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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9781404945159
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 1404945156
Label: Sony Pictures
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Region Code: 99
Release Date: February 14, 2006
Running Time: 104 minutes
Sales Rank: 3933
Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: 2005
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Editorial Review:
Description:
MIRRORMASK is the story of Helena, who works for the family circus, and wishes--quite ironically--that she could run away and join real life. But such is not to be the case, as she finds herself on a strange journey into the Dark Lands, a fantastic landscape filled with giants, Monkeybirds and dangerous sphinxes. Helena searches for the Mirrormask, an object of enormous power that is her only hope of escaping the Dark Lands, waking the Queen of Light and returning home.
The long-awaited DVD boasts more than an hour of exclusive extra features. Fans can go Behind the Scenes with Dave McKean, have a conversation with Neil Gaiman in the Neil Talks feature, or watch the Flight of the Monkeybirds in the special featurette, along with many more exclusive features and scenes.
Amazon.com:
This visually stunning film is the product of a collaboration of award-winning graphic novelist Neil Gaiman (creator of the much-lauded Sandman series), his frequent collaborator Dave McKean (Cages), and The Jim Henson Company, themselves no strangers to elaborate fantasies such as The Dark Crystal. and Labyrinth. As with the latter film, MirrorMask focuses on a young woman unhappy with her daily existence; here, the artistically inclined Helena (Stephanie Leonides), is at odds with her circus performer parents. When a careless insult appears to send her mother (Gina McKee) into a coma, Helena withdraws into the dark and elaborate world of her drawings, in which a scenario very similar to her predicament in the real world is unfolding. Gaiman and director McKean create arresting images to populate Helena's world, and the Henson Company brings them vividly to life with CGI; though the story is occasionally murky, the fantasy elements are imaginative enough to enthrall what will undoubtedly be the film's toughest customers--younger viewers. --Paul Gaita
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Strange, Beautiful, and Yet...
There are few comic book writers in the world that are more respected than master storyteller Neil Gaiman, whose combination of whimsical fantasy, dark satire, and comedic absurdism brought him to the forefront of the "British invasion" of comic books in the 1980s. Gaiman's collaborations with celebrated artist/writer, Dave McKean have resulted in some truly unique works, but perhaps their most ambitious collaborative effort is the hallucinatory fantasy film MirrorMask. MirrorMask was produced by The Jim Henson Company, who were responsible for some of the greatest fantasy films made in the `80s. Unlike those previous films, which were populated by quirky characters that were brought to life by puppets, MirrorMask was created using CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery). This heavy use of computer effects feels overwhelming much of the time and undermines the emotional impact of the film.
Helena, a teenaged girl, lives with her mother and father as part of a traveling circus. But Helena long for a normal life outside of juggling, people in costumes and makeup, and the pressures of performing in front of crowds of spectators. After an intense confrontation with her mother, Helena is shocked to discover that her mother has cancer and will need an emergency operation. Conflicted and full of guilt and regret, Helena falls into a troubled sleep where she is transported into a surrealistic nightmare world. In this nightmare world, Helena is mistaken for the daughter of the unforgiving Dark Queen, ... Read More
Rating:  - Stunning and memorable
When I heard about this I was kind of hesitant to watch it because I thought it was going to try too hard. Well... it doesn't. It well exceeded my expectations and was DRIPPING with creativity and imagination. This is a good escape for adults (kind of like the Wizard of Oz) but will also be great for kids as a modern-day fantasy flick instead of appealing to the 80's for imaginative movie making.
Rating: - I love this movie
Visually stunning. While the plot might seem a little strange to some people, anyone familiar with Gaiman won't be surprised. And like I said, visually, it's incredible. I love this movie.
Rating:  - A missed opportunity
When I first saw a teaser trailer for Mirrormask, I was stoked. The film itself looked amazing and had so much potential to be on par with some other great films in the fantasy genre. Given that I love fantasy-type stories (Pan's, Wizard of Oz & the sequel, LOTR, Princess Bride, and many others) I figured that this movie was definately for me. Then the actual trailer for the movie came out - which increased the excitement, as the movie looked as if it had a lot of depth to the story. So I managed to view the film, feeling that when it was over Mirrormask would probably be added to my list of well-done fantasy movies.
I could not have been more wrong. I really tried to like the film, believe me on that. I even sat through it twice to see if it would grow on me. That didn't work either.
I don't even know where to begin...
Well, the first thing that comes to mind is the lack of depth in the entire film. "Everybody wears a mask" is about as deep as the movie gets on a metaphorical level and there could have been so many other themes the film could have explored in depth. (Mother-daughter relationships, for one.) Then take into account that the world Helena is thrust into is just as flat. So many things could have been explored in that world - the different cultures and creatures inhabiting it, for example. Instead, everything is just rushed by to keep the plot moving. For example, when Helena is looking for the mask, there happens to be a mask shop around where ... Read More
Rating: - Lush images, gorgeous music, and an enchanting story
A girl who's fondest desire is to run away from the circus falls into her own drawings as her mother lies dying. Wait, what? Helena performs in her parents' circus, but deals with the same issues as most teen girls. Her mum passes out in the middle of a performance and Helena's world turns, well, more topsy turvy than it already was. She had been drawing to escape from her extrodinary adolescent angst, and falls into the world that she had created. She meets exotic people and beasts as she explore her own drawings, then it gets weird.
The Dadaesque world of Helena's drawings is rich with the most powerful and complex imagery rendered, mostly, in black and white. It is visually overwhelming, with subtle and sublime symbols of good and evil.
Normally, soundtrack music doesn't blow wind up my kilt, but "Mirrormask" had a brilliant mixture of jazz, african style strains, and circus riffs that really caught my attention. It complimented the visuals and story perfectly.
I'll make the mandatory comparison to "Labyrinth" - after the basic theme of the angst of a teenage girl and the brilliance of execution, there is none. They're both incredibly well executed, but after that, their lives took different paths.
"Mirrormask" is a treasure of the cinematic arts and if there is any justice in the world and any sanity in academia, it will be held as a shining and exemplary study in how to get it right for centuries to come.
E.M. Van Court
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