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Reviews8
bernie-81's rating
I watch this movie over and over again every year or so and It gets better every time!!! The special effects, music and location photography are completely knock-out.
The script crackles and the action moves along at a fantastic pace.
Above all it's satirical take on our 20/21st century world is awesome...it's all there:the duplicitous state controlling youth by the promise of votes and citizenship, the militaristic and hedonistic attitudes of a so-called 'advanced' society towards a presumed lesser species, the parodying of just about every cliché of war/action moviesetc,etc etc.
But most of all the total equalisation of women...not only can they join the forces and achieve any rank they aspire to; but they can intermingle together equally with men in the shower in total nudity then lead the infantry action on a deadly and bloody hand-to-hand battlefield.
They achieve the ultimate accolade...they die for their 'Country' (Federation) and get a hero's funeral.
Where else does that happen (exceptpossibly in today's Afghanistan)?
Yes there is some corny acting and flabby humour but this is ALL part of the satire being played out.
A GREAT movie which IMHO will be regarded as minor masterpiece of it's time!
The script crackles and the action moves along at a fantastic pace.
Above all it's satirical take on our 20/21st century world is awesome...it's all there:the duplicitous state controlling youth by the promise of votes and citizenship, the militaristic and hedonistic attitudes of a so-called 'advanced' society towards a presumed lesser species, the parodying of just about every cliché of war/action moviesetc,etc etc.
But most of all the total equalisation of women...not only can they join the forces and achieve any rank they aspire to; but they can intermingle together equally with men in the shower in total nudity then lead the infantry action on a deadly and bloody hand-to-hand battlefield.
They achieve the ultimate accolade...they die for their 'Country' (Federation) and get a hero's funeral.
Where else does that happen (exceptpossibly in today's Afghanistan)?
Yes there is some corny acting and flabby humour but this is ALL part of the satire being played out.
A GREAT movie which IMHO will be regarded as minor masterpiece of it's time!
I recently purchased the 4 DVD versions of the BBC TV 1980's 'Henry VI/Richard III' series and they have had me spellbound.
I agree withe the general view of other commentators that the excision of the British 'hammy' style does nothing but enhance the powerful sweep of this epic.
In the final play Ron Cook's deliberately paced and under-stated (by comparison with, say, Olivier) performance renders a powerful image of the 'toad'.
I was especially struck by the scene with the 3 women characters where they debate the evils wrought by their various male relatives on them and their offspring.
The last few scenes covering the night before the battle of Bosworth where the stream of ghosts taunting Richard then support Richmond, highlights what a great piece of pro-Tudor propaganda this play is.
I know that my comments are really about the original Shakespeare play but this production made it live for me.
The final scene with Margaret cackling on top of the heap of dead is a masterstroke!
I agree withe the general view of other commentators that the excision of the British 'hammy' style does nothing but enhance the powerful sweep of this epic.
In the final play Ron Cook's deliberately paced and under-stated (by comparison with, say, Olivier) performance renders a powerful image of the 'toad'.
I was especially struck by the scene with the 3 women characters where they debate the evils wrought by their various male relatives on them and their offspring.
The last few scenes covering the night before the battle of Bosworth where the stream of ghosts taunting Richard then support Richmond, highlights what a great piece of pro-Tudor propaganda this play is.
I know that my comments are really about the original Shakespeare play but this production made it live for me.
The final scene with Margaret cackling on top of the heap of dead is a masterstroke!
I saw this by chance on 'movies for men' yesterday.
It seemed to be an Italian or Spanish attempt to exploit the big Cid movie and the vogue for historical costume dramas of the time.
Whilst interesting to watch it hardly stands out as an epic film. The characterisations are weak and superficial, the sword fights are lame and over-contrived and, boy, are there a lot of horses.
Horses here, there and everywhere...the director must have commissioned an expensive troop of army cavalry as he uses them EVERYWHERE.
Oh, BTW, the wigs are out of this world.
Worth a watch to catch the flavour of cinema in those times.
It seemed to be an Italian or Spanish attempt to exploit the big Cid movie and the vogue for historical costume dramas of the time.
Whilst interesting to watch it hardly stands out as an epic film. The characterisations are weak and superficial, the sword fights are lame and over-contrived and, boy, are there a lot of horses.
Horses here, there and everywhere...the director must have commissioned an expensive troop of army cavalry as he uses them EVERYWHERE.
Oh, BTW, the wigs are out of this world.
Worth a watch to catch the flavour of cinema in those times.