 |
The Lion In Winter is Awesome! If you Love: The Tudors, The Game of Thrones, or the historical novels by Philippa Gregory (The White Queen, The Red Queen, and The Kingmaker's Daughter, then you will ABSOLUTELY ADORE Dame Katharine Hepburn and Sir Peter O'Toole in The Lion Winter! The Lion in Winter is set during Christmas 1183, at King Henry II's château and primary residence in Chinon, Anjou, within the Angevin Empire of medieval France. Henry wants his youngest son, the future King John, to inherit his throne, while his estranged and imprisoned wife, Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine, favours their oldest surviving son, the future King Richard the Lionheart. Meanwhile, King Philip II of France, the son and successor of Louis VII of France, Eleanor's ex-husband, has given his half-sister Alais, who is currently Henry's mistress, to the future heir, and demands either a wedding or the return of her dowry. As a ruse, Henry agrees to give Alais to Richard and make him heir-apparent. He makes a side deal with Eleanor for her freedom in return for Aquitaine, to be given to John. When the deal is revealed at the wedding, Richard refuses to go through with the ceremony. After Richard leaves, Eleanor masochistically asks Henry to kiss Alais in front of her, and then looks on in horror as they perform a mock marriage ceremony. Having believed Henry's intentions, John, at the direction of middle brother, Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany, plots with Philip to make war on England. Henry and Phillip meet to discuss terms, but Henry soon learns that Phillip has been plotting with John and Geoffrey, and that he and Richard were once lovers. Henry dismisses all three sons as unsuitable, and locks them in a wine cellar, telling Alais, "the royal boys are aging with the royal port." He makes plans to travel to Rome for an annulment, so that he can have new sons with Alais, but she says he will never be able to release his sons from prison or they will be a threat to his future children. Henry sees that she is right and condemns them to death, but cannot bring himself to kill them, instead letting them escape. He and Eleanor go back to hoping for the future, with Eleanor going back on the barge to prison, laughing it off with Henry before she leaves.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is one of the most underrated movies of all time. The script is fantastic and I am sure it was an amazing play before being brought to Hollywood. Filmed on location all over Britain and Scotland, the scenery is stark and breathtaking, not overflowing overfancy stage creations. This starkness lends credibility to the story of Henry II and his Queen, both the love of each other's lives and the bane of each other's existence. I will not give away the movie, you simply must see it. Anthony Hopkins is mesmerizing as a twenty something Richard the Lionhearted, but Katherine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole leave no room for anyone but each other when they are on screen. Their chemistry, along with the story and everything else to do with this movie, is exquisitely beautiful and heartrendingly painful. I could see it a thousand times.Read full review
Yes, they speak a far more current form of English than they would have in the 12th Century. So what? They spoke English in Spartacus (set in Rome) and The Ten Commandments set in Egypt. Just enjoy the acting and the many diabolical plots and try and keep track of them. DVD is OK if a bit muddy. It will certainly do until the restored BluRay comes out.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This film is both dramatic & humorous, making this subject matter very entertaining. Solid acting performances all around. It's a movie I know I'll watch again & I'm glad to have it in my dvd library.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
"The lion in winter" starring Peter O'toole and Katharine Hepburn is one of the most intellectually engaging films produced in the 20th century. If you are looking for exceptionally brilliant content and performances this film will literally raise your IQ. Need I say more?
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in DVDs & Blu-ray Discs
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on DVDs & Blu-ray Discs
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like
