Rating: 
Summary: Recommended for poetry fans... if not poet fans
Review: Like the last reviewer, I don't know a lot about the personal lives of Wordsworth and Coleridge. But history aside, the film is beautiful. The relationships between the poets, Sara, Dorothy, and other friends - whether completely accurate or not - are very complex and wonderfully written and acted. The film is thought-provoking and visually stunning. It's a great movie about writing, man's relationship with nature, friendship, and addiction. The poetic references worked into it are great for the poetry buff, even if those who have studied the poets in depth may not agree with the way the characters are portrayed.
Rating: 
Summary: Simplistic approach spoils engaging movie
Review: Loving the poetry of Wordsworth AND Coleridge (why is it always assumed that loving one implies hating the other?) my reactions to this movie were twofold: both pleasantly surprised and deeply disappointed.
I admire the way the movie approaches 19th century poetry in a serious as well as a contemporary way. Especially engaging is the imaginative manner in which the relevance of the poetry for present-day environmental issues is shown: the trials of the Ancient Mariner in Coleridge's poem depicted in images of Sellafield and oil-spill.
On the other hand is it annoying to see how the writer of the script thought is necessary to produce a simplistic black-and-white story: the genius of Coleridge had to be set off against the supposed mediocrity and conventionality of Wordsworth. It is astonishing to realise the extent to which historical facts had to be twisted beyond all recognition to achieve this: it is even implied that Wordsworth has been involved all his live in secret conspiracies with a government spy, just to keep Colerige in his place!
If in (re)creating the story the scriptwriter had adopted a higher estimate of the intelligence of his public this could have been a tremendous movie, with great acting and beautiful images; now it is an often entertaining failure.
Rating:
Summary: Great, poetic variation from historical accuracy
Review: Ok, so it plays a lot with the truth, but it does have fun and in its fiction, reveals some essential truths to a modern audience an historically accurate version could not possibly hope to.
The movie never leaves its 'modern sensibility as subtext' even as it embraces the nuances and detail of late-18th/early 19th century England.
The acting is great, the photography beautiful, the plot fun: actually, the more you know, the funnier this is, and I think intentionally so.
Rating:
Summary: A Study in the Ways of the Imagination
Review: Pandaemonium is one of the better films I've seen in a long time. Some of its themes are much like the ideas (ala Hassan i Sabbah & assassins & hunger for paradise) that have attracted me lately. It is about the poets Wordsworth & Samuel Taylor Coleridge (who wrote "Kubla Khan"). The exploration of the creative force, mingled with the seeking to see deep into reality is amazing (Coleridge tried to do it with opium, and both succeeded and kind of destroyed himself in the process). The movie is based on real history but I think it took some liberties to make it a more powerful story. Coleridge also wrote "The Ancient Mariner," and that poem is incredible, I've even more taken by it to see it so lushly explored in a visual sense in how the idea and language came to Coleridge. There's some really funny parts too, like a time when they eat datura and almost fall up off the world (or their perceptions convince them they are about to, and then they start playing with it, realizing the joke, but still pretending that they can fall up.) There's a scholarly literary study on Coleridge published in 1927 called "The Road to Xanadu - A Study in the Ways of the Imagination" by John Livingstone Lowes, a brilliant book, and I wonder if the filmmakers got many of their ideas and details from that book.
Rating:
Summary: A Study in the Ways of the Imagination
Review: Pandaemonium is one of the better films I've seen in a long time. Some of its themes are much like the ideas (ala Hassan i Sabbah & assassins & hunger for paradise) that have attracted me lately. It is about the poets Wordsworth & Samuel Taylor Coleridge (who wrote "Kubla Khan"). The exploration of the creative force, mingled with the seeking to see deep into reality is amazing (Coleridge tried to do it with opium, and both succeeded and kind of destroyed himself in the process). The movie is based on real history but I think it took some liberties to make it a more powerful story. Coleridge also wrote "The Ancient Mariner," and that poem is incredible, I've even more taken by it to see it so lushly explored in a visual sense in how the idea and language came to Coleridge. There's some really funny parts too, like a time when they eat datura and almost fall up off the world (or their perceptions convince them they are about to, and then they start playing with it, realizing the joke, but still pretending that they can fall up.) There's a scholarly literary study on Coleridge published in 1927 called "The Road to Xanadu - A Study in the Ways of the Imagination" by John Livingstone Lowes, a brilliant book, and I wonder if the filmmakers got many of their ideas and details from that book.
