Rating:  -
I last saw this series on VHS 10 years ago and it was an absolutely delicious treat to see it on DVD again. I watched all 13 episodes in one sitting. Started earlier in the day and couldn't tear myself away from it.
This is a very high quality production with such high quality production and some absolutely marvelous performances. An absolute must see for anybody with any interest in quality acting, especially in an era of talentless sitcom and movie stars who command the adulation of the masses without having any artistic talent to be worthy of it.
I could not possibly do justice to the multilayered excellence of this series in a review here. I could talk for a page full, and it still wouldn't convey to you a feeling of watching this for yourself. So I shall simply say, "see for yourself".
I want to make just two critical observations. Firstly, the only weak performance in the series is that of Sheila White as Messelina. She overplays the twistedness of her character, a cheap soap opera like exaggerated performance of face twisting, screaming and blubbering that is quite annoying. But if I cannot say that she is bad actress, that is only to show that at its worst, the series is still very good. But, compared to the performances given by actors playing the roles of Livia, Lavilla, Julia, for instance, it IS weak. Sheila White's performance lacks the natural easy grace of the others that makes one forget that it is only an acting performance. All the other actors metamorphose into the characters they are playings so completely, its simply marvellous.
The other comment I wanted to make was about the DVD itself. The picture quality is nothing special. Its passable but does not seem any better than what one might have seen originally on TV nearly 30 years ago. There seems to have been no effort made to do a restoration on the original material. But it's passable. What is inexcusable is the sound. Its at a very low level. Watching on a TV through its built in speakers (my home theater is in storage), the sound had to be turned up to maximum just in order to hear all the dialogue clearly. In a time when DVDs have rich sound with wide dynamic range, that exploits high technical quality to make the performances powerful and commanding, its VERY poor show that this DVD has such crappy sound. I just wonder to think that had it a broad dynamic range to where the softest whispers to loudest thunderings were reproduced and clearly and sharply heard at their respective realistic levels, the enjoyment would have been that much greater. That the studio has put this series on DVD with such indifference towards its audio/visual quality is downright disgraceful.
However, the series is so good and so pleasurable, that you must not even consider letting poor technical quality deprive you of this superb series. The loss would only be yours. If in the future the series is released again done properly, I shall buy it again. But for now, I am glad to have seen it as it was.
Rating: -
The only thing I can complain about with this series is that it ended too soon! "I, Claudius" has an excellent, all-star cast (including Patrick Stewart w/ HAIR!) performing what I think to be some of the best writing EVER. The series also stays close to historical accuracy in a way that a lot of modern "historical" films don't, especially those about Ancient Rome. If you're a Roman history buff who wants a good laugh at the lives of the Caesars, or just want a good laugh, you should DEFINETLY see this series.
Rating:  -
Many important scenes have been cut (censored?) from the original Masterpiece Theater version including the contest between Claudius' wife and the prostitute, Caligula's horse Incitatus being made senator, and others. These omissions sacrifice the overall continuity and flow. These omissions are unnecessary and unforgivable given the DVD format. A general disappointment for those who remember the original version. Other than the above this is highly enjoyable.
Rating:  -
This is an excellent series, and the CD quality is very good. The series, when it first aired years ago on PBS, was considered a top production, and the acting and treatment of the subject matter stands the test of time.
Rating: -
I have just devoured on all the episodes of this poignant tale of deceit, treachery and endurance in an quivering era that was Pax Romana. Splendid actors, beautiful screenplay, historical correctness weaves an engaging tale that is so old yet so contemporary. A must watch!!
|
