Nicholas and Alexandra
|
List Price: Our Price: $13.23 You Save: $6.72 (34%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $10.29 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Nicholas and Alexandra
Movie Review: Nicholas II brought back to life
Summary: 5 Stars
Nicholas and Alexandra is a biographical movie, which covers the doomed reign of the last Tsar of Russia. It is based on Robert K. Massie's best selling novel bearing the same name. The movie begins with the long awaited birth of Alexei, the hemophiliac son of Nicholas II. It is through Alexei's incurable disease that Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra become involved with the hedonistic peasant Rasputin. Alexandra's dependence on Rasputin's healing powers along with Nicholas's fatalistic approach to life ultimately lead them to making one poor decision after another. The poor decisions become rather costly to say the least as the results lead to famine and involvement in a World War. The escalating mayhem in Russia eventually leads to the abdication of the Tsar. The Tsar willing abdicates only when he becomes convinced that it will not only save the lives of his family but also the soul of Mother Russia from the clutches of the evil revolutionaries. Unfortunately neither is saved as Russia does indeed fall into the hands of the Communist Bolsheviks and the Royal family is executed by a firing squad.
Michael Jayston's portrayal of Nicholas II was astounding! I doubt Nicholas II himself could have done a better job. I have seen movies where great actors (such as Ian McKellen) portray Nicholas II and none of them come close to Jayston's performance. This is a fine example of how the Academy Awards are not always given to the best actor. Anyway, all of the other actors in the movie are quite good as well with a few exceptions. Roderic Noble portrays Alexei as being a cynical and suicidal kid. He comes off very annoying and we all know the real-life life Alexei evoked sympathy rather than contempt. Perhaps for this reason, Roderic Noble did not have much of a screen career. James Hazeldine's portrayal of Stalin is also a bit out of key. I believe a commendable performance goes to Michael Bryant portraying Lenin. His performance surpasses even that of Maximillian Schell's (who is a fine actor) portrayal of Lenin in the 1992 movie "Stalin". It is interesting to see the young Brian Cox make an appearance as Leon Trotsky. Finally, Laurence Olivier briefly steals the show as the far-sighted and practical Count Witte.
Although I have given the movie 5 stars, it is not without flaws. I think the music soundtrack to the movie is mediocre. Had Jerry Goldsmith (may he rest in peace) scored it, I think the movie would be more well known. Also the assassination of Rasputin is poorly done since it is inaccurate. Prince Yussopov after all, was nervous and not high on opium! A better depiction of the assassination is performed in the Russian movie "Agoniya". Finally, in general the second half of the movie sort of fizzles once the First World War starts.
The DVD picture quality is first rate, although the 2.0 mono soundtrack is a bit of a let down. It is great that the DVD contains about 15 minutes of restored scenes. Watching the restored scenes, one can easily see why they were deleted. The most bizarre restored scene is where the Grand Duchess Marie flashes one of her captors and says "do you want to see me?" Obviously, not historically accurate!
By and large a great film that lives in the shadow of its overrated predecessor "Doctor Zhivago".
Movie Review: fascinating last days of Russia's Tsar
Summary: 5 Stars
Based on Robert K. Massie's meticulously researched book (adapted by screenwriters James Goldman and Edward Bond), NICHOLAS & ALEXANDRA (1971) paints a vivid portrait of Russia's final royal rulers. Although it milks sympathy at every possible opportunity, it's not hard to find pity and anger in this shocking chapter of history.
I need not waste time by summarising the plot (earlier reviewers have already done so); though the film follows the Imperial family from the birth of fifth child Alexei, through the disastrous war years which toppled their rulership, finally ending on the night in 1918 when they were executed by the Bolsheviks.
In a bold move, producers cast stage actress Janet Suzman (in her movie debut) as Alexandra and Michael Jayston as Nicholas; and surrounded them with a galaxy of esteemed talents in the supporting roles (chiefly among them Irene Worth as the Dowager Empress, Michael Redgrave as Sazonov, Laurence Olivier as Count Witte, and Tom Baker as a chilling Rasputin). Lynne Frederick, Candace Glendenning, Fiona Fullerton and Ania Marson do what they can with the relatively minor roles of the royal daughters; and Roderic Noble adds untold depths in a very solid performance as Alexei.
Fans and followers of Anastasia will be a little disappointed that her role in the story is no bigger than the rest of the daughters; though Fiona Fullerton is charming in the part (she'd be reunited the following year with Michael Jayston in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" with Jayston playing author Lewis Carroll to her Alice in the opening and closing scenes of the movie).
The film garnered well-deserved Academy Awards for 'Best Art Direction' (John Box, Ernest Archer, Gil Parrondo, Vernon Dixon); and 'Best Costume Design' (Yvonne Blake, Antonio Castillo). It should be noted that designer John Box was already quite familiar with the subject at hand, having already earned the 1965 'Best Colour Art Direction' award for his work in "Doctor Zhivago", another story cemented in the Russian Revolution.
