Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere

Amazon.com

Whether you view it as an alternate reality or the illusions of demented mind, Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere is an intriguing place to visit. The Sandman creator's first TV miniseries suffers from the same traditional shortcomings that plague all British "telefantasy"--namely, micro-budget production values and slapdash direction that betrays a conspicuous shortage of rehearsal time. And yet, within those limitations, Gaiman and director Dewi Humphreys have crafted an ambitious exploration of "London Below," a vast, subterranean capital, far below "London Above," where office drone Richard Mayhew (Gary Bakewell) unwittingly finds himself after rescuing Door (Laura Fraser), an underworld dweller determined to learn why her parents have been killed. Gaiman teases the viewer with hints that Richard may be insane, but Neverwhere maintains its imaginative ambiguity, and presents a dark, dangerous domain of baronies and fiefdoms, bearing familiar British nomenclature but decidedly unfamiliar landmarks. Once you've visited, you might prefer to stay. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

Descend Into The Shadows Of London Below

Richard Mayhew is about to embark on a dark odyssey. On his way to dinner with his fianc e, he sees a wounded girl on the sidewalk, and his efforts to help her end the life he knows. The next morning, he is a cipher, erased from existence and consigned to the subterranean world of danger and shadows that is London Below.

System Requirements:
Running Time: 180 Min., Color
Copyright 2003 A&E Home Video.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Quite Enjoyable.......2007-08-07

After reading the somwhat mixed reviews for this adeptation of Mr. Gaiman's superb novel Neverwhere. I put off watching it for quite a while after reading the book, but as usually happans my curiosity got the better of me. Prepared for a let down I rented it.

I can understand why some people would be less then impressed with this made for TV miniseries. It is very low budget and fairly cheesey. I couldn't help liking it though. I thought the series followed the story well, though it's true some things were left out, I found however that I didn't really miss them.

I think the reason I liked this show so much is because the series strongly reminded my of import TV series I used to watch as a kid. Shows like Oceangirl, Storylords, Storybook International, and The Tribe. Also I have to say that to me, Paterson Joseph played the perfect Marquis De Carabas, that in itself makes the show worth while, not to mention that some of the sets where actually really nice, and true to the book. To me the show most resembles a well dressed stage play

As far as special featues, the only one I watched was the interview with Neil Gaiman. Which was actually really interesting. There are also charater discriptions, Neil Gaiman's biography, and photo galleries.
If your a fan of BBC or A&E literary adeptations, or series like DR. Who or the BBCA's Robinhood, then you'll probably get a kick out of Neverwhere.

Pleasantly surprised.......2007-06-08

I have to admit to being disappointed by the production quality when I started watching. But then I got sucked in by Gaiman's storytelling and just went with it. The Marquis is fabulous and Mayhew is the whiny character I remember from the book.

It's also interesting to see the original form for the story since the book came after.

Like a lot of those who reviewed Neverwhere before me, I am a huge, although recent, Gaiman fan. The man can seemly write anything. But even if this were my first exposure, I think I still would have enjoyed it.

Fun and fantastic.......2007-05-14

Love Gaiman's work and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the "original" version of Neverwhere. Read the book too!

Not the Best Visual Quality, But Neil Gaiman's Imagination Saves It.......2007-04-07

I'm a Gaiman fan. Truth is, it's always a better bet to read his stuff than watch the dramatizations. If you wanted to watch something from Neil's head, MIRRORMASK, with some outstanding visuals and some very cool music, is a better bet. However, the plotting here is easier to follow, and Richard is more sympathetic and likable than the gal-lead-character in MIRRORMASK.

Basically, this is the story of a man whose Good Samaritan act gets him in big, big, big trouble--life and death kind of trouble. The story takes place in two Londons--London above, which is normal London, and London Below, which is where things magical and mystical and dark and scary take place. It's ever so much less safe than London Above, even with all the perils of Big City living.

This is a quest story. You know how that goes, someone wants something desperately, others come with skills and gifts band together to journey to the ultimate place of questing, each wanting something desperately; and then we follow them as they undergo ordeals, evade villains, battle monsters. And we hope they obtain their desires. Or at least, hope the good ones do. Like any quest story, some secrets are withheld, some allies are surprising, and the bad guys are very bad indeed. And someone always has to die, right? But who?

The novel is creepy and funny, in the way that Gaiman manages to be creepy-funny. And you get a sense of Wizard of Oz gone very wrong.

The DVD, which is video-quality, with some exceedingly dorky effects, is not gonna win any awards. Some of you may hate it. But if you concentrate on the likability and charisma of some of the actors (likable: Bakewell/charismatic: the guy who plays Carabas/lovely if disheveled: Laura Fraser), and how much you'll want the bad guys to get their comeuppances, you can enjoy this series. You just have to cut some slack for production quality and effects and sound. Just surrender to the cheesiness.

However, if you want the full effect of scary-suspenseful-magical-sarcastic-amusing-fast-paced fun, buy the novel. It's a nifty urban fantasy from a master of modern fantasy.

Mir

You don't wanna know...........2007-03-03

Are you sure you want to know about London Below? I'm not sure you want to know that. Because if you know about London Below, then you are invisible to the people of London Above, who will ignore you and forget about you the instant they turn away from you. I won't tell you that Mr. Coup and Mr. Vanadarmarr are looking for someone named Door. I shouldn't be telling you that Richard Myhew helped someone he shouldn't have even noticed..much less, help. And I really shouldn't tell you about Hunter and the Marqie De Carabras that went along with Door and Richard to solve who killed Door's parents.

Oh, dear. I think I said too much....oh well then...descend into London Below and I hope you don't run into any velvets.

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