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Charles II [2003]

Charles II [2003]

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Director: Joe Wright
Actors: Martin Turner, Rufus Sewell, Ian Mcdiarmid, Rupert Graves, Michael Pober
Studio: 2 Entertain Video
Category: Video

List Price: £14.99
Buy New: £1.90
You Save: £13.09 (87%)



New (5) Used (2) from £1.90

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 13 reviews
Sales Rank: 3371

Format: Pal
Languages: English (Original Language), Portuguese (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Media: VHS Tape
Discs: 1
Number Of Discs: 2
Running Time: 240 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 4.9 x 2.4

EAN: 5014503751326
ASIN: B0000D9Y5T

Theatrical Release Date: March 21, 2004
Release Date: February 16, 2004
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New. Despatched same day if payment is received before 3pm. Fast delivery from the UK. International delivery is available. A trusted long established Amazon seller.

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.co.uk Review
One of the better BBC costume dramas of recent years, 2003's Charles II: The Power and the Passion depends very strongly on its central performance. Fortunately, Rufus Sewell is admirable throughout as the saturnine, witty monarch who has retained popular fondness down the centuries in spite of his conscientious adherence to the bad and losing cause of absolute monarchy. Adrian Hodge's intelligent script dramatises the issue in quick sound bites--many politicians accepted the Restoration to avoid chaos and were determined to bring Charles to heel, whereas he was determined to defend the position for which his father had been martyred. If that meant handing the throne to his Catholic brother in default of a legitimate son of his own, so be it.

The four hour-long episodes cover the Restoration, the Plague and the Fire of London, the secret treaties with France and the Popish Plot, as well as giving us a fair bit of Charles's moderately happy marriage to Catherine (Shirley Henderson in the most hideously accurate historical hairdos ever) and his affairs with various mistresses. Among a number of fine supporting performances, Rupert Graves stands out as Buckingham, the friend who betrayed Charles. This sort of costume drama only ever works if the acting is as good as it is here.

On the DVD: Charles II on disc comes with a making-of documentary and a commentary on the first episode from writer Adrian Hodge and the director and producer. It also includes an extended documentary on Charles's back story--his education, his attempt to fight Cromwell's forces, his period on the run in England and his long exile--in which a number of eminent historians, including Richard Holmes and Ronald Hutton, talk about how he became the king he was. --Roz Kaveney


Customer Reviews:   Read 8 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars Cheery Charles   January 18, 2004
15 out of 16 found this review helpful

The best production by the BBC since Pride & Prejudice!!! This is a lavish , wonderfully constructed drama full of the intrigue and indulgence of the Stuart Court. Rufus Sewell is delicious as the merry monach and is magnificently supported by the ensemble cast. This is a truly great drama, excellently written, portrayed and presented by all involved. A must see for every one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


5 out of 5 stars Top quality   September 20, 2004
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

This really is an excellent production, historical drama at its very best. The actors all deliver fantastic performances, Rufus Sewell's Charles II is terrific. He portrays the king as a complex character, humane and tolerant by the standards of the age yet also at times stubborn, ruthless and cynical with a weakness for women.

The DVD also contains a very good "making of" documentary and a fascinating commentary. All in all stunning. I cannot recommend it strongly enough.


5 out of 5 stars History Comes Alive   January 16, 2004
13 out of 16 found this review helpful

Rufus Sewell stars as charles II in this lavish adaptation chronicling the life and loves of of the "Merry Monarch" from his last few months in exile from Oliver Cromwells Republican England, to his death. Suported by Rupert Graves as the trechorous Duke of Buckingham, History comes alive in this four hour drama.
When he reclaims his throne after 11 years in exile, charles II is determined to avenge his fathers murder even if it means risking the wrath of his people, who are already furious at their Kings reluctance to banish the heretical catholics from England. Things are not helped when the kings brother James, Duke of York converts to the catholic faith himself, causing uprisings and civil war, and as the the King`s marrige to the Portugues Princess Catherine of Braganza is childless, James is the only heir, forcing the King to a very dificcult decision. Should he abandon the Duke of York in favour of his protestant, and illigitamate son, James Duke of Monmouth? or dissolve parliament and keep the Duke of York as his heir?



5 out of 5 stars Merry Monarch, Unhappy Queen   January 10, 2006
Pearl
12 out of 15 found this review helpful

I enormously enjoyed this production ! I've always liked king Charles, in spite of Catarina de Bragança's poor destiny. I agree that, by the standards of the time, he was as friendly a husband as possible. Congratulations to Shirley Henderson, who asks for a tea in perfect Portuguese ( was her voice dubbed or did she have to practise herself, I wonder ?:) By the way, Catarina was NOT that plain ...
A very nice group of supporting actors, specially Rupert Graves, the man whose face is not easy to forget ...
A very convincing recreation of the Restauration days !



5 out of 5 stars PHWOAR! RUFUS SEWELL   October 14, 2005
8 out of 12 found this review helpful

in a curly wig and britches - who would have thought that would be appealing but MAN is it ever!

Besides the toe curling fanciability of Charles II/Rufus, this is a fabulously written, cast and acted version of Charles II reign.

Highly recommended.

 

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