Rating:
Summary: A Study in the Ways of the Imagination
Review: Pandaemonium is one of the better films I've seen in a long time. Some of its themes are much like the ideas (ala Hassan i Sabbah & assassins & hunger for paradise) that have attracted me lately. It is about the poets Wordsworth & Samuel Taylor Coleridge (who wrote "Kubla Khan"). The exploration of the creative force, mingled with the seeking to see deep into reality is amazing (Coleridge tried to do it with opium, and both succeeded and kind of destroyed himself in the process). The movie is based on real history but I think it took some liberties to make it a more powerful story. Coleridge also wrote "The Ancient Mariner," and that poem is incredible, I've even more taken by it to see it so lushly explored in a visual sense in how the idea and language came to Coleridge. There's some really funny parts too, like a time when they eat datura and almost fall up off the world (or their perceptions convince them they are about to, and then they start playing with it, realizing the joke, but still pretending that they can fall up.) There's a scholarly literary study on Coleridge published in 1927 called "The Road to Xanadu - A Study in the Ways of the Imagination" by John Livingstone Lowes, a brilliant book, and I wonder if the filmmakers got many of their ideas and details from that book.
Rating: 
Summary: Pandaemonium is not what it seems
Review: Pandaemonium purports to show us the relationship between the early English Romantic poets Wordsworth and Coleridge, and, as one might expect, it is full of historical inaccuracies. The movie's main thesis seems to be to put down Wordsworth as a scoundrel, thief and underhanded cad, whose main purpose all along was to undermine Coleridge to whom our sympathy is directed. Wordsworth's character is probably the best portrayed character in the movie; it is dour and self-absorbed, but he was not so vindictive and evil as the movie wants us to believe and his poetry had its own originality, not stolen from Coleridge. The character of Coleridge is certainly less believable to anyone who has experienced him through his writings, though within the fictional world of the movie it is very well presented. Dorothy Wordsworth is also well played, but her character seems out of the period. Some sequences, such as the "Frost at Midnight," are so wonderfully presented that they are extremely memorable. Others are less successful: Temple attempts to make some environmental points through the use of anachronisms, such as jet trails and oil spills; these are so simplistically obvious that they are annoying to the extreme. The most stupid part of the movie comes after Southey (Surprise! Surprise!) is appointed Poet Laureate instead of Wordworth . (In reality, it was no surprise; Southey was the most popular poet at the time.) We lose all semblance of complexity when simplistic melodrama takes over, and the mad Dorothy saves "Kubla Khan" for posterity. And on that note, we were released from the movie.
Rating:
Summary: The Milk of Paradise
Review: This is a quietly stunning film about the wonders & dangers of exploring the limits of creativity, bringing the power of poetry to vivid life & depicting timeless themes in a period setting. Is it historically accurate? Well, of course not -- but director Temple isn't making a dry, factual biopic, but offering poetry & parable. The choices embodied by Coleridge & Wordsworth (or the somewhat fictionalized representations of these poets) are choices each of us must face every day. How much of our individual creative fire are we willing to compromise for security? Conversely, how far beyond the boundaries of safety are we willing to go while pursuing our individual visions? I don't see how any viewer can come away from this beautiful film without a renewed appreciation for the magic of language; certainly it will send you to the nearest volume of poetry at hand! Dazzling images, rich colors, transporting words & fine acting all contribute to an intense & moving film experience. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous Words and Visuals
Review: This movie is mostly poetry weaving its way through the plot. When I first started watching I liked the visual imagery but I thought this is going to be a real dud. As I began watching and letting go, I got swept up in this movie. It was like listening to a beautiful piece of music. There is a storyline, it is about two poets, one of which I was familiar with, Wordsworth and the other, played by Linus Roach, Crane I think the poets name was. The jealously and rivalry which seemed to come more from Wordsworth was basically what the film was reflecting but the shots were really breathless and the words so perfect! This movie really stirred me. The creativity was really rolling inside after I got done with the picture. I love Samantha Morton and wanted to see it because she was in it. But Linus Roach really stole the show. What a wonderful actor and handsome man he is! I saw him in Wings of the Dove, he was good in that film but in this movie he shines much brighter. When the credits roll at the end keep tuned in and see a really neat video at the end. The movie was also how poetry changed and was based in nature and experiences with nature. I couldn't ask for more. Two of my favorite things, beautiful scenes of nature and poetry, really well worth my time. If you are not really interested in poetry or dialog based in poetry, this movie may not be worth your time. It can take awhile to creep up on you, but stay with it. I did and loved it! Lisa Nary
Rating: 
Summary: Pandaemonium--Dumb and Dumber
Review: This movie is stunning in its stupidity. The writers are obviously incapable of even the dimmest understanding of the work of either Wordsworth or Coleridge. In their ignorance they must fall back upon a stereotypical pastiche bearing virtually no resemblance to the history or character of either poet. The legacy of these two literary giants offers a rich tapestry to exploit. Yet here we have an offering which might be summed up in one sentence as follows. "Drugs--wow, man cool, no drugs?--bummer."
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