Nonureva Really Surprised!

CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

TheLittleSongbird Heard nothing but great things about 'House of Cards', and 'To Play the King' and 'The Final Cut', and saw it to see how it compared with the US version of the same name. That show was brilliant for most of its run, but its final season saw one of the most severe declines in television in recent years. The UK version's crew in front of the camera and behind the scenes had talent that was immense.Will always hold the US version in very high regard, or at least for the first four seasons, but to me this is superior and more consistent in quality. 'House of Cards' is superlative viewing, seeing British talent at its best, and some of the best television of the 90s. While there has been the odd gem here and there in recent years, like the period dramas and David Attenborough's nature documentaries, there has been very little on this level of brilliance. Whether it's a good or faithful adaptation of the source material feels completely insignificant, deviations are numerous and some are major but the spirit and attention to character and mood detail are present.Visually, 'House of Cards' looks wonderful and full of elegance and atmosphere in the design and class and style in the way it's filmed. It's also beautifully scored by Jim Parker, and the direction lets the atmosphere and drama breathe but still never undermines the momentum.Andrew Davies also deserves a lot of the credit. The script has dry cynicism, sharp wit, dark bite and class, with some deservedly iconic lines that have since become part of popular culture. The nation's mood is brilliantly captured and the political elements are handled so truthfully and don't feel shoe-horned (it's actually essential here) or heavy-handed. The storytelling is ceaselessly compelling throughout the whole four one hour episode duration, hooking one in and never letting go despite not being a series that deliberately and wisely doesn't move "fast". The ending stays with you for how it effectively shocks.Pitch perfect casting also plays a large part. Cannot add to the vast amount of magnificent adjectives summing up the role of a lifetime acting of Ian Richardson. Have always liked him, but this is his most famous role for a reason, he has never been better and it is hard to see anybody come to his level. It is very easy to overlook the rest of the cast and say they're in the shadow, they may not dominate like Richardson does but they are just as good.Susanna Harker has an affecting charm and Diane Fletcher also impresses in a role that sees a side of her that one wouldn't associate with her. Miles Anderson's acting here is some of his best too, he's never had a meatier character since.Overall, really brilliant. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Bene Cumb It does not often happen that I watch an original creation after adapted/covered one - but such is the case with House of Cards where the Spacey-Wright tandem captivated me soon after the series was released. But I got to the British version only this week... From the start, I tried not to make comparisons with the U.S. series, but sometimes they were unavoidable. Yes, I enjoyed both Francis Urquhart's character and Ian Richardson's performance at once, but the plot had some minor shortages for me - first, Urquhart obtained the highest post of the Prime Minister at the first stage (vs. Vice President and President in the U.S.) and, secondly, the spouse- accomplice did not have her own agenda in the public life. Thus, the plot was only with and around Urquhart, making it more linear and less versatile than in the adapted one. But still, I love the British style and approach, their fineness and witty lines, and frequent surprising moments in the course of events. Moreover, the choice of music and cinematography provided an accentuating atmosphere and mood in the sinister world of politics, full of betrayals and selfish decisions.Notwithstanding with the fact that most of the events depicted are not possible in an EU/NATO country, the series in question is an integral and often realistic depiction what-how many politicians think. A must- see to all fond of British political crime series and a wide and pleasant record of Ian Richardson's (passed away in 2007) talent.

jc-osms I somehow missed this series on its first BBC broadcast well over 20 years ago but went looking for it after seeing the recent David Fincher / Kevin Spacey Americanised remake, which I had much enjoyed. Looked at today, I'd have to say I prefer the remake. In my opinion, the poisonous mix of sex, politics and power plays better against the backdrop of the more open and ruthless brand of politics across the water than staid old Britain. Unlike Spacey, Ian Richardson as the reptilian villain of the piece exudes no sex-appeal whatsoever, so that you get no sense of a physical attraction between him and the young female investigative reporter (Susanne Harker), indeed there are almost no bedroom scenes of the couple to hammer home this point.I also found the plot-lines just too fanciful and unbelievable, Richardson's Francis Urquhart character's stop-at-nothing persona taking the cliché of the utterly selfish and self-deluding politician's ambition a bit too far. Yes, there are identifiable types in the background characters, but that's all they are, ciphers more than characters. As a for instance, the American series builds up the background character of Urquhart's wife more effectively than here, while complicit in her husband's rise up the ranks, she too is a shadowy, unsubstantial figure, another wasted opportunity. The only person we're interested in is Urquhart and besides himself the only people he appears interested in are we the viewer, as he breaks the fourth wall and speaks out directly to his untouchable audience. This first series ends up with a bang, literally, but shockingly spectacular as it is, it's too fantastical and doesn't ring true, like lots of other plot-lines in the show.The acting is very good, despite my observations above, Richardson obviously relishing every line, especially the now familiar tag-line "...I couldn't possibly comment". This was still however racy, entertaining viewing although even knowing it was written by a Westminster insider, I never got the sense that I was close to the realms of truth, but once that point is conceded, this parliamentary pantomime is fun to watch.

nedhoy This film is excellent (10+ stars).The characters are well cast. All the acting is excellent (there is not a bad actor in it, all are good). The directing, and especially script writing is well done (excellent).The film drags you in so that at the end of the hour of each episode you would crawl naked across poison ivy just to watch the next episode. Although at first it may seem unusual that he talks to you; you will soon grow to love it!With a devious wife, a brilliant affair and a whole crew of supporting actors this movie deserves awards!