The Name of the Rose

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Gus B Roger Ebert famously dismissed The Name of the Rose as a film that “strands its characters in an impenetrable, murky plot.” But honestly, Roger, was it the plot, or did you just forget to bring your decoder ring? Ebert claimed the movie was "confusing" and lacked clarity, but perhaps he underestimated his audience's ability to appreciate a story that doesn’t spoon-feed every detail. It’s as if Ebert walked into a medieval monastery expecting an episode of Columbo and left disappointed that he didn’t get a tidy, cigar-smoking confession at the end. He seemed overly hung up on the film’s complexity, dismissing it as frustrating rather than reveling in its layered intrigue. Maybe Roger was having an off day when he penned that review. Or maybe he just didn’t trust the audience to appreciate a film that asks for patience, engagement, and a willingness to embrace the shadows. Either way, I’ll take Connery brooding in a medieval library over Ebert’s quibbles any day. As for the film, The Name of the Rose, thrives on its rich atmosphere—thanks in no small part to Dante Ferretti's production design and Tonino Delli Colli's cinematography. The monastery feels alive with history, its labyrinthine halls and foreboding library becoming characters in their own right. This is not a straightforward whodunit; it’s a meditation on the perils of dogmatism and the liberating power of knowledge. True, it omits much of Eco’s philosophical depth, but it compensates by delivering an engrossing, eerie mystery wrapped in a stunning visual package. Truly an amazing film. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/14/24 Full Review nicokush 4 Good medieval movie about monks Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/25/24 Full Review Gabriel C Even taking into account all the limitations of doing such an adaptation (and the technology available at the time), I cannot, as someone who had read the book prior to watching, and by no means carrying unrealistic expectations about the challenges of adapting a book, recommend this movie. I can say some good things about its technical aspects, as well as the acting, but the story is egregiously butchered to the point of being unrecognizable. Almost everything that made the source material great is either absent or severely watered down to the point it lost any significance. On its own, it's a mistery that says too little about anything. Compared to the book, it only gets worse. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 06/09/24 Full Review Jeremy _ I have watched this film about 20 times. It is a great adaptation of a fantastic book. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/19/24 Full Review Charles S Plays out like a really slow Scooby Doo Mystery with tangents to see if you expected the Spanish inquisition would be bad guys. Only Ron Perlman managed to elevate the camp in this movie into something special. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/06/24 Full Review manny d A phenomenal movie that is soo underrated. The adapted screenplay was spot on. Keeping the core of what was truly interesting and thought provoking. The acting and cast are simply incredible. One of Sean Connery's best films. The entire cast and especially Ron Perlman as the hunchback Salvatore.. The Music score is soo incredibly haunting, as well as the narration in the beginning and end of the movie. The best part however, is the cinematography and the costumes. Literally transports you back to the 14th century when the power of the church was beginning to wane. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Name of the Rose

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