking plot, and an excellent cast.The pacing for the movie is slow and deliberate. The historical setting is factually accurate and provides an most interesting view into the church.And it is a great murder mystery.One cannot ask for more from a movie.