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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Lions Gate
Salesrank: 10248
Released: July 20, 2004 |
| Our Price: $4.89 |
| Used Price: $3.18 |
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MPAA Rating: Unrated
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
All of britain & half of france were his kingdom. But there was one thing he would never be able to control - his family. King henry ii summons his cunning prison-bound wife to his side as he prepares to announce the succession of the throne to one of his double-crossing 3 sons none of whom are qualified to rule. Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 08/30/2005 Starring: Glenn Close Patrick Stewart Run time: 167 minutes Rating: Nr
Description of The Lion in Winter:
Schemes and double-crosses abound in The Lion in Winter, the story of England's King Henry II (Patrick Stewart, Star Trek: The Next Generation, X-Men) as he manipulates (and is counter-manipulated) by his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Glenn Close, Dangerous Liaisons, Fatal Attraction), and their three ambitious sons, each of whom hopes to ascend to the throne. The ghost of the 1968 film version hangs over this 2003 miniseries; Stewart and Close can't match Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn in that classic. Nonetheless this new version is solid work, and though the witty dialogue verges into camp, the script's cunningly orchestrated machinations work like a charm, drawing the viewer in with every fiendish ploy and overturned expectation. Also featuring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (Velvet Goldmine, Bend It Like Beckham) as the King of France. --Bret Fetzer
The Lion in Winter Reviews:
Another Time 
2009-12-09 - "The Lion in Winter"
Another Time
Amos Lassen
The problem with remaking a classic film is that it will always be compared to the original. When the original starred Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn this makes it that much harder. Glenn Close is Eleanor of Aquitaine and Patrick Stewart is Henry II in this remake of "The Lion in Winter" and they are both excellent. They look at their characters in a different way than did the original stars and they gives us a more ironic look at the English monarchs. The chemistry of Hepburn and O'Toole will never be matched but Stewart and Close bring something new to the roles and show a deeper irony than the original.
This is a different production in many ways. The performances of Close and Stewart are subtle and restrained. They are consummate power players and display the gamut of emotions. The supporting cast is also excellent and overall the production is a stunner and the movie stands on its own.
A Different Vision, But Still A Great One 
2008-12-05 - Any depiction of The Lion in Winter must inevitably be compared with the magnificent 1968 production starring Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn. This version starring Patrick Stewart and Glenn Close has some significant departures from the 1969 gold standard, but nevertheless manages to be a superb dramatization in its own right.
Its Christmas, 1183, and King Henry II of England has called his family together for a happy holiday season. The problem is, he has his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine in prison, and she and their three sons Richard, Geoffrey, and John, are all thirsting for power. The King is growing old (he was to die in 1187) and he wants his youngest son John to succeed him. Eleanor's favorite is their oldest son Richard, while the middle boy Geoffrey is biding his time and waiting for his chance. Adding to the complications is the presence of Princess Alais of France, who was supposed to marry Richard but who has become King Henry's mistress, and her brother King Philip of France, 18 years old but already a master of intrigue and deceit.
While this version lacks some of the fabulous chemistry and sparkle provided by O'Toole and Hepburn, it makes up for it by the deeper, more somber interaction of Stewart and Close. This version doesn't make me laugh as much as the 1968 version does, but it definitely has an even deeper sense of gravitas and irony. Both dramatizations are superb, and my advice is to buy both and watch them on successive nights.
WOW!
2008-12-01 - I had nearly worn out my original copy of Lion in Winter. I am a huge fan of Patrick Stewart, but had no idea this copy existed until I looked to replace my run-down vhs copy. As much as I love Patrick Stewart's work, and have all the faith in the world in his ability to bring out the best and the worst of characters, this would be a test. How could anyone (even Patrick Stewart and Glenn Close) compare with the phenomenal performances of Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn? They couldn't, and they didn't. What they did was to recreate the roles in a style entirely their own. The script is essentially unchanged. The sets are a bit more elaborate. The performances are spectacular. I think Patrick Stewart managed better to create his own Henry than Gleen Close did with Eleanor. I should have liked to see Close really open up and not try so hard to meet the standard set by Hepburn. The early going has a lighter approach the the original version. I don't think that the chemistry of the first film could ever be matched. In the end, however, the characters play well off of each other. When Patrick Stewart unleashes the force of Henri's grief, the effect is absolutely wrenching. For the cast, overall, I think the only role I repeatedly missed in this performance was Anthony Hopkins' version of Richard.
In every way as dramatic, as painful, and as entertaining as the original, this "new" Lion in Winter is definitely a keeper! If I had to choose now which performance I prefer, I doubt I could. As a matter of fact, I now own them both on dvd.
The Lion In Winter
2008-09-14 - A different view froim the O'Toole/Hepburn classic but very well acted and still as engrossing
Proves the original is still the best... 
2008-06-24 - Anyone who's viewed the classic original "The Lion in Winter" understands the fabled nuance and timing of the greats Hepburn and O'Toole. Glenn Close and Patrick Stewart are exceptional contemporary actors, but they fall short in the witty repartee so evident in the original "TLIW."
The supporting cast members are barely worth mentioning (with the exception of the exquisite Jonathan Rhys Meyers-his portrayal of King Phillip is genius in its coy, cloying, emotionally manipulative aggressiveness). The actress who played Alais was utterly irritating with her grating accent and flouncing (as opposed to gracefully walking). The sons, Richard and Geoffrey, did an admirable job (although Richard showed a bit too much angst at times-he appeared to be an immature teenager instead of a grown man). Geoffrey had fine moments, but John was an absolute disaster! What should've been a character with a childish devotion to daddy dearest came across as an imbecilic moron.
This "TLIW" can't hold a candle to the original both in character depth, production design (it's a medieval castle-why is it so sparkling fresh and clean?) and direction. This was a 2.5 star effort (truthfully based on the widespread appeal of Rhys Meyers).
