Is comic book scribe Alan Moore a genius or a lunatic? The answer may be a little of both. I prefer the nice sounding English designation of “eccentric.” This fascinating documentary has Moore set down and stare into the camera and recount his biography and beliefs. Some of them might sound a little off, but I sat with rapt attention.
When the disc crossed the olde review desk, I wondered what a picture of Rasputin was doing on the cover, but it was only Alan Moore. Writer Alan Moore led a troubled childhood, but found solace in American comics. He would eventually find his way into the comics business, but a succession of low paying menial jobs almost made it look like it wouldn’t happen.
He did finally find his way into the comic’s scene and some of his work is the best of the genre - including V for Vendetta, Watchmen, and the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. What you might not know is that instead of having the usual midlife crisis on his fortieth birthday he declared himself a magician.
Moore has some definite ideas about the power of words and he’s not afraid to tell you about them. Director DeZ Vylenz points his camera at Moore and lets him loose. He starts talking about his childhood and then moves into his views and ideas. There are some interesting ideas here about fame and how ideas are like steam.
The Rasputin crack might seem appropriate as I was definitely hypnotized by Moore’s thoughts and kept watching instead of tuning out. I think Moore’s fans might be the more interested viewers and wonder what casual fans will think of his ideas. Although interesting they to tend to skew towards the eccentric side.
The Mindscape of Alan Moore is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions.
Disc one contains a commentary by director DeZ Vylenz, but only on selected scenes. The 11 minute “Making of a Mindscape” details the birth of the film. Next is a 15 minute interview with director Vylenz, an 11 minute interview with makeup artist Brian Kinney, and an 18 minute interview with composer Drew Richards. The disc is rounded out with two trailers running 1 minute apiece.
Disc two features a who’s who cast of interviews with Moore’s collaborators. We have a 31 minute interview with Melinda Gebbie (Lost Girls), a 27 minute interview with Dave Gibbons (Watchmen), a 28 minute interview with comic historian Paul Gravett, a 13 minute interview with David Lloyd (V for Vendetta), a 20 minute interview with Kevin O’Neill (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), and an 18 minute interview with Jose Villarubia (Mirror of Love, Promethea, and Voice of the Fire).
There’s also a 20 page booklet in the disc’s case with an introduction by author Michael Moorcock.
It’s definitely going to be an acquired taste as Moore’s ideas are a bit odd. However, he was fascinating talking about them that I couldn’t exactly dismiss them as the ravings of a lunatic.
I might have to get some of that fancy gloved jewelry for when I type my reviews though. Even if you don’t think much of his ponderings the two disc set is well worth it for the discussion of Moore’s art and comics.
The Mindscape of Alan Moore is now available at Amazon and AmazonUK . Visit the DVD database for more information.
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