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List Price: $9.98 | | Label: Hbo Home Video
Salesrank: 20529
Released: November 16, 2004 |
| Our Price: $4.03 |
| Used Price: $3.71 |
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MPAA Rating: Unrated
Media: DVD |
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| Features:
Closed-captioned Color Dolby DVD Widescreen NTSC | |
Editorial Review:
Henry VIII, ascended to the throne as a lithe, handsome seventeen-year-old and died after an extraordinary 38-year-reign, an embittered, obese invalid.The rest of Europe looked on in amazement as Henry, desperate for a male heir, cast aside the older, but loyal Katherine of Aragon for a series of marriages, with wives who are better known for the way their lives ended rather than for how they were lived - the determined temptress Anne Boleyn; the pious yet tragic Jane Seymour; the outcast Anne of Cleves; the young, adulterous Katherine Howard and finally, the devoted care-giver Katherine Parr.This tale of Henry VIII depicts the sexual intrigue, betrayal and rivalry that existed within his Court, in a reign hallmarked by political and religious upheaval, violence and corruption.
Description of Henry VIII:
The tragic history of Henry VIII gets a brash, full-blooded treatment in this well-cast, two-part production for British TV. Having made a vicious impression in the acclaimed 2000 gangster film Sexy Beast, Ray Winstone plays Henry as a self-doubting, insecure brute with base instincts and a healthy suspicion toward his not-so-loyal subjects. Director Pete Travis and writer Peter Morgan can be forgiven for neglecting the greater scope of history; by leaving epic battles off-screen and focusing on the intrigues and betrayals surrounding Henry's infamous succession of six ill-fated wives, this authentic-looking melodrama succeeds as a tightly paced study of hidden agendas among the King's immediate staff. In a story that involves religious upheaval, infidelity, courtly corruption, and Henry's anguished obsession to sire a male heir to the throne, Helena Bonham Carter (as Anne Boleyn) is an obvious stand-out in an excellent cast that includes Charles Dance, David Suchet, and Sean Bean, while Winstone's volatile Cockney bearishness drew mild objections from royal-drama purists. The film doesn't flinch from the brutality of the early 1500s when Henry reigned with an iron fist (including several beheadings to drive the point home), so this Henry VIII is not for kids or the faint of heart. Taken on its own terms, however, it's a rich, irresistible example of superior British filmmaking. --Jeff Shannon
Henry VIII Reviews:
Henry lover 
2009-11-03 - Ray Winstone is in my oppinion the best Henry the VIII. Helena Bonham Carter is also brilliant as Anne Boleyn.
Great film, great value! (full-frame edition)
2009-02-04 - This 2003 color film (DVD) is now available in a 2-disc set at Big Lots for three bucks which is where I got mine.
It's the story of Henry VIII, from the time of his youth on through his adulthood and his many wives. His chief concern throughout his life was to sire a male heir and he really didn't care who had to die to make this happen.
The cinematography is terrific and vibrant (I know that the widescreen edition would be even better) and the acting is spot-on. David Suchet (PBS's Poirot) is especially compelling as Cardinal Wolsey. Some of the Henry VIII films come across as documentaries (in fact some are) but this one is a movie of the first water.
If you enjoy this historical genre of films you're sure to like this one. Technically, I guess this film qualifies as a mini-series, being originally broadcast in two parts as it is presented in this DVD set. The movie runs for a total of 200 minutes and is an HBO production.
Highly recommended!
Ray Winstone and Helena Bohnam Carter are great!
2008-12-26 - I'd been wanting to buy this dvd for sometime, but for a long time the price was too high for me. I did not buy it based on the reviews up unitl now. Well, I finally purhcased it for the super low price.
I viewed the movie in its entirety, and I enjoyed it!! I was not looking for historical accuracy. I viewed it simply for entertaintment purposes. The acting was great, the costumes were great; brutal in some scenes, but then again, that was Henry VIII's life.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way the director portrays Henry's love for Anne Boleyn. This is a movie of uncontrolable passion, lots of betrayal and political back stabbing in and out of the court, and heads rolling.
Simply entertaining and full of drama.
5 *****
Decent film despite all the negative reviews 
2008-07-06 - I cannot figure out for the life of me why so many people are giving his movie horrible, almost vicious, reviews. The main complaint seems to be the historical inaccuracies. Well, the showtime TV show The Tudors is worse, grossly inaccurate, yet many people still enjoy it. This movie is inaccurate as are many film interpretations, but get over it. Other reviewers said that the actors were miscast and didn't look anything like the real-life personas. I 100% disagree. One only needs to compare a painting of Henry VIII to Ray Winstone to see the resemblence. In fact, Ray Winstone is probably my favorite Henry VII as he somehow manages to make a man who was overweight and unattractive seem sexually appealing. The show The Tudors, which I do like as well, is basically a Hollywood soap opera version where everyone is incredibly attractive. But what I liked about this film was that it was the opposite - the actors looked similar to the real people (more similar than any other film interpretation) and, as a result, seemed more realistic. The movie itself is a bit long and not the most exciting - more of a docudrama than a soap opera like the Tudors - but it definitely is worth watching, if at least to see another interpretation of Henry VII's life.
great other than showing a rape
2008-04-01 - thought this was a great series. loved it. other than one part that i absolutely hate. they had no need to show a rape.
