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Henry VIII [2003]
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In a role which harks back to Lady Jane (1986), Helena Bonham Carter makes an intelligent and sardonic Anne Boleyn, her bold performance contrasting strongly with Geneviève Bujold in Anne of the Thousand Days (1969). Emily Blunt impresses as the sexpot Katherine Howard, and Emilia Fox is compelling as Henry's greatest love, Jane Seymour. There's fine support from an all-star cast, including Sean Bean, Charles Dance and David Suchet. The production is unflinching, with burnings, torture, marital violence and executions graphically portrayed. If there's a weakness it lies in too-modern dialogue and an uncertain visual style, with noticeable borrowings from John Boorman's Excalibur and Ridley Scott's Gladiator, as well as setting Shakespeare in Love-style elegance against the ugly colours and graininess of reality TV. Ultimately Henry VIII plays most like a prequel to Elizabeth (1999)--right down to using the same piece of Elgar to underscore the finale--and has most of the same faults and virtues as that Oscar-winning film. --Gary S Dalkin Starring Ray Winstone, Helena Bonham Carter, David Suchet, Emilia Fox, Sean Bean, Charles Dance, Mark Strong, Michael Maloney and Joss Ackland. DVD Technical Information:
RRP: £12.99
Our Price: £3.83 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
At the heart of Henry VIII stands a towering performance by Ray Winstone, who literally grows into the role, impressively doubling in size and ageing 40 years over the course of two feature-length episodes. Focusing on Henry's relationships with his six wives, this lavish mini-series also makes a good job of explaining the complex court intrigues of the period, detailing Henry's split with Rome and the political crisis following the creation of the Church of England. Winstone initially seems to play the King as little more than a London gangster, but he gradually unfolds a complex, brutal, manipulative, romantic, dedicated and driven man with great skill.
Editorial
DVD Description
The enigma of Henry VIII - tyrant, womaniser and the man who changed England forever - continues to fascinate Britain centuries after his death. Ray Winstone brings history's most beguiling monarch to life in this story of Henry VIII revealing the destruction Henry often left in his wake during his extraordinary 38 year reign. From the moment Henry Tudor casts aside his faithful wife Katherine of Aragon for the bewitching and determined Anne Boleyn (Helena Bonham Carter), he sets himself on course for a series of disastrous marriages. Violent conflict, both within the population and the church, left England reeling while its complex and charismatic King turned from handsome playboy to a bitter invalid desperate for a son and heir to the throne.
Editorial
Special Features
Editorial
Synopsis
The life and times of Henry VIII plus cast, producer and director interviews.
brillient
Review date: 2008-08-30 Rating: 10 out of 10
I would like to say that this film was brillient (excuse my spelling). The tudors which is out at the moment is rubbish. at least this film has kept to the facts.
Similar Products
- Gunpowder, Treason And Plot [2004]
- Lady Jane [1985]
- Elizabeth I
- Charles II [2003]
- Anne Of The Thousand Days [1969]
Reviews
Disappointed
Review date: 2008-07-25 Rating: 2 out of 10
I am not sure what to say - or just how to start. As a 'story' this is ok. But as a piece of acting? Now I have nothing against Ray Wilson but he is just not Henry V111 is he ? Better go to the set of Easter Enders. For that is what he sounded like.
Too much blood, daft lines and poor actng!
Avoid.
TURN OFF
Review date: 2008-06-19 Rating: 2 out of 10
Ray Winstone as Henry VIII ? A total casting disaster. I couldn't take more than 10 minutes of it.
Be prapared to watch it all in one sitting!
Review date: 2008-03-23 Rating: 10 out of 10
This mini-series was absolutely brilliant! Ray Winstone portrays Henry wonderfully well and the accent didn't grate at all, as some have suggested. I could not stop watching this until it finished and I was sad when it did. Sean Bean puts in an astonishingly good performance and the entire cast set the benchmark for period dramas exceptionally high. A must see!
A Miscast Star
Review date: 2008-03-13 Rating: 6 out of 10
Ray Winstone is an excellent actor, but I fear he was miscast as Henry VIII in this production. What chiefly grated on me was his "Eastenders"
accent which contrasted sharply with the accents of his courtiers who all speak with received pronunciation. Admittedly we do not know how Henry VIII actually spoke (though his letters and other writings give a clue as to his linguistic code) but presumably he would have spoken with the accent and vocabulary of a highly educated upper class man of his time.
Hence I found such lines as "Wot, nuthink from court?" stretched the credibility of his portrayal to the limit.
Having said that, this production is still far superior to the dreadful
characterisation by Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the recent BBC TV series "The Tudors".
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Ray Winstone
Sid Mitchell
Charles Dance
Joss Ackland
Mark Strong (II)
Creators:
Ray Winstone (Primary Contributor)
Joss Ackland (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: ITV DVD
Manufacturer: ITV DVD
EAN: 5037115068934
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Anamorphic, Box set, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2005-03-14
Number of discs: 2
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 250 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2003-10
Language: English (Original Language)