|
The Tudors - The Complete First Season | 
 enlarge
| Directors: Alison Maclean, Brian Kirk, Charles Mcdougall, Ciaran Donnelly, Steve Shill
Actors: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Sam Neill, Callum Blue, Henry Cavill, Henry Czerny
Studio: Showtime Ent.
Category: DVD
List Price: $42.99
Buy New: $19.99
You Save: $23.00 (54%)
New (41) Used (16) from $19.22
Rating:  247 reviews
Sales Rank: 20
Format: Ac-3, Box Set, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 4
Running Time: 556
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.4 x 0.7
MPN: PARD851604D
UPC: 097368516045
EAN: 0097368516045
ASIN: B000P12LWY
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: January 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
| |
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 12/31/2007
Amazon.com
The Tudors: The Complete First Season may cover the same subject matter as the 1970 BBC series The Six Wives of Henry VIII, but in every other respect it is a different idea of historical drama. Sexy and violent, The Tudors envisions Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) as a young man of both passion and ambition, driven by boundless sexual energy and the desire to establish a legacy early in his monarchy. When he isn't sleeping with any available beauty--heedless of whose daughter or wife a lover might be--he's getting fired up about going to war with France. He is amenable, however, to alternative ideas, including the counsel of his Lord Chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey (Sam Neill), who wants his king to sign a treaty of universal peace with all of Europe. Henry's fiery temperament endangers such a move, but Wolsey persists in hopes of gaining France's support for his own, possible ascendance to the papacy. His ambitions are not to be, however, and his fortunes go downhill as Henry's desire to wed Ann Boleyn (Natalie Dormer) puts Wolsey in the position of petitioning Rome for a hearing on the legitimacy of Henry's marriage to Queen Katherine. Henry's shrewd alliance with the king of Spain is also testament to his desire to have more influence over European affairs. But his even greater desire for another woman proves an obstacle there, too. Over the course of the ten episodes on The Complete First Season, Henry's confidence grows as a monarch while his self-interest undercuts his better judgement about making a difference to Europe's progress. While the series makes the historical events rich and captivating, it also makes Henry's love life a voyeuristic delight, full of candlelit flesh and romps in the royal bed. Some of the most fascinating characters in the show are those who figure out the link between Henry's libido and his exercise of power--including Boleyn's own father (Nick Dunning), who encourages Ann to keep up the good work. Sheesh. --Tom Keogh
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 242 more reviews...
 Dazzlingly beautiful, and a great invitation to study the period May 13, 2008
34 out of 35 found this review helpful
Yes, there are inaccuracies, as others have pointed out here. This is a dramatization and this is elegant popular entertainment. As an armchair historian, in love with the stories of Henry VIII, I find it absolutely gripping. The acting is for the most part marvelous, and the idea of doing these great personages as compellingly attractive people is a brilliant one. I think there is plenty enough here to draw a person into good books about Henry and the English Reformation. One thing I do like very much is that Anne Boleyn is being presented as the complex woman she obviously was; and Catherine of Aragon has been presented with immense dignity and respect. But the reason I've signed on here to recommend this series is that I really think it will encourage serious study on the part of many as to what really went on when Henry broke with the Catholic Church, and when popular entertainment invites us to study, to learn more, as well as giving us delight, well, that is worth something. The portrait of Thomas More is excellent, and the actor playing Anne Boleyn's father is quite remarkable. Finally, let me confess: there is something delicious about this series, something thrilling. I find myself charmed by it. Of course I wish the Catholic Church was presented with considerablly more understanding on the part of the writers. But in spite of that I continue to watch the second season, as enthralled as I was by the first. And I've ordered a whole slew of new books on Henry just because of this series, so I'm proof myself of what I'm suggesting here: this will encourage the serious study of history. --- The art direction and the costumes are gorgeous. The lighting is breathtaking. --- The sets are glorious. I hope Showtime gives us more of this top notch entertainment.
Inaccurate but wonderful show May 27, 2007
132 out of 152 found this review helpful
Completely hooked after first episode. JRM, Henry Cavill, and Maria Kennedy give stellar performances. Absolutely love this show but there are a few inaccuracies, such as combining King Henry's sisters into one, Margaret, whom did not marry Brandon, but sister Mary did and bore his chldren.Henry Fitzroy dying at such a young age when he had a great deal to do with Anne Boleyn's trial was mind blowing. Do not watch this if you believe you are "learning" about the Tudors, it clearly deviates from the truth, but it is an amazing piece of fiction with a gorgeous cast!!!
Panache and passion in "The Tudors" March 8, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I sat in one day and watched all ten of these episodes.It is that involving!!
I like my history done with lots of panache,passion,seduction,betrayal and SHOWTIME had me glued to the tube with this "cliffhanging" 10 episode melodrama.