Further Viewing: I'd definitely recommend the 1986 miniseries "Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna" as a followup to viewing this movie. Based on the fascinating book by Peter Kurth (and also scripted by James Goldman), this story follows Anna Anderson, by far the most notorious claimant of the Romanov family fortune. Amy Irving leads a star-studded international cast.
Movie Review: The Last Romanovs
Summary: 5 Stars
Nicholas and Alexandra is a fine movie about the last years of Tsarist rule in Russia. It begins in a palace near St. Petersburg, in August, 1904, with the much anticipated birth of Alexis, Tsar Nicholas's only son, and ends almost 14 years later, in a dismal room in a house in Ekaterinberg, where the Tsar, along with his wife and children were executed by gunfire. Nicholas is seen as a kind and gentle man, devoted to his family. But he was also Tsar of all the Russias, and as such, presided as absolute ruler over a corrupt and decayed government which treated its citizens so badly that revolution was inevitable. If Nicholas was aware of real condition of his country, he took no action about it. His primary goal was to maintain his absolute power, and in this he was encouraged and assisted by his wife, the Empress Alexandra.
Michael Jayston and Janet Suzman are wonderful in the title roles, not only because of their fine acting, but also their startling resemblence to the real Tsar and Tsarina. Tom Baker plays Rasputin with aplomb and style.
To appreciate this movie, however, it is important to know something about the events of that time. The Russian Japanese war, "Bloody Sunday", World War I, the rise of the Bolsheviks, the Karensky government and its fateful decision to continue fighting the war against Germany; all these are defining events and crucial to the story. And this is the director's dilema: to an expert on the period, these events are shown in minature, with insufficient depth and understanding. Yet the movie is over three hours long, and can not afford the go into too much detail. To a viewer who is unfamiliar with this period, these asides may be confusing or boring. Overall the movie strikes a good balance, and is so interesting that you want to rush out and read the book on which is was based, ("Nicholas and Alexandra" by Robert K. Massie.)
This film was underated when it was first released 36 years ago, but for anyone interested in history, and how the events of the past still resonate today, it is highly recommended.
Movie Review: He ate all my sturgeon, clever man...
Summary: 5 Stars
This film on Russian history is everything Zhivago is not - it's good. Though it takes the Lean-esque line of poetic cuts to meld the story together, it does it in a far subtler, less "here's another clever cut for you audience" fashion. Young's cinematography dwarfs what he was not able to do in Zhivago (because Lean wanted his film to be deliberately ugly) and there is a far more Russian feel to it.
As far as the portrayal of the Romanovs; it is quite fair. It never takes the side of the Reds, but it certainly does not deify Nicholas and Alexandra, who were utter idiots. This doesn't mean that they should have been gunned down in a basement with their children and doctor. It means that he was a political idiot and she was a paranoid religious fanatic. They were the weak link in a rusty chain that was going to snap, and snap it did, just when the weight of the 20th century was starting to drag on it.
I refuse to deify these people because they were just that, people, flawed, silly, but with human feelings and desires. I've no problem admitting that Thomas Jefferson had slaves or that Lincoln said if he could have won the war without freeing the slaves, he would have done so. These are human beings. Deifying them, and that includes the Romanovs, is just dangerous.
Watch this film as history playing out, despite its occassional dramatic liberties, and revel in the view that opens from the window before you. It's ultimately disturbing, and hopefully we can learn from it.
Movie Review: Incredibly good
Summary: 5 Stars
An opulent, rewarding, deeply stirring and fascinating review of the tragic reign of Nicholas and Alexandra. I think Michael Jayston is very impressive and compelling as Nicholas. He seems to get such little credit for the strength of this film. The story itself, certainly one of the more disturbing aspects of 20th century history. Mostly because it is just very sad and their deaths so pointlessly cruel. But then I suppose I'm one of only few that still believe there's a purpose and transcendental value to aristocracy and monarchy. I even have grudging respect for the divine right of kings. That's mostly because life is so lacking in dignity these days. We tend to elevate and ritually sacrifice CELEBRITIES instead, and what a poor compromise they are for our diminished senses. Presidents, senators, judges and business tycoons are a poor substitute as well. But in other parts of the globe, persons of royal lineage are still comfortable navigating a wealth of public rituals and duties, with values seemingly instilled at birth. Prince Harry is an embarrassing exception, but I think the Thai Monarchy, the Japanese Imperial Family, or Kingdom of Jordan are good examples. A pretty rare view, but precisely why this movie makes both a deep impression and creates an insatiable longing for the pageantry and traditions of seemingly lost eras.