i'm a 15 year old Thatcherite monarchist vexilloligist :-)
i'm a 15 year old Thatcherite monarchist vexilloligist :-)
Member since:04.03.2006
Reviews:3
Charles II: The Power and the Passion is a superb BBC drama, which I found to be very interesting and enjoyable, with excellent contextually historical events interspersed with a moving and thought-provoking drama about the life and struggles of the first post-Cromwellian king. This royal soap opera takes place on an epic scale, covering the personal events and affairs of the king that lead to 14 illegitame children in the context of anti-Catholic feeling, both nationally and personally with the brother of the king, the future James II. The brilliant way the story is written to show events such as these on both scales also includes the Great fire of London and the plague, with the misery of Londeners reflecting on Charles' court. The first episode is an unusual one, in that it has a superb emotional begining with the slow-motion beheading of Charles I, but then goes on to become rather less enjoyable with what I believe to be excessive sexual scenes. Despite their historically acurate nature and adding to the drama, I feel that these do somewhat lower the enjoyment of the story. Certainly, with the aging Charles in the final episodes, this is toned down, and the story is very well played, ending with a brilliant depiction of Charles' death, with the conversion to Catholicism that is so contraversial to historians. Overall, however, a brilliant piece of drama, and well worth a watch.
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Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 2000 - Drama - Director: Giuseppe Tornatore - Original Language: Italian - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Monica Bellucci, Giuseppe Sulfaro, Luciano Federico, Matilde Piana
Re-rated based on Ciao's insistence that such reviews are no longer considered "Off Topic"
Soho_Black 20.05.2006 23:35
I see you've posted this as a DVD review, but you've not mentioned the DVD. Are there any extras? If so, what are they and are they any good? If you add to this, or if you change it to be posted as a "Film Only" review, which can be done by accessing "edit review" in the top right of the review and changing the drop down menu under the "Which format are you reviewing?" question at the bottom, please let me know and I'll re-rate.
Bollinger28 14.05.2006 15:09
It sounds quite interesting. Was this the one on BBC last year (or the year before?) with Rupert Sewell in the lead? Lexy
One of the better BBC costume dramas of recent years, 2003'sCharles II: The Power and the ... more
Passiondepends very strongly on its central performance. Fortunately, Rufus Sewell is admirable throughout as the saturnine, witty monarch who has retained popula...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
One of the better BBC costume dramas of recent years, 2003'sCharles II: The Power and the ... more
Passiondepends very strongly on its central performance. Fortunately, Rufus Sewell is admirable throughout as the saturnine, witty monarch who has retained popula...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Rescued from exile by a desperate Parliament, Charles II returns to the throne at the age ... more
of 50. As the Plague and the Great Fire brings London to its knees, Charles nurtures the wittiest, most lascivious and decadent court of all time.A sensitive and ...
The reign of Charles II (1660-1685) is considered one of the most extraordinary in ... more
history. With a string of mistresses a legion of illegitimate children and a series of cataclysmic events ravaging his country Charles II (played by Rufus Sewell) was ...
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