First off, it is BEAUTIFULLY produced,and there is a tremendous amount of "zing" in the production value alone.It is eye-catching,splashy with color,moves along nicely,plots are followed through,characters are REALLY developed,and the casting is brilliant.The music of court musician Thomas Tallis is wisely and expertly run throughout the entire series....very nicely done for someone who pays close attention to musical detail in production!
I must say, at first, Jonathan Rhys Meyers would not have been my first choice for a Henry V111, but after 10 minutes I got over that and was completely won over.The actors in THE TUDORS are passionate and I have got to say that Maria Doyle Kennedy who portrays Catherine of Aragon,Sam Neill as Cardinal Wolsey and Jeremy Northam as Thomas More are so in command of their characters that it is an absolute pleasure to watch them at their craft!!! This is a must see.Some of the best entertainment I have had in a long time!Come have a bodice-ripping good time!Looking forward to Season Two!
Who Should Buy These DVD's April 6, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I'm an Anglophle, and I was excited when I heard of this series. I don't have Showtime, so I had no exposure to the show as it ran its first season, so when the DVD's came out, I was ready to rush off and purchase them -- but first I read the reviews. They seemed to praise (great production values!) and pan (ah, the history!) the program in equal measure. So I figured, "Well, some of the reviews are positive, and it's only $25, so why not find out for myself?" I went ahead and bought them, and I've watched them. Here's what I think you should do about them.
If you are a history buff who cannot abide such royalty productions of the nature of as Elizabeth and The Golden Age with Cate Blanchett, then consider avoiding these shows. They are not historical gospel. They're not even a historical prayer book or historical hymn. They're pretty much historical soap opera that takes extraordinary liberties with "the truth." Such liberties can offend the serious scholar. So, quite simply, if you're a serious scholar, save your nitroglycerin pill, and go for one of the highly regarded film histories on the market.
However, if you're either a casual royalty buff or a film scholar, then I think you'd get a kick out of these DVD's. The shows are gorgeously photographed. The cast is unilaterally compelling; I am unfamiliar with these actors, and yet, I can't take my eyes off of them, especially Maria Doyle Kennedy (Queen Catherine) and the actor who plays the Duke of Suffolk (too bad he's too young for me!). Gabrielle Anwar, as Henry's sister Margaret, is not only surpassingly beautiful but has an authentic comedic flair.
Now, I will confess that I was rather shortsighted not to realize that as a Showtime production, there's plenty of nudity and bad langauge in these shows. Fortunately, after the first few episodes, the producers seem to begin trusting the integrity of the production over a parade body parts to engage the audience -- not that the show would earn even a PG-13 rating in later episodes, but by later episodes the nudity and vocabulary begin to serve the story rather than serve to garner an audience.
I did agree with the person who noted that the actual story of Henry VIII would play equally well if not better than this rather invented history; the recreational viewer won't know where to draw a line between truth and fantasy. However, maybe this show could provoke a few people to research the history, and in the meantime, it's a fascinating and well designed program.
So who should buy these DVD's? The person whose sense of scholarship can ride in the backseat behind his or her desire for some solid entertainment!
Bed, Wed, and Behead!! April 10, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
From the talented pen of Michael Hirst (Elizabeth, Elizabeth: The Golden Age) comes the Showtime series, 'The Tudors'.
Although not entirely historically accurate, 'The Tudors' is one of the most entertaining adaptations of the early reign of King Henry VIII to grace the small screen.
Set on location in Ireland, the lush countrysides, grand architecture, and lavish costumes provide the perfect setting for the salacious and deliciously decadent life of the Tudor Royal Court and it's cast of characters.
Speaking of characters, the casting is simply divine. With fine performances from all involved. Most notably, Sam Neill as the corrupt, manipulative Cardinal Wolsey, and Maria Doyle Kennedy as the faithful, ever-gracious Queen Katherine. Both deliver the dialogue-heavy script perfectly, adding great depth to their characters, whilst laying the foundation for the main leads of King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) and Anne Boleyn (Natalie Dormer) to shine.
Indeed, Rhys-Meyers and Dormer do just that. With their verbal and non-verbal games of cat and mouse, which extend beyond the bedroom into the public arena's of politics, Church, and social convention, the viewer is tantalised and teased every step of the way.
Having seen both adaptations of Gregory's novel, 'The Other Boleyn Girl', I can safely say that Dormer is the best Anne Boleyn hands down. Her portrayal of Anne's veracious ambition and womanly charms complement the rebellious, seemingly untameable King Henry to a tee.
So enough superlatives! If your a lover of period dramas and seductive storylines, I highly recommend 'The Tudors' Season One. I guarantee that it will whet your appetite over and over again.
|
|
|
| |
