|
|
|
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell: Series 1 (TV)
R2 - United Kingdom - Acorn Media Review written by and copyright: Matthew Crossman (3rd July 2015). |
|
The Show
 Many years previous, magic was widely practised, but has since fallen out of favour and of usage. Now, in 1806, the art of magic is having something of a revival thanks to the reclusive Mr Norrell (Eddie Marsan). Norrell is persuaded by his manservant Childermas (Enzo Chilenti) to travel from his rural home in the North of England to London to help in the war against France. Whilst in London Norrell meets a high ranking government official, and by resurrecting the government man’s daughter back to life from the dead, brings respectability back to the art of magic. Meanwhile Jonathan Strange (Bertie Carvell) is approached by a street magician who prophesies that Strange is destined to become a great magician. As it so happens Strange was on the look out for a new respectable profession, as requested to him by the love of his life, Annabelle (Charlotte Riley) and so Strange now begins to study magic. It is not long before Norrell and Strange’s path cross and Norrell discovers that Strange is more than just a nuisance but a serious rival to his newly found fame which Norrell has acquired by helping England against the French in battle. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell was originally the debut novel of Susanna Clarke, first published in 2004. Upon it’s original release the book was hugely popular despite requiring the reader to suspend disbelief for over one thousand pages. Written almost as a pastiche of styles between Charles Dickens and Jane Austin this was a perfect fit for the BBC to adapt as no one does period dramas like the BBC. Fans of the book were understandably nervous when the announcement of the adaptation was made but their fears were soon proved to be groundless once the first episode had aired in May 2015. The viewing figures for the first episode were pretty good for a drama of this sort but unfortunately the viewing figures soon dropped off. I say unfortunately because the series is quite marvellous. Adapting a book, especially a book so well loved by it’s supporters, was always going to be a challenge but Director Toby Haynes and writer Peter Harness have pulled it off. The cast are uniformly excellent. The CGI special effects are of cinema blockbuster quality. This really is a superb production all round. This two DVD set has been released the day after the final episode aired on the BBC and is also available in the Blu-ray format. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is a funny, thrilling, exciting series that deserves a much wider audience than it received on television and I urge you to buy it.
Video
The picture quality is of a very high standard, even for DVD. The scenes that take place in daylight are crystal clear and the clarity of picture does not wane when scenes take place in darkened rooms or at night. The colours are vibrant when they should be and the blacks are deep. I would expect nothing less from a disc of a modern production and I have not been let down. 1.78:1 anamorphic.
Audio
The only option available is English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, which is a bit of a disappointment. Certainly nothing wrong with the sound but I feel that a 5.1 option would certainly have given the production a bit more of a grandiose feel to it as at times there is a lot going on and some separation of sounds such as footsteps and birds squawking would have enveloped the viewer. A missed opportunity. Subtitles are available and these are of the hard of hearing variety and are presented on screen in a white, and ugly, computer generated font.
Extras
The Making of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (24:59) - The cast and crew talk through what attracted to the project and the challenges of bringing the book to screen. This extra is punctuated by talking head interviews from the director and cast whilst scenes and behind the scenes videos are shown. It’s an interesting and reasonably complete look into the making of the series. Deleted Scenes (10:56) - The first deleted scene is a brief conversation between Strange and his Wife Annabelle which runs for 49 seconds. The second deleted scene sees Strange presenting some soldiers with brandy he has purchased in Lisbon whilst a nearby soldier writhes in agony. This scene runs for 2 minutes and 7 seconds. The third deleted scene concerns Strange being asked to provide battlefield assistance by a General in the British Army and Strange, in return, asking that the magic he uses is not mentioned in the General’s dispatches as it may upset Strange’s Wife because the magic is not considered respectable. The fourth deleted scene concerns a visit that Norrell receives from a gentleman who is disturbed by the actions of Strange in regards to his deceased sister. This scene runs for 2 minutes and 49 seconds. The fifth deleted scene regards a conversation between Sir Walter Pole and Stephen Black, Pole’s servant. It runs for 1 minute 48 seconds. The sixth and final deleted scene is a brief one concerning a character panicked after being threatened by Strange. Bloopers - A 1 minute 7 second collection of brief scenes ruined by farting, horses urinating and an aeroplane flying overhead. Making of Shots: Episode 1 - A collection of shots that were enhanced using CGI or green screen. This extra runs for 1 minute and 21 seconds and is, bar the title music to the programme, silent with no narration from the first episode. Making of Shots: Episode 2 - As with the previous extra, this is a collection of shot pre and post CGI with no narration or explanation which runs for 2 minutes and 14 seconds. All the scenes are from the programmes second episode. Picture Gallery: Behind the Scenes - A slideshow of still photographs in colour showing the actors having make up applied and general behind the scenes shots. The slideshow is silent and without any commentary. It runs for 1 minute and 12 seconds. Picture Gallery - The final extra is a picture gallery of shots from the television series. It is silent and no commentary has been applied. It runs for a total of 1 minute and 57 seconds.
Overall
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell was long considered to be unfilmable but to the relief of the books numerous fans the BBC have done a tremendous job. It’s just the sort of thing the BBC do well. It’s a period drama with a quirky storyline superbly acted and directed. Fans of period dramas and the likes of Harry Potter and Doctor Who will lap this up. For everyone else it’s a fast paced slice of fun that rarely takes itself seriously but all the time playing it as straight as possible. Huge fun.
|
|||||
|