Sumptious photography, cracking story, beautiful lead actress and a superb courtroom denouement still can't shake the feeling that this is as fake as a plastic Christmas tree.
It was very enjoyable if viewed as fluff, 16th century "Dynasty" occured to me at several points, but the most amazing thing about this story is that most of the key events actually happened.
Everyone speaking in English accents and high-school poetry portrayed as great wit and art killed the credibility. I can't believe this story took 500 years to reach the screen ( well 100 technically). Where is the Italian language version without the wish fulfillment? (Perfect teeth and grooming, no sexual diseases, those mawkish riding horse-back montage sequences) Admittedly this is a romance and they aren't known for their realism but this could have been a great work of art, not just a pretty picture.
Still, worth viewing. It certainly does get better as it goes along.
It was very enjoyable if viewed as fluff, 16th century "Dynasty" occured to me at several points, but the most amazing thing about this story is that most of the key events actually happened.
Everyone speaking in English accents and high-school poetry portrayed as great wit and art killed the credibility. I can't believe this story took 500 years to reach the screen ( well 100 technically). Where is the Italian language version without the wish fulfillment? (Perfect teeth and grooming, no sexual diseases, those mawkish riding horse-back montage sequences) Admittedly this is a romance and they aren't known for their realism but this could have been a great work of art, not just a pretty picture.
Still, worth viewing. It certainly does get better as it goes along.