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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Salesrank: 2726
Released: June 19, 2001 |
| Our Price: $7.90 |
| Used Price: $5.88 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Katharine Hepburn delivers an amazing (Variety), OscarÂ(r)-winning* performance 'that must be seen to be believed (Boxoffice) in this dazzling (Los Angeles Times) all-star film that is not to be missed. Behind the great stone walls of an English castle, the world's most powerful empire is in crisis. Three sons struggle to win their father's favoras well as his crown. King Henry II (Peter O'toole) and his queen, Eleanor (Katharine Hepburn), engage ina battle of royal wits that pits elder son Richard (Anthony Hopkins) against his brothers, while the cunning King Philip of France (Timothy Dalton) takes advantage of the internal fracturing in his bid to destroy their kingdom. *1968: Actress
Description of The Lion in Winter:
In this 12th-century version of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Henry II of England (Peter O'Toole) and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn), meet on Christmas Eve to discuss the future of the throne. These two are having slight marital problems, as she is kept in captivity most of the year for raising a rebellion against him, and he flaunts his young mistress. Then there are the problems raised by their three treacherous and traitorous sons.
James Goldman won an Oscar® for the brilliant screenplay, based on his Broadway play. It is a tad wordy, as the action is kept to a minimum, but those words are sharp as daggers. The humor is wicked and black and delivered with very dry, dead-on precision. Sparks fly and the screen sizzles whenever Hepburn and O'Toole tango, which is often. Both were nominated for Academy Awards® for their vigorous performances. (She won; he didn't.) There's also an infamous homo-erotic exchange between Philip of France (Timothy Dalton) and Richard the Lionhearted (Anthony Hopkins). Both actors were making their feature-film debuts. --Rochelle O'Gorman
The Lion in Winter Reviews:
Ultimate Dysfunctional Family @ Christmas Movie! 
2009-12-23 - I think that this is probably the best acting I've ever seen... Hepburn and O'Toole are marvelous, though in no small part because the script is one of the best ever written. While one could watch this movie at any time of the year, I choose to make it part of my Christmas season viewing. I think anyone's family will look a tad bit better in comparison to this one? I give it 6 stars for essential purchasing!
Hepburn and O'Toole Rule
2009-12-09 - "The Lion in Winter"
Hepburn and O'Toole Rule
Amos Lassen
I rate "The Lion in Winter" my favorite movie of all time and watching it again last night made me again realize what a wonderful cinematic experience it is. After all with Katherine Hepburn as Eleanor of Aquitaine and Peter O'Toole as Henry II, how could it not be great?
The film revolves around Henry's deciding the succession of his crown and he has to consider his three sons, John, Geoffrey and Richard (Anthony Hopkins), his wife, Eleanor, and Louis, the king of France. The intrigues are amazing, the dialog is brilliant and Hepburn and O'Toole are pure magnificence. The film is loaded with acerbic wit and the tragic relationship of Henry and Eleanor is at the core of this drama.
Henry has his eyes focused on John (Nigel Terry) to succeed him. John is simple and easily manipulated. Eleanor focuses on Richard and there is a third son who also aspires to the throne. The plot is one of political ambitions, the quest for power, greed, double crosses and betrayals. Everyone is fighting with everyone else and there seems to be no solution. The fighting is fun to watch and the dialog is clever and sharp. The Plantagenet family is totally dysfunctional and we have words thrown around everywhere. This is the most entertaining movie ever that is set in medieval times and it is impossible not to love the stars after seeing it. Every character is a main character and every word uttered is a gem. The script is a masterpiece of history and Katherine Hepburn puts the jewel in her crown with this performance.
There is no resolution at the end of the film so you have to check your history books to find out what happened. However, the performances are so good that I doubt you will run to the library to find out. If you are like me, you will languish in the glow of having had a real experience.
Best movie ever!!
2009-11-20 - I love this movie. The dialogue in this movie is amazing. Peter O'Toole reprises his role as Henry ll albeit a much older one. Katherine Hepburn is magnificent as Eleanor of Aquitaine. The repartee between these two seasoned actors is lively and fast paced. A very young Anthony Hopkins plays young Richard the Lionheart.
The movie displays somewhat accurate living conditions of the time such as Henry breaking the ice off the water in the bedroom to splash his face.
The acting is superb all around, the script amazing and the set realistic, what more could you want? I highly recommend this movie to anyone.
Henry II and his relations 
2009-10-26 - Movies like this always make me think "wouldn't it just have been easier to have elections?"
With that being said, the Lion in Winter revolves around Henry II working out the succession to the crown with his surviving three sons, the King of France and Henry's wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine. John (the Prince John of the Robin Hood stories) is a slob and not that bright, Geoffrey feels unappreciated and Richard (later known as Richard the Lionhearted) has problems all his own. King Louis of France feels as if he has been slighted and Eleanor has plots and schemes of her own. All of it serves for some interesting drama.
Katherine Hepburn's performance is excellent and Peter O'Toole's portrayal of Henry II is just as good here as it was in Beckett, one of my favorite films. This is a first-class movie and one I strongly recommend.
a classic
2009-05-28 - I saw this movie on TV and was spell bond, it was like I was attending a play. Had to buy the movie, so when I want to see real acting I can
