Cromwell
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Movie Reviews of Cromwell
Movie Review: simplified masterpiece
Summary: 4 Stars
visually, this is a stunning film. and also a neglected topic. this period of history is usually dismissed for a variety of reasons, typically because Cromwell seems to modern sensibilities as a kind of Taliban-style leader, a moralistic monster, hell-bent on forcing his religious beliefs/moral outlook on a resistant populace. likewise, many of the Puritan leaders seem officious, overbearing and oppressive.
it's also all to easy to lose sight of this: much of Europe's then royalty supported each other to the detriment of their supporting subjects. also easy to miss is this is the time when national identities begin to assert themselves. for all the negativity that's usually been attributed to Cromwell, the man himself wanted nothing more than to return to the England of Elizabeth's time when national safety and security had been toally affirmed with the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
Charles Stuart, on the other hand, seemed the antithesis of all that.
what results is a study in democratic to and fro that reverberates down until today. impossible to forget, undeniably provocative and so ably acted by a tremendous cast. I felt so fortunate to acquire a film that I hadn't seen since it's original release.
Movie Review: Great drama, crammed history
Summary: 4 Stars
Keep in mind that this movie follows the events leading to the English Civil War and then follows the course of Oliver Cromwell, the man destined to become the Lord Protector of England, as he builds the parliamentary forces into the New Model Army. As commander-in-chief of the New Model Army Cromwell defeated the Royalists with soldiers provided training to make them the equal of the units raised by the barons and earls arrayed against them. Much of the movie focuses on the intrigue of King Charles as he made deals with Catholics to keep his crown... a move guaranteed to eliminate whatever residual sympathy he might have been able to get from the English people.
A very good movie but to truly do the subject justice it would almost take a miniseries. Events are compressed or seemingly happen one after another... which was not necessarily the case during the drawn-out war. However, it is very entertaining with first-class performances by all the actors in this movie. One of those movies I like to take out every once in a while to watch again.
Movie Review: Cromwell
Summary: 4 Stars
'Cromwell' is about power, the movie depicts the struggle between
The Parliament and the King... that eventually starts the English Civil War.
King Charles is played superbly by Alec Guinness a thespian of the highest order- (King Charles)is an ineffectual and some may say a weak King, bringing the monarchy to its lowest ebb due to his indecision and the backing of the Catholic over the native Church of England (not Protestant but a REFORMED CATHOLIC church) amazing what we can learn at the movies!
Anyway... Cromwell's new army, wins the Civil war and the Parliment takes its new place at the head of the country.
Richard Harris is good, but somewhat over the top, as the brooding Cromwell, his voice is croaky and at times the Irishman looks all at sea! the musical score is average, well shot and framed... An excellent informing entertainment, a movie well worth watching.
Movie Review: The Lord Protector
Summary: 4 Stars
I stumbled across this relatively obscure movie as I was looking for material to show in class on Cromwell. I wanted something to capture the personality and character of this important figure in British History. Though the movie is flawed on many facts, Richard Harris's perfomance shows how Cromwell could have been motivated to rise to his place in history. Also, Alec Guinness steals the scenes he is in as Charles I. I would like to have seen more about Cromwell's leadership as "Lord Protector" and how he justified the atrocities he committed during the Irish Wars. The movie has some great battle scenes and the costumes are wonderful. Great action movie, but plays loose with the details.Movie Review: A good film but dated
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this DVD along with a few other historical dramas and except for this one I had seen all the other films previously. My experience with this film confirms my going-forward plan to buy no DVD that I haven't already seen and approved.
The film was quite interesting and iluminative of the period but the value was greatly diminished for me by the ridiculously over-dramatic music which dates the film. This is not a DVD that I will watch more than once. If it were available I should have rented it first and then I would not have bought it.