The Name Of The Rose (DVD 2004)

Finally.....Name of the Rose is released on DVD. It seems like I have been waiting an age for this absolute gem of a film. Probably since the day I acquired my first DVD player in fact.
In 1986, I was dragged against my will by an old girlfriend to see this film in the cinema. All I knew about it was that it was something about monks - not my cup of tea I was sure. I was determined to hate it! Instead of the 2 hours of boredom that I was expecting, what I got was a bizarre, grotesque, visually stunning, thrilling, chilling, thought-provoking and genuinely frightening tale of murder and heresy. With unforgetable characters, the glmoomiest of settings, and a truely fantastic whodunnit plot, complete with superb resolution at the climax, this film works on so many levels. I absolutely loved every minute of it. As a devoted fan of the great James Whale, the Name of the Rose feels like the man was reborn somehow to work his magic one more time.

A truely must-own movie! And watch out for the climactic scenes set in the M.C Escher-like library labyrinth. Just Fantastic.