| |
The Queen | List Price: $19.99
Discount Price: $8.99
|
Brand: Buena Vista Home Video
Binding: DVD
Release Date: 2007-04-24
Casting is faultless [Posted on 2008-09-04]
The actors really look the parts in this insider's fantasy about what it must be like to be queen. The film really focuses on the week Diana died, and what happened behind the scenes. It's speculation, but we do know the Royals didn't want to acknowledge the death until forced by public opinion. If this is what it's like to be royal, I'll take it. Really top quality.
Movie: 3.75/5 Picture Quality: 4/5 Sound Quality: 3.75/5 Extras: 2.25/5 [Posted on 2008-09-07]
Version: U.S.A / Region-A
VC-1 BD-25 / Advanced Profile 3
Running time: 1:43:22
Movie size: 21,16 GB
Disc size: 24,75 GB
Average video bit rate: 19.79 Mbps
LPCM Audio English 4608 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 16-bit / 4608kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 640 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 640kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
Subtitles: English / Spanish
Number of chapters: 17
#2 Commentary Tracks
#The Making of The Queen
#Movie Showcase
Very Absorbing and Entertaining [Posted on 2008-09-24]
As a Yank from across the pond, I only recently caught THE QUEEN and I'm disappointed I didn't see it sooner!
This is one of those great films based on true incidents that constantly leaves you wondering, "Did that really happen?"
The movie follows what happens following the death of Princess Diana, skillfully showing how the Royals, the new British government, and the media/public respond to the tragedy. Actual news footage and interviews with Diana only make it seem more real, as well as the characterizations of everyone on the screen.
Some come off worse, others better. I don't know. Whatever the reality of what took place was, this is a very well-crafted, very compelling story. I've always loved Helen Mirren. She was a total Shakespeare babe in the 1970s (I saw some recent paparazzi shots of her in a bikini and she's still got it!), she's been great in everything I've seen her, and I'm thrilled she won the Oscar for THE QUEEN.
One last note: as bad as the Royals come off in some scenes, especially Prince Philip railing about Diana and outraged that "homosexuals will be singing in Westminster" (Elton John's #1 song), I wondered if the British press was getting a bit of a pass: whenever I saw online papers from England, they were aghast and appalled at Diana's activities right up until she died (chased by the press, no less). Diana found ways of using the press herself--sunbathing in bikinis whenever Charles accompanied Camilla Parker-Bowles out on the town--but I thought they were terrible to her otherwise.
The Queen [Posted on 2008-10-18]
The Queen is one of the most provocative films of the Royal Family that I've seen in years. It tells the story from the side of the Royal Family during a time of crisis and change in the UK. It was insightful to the problems that the Queen had during this time. The decisions that she had to make were not only stressful but went against the grain of the tradition that she held so dear and also against the era that she grew up in. It also showed that the people as well as Tony Blair knew that the country needed a change. Tony Blair was pivotal in keeping the Queen's image intact. Helen Mirren did an excellent job in portraying Queen Elizabeth II in this remarkable movie. She definitely brought her to life in this film and gave viewers a chance to see that the Queen is genuinely human.
Truth manipulated (details) [Posted on 2008-10-24]
I want to say up front that Helen Mirren's performance as Queen Elizabeth II in this film is first-class, just superb. In fact, this is the most redeeming facet of the movie.
The story is this: Here, we have an intimate glimpse of Queen Elizabeth II (as well as her husband, the Queen Mother, and Prince Charles) during the window of time just before and during the week or so period of time after Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris. The focal point of the movie is the hostile reaction of the British people toward the Queen's cold attitude in regard to Diana's death.
I need to say up front that I'm a fan neither of The Royals nor of the late Princess -- but I AM interested in hearing all about their endless peccadilloes. In fact, this actuality was one of my disappointments because I thought that this film was about the Queen's entire reign, and it's not. Still, I can't rightfully criticise what the film is NOT about... I just wish that the title had been more explicit.
In any case, right away the Queen and the Windsor-Mountbatten family are portrayed as pretty heartless and rotten, at least by American standards. Following the death of Diana, Prince Charles is also served up to us as a spineless flip-flopper and a witless wimp... okay so far.
At that point, newly-elected Prime Minister Tony Blair begins advising and urging the Queen to relent on her silence and isolation and share in the grief of the British people over Diane's death, a pill that the old sourpuss finds almost impossible to swallow. Still okay so far.
Then, at a turning point in the movie, the producers elect to REDEEM the Queen, just because she came out and sniffed the flowers under extreme political pressure and duress. There was not the first bit of actual remorse in that woman's heart (neither in the film nor in reality!) So, WHY did the film-makers decide to attempt to make her look like a normal human being? I surely have not figured it out!
So, in summary, I found this movie to be manipulative, although I must assert that this device was completely lost on me. I hold the Queen in no higher esteem now (post-film) than I did when she was acting like a witch the day after Diana died, (or even before that.)
As far as the cinematography and the continuity of the film, it was superb. The Producers also shrewdly used some actual footage of Diana and others which was sprinkled throughout the movie. There's a lot of nice scenery in this flick and some really terrific acting. Overall, I was okay on watching this film all the way through but I would not watch it again. With some trepidation, I would slightly recommend it to others.
Click here for more details and discount information...
|
|
){kind=link}