Victoria & Albert
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.49 You Save: $10.46 (52%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $4.67 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Victoria & Albert
Movie Review: Why can't movie producers portray young Victoria as she was: homely, short and chunky
Summary: 4 Stars
The movie is a fun feast for the eyes...kind of like watching The Swan or Roman Holiday. However, I kept forgetting this was supposed to be about queen Victoria. Young Victoria was short, chunky and homely as a mud fence. She was also said to have had a beautiful voice and a lovely laugh. If you were to put her in today's nondescript clothing and plunk her into a shopping mall she would be indistinguishable from all the other shoppers. The actresses that portray her are always very pretty, slim, and tallish. Victoria was one of the most photographed and recognizable women of her time. It's like making a movie about Eleanor Roosevelt and casting Elizabeth Taylor in the lead. The three cardinal sins of hollywood are to be fat, short,and homely. It is thought such people could not possibly have passionate fascinating personalities and movie makers believe that the public will not accept a feminine romantic lead who has such unfortunate dimensions. As a result, they are OK with an old fat Victoria but can't stomach a young chubby Victoria.
Victoria and her times are a fascinating study. Movies about Victoria should concentrate more on the historical backgroud and the complexity of her personality. She had noble and maddingly neurotic traits. Royals were the rock stars of their day. People wanted to dress and do as they did. For example: When anesthesia was discovered in the early 1800s doctors were reluctant to give it to women in childbirth because, according to the Bible, God wanted them to suffer the pains of childbirth due to the sins of Eve. Victoria was having none of that and when offered said GIVE ME DRUGS. Her use of anesthesia during labor made it permissible for women to bypass the bible and avoid hours of painful labor.
I'm still waiting for that 8 part series on Victoria and her times that realy does justice to the topic. When it comes it will be a knock-out!!!
Movie Review: Victoria Hamilton Shines as Queen Victoria
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased the set (without actually watching it) upon the reccommendation of a friend and the reviews written on this production.
I'm so glad to own this production.
At first I was not sure what to expect and I was not at all impressed with it when I first viewed it. Thinking on the production and viewing it again the second time I have come to apperciate the production and the leading actors do an amazing job as Victoria (Victoria Hamiliton) and Albert (Jonathan Firth).
I especially like how Albert married Victoria even though he was not in love with her as Victoria was with Albert. But he took his marriage vows very seriously and he grew to love Victoria and was faithful to her.
Victoria and Albert were very moral people and they as the first family wanted to set the example to the country.
In my view there are some sences that I would of perfered if they were not in the production but they are shone upon in a bad light by the royal couple which I think is good. (these days good morals are a non existence)
If you are interested in the royals or a truly amazing love story that actually happened you well enjoy this production.
Movie Review: Actors needed deportment lessons
Summary: 4 Stars
I watch historical TV series primarily for the sumptuous sets and costumes (this is not the place to seriously study history). "Victorian & Albert" has gorgeous sets and costumes, but I really wish they'd given the actors some lessons in period movement. In particular the one who played Queen Victoria. The real queen never had a tiny waist, hollow cheekbones, and prominent shoulder blades--even at 18. But at least it's understandable that the producers wanted her to conform to a modern ideal of beauty. The actress's movements, however, are atrocious-and she's never still. She has a heavy (audible!) tramping walk, she wriggles her arms, she hunches and shrugs her shoulders, she has a million little pouts and grimaces. And on top of it all there's her prolonged, husky giggle. Put her back in "Sex & the City," or wherever she came from, and back in a bathing suit, or whatever she's used to wearing.Movie Review: A&E's "Victoria and Albert"
Summary: 4 Stars
As much as I have read about Victoria and Albert, I found this 2001 A&E production to be interesting and historically informative, made all the more enjoyable with superb acting by Nigel Hawthorne, Diana Rigg, David Suchet and Peter Ustinov. But I simply could not "connect" with the casting of Victoria Hamilton as Queen Victoria (brown eyes?), or with Jonathan Firth as Prince Albert. Each time I saw their characters, I couldn't help imagining it was was a younger Connie Francis and Richard Chamberlain playing Victoria and Albert. Immediately afterwards I had to watch "The Young Victoria" to remind myself how much more charming and believeable Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend were in their portrayals of Victoria and Albert. Now if it were possible to substitute/transport Blunt and Friend into A&E's more comprehensive production of "Victoria & Albert", that would be perfection!Movie Review: A WONDERFUL LOVE STORY!
Summary: 4 Stars
I cannot remember when I have enjoyed a movie more. The faithfulness of Albert and the unbashed love that Victoria had for him. The costuming of this movie was grand and royal. A feast for the eyes and a joy for the heart. Even when Albert is taken away from her, so cruelly by fate, Victoria is devastated, and though the did not explore it in this movie she was able to be a strong leading influence for her people. I found the acting to be believable, esp. w/ Albert's character.
Rent before you buy, but if you love English history and want a good movie to watch over & over BUY this one. I did!