The Lion in Winter
|
List Price: Our Price: $7.23 You Save: $7.75 (52%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $4.50 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of The Lion in Winter
Movie Review: Stunning--Simply Stunning
Summary: 5 Stars
Beyond the blisteringly effective performances--the great Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn, in particular, will make you cringe at the fraternity and sorority of complete non-talents that dominate Hollywood's acting pool today--"The Lion in Winter" benefits from what is probably the sharpest dialogue produced by an American or British film production in the last 50 years. Superficial comparisons to "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" notwithstanding, this film is at heart a domestic drama with nice bits of dark comedy, as O'Toole's King Henry takes up where he left off in "Becket." Aged but still formidable, Henry squares off against his estranged wife, Eleanor (Hepburn), who matches Henry's thirst for power and sense of strategy so perfectly, their lashing out at one another is inevitable. You'll laugh and cry with them, and if you're particularly perceptive, you'll understand that in spite of the venom, there is genuine, if enraged, love between the two. Terrific performances by Anthony Hopkins, Nigel Terry, Timothy Dalton, and the rest of the cast make "The Lion in Winter" a feast of drama, as does John Barry's understated score.Movie Review: great film, bare bones dvd edition
Summary: 5 Stars
This is such a great film, with a fantastic cast, fine script and spectacular premise. Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn put the "fun" in "dysfunctional family" as they flex their chops, and Anthony Hopkins and Timothy Dalton debut in James Goldman's adaptation of his play. For the Christmas holidays Henry II has released his wife, Eleanor of Aquitane, from the prison in which he has held her for 10 years, since she led an uprising against him. The heir, Prince Henry, is dead, and the three remaining sons are vying for the title of heir apparent as their parents negotiate, manipulate and deceive each other. A lifetime of memory and bitterness is always ready to burst from them, and sparks fly in the many interactions that transpire between the characters. This movie will help anyone feel better about their own weird family!
Special features are a mediocre -- a trailer and audio commentary by director Anthony Harvey. Subtitles are available in French or Spanish. (I wish English captions had been included as well.)
This is an incredible film that deserves a better dvd edition, but I can't bring myself to give it anything but 5 stars anyway. Terrific.
Movie Review: Historical masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
Both Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn were wondrous in their roles of King Henry II and his queen Eleanor of Aquitane in the brilliantly directed historical drama "The Lion in Winter".
In Christmastime of 1183 and Henry decides to assemble his fractured family at Chinon castle to decide who while assume the throne of England among his 3 sons, Richard, Geoffrey and John. King Phillip of France played by a young Timothy Dalton and his sister Alais, Henry's mistress are also among the guests. The scheming Eleanor who has been imprisoned by Henry but released for this occasion favors Richard played by Anthony Hopkins in one of his first starring roles.
The drama plays out revealing to O'Toole that none of his traitorous sons is worthy of the throne and the decision is left undecided.
"The Lion in Winter" was highlighted by powerful acting performances which garnered Hepburn an Oscar but sadly not one for the deserving O'Toole, who put on an acting clinic. The scenery did much to enhance the historical quality of the film. The flick was an effectively produced piece that made a neat transition from the stage to the screen.
Movie Review: Oh Well, What family doesn't have its ups and downs?
Summary: 5 Stars
Possibly the best written, most enjoyable, and well acted drama ever filmed. It's hard to believe this was produced by the same species that made 'Waterworld', 'Orca', 'The Swarm' or any soap opera that has blighted your daytime TV.One of the reasons the drama packs such a wallop is the brilliant humor that serves as a counterpoint to all the evil machinations of the most dysfunctional royal family imaginable. Virtually every scene is a masterpiece of biting wit and macabre intrigue.
It is the contradictions that make the larger than life characters so thoroughly human and believable. Goldman's play captures the love between Henry and Eleanor wonderfully, even when they're trying to outfox and destroy each other. Yep, this IS a marriage!
Not one actor in a million could pull this off. Fortunately for us, that's who gets cast in the leads: Peter O'Toole as Henry, Katherine Hepburn as Eleanor and the future Hannibal Lecter, King Arthur and James Bond as, respectively, Richard the Lion Hearted, Prince John and King Phillip of France.
Treat yourselves to the twelfth century! It might remind you of home . . .
Movie Review: Watch the English Royal Family Verbally Joust for Christmas
Summary: 5 Stars
I like a good action flick, especially period pieces with lots of sword fights and axes flying, dismembered limbs and gushing blood, like in the Lord of the Rings movies. Here is a movie with none of that, except in the emotional and verbal sense. I didn't think I would like all that talking and lack of action, but I couldn't stop watching this film!The screen writer uses words as filet knives and we get to watch the English royal family cut each other to ribbons before our eyes! It is frightening and, at times, hilarious. The manipulation and back stabbing are stunning.
All the actors are terrific as King Henry (Peter O'Toole) and Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katherine Hepburn), his normally imprisoned wife, try to determine which of their three conniving sons will sit on throne once Henry dies. I've never had so much fun watching people skewer each other with words. This is the best movie of its kind, with dialogue exceeding that found in Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf and even All About Eve.
A top rate script with a top rate cast equals a very enjoyable time. Absolutely riveting.