The Name Of The Rose (DVD)

The Name of the Rose is a medieval monk's tale starring Sean Connery which was originally a book by the novelist Umberto Eco. It was quite a radical departure for Connery at the time whose films up until that point had him running about trying to act like a thirty year old man. Here he plays a much older version of himself and playing against type as a Franciscan Friar. Connery stars as 'William of Baskerville' (note the reference to Sherlock Holmes here) who travels with his young apprentice Adso of Meik (Christian Slater) to a Benedictine abbey for a conference on religious matters. However, as soon as they arrive monks start to die in horrible ways. The ...  Read the complete review

Do you love to blow the dust off old books? Even better, do you love to blow the dust off old, historical books? The hard bindings creak and ancient, richly illuminated texts are there before you in their silent glory. I'd recommend blowing the dust off this excellent film adaptation of Umberto Eco's book, about a pair of Franciscan monks, the master and the apprentice, who arrive at a Benedictine monastery 'abandoned by God'. In those days, books were rare and valuable items and their treasures could expose you to radically new perceptions. This film demonstrates the value of books, and the value of the dangerous wisdom and knowledge, the 'enemy of faith' ...  Read the complete review

Introduction Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose has long been on my (increasingly extensive) list of books to read, so I thought I’d get an idea of what it was all about from this film. Although I couldn’t quite see Sean Connery or Christian Slater in the role of a fourteenth century Franciscan monk and his assistant, I was intrigued by the idea. I did enjoy the film; however, although I have never read the book, I have seen the thickness of it and I am sure that the screenplay had to be greatly simplified in order to make it into the film. Quite where the rose of the title comes into it, I am still not sure. The director Jean-Jacques Annaud was ...  Read the complete review

The Name of The Rose is a mediaeval murder mystery based on the novel of the same name by Italian journalist and semiotician Umberto Eco. It is based in the 14th century, in an italian monastery where dark deeds are afoot, and despite its rather slow pace, is an truly excellent movie. Sean Connery as the main star complained that only 5 people saw the movie when interviewed once and it is true that it was hardly a success on its release. Perhaps the thought of watching a bunch of monks running around doing monk-like things didn't sound particularly appealng to cinema audiences, but they have done this movie a cruel dis-service. As murder mysteries go, this is one of ...  Read the complete review

Every rose has its thorn, they say and indeed The Name of the Rose possesses a spiky subject matter at the heart of its plot. Based on Unberto Eco’s award winning novel this medieval murder mystery is a roller coaster ride of dark deeds and conspiracies in the cold cloisters and corridors of a monastery with a dreaded secret to hide. For those who like the Cadfael mystery series that became so popular a few years ago this will certainly hit the mark and although it has the same basic idea behind its modus operandi, it has the advantage of some heavyweight names and a splendid directorial touch. Jean Jacques Annaud directs Sean Connery, F. Murray Abraham and even a young ...  Read the complete review