ELIZABETH (1998)

                                  "All that I am, it is you"
                                       (Robert Dudley to Elizabeth)

Cate Blanchett ... Elizabeth I

Geoffrey Rush ... Sir Francis Walsingham

Christopher Eccleston ... Duke of Norfolk

Joseph Fiennes ... Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester

Richard Attenborough ... Sir William Cecil

Fanny Ardant ... Mary of Guise

Eric Cantona ... Monsieur de Foix

Vincent Cassel ... Duc d'Anjou

Kathy Burke ... Queen Mary Tudor

Watch the video !!!
Storyline
It's 1553 and King Henry VIII has died. His sickly son Edward VI reigns for a short while before dying so his eldest daughter, Mary, a childless Catholic, has ascended to the throne. Under Mary's reign, Protestants, known as heretics, are being burned to death. Mary is ill and her half sister, Protestant Elizabeth, is next in line to the throne. Regardless of Mary being queen, she would never allow a Protestant to rule England. Although there is rumor of a Protestant uprising, Mary knows that Elizabeth is not behind this maneuver, yet Mary brings Elizabeth in under possible charges of treason. Elizabeth denies all and denies Mary's wish to uphold the Catholic faith once on the throne. Upon Mary's death in 1558 and Elizabeth's ascension to the throne, England is weak and in disarray. Many are out to unseat Elizabeth, 'a heretic'. To ensure her security on the throne, Elizabeth has to show some leadership, which includes, according to some of her many advisors, establishment of a single Protestant based Church of England, marriage to a suitable husband and the production of an heir. That husband however is not to be Lord Robert Dudley, Elizabeth's lover. Elizabeth needs to learn which of her advisors to listen to as some are not out for her best interest. Written by Huggo

Understanding the English Monarchs' Line is not an easy task.
Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_monarchs
and find a comprehensive list of names of kings and queens and more, much more!

HAPPY EASTER, CINEPHILES!!!

Facts and Myths about Henry VIII - THE CHALENGE

Fictional books and movies are allowed to manipulate the truth in order to attract readers/viewers, and this is what "The Other Boleyn Girl", movie based on the novel of the same name by Philippa Gregory does.
In The Tudors: Separating Fact from Fiction(August 9, 2010 by mickisuzanne) , while comparing the film "The Other Boleyn Girl" with the non-fictional book ”The Other Tudors – Henry VIII’s Mistresses and Bastards” by Philippa Jones, the author affirms:

I quickly learned that Anne did not lure Henry VIII away from Mary as shown in the movie. In fact, the movie has Mary in seclusion in the late stages of her pregnancy as Anne and Henry begin their relationship. I remember one scene where she’s holding her newborn baby – the king’s child – as he turns his back and walks away with Anne. It makes for good drama, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.

According to this book Mary’s affair had been over for three years before Anne caught his eye.

"The affair between Henry and Mary Boleyn ended some time in 1525. It was not until 1528 that Mary’s sister, Anne, is mentioned as having taken the King’s fancy. He did not abandon one sister for another".


HERE'S A CHALLENGE FOR YOU: go to the Internet and find out more about facts and fiction on Henry VIII's life.

Paste your contributions here or send it to your classmates by email.

Read a review on "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" , another book by Alison Weir at Man of la Book posted by Zohar.

This week's movie - THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL (2008)

I HAVE TORN THIS COUNTRY APART FOR YOU!!!
(King Henry VIII to Ann Boleyn)

Storyline
A sumptuous and sensual tale of intrigue, romance and betrayal set against the backdrop of a defining moment in European history: two beautiful sisters, Anne and Mary Boleyn, driven by their family's blind ambition, compete for the love of the handsome and passionate King Henry VIII. Written by Marisa_Gabriella


Directed by Justin Chadwick
Screenplay by Peter Morgan


Natalie Portman - Ann Boleyn
Scarlett Johansson - Mary Boleyn
Eric Bana - Henry VIII
Jim Sturgess - George Boleyn
Mark Rylance - Thomas Boleyn
Kristin Scott Thomas - Elizabeth Boleyn
David Morrissey - Thomas Howard, Duque de Norfolk

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE TRAILER

After watching the film, go to Rotten Tomatoes and read the reviews.
Copy and paste the review that best translates your opinion on the film. Use the "comments" slot below or send it to the group by email.
Add a few lines of your own.

THE TOWN (2010) by Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck as Dough MacRay
Rebecca Hall as Claire Keesey
Jeremy Renner as James Coughlin

and more
StorylineThe Charlestown neighborhood of Boston is renowned for churning out a high number of armed robbers, generation after generation. These robbers never leave their Charlestown life on their own volition, the neighborhood where there is an unwritten code to protect that lifestyle. Such robbers include friends Doug MacRay, James Coughlin, Albert 'Gloansy' Magloan and Desmond Elden. Doug and James in particular treat each other like family, as the Coughlins have realistically been as such to Doug since Doug's mother ran off and Doug's father, Stephen MacRay, was sent to prison. James' single mother sister, the drugged out Krista Coughlin, and Doug have a casual sexual relationship. The foursome carry out a mostly successful bank robbery, but due to circumstances take the bank manager, Claire Keesey, hostage for a short period before releasing her physically unharmed. They find out that Claire lives in Charlestown... Written by Huggo http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0840361/



GO TO A MOVIE SITE (IMDB, ROTTEN TOMATOES, MOVIE.COM, ETC) AND SEARCH FOR SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION TO ADD TO OUR BLOG.
USE THE COMMENTS SLOT BELOW OR SEND IT TO OUR GROUP BY EMAIL.

One blue-collar Boston neighborhood has produced more bank robbers and armored car thieves than anywhere in the world.