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Charles II [DVD] [2003]

DVD ~ Martin Turner

4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

RRP:	�19.99
Price:	�8.88 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Product details

Actors: Martin Turner, Rufus Sewell, Ian McDiarmid, Rupert Graves, Michael Pober
Directors: Joe Wright
Writers: Adrian Hodges
Producers: Delia Fine, Emilio Nunez, Kate Harwood, Katrine Dudley, Laura Mackie
Format: Box set, PAL, Widescreen
Language English, Portuguese
Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number of discs: 2
Classification: 15
Studio: 2 Entertain Video
DVD Release Date: 16 Feb 2004
Run Time: 240 minutes

Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

ASIN: B0000D9Y62
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 7,564 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

One of the better BBC costume dramas of recent years, 2003's Charles II: The Power and the Passion depends very strongly on its central performance. Fortunately, Rufus Sewell is admirable throughout as the saturnine, witty monarch who has retained popular fondness down the centuries in spite of his conscientious adherence to the bad and losing cause of absolute monarchy. Adrian Hodge's intelligent script dramatises the issue in quick sound bites--many politicians accepted the Restoration to avoid chaos and were determined to bring Charles to heel, whereas he was determined to defend the position for which his father had been martyred. If that meant handing the throne to his Catholic brother in default of a legitimate son of his own, so be it.

The four hour-long episodes cover the Restoration, the Plague and the Fire of London, the secret treaties with France and the Popish Plot, as well as giving us a fair bit of Charles's moderately happy marriage to Catherine (Shirley Henderson in the most hideously accurate historical hairdos ever) and his affairs with various mistresses. Among a number of fine supporting performances, Rupert Graves stands out as Buckingham, the friend who betrayed Charles. This sort of costume drama only ever works if the acting is as good as it is here.

On the DVD: Charles II on disc comes with a making-of documentary and a commentary on the first episode from writer Adrian Hodge and the director and producer. It also includes an extended documentary on Charles's back story--his education, his attempt to fight Cromwell's forces, his period on the run in England and his long exile--in which a number of eminent historians, including Richard Holmes and Ronald Hutton, talk about how he became the king he was. --Roz Kaveney

DVD Description

Starring Rufus Sewell, Charlie Creed-Miles, Martin Freeman, Rupert Graves, Shirley Henderson, Helen McCrory, Ian McDiarmid, Diana Rigg.

Rescued from exile by a desperate Parliament, Charles II returns to the throne at the age of 30. As the Plague and the Great Fire brings London to its knees, Charles nurtures the wittiest, most lascivious and decadent court of all time. A sensitive and promiscuous lover, he entertains an array of mistresses including high-born Barbara Villiers, sparky streetwise actress Nell Gwyn and aristocratic French spy Louise de Keroualle. Still traumatized by the execution of his father, Charles is forced to play politics with the Parliament that killed him and proves himself a canny and ruthless politician. Meanwhile, with a lack of a legitimate heir, his squabbling family grow ever more frantic …

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Customer Reviews

17 Reviews

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.4 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Restoration Drama, 2 Jan 2007

By	Liam (Dublin) - See all my reviews

Having just watched this DVD again, I've been capitvated anew by how good it is. Everything, from the music to the costumes to the acting, is magnificent. Rufus Sewell skillfully portrays the character of Charles II - cynical, witty, essentially good natured but determined not to go on his 'travels' again. The supporting cast are wonderful too, especially Shirley Henderson as Catherine of Braganza, Helen McCrory as Lady Castlemaine and Rupert Graves as the Duke of Buckingham. The spirit of Restoration times - that is, self indulgent pleasure seeking interspersed with religious mania - is captured beautifully.

I have a few little complaints to make. I feel that James, Charles's brother and eventual successor, is treated rather unfairly. Yes, James was very stubborn and not too intelligent, but in the drama he is constantly defying Charles and is often borderline disrespectful to him. As a believer in the Divine Right of Kings, James wouldn't have acted like that. Also, it would have been nice to see James's daughters, Mary and Anne, featured, or even his second wife, but I understand that time constraints probably made this unfeasible.

Diana Rigg puts in a good performance as Henrietta Maria, despite her English accent. There are some slight chronological inaccuracies however - for example, Charles's brother Henry was dead long before Catherine arrived in England. These are all minor points however, and are the only reason I'm giving 4 rather than 5 stars. It's a wonderful, exciting drama and is for the most part true to history.

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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars History comes alive, 22 Aug 2006

By	Lili_K (Hungary) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I very much enjoyed this four-episode drama about Charles II life. I think a perfect balance was found between the private and political sphere of the king: both was portrayed excitingly and vividly depicting his personality both as man and king with strengths and weaknesses as well. The Restoration Age, as its king, is shown in detail with its splendour and decadence.

A superb cast is empolyed including Rufus Sewell, Rupert Graves and the excellent Shirley Henderson among others. The music is beautiful. A documentary film about Charles' childhood and adolescence can be found on the dvd as an extra which is also worth watching.

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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cheery Charles, 18 Jan 2004

By A Customer

The best production by the BBC since Pride & Prejudice!!! This is a lavish , wonderfully constructed drama full of the intrigue and indulgence of the Stuart Court. Rufus Sewell is delicious as the merry monach and is magnificently supported by the ensemble cast. This is a truly great drama, excellently written, portrayed and presented by all involved. A must see for every one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Avoid this cut & censored U.S. version!
This is NOT the original 4-hour, 4-episode version of Joe Wright & Adrian Hodges's excellent Charles II: The Power and the Passion, but the 3-hour, 2-episode version shown on A&E... Read more

Published 24 days ago by Nicholas A. Deutsch

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful !
What can I say, I am really into the restoration period and i found this BBC drama to live up to the hype. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Mr. J. King

4.0 out of 5 stars Well personalised history
This movie is well done and gives a good overview of the time period. It is not fully authentic to the historical events but even though it constructs nice understanding of the... Read more

Published 5 months ago by Heiko Paabo

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth watching!
I liked the series. Well done. Actors play in an amazing way, and indeed Rufus Sewell did an amazing job impersonating Charles II in a magnificent way, much better than he... Read more

Published 11 months ago by Tigran Mkrtchyan

5.0 out of 5 stars the best historical mini-drama i've ever seen
this is a brilliant historical mini-drama. i watch loads of this sort of genre, so I would know.
it seems to stick to the facts, which are fascinating and intriguing and... Read more

Published on 18 Aug 2007 by Mrs Alan Rickman

5.0 out of 5 stars Merry Monarch, Unhappy Queen
I enormously enjoyed this production ! I've always liked king Charles, in spite of Catarina de Bragança's poor destiny. Read more

Published on 10 Jan 2006 by Pearl

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best BBC dramas in a long time!
this is a fantastic series! not only is rufus sewell unbelievably hot, the acting is excellent and the script is brilliantly written. Read more

Published on 22 Oct 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars PHWOAR! RUFUS SEWELL
in a curly wig and britches - who would have thought that would be appealing but MAN is it ever!

Besides the toe curling fanciability of Charles II/Rufus, this is a fabulously... Read more

Published on 14 Oct 2005 by kelly_a_lewis

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent night in!
Charles II is pacey, gripping and visually fascinating. The main characters are all acted to perfection, an excellent production.

Published on 5 April 2005 by Elaine Oakes

5.0 out of 5 stars Top quality
This really is an excellent production, historical drama at its very best. The actors all deliver fantastic performances, Rufus Sewell's Charles II is terrific. Read more

Published on 20 Sep 2004

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