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I have been searching for this particular DVD for over a year and was amazed when I found it on eBay. The price was high, but this is a very rare and hard-to-get item. It's one of Sean Connery's best movies in my opinion. I'm ecstatic to be able to add it to my library.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
horrible quality of the film itself ruined a spectacular story with amazing scenery and stellar cast.I have a top bluray player that does both blu ray and standard DVDs so it was not my tech. The item is non-returnable or I would return it. I read the book and enjoyed the audiobook first and was really looking forward to seeing the wonders of it all in film. UGH! Thanks to the poor tech quality of the film I am just glad I knew the story line and the solution to the mystery or the blurring, color-messing, and uncontrollable lighting would have left me in darkness, too. IN fact, I am a HUGE fan of Sir Sean Connery and bought the thing in honor of his passing. And so my feelings get into this as well. NO FAIR. Later, when I calmed down, I blushed to realize that the film itself still missed the mark - it was not only the poor tech quality of the dvd that failed to tell the story really well ! So sad - and the story deserved a a "topstuff" telling. There was the opportunity of efficiently describing the scenery and the people and the exciting labyrinthine puzzlebox monastery. Old days monastery movies stressed the purity and the ones later seemed focused on portraying the primitive lifestyle, the filthy ruled of hygiene in those days and sins of the unholy holy people. Both extremes are lies and both do harm and this is especialy evil when the truth is a wonder! So much good work and so many true healings and miracles and great deeds are slandered in both extreme portrayals. I calmed down and went back to the book and audiobook and other Sean Connery films. I accepted the "non-returnable" condition but feel I was cheated....in every way.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Remember this obscure film from the 1980s starring Sean Connery? Experience it again and see Christian Slater in one of his first roles (if not the first). This is an original and smart film that is also visually stimulating and thought provoking. Witness life in the final days of the dark ages amidst a setting of mysterious murders in a gothic monastery. The costumes are authentic as is the reality of life depicted in this film. The acting is quality and convincing. This film is very original and a must if you like films that make you think. It may not appeal to all.
A story told in third person by an old man, of the incidents that took place in a dark medieval Franciscan monestary years before, when he was but a young boy. A brilliant English monk, William of Baskerville (Sean Connery), and his charge, a young 17 year old Adso of Melk (Christian Slater) re traveling to a conference in this 14th century documen. The Franciscans have adopted the belief that just like Jesus, they should live in poverty. The hierarchy of the Church see this as a threat that the Church should also live in poverty. A major debate of the meeting was to determine if Jesus did indeed own his clothing. Upon arriving at the monestary, William notices a new grave and soon finds out that there is a belief among the monks that Satan is amongst them. Using hits whits and deductive skills, William finds that this death was a suicide. However, a series of other deaths do suggest that something evil is in fact going on. William is convinced that there is a connection between the books created there, in a single book that is considered evil. This book violates their beliefs by containing humor, and laughter to them is heresy. William also discovers that there are several former Dolcenites amongst the monks. One monk is Salvatore, a hunchback, and a cook is the other. William overheard Salvatore uttering the Dolcenite rallying cry "Penetencia agite". They wanted to kill all of the rich. When word of the murders and former Dolcemites reaches Rome, the head Inquisitor, Bernardo Gui, travels to the monestary and the two Dolcenites and a local girl who was branded a witch were to be burned at the stake. Years before, William had also been an Inquisitor, and was tortured and jailed for his daring to believe a man was innocent and going against Gui. Earlier, this young girl who was so taken by the beauty of the young Adso of Melk, had bestowed her sexual favors on him. He was a virgin, and didn't know what to do. However, afterward he desperately wanted to help her. William, sure that the old monk in charge of the library was hiding the prohibited book that was indirectly responsible for the deaths, discovers a way to enter the tower where the library was housed. The old monk in charge who had been hiding the book accidentally sets the entire place on fire. In the confusion, the villagers free the girl and while trying to escape, Bernardo Gui is killed. This violent and turbulent time is all in the memories of the old narrator. After he and William left, he never saw him again but he never forgot him, or the girl who's name he never knew.Read full review
I'm very happy to have found this good value on eBay the storyline is fabulous it's an old movie but I really have enjoyed watching it again. I highly recommend eBay. It's so much better than Amazon!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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