Henry VIII
His desire was ultimately his demise.
Five hundred years after his reign, the enigma of Henry VIII continues to fascinate. Henry VIII ascended to the throne as a lithe, handsome seventeen year old and died after an extraordinary 38 year reign, an embittered, obese invalid.
The rest of Europe looked on in amazement as Henry, desperate for a male heir, cast aside the older, but loyal Katherine of Aragon for series of marriages, with wives who are better known for the way their lives ended rather than for how they were lived. The determined temptress Anne Boleyn; the pious yet tragic Jane Seymour; the outcast Anne of Cleves; the young, adulterous Katherine Howard and finally, the devoted care-giver Katherine Parr. This tale of Henry VIII depicts the sexual intrigue, betrayal and rivalry that existed within his Court, in a reign hallmarked by political and religious upheaval, violence and corruption.
Member Reviews
One wonders if he had any redeeming features! - Yogini
Perhaps the best thing about Henry VIII is that he produced Eliabeth I. (It has been often said that the best thing the 1950s produced was the 1960s.) That said, perhaps it was Anne Boleyn's genes that produced the best of Elizabeth I. Certainly Anne is here portrayed as a match for Henry, woman-a-mano, and it is only in his position that he weilds the power that destroys her. She has the last laugh: a lowly female on the throne who out-princes all the princes!
To me, Part 2 was not as good as Part 1, perhaps because Helena Bonham Carter was not in it, but id did seem less, how shall I say? Human, I think, than Part 1. From a woman's point of view (amend that: from a feminist's point of view) Henry is most definitely portrayed as having not a single redeeming feature, and I never fully enjoy watching bad examples!
If you can bear yet again to be inundated with how women are used and betrayed in and by patriarchy, as a matter of the course of things, this version is at least well-crafted, is visually opulent, and has lots of good actors (Katherine Hepburn called herself "actor," as Elizabeth I called herself "prince") doing good work in interesting roles.More About Appearance then Content - Seripha
Compared to the numerous Henry VIII titles / series out there thanks to Tudor mania, this version of Henry VIII pays pretty close detail to physical appearances of the characters. For the most part, every character is as close as a representation of the actual description of the monarchs, courtiers, etc.
The first disk mainly focuses on the break up of Henry's marriage to Catherine and his marriage to Anne and her execution. It may seem unfair to focus so much on this particular wife as there were 6, but it only does this to emphasize the importance of this decision on the religious makeup and therefore, future political allegiances of England thereon.
It's a little bit grittier in terms of the executions and tortures just to warn the queasier viewer, but it's never sudden so if you turn your head away when the clues appear on screen you won't have a problem. Yes, they do show the heads of the executed people if that's what you're wondering.
Very well done though. If you're looking for more of a sexy soap opera, watch the Tudors from Showtime. If you want a sexy, historically accurate soap opera, watch this version.Realistic Portrayal of Henry VIII's Reign - ScarletAngel
Centred mainly on his marriage with Anne Boleyn. This version of the Henry the Eighth's reign contains very realistic depictions of the beheadings and torture suffered by the enemies of Henry. His desire to sire a son and a spare drove him to be excommunicated from the Roman Catholic church, drove him to divorce, drove him to behead a wife he thought couldn't give him one and so one. One excellent plot line not seen in any other portrayal is the story of Robert Aske, who as a devout Roman Catholic raised an army against Henry for sacking the monasteries and won consessions. In the end it was the Duke of Norfolk's cunning that enabled Henry to go back on his concessions. An excellent mini-series despite the goriness. Worth watching. Certainly more watchable than the 1971 version with Keith Mitchell though not as thorough.
Member Reviews
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One wonders if he had any redeeming features! - Yogini
Perhaps the best thing about Henry VIII is that he produced Eliabeth I. (It has been often said that the best thing the 1950s produced was the 1960s.) That said, perhaps it was Anne Boleyn's genes that produced the best of Elizabeth I. Certainly Anne is ...More About Appearance then Content - Seripha
Compared to the numerous Henry VIII titles / series out there thanks to Tudor mania, this version of Henry VIII pays pretty close detail to physical appearances of the characters. For the most part, every character is as close as a representation of the actual ...Realistic Portrayal of Henry VIII's Reign - ScarletAngel
Centred mainly on his marriage with Anne Boleyn. This version of the Henry the Eighth's reign contains very realistic depictions of the beheadings and torture suffered by the enemies of Henry. His desire to sire a son and a spare drove him to be excommunicated ...