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Actors: Peter O'Toole, Katherine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Lion in Winter |
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In a wonderfully fast-paced movie version of the Broadway play, this romantic "tragicomedy" takes the viewer back to 1183 AD, when Henry II of England was at war with France, his sons, and his own wife. He and his Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, match wits with each other and the rest of the cast--including the 17-year-old King of France, among others--to try to ensure the succession and get back at each other for what each sees as a lifetime of betrayal. This is a witty, remarkable political, romantic, and tragic exploration of two brilliant but also unfortunate people, who stand divided over their own children; not for action-movie lovers, but a wonderful watch for those who can follow quick repartee and enjoy a mental and emotional workout.
--Guildenstern, Resident Scholar
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An estranged couple spend the Christmas holidays together with their three grown sons, the husband's mistress and her brother. Everybody needs something from someone and the result is a fascinating tale of passion, betrayal, madness, love and politics. The story takes place in 1183 at Chinon Castle in France, and centers around the King and Queen of an Empire which included England and most of what is now France. Not your average family. Definitely not your average movie!
--Bonnie Marston, Resident Scholar
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In winter in the twelf century, King Henry gathers his family at one of his castles in France. They are the quintessential disfunctional family; everyone wants to be king after daddy dies, and Eleanor of Aquataine, Henry's estranged wife, only deepens matters. The film is plot and counter-plot, intrigue to the fullest.
--Dave, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Lion in Winter |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/Era of Movie:
- middle ages
Legal/Political Thriller?
Yes
Political Plotlets:
- power struggle between good/bad govt factions
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- Prince/Nobleman/King
Age:
- 40's-50's
Hair color?
- blonde
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- a teen
Profession/status:
- Prince/Nobleman/King
Ethnicity/Nationality
- French
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- France
Misc setting
- castle
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- non-gory references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- in awe
How many deaths in film?
- 1
Kind of violence:
- mental battles
- hand to hand
- knives
- swords
Unusual forms of death
- perforation--swords/knives
If Soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Orchestra/classical
Is this movie based on a
- play
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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