Hottoceame The Age of Commercialism

Crwthod A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

Glucedee It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

Fatma Suarez The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

sol- With his wife beyond child-bearing age and lacking a male heir, King Henry VIII pursues Anne Boleyn, a much younger woman, and ultimately forms the Anglician Church to annul his marriage and wed her in this historical drama starring Richard Burton and Geneviève Bujold. The film won an Oscar for its lavish costumes, yet Bujold's performance is the film's best asset as she brazenly stands up to Henry VIII early on, only to later relish in the power of being Queen; one truly gets a sense of her having grown and progressed over the course of the movie. Director Charles Jarrott never quite manages to disguise the stage play roots of the material with lots of static shots and a heavier emphasis on dialogue over atmosphere, but the project is oddly compelling for a film exploring such a well known slice of history. The performances definitely render the material more engrossing, with both Burton and co-star Anthony Quayle sharing some excellent scenes with the radiant Bujold. By all accounts, Burton disliked his turn here but he actually makes his character nicely sympathetic; even when he goes to reprehensible extremes to try to gain a son, his passion remains heartfelt. Some have in fact been critical of just how much the iconic monarch is softened here, but there is something quite refreshing in how the film tries to capture both Henry and Anne's perspectives.

SnoopyStyle King Henry VIII (Richard Burton) is unhappy with his wife Catherine of Aragon and even his mistress Mary Boleyn. He next sets his sights on Anne Boleyn (Geneviève Bujold). She is unwilling to be his mistress despite the desperate pleas from her family. Henry cancels her engagement to her beloved. She acquiesces but holds out to be Queen. She gives birth to Princess Elizabeth. The dissatisfied King Henry starts pursuing Lady Jane Seymour. Anne's thousand days reign ends in execution. Competing for power are Cardinal Wolsey and Thomas Cromwell.It's an old-style costume drama. The performances are solid. Burton and Bujold hold the screen well. Bujold's self-possessed Anne is compelling. Burton has easy power at his acting fingertips. Anthony Quayle is terrific as Cardinal Wolsey. The story is rather long and ambling. The old style does drag in the modern sense but the acting power is not in doubt.

trinka-42782 first, it was noted that Richard Burton was first thought to be 'too small' to play Henry. but, at the time of his meeting and marrying Anne he was a fairly young man, several years junior to his current wife, and was known to be an avid sportsman; therefore, his size and girth were not an issue until many years later due to many causes.bujold is a convincing Anne in the film because she shows the same fire and ice that is historically noted. Anne has been perceived by many as being ambitious, naive, and covert. bujold seems to demonstrate all of these qualities well without having them conflict.in all, it is a good movie if one is looking to see one that is based in fact as it follows all the important points of the relationship of Anne and Henry. unlike some more recent films, this one does not try to overly dramatize or romanticize the story with tidbits of sensationalism in regards to Anne's relationship with other characters.

Igenlode Wordsmith Richard Burton and Genevieve Bujold both give bravura performances here, but I was particularly struck by the quality of the supporting cast in what could easily have been a film totally dominated by its two stars. John Colicos stands out as a highly intelligent Thomas Cromwell, jumping ship from the old master to the new as Wolsey's favour falters, scheming and utterly ruthless and yet human enough to betray a moment of shaken relief after successfully manipulating his monarch. Anthony Quale as Cardinal Wolsey, who makes the mistake of holding more power than the King -- and of alienating the King's mistress -- is also excellent, as is William Squire in a small part as Thomas More. Irene Papas plays a fine gaunt Spanish Queen (although ironically, the real Catherine of Aragon was praised in her youth for her fair hair, dainty stature and generally un-Spanish looks!) and Michael Hordern does well as the pandering Thomas Boleyn, who procures both his daughters for the King's pleasure. Gary Bond as the unfortunate musician Mark Smeaton (does he really sing those countertenor-style ballads himself? I see that he played the lead in "Joseph & the Technicolor Dreamcoat") creates a character out of what could have been simply a pretty-boy role, and a number of other actors lend depth to brief appearances in parts such as Lady Kingston (the wife of Anne's jailer).My main issue with the film would be the clunky dose of hindsight administered in the closing voice-over (a lingering shot of the toddling Princess Elizabeth), which undermines the impact of the ending. Anne's finally falling for Henry also seemed to come somewhat out of nowhere: he is no more likable at this point than earlier, when she rejects him scornfully, and there has been no sense of preceding love/hate tension between them; what I got was mainly scorn. One just has to take this development as read for the sake of the plot.Otherwise, a powerful and impressive production that canters through some complicated history without becoming dull.