Grimerlana Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Noutions Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

ThrillMessage There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

Kinley This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

SimonJack The middle part of Queen Victoria's reign is one of the most interesting and unusual among monarchs of the modern age. "Mrs. Brown" (aka, "Her Majesty Mrs. Brown") covers that period. The queen and Prince Albert had been happily married for nearly 21 years when he died of suspected typhoid fever. As the movie opens, Victoria has been long in mourning over his death in 1861. Many months pass, and her family, the royal household, and the parliament want her to return to her public duties and get on with life. Finally, Victoria sends for a personal servant whom Albert had highly regarded at their Balmoral Castle in Scotland. For the next 20 years, John Brown takes charge of the queen's life and the royal household. The queen slowly comes to life again. The Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, convinces Brown of the need for the queen to resume a public life for the sake of the kingdom. Brown helps the queen see the need and wisdom of doing so. Brown is much despised among the royal family, household and officials. Yet, he continued to enjoy a unique position and closeness to the queen until his death from pneumonia in1883.Much about the relationship of Queen Victoria and John Brown remains secret or mysterious. It is still controversial among historians today. But, most agree that Brown's role was helpful to the crown and England. Barely half a century later, another unusual royal relationship would rock Russia. The "mad monk," Rasputin, wielded uncanny and bizarre influence at times over the Romanovs, Nicholas and Alexandra. Rasputin was killed on Dec. 30, 1916, less than two months before the start of the Bolshevik Revolution. He has been viewed by some historians as having helped bring and end to the Russian monarchy.Judi Dench does justice to the character of Victoria, and Billy Connolly is excellent in the role of John Brown. Other roles are all handled very well by a superb cast. The history of the time comes alive in the scenery and settings for the film. But for some curious aspects of this film, I wouldn't have written these comments since there were already many reviews. The first oddity to me was with the lead actress, Judi Dench. Queen Victoria was a short, stout woman, and rather plain looking. If anything, Dench gives her more character in her face. But, she seems way too old at the start of the film – when she should be about 42. And then, she doesn't appear to age at all over the next 20 years. She even seems to be a little younger. This was enough of a distraction to me that I couldn't get into the film – in the time and place, for the maximum enjoyment. Victoria and Albert had nine children. Two died in their 30s and the other seven lived long lives – to an average of 76. At the start of the film, four of them would be teens and three of them younger. We don't see the two youngest at all – Beatrice and Leopold, and the others all appear as older children and young adults. Albert (Bertie) who would become King Edward VII, and Princess Alexandra of Denmark were married in 1863, when he was 21. Any of the film details about Brown and Victoria that may be true were probably taken from the Highland Journal, and its sequel, which Queen Victoria wrote and had published. Otherwise, there don't appear to be any other written or historical accounts. I suspect the notion of a diary kept by Brown was fictitious, since it was destroyed according to the movie. How would anyone know about it otherwise?

nutolm The worst year of Queen Elisabeth II as head of the state was probably not worse than the attention the British royal court got when Queen Victoria got engaged with her groom John Brown 150 years earlier. Unfortunately, it was a completely different time, a another world, and this relationship almost broke down the British monarchy.This movie is very well played. Judi Dench is magnificent as Queen Victoria, an awesome personality with a heartbreaking soul - and this performance earned her an Oscar nomination. Billy Connolly isn't less impressive; a Scottish groom in kilt, brimming with confidence - a free speaking man. Queen Victoria and him are two totally different people, but they fit together very well. The movie is characterized by great acting all over, as well as a good British sense for bygone times; the delicious nature surroundings and a good eye for details. This made the movie a great experience, but I see something about it that took it down a notch: the plot is too quiet in periods, and the script didn't allow room for any reflections. But in any case I did like it.

TheLittleSongbird I really wanted to see this movie, as I love Judi Dench, and when I saw it was going to show on TV, I knew I had to see it. The result is a very beautiful, touching and brilliantly acted film. Also excellent are the intelligent, sophisticated screenplay and sensitive direction. What made it so beautiful was how it was filmed; beautiful cinematography, scenery, costumes you name it. The music is soothing, pleasant and tender, and the story is somewhat tragic and compelling. And the acting is outstanding, Judi Dench is absolutely mesmerising as Queen Victoria and Billy Connolly was a huge surprise as John Brown, giving a restrained and very moving performance, proving he can do serious roles while being thoroughly decent at comedy as well. Of the supporting performances, I thought the best came from Anthony Sher as Disraeli, and Geoffrey Palmer is also great. Overall, topped with a poignant ending, Mrs Brown is a wonderful film. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Kristine Mrs Brown is a movie my mom has almost killed me over, lol, just joking. But she wanted me to find it on DVD, I could never find it, but I did find it at Hollywood Video and just told my mom about it, she freaked out and screamed for me to rent it. So I rented it and put her at peace, lol, but anyways, we watched it together this afternoon and I have to say that I didn't see the dramatic deal with the movie, my mom actually said it didn't seem as good as before either. But I wouldn't deem it as a bad movie at all, it was actually made very well with some fantastic and very distinguished actors of our time.Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's marriage was one of the happiest in royal history, so when Albert passed away, Vicotiria is devastated. The queen is in ultimate mourning and England is not pleased with the way she is handling it. But when a Scottish horse servant, John Brown, comes to help her, they become best friends and eventually lead into something more scandalous leading England her majesty's court to question her abilities as their queen.Mrs Brown is very well made and has a very strong cast that keep the movie together. It's a movie I would recommend if you love time pieces. It didn't thrill me, but the story was very interesting and wonderful in the fact that you got to see the human side of Queen Victoria. That it's possible to question emotions and a sense of duty, something most of us face in a life time.7/10