Jim Henson's The Storyteller - Greek Myths

Jim Henson's The Storyteller - Greek Myths
by David Garfath, John Madden, Paul Weiland

Jim Henson's The Storyteller - Greek Myths
Our Price: $27.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $14.98 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases


(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

DVD Cover Information

Actor: Brian Henson, Justine Glenton, Mark Ashman, Michael Gambon, Trevor Peacock
Director: David Garfath, John Madden, Paul Weiland
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 95 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-09-07
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Sony Pictures

Movie Reviews of Jim Henson's The Storyteller - Greek Myths

Movie Review: Good Way to Introduce Kids to Classic Myths
Summary: 4 Stars

I remember growing up reading many of the most famous Greek and Roman myths in my Junior Classics set. As a parent I am always leary of how film makers put out stories like this, as to whether my kids are old enough or will be frightened. Because this collection of short films has the puppeteer style technology, instead of computer generated images, it is perfect because my kids aren't overwhelmed by scary, overly done, and too real graphics. And they aren't picky about the perfection of TV images, so they love the characters. They even like the minotaur, who is a little scary. But their favorite story is that of Icarus. This has been a perfect family video and is introducing my kids to the Greek myths.

Summary of Jim Henson's The Storyteller - Greek Myths

One of Jim Henson's finest hours was the Storyteller series that aired on HBO in 1987. As with his other non-Muppet creations (Labyrinth), Henson fills the screen with wonderful creatures that have a wisp of a J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy. Half of the eight-part series was adapted from Greek myths by Anthony Minghella, who became an Oscar-winning filmmaker a decade later with The English Patient. Minghella weaves the narration of the storyteller (a sturdy and wonderful Michael Gambon, accompanied by a scene-stealing dog) with dialogue from the stories to beguiling effect.

By nature, the Greek myth episodes are a bit more mature and downbeat (ages 8 and older) than the rest of the series, yet give the audience lasting impressions of oft-quoted tales. In "Perseus and the Gorgon," King Argos locks away his wife when it is foretold his future son will kill him. Soon mother and son (Perseus, fathered by none other than Zeus) are washed ashore and another angry king looks to take away Perseus's mother. How can Perseus win the day? By killing the evil Gorgon whose snake-covered head includes eyes that turn humans into statues. Derek Jacobi stars as the brilliant Greek designer in the second tale, "Daedalus and Icarus." The father goes through many hardships, including the famous episode of his son flying too close to the sun. All is not well and does not end well. John Madden (Shakespeare in Love) directs the tale of "Theseus and the Minotaur." A young man reunites with his father, King Aegeus, but is cursed by his witch of a stepmother (literally). When Theseus tries to stop the regular sacrifice to the half-bull, half-man Minotaur, a new curse awaits the young prince. The magical musician Orpheus (Art Malik) finds his muse in "Orpheus and Eurydice." Unfortunately, she soon dies and goes to Hades where Orpheus follows, attempting to win her soul from the devil himself. --Doug Thomas

Kids & Family DVD Video

DVD Video
Movies most talked about in Excellent Fantasy Movies, and the Books They're Based On.
X-Men - The Last Stand (Widescreen Edition) ImageX-Men - The Last Stand (Widescreen Edition)
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2006-10-03; DVD
Best price: $5.59
Price in other shops: $19.98
X2 - X-Men United (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition) ImageX2 - X-Men United (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Release date: 2003-11-25; DVD
Best price: $3.94
Price in other shops: $19.98
X-Men 1.5 ImageX-Men 1.5
Release date: 2003-11-25; DVD
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops: $19.98
Jim Henson's the Storyteller - The Definitive Collection ImageJim Henson's the Storyteller - The Definitive Collection
Release date: 2006-05-23; DVD
Best price: $13.78
Price in other shops: $19.94
Jim Henson's The Storyteller - Greek Myths ImageJim Henson's The Storyteller - Greek Myths
Release date: 2004-09-07; DVD
Best price: $25.89
Jim Henson's The Storyteller ~ The Complete Collection ImageJim Henson's The Storyteller ~ The Complete Collection
Release date: 2003-08-26; DVD
Best price: $18.89
Price in other shops: $19.94
The Tragic Treasury: Songs from a Series of Unfortunate Events ImageThe Tragic Treasury: Songs from a Series of Unfortunate Events
Release date: 2006-10-10; Music CD
Best price: $3.95
Price in other shops: $18.98
The Complete Wreck (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-13) ImageThe Complete Wreck (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-13)
by Lemony Snicket
HarperCollins; Published: 2006-10-13; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $75.00
Price in other shops: $150.00
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (Widescreen Edition) ImageLemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (Widescreen Edition)
PARAMOUNT PICTURES; Release date: 2005-04-26; DVD
Best price: $3.14
Price in other shops: $12.98
The Princess Bride (Ballantine Reader's Circle) ImageThe Princess Bride (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
by William Goldman
Ballantine Books; Published: 2003-07-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.96
Price in other shops: $14.95
Similar DVD Movies
Tall Tales & Legends - The Complete Series ImageTall Tales & Legends - The Complete Series
Release date: 2005-09-06; DVD
Best price: $42.50
Price in other shops: $79.98
Jason and the Argonauts ImageJason and the Argonauts
LION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT; Release date: 2000-08-15; DVD
Best price: $7.94
Price in other shops: $14.98
Jim Henson's Fantasy Film Collection - (Labyrinth / MirrorMask / The Dark Crystal) ImageJim Henson's Fantasy Film Collection - (Labyrinth / MirrorMask / The Dark Crystal)
Sony; Release date: 2006-09-05; DVD
Best price: $25.67
Price in other shops: $35.95
Mirrormask ImageMirrormask
Release date: 2006-02-14; DVD
Best price: $5.93
Price in other shops: $14.94
In Search of History - The Greek Gods (History Channel) ImageIn Search of History - The Greek Gods (History Channel)
Release date: 2005-12-27; DVD
Best price: $15.60
Price in other shops: $24.95
Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre -The Complete Collection Gift Set ImageShelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre -The Complete Collection Gift Set
Release date: 2005-02-15; DVD
Best price: $99.99
Clash of the Titans ImageClash of the Titans
Release date: 2004-06-01; DVD
Best price: $4.94
Price in other shops: $14.96
The Odyssey ImageThe Odyssey
Release date: 2001-09-18; DVD
Best price: $49.99
Jim Henson's The Storyteller ~ The Complete Collection ImageJim Henson's The Storyteller ~ The Complete Collection
Release date: 2003-08-26; DVD
Best price: $18.89
Price in other shops: $19.94
Jim Henson's the Storyteller - The Definitive Collection ImageJim Henson's the Storyteller - The Definitive Collection
Release date: 2006-05-23; DVD
Best price: $13.78
Price in other shops: $19.94
Compare prices and read customer reviews for more than one million DVD titles.
Oscar 2005 Winners