jtmatbone Reviews

Mary Queen of Scots (2018)

Cultural and Racial diversity in 16th century England & Scotland?

[16 January 2020]

Completely distracted by many miscast characters in the film. Asians, Hispanics, and Africans at Elizabethan court as well at the Scot court? Not sure this was a historical account of Queen Mary or Elizabeth, but a 21st century of political correctness to reach an uneducated millennial generation for acceptance. It panders very badly in that regard and does not deserve a positive rating. One of the worst portrayals of the Queen of Scotland and Queen of England.

Forever Amber (1947)

Ending scene in Amber was cut!

[6 March 2019]

Just watched "Forever Amber" the other night on TCM and it was very riveting! I had seen this movie many many years before, and I do vividly recall the final scene when Amber from her window, was watching Carleton and son leaving for Virginia. The movie from the other night closed abruptly with Amber closing the window and the credits appeared. Something didn't seem right! I remember years ago, Amber getting some kind of invitation from the palace, and she immediately shifted her attention from Carleton and the boy to the royal invitation without another thought to her former lover. That scene defined Amber St.Clair in all its essence.

Knightfall (2017–2019)

Historical accuracy please...

[4 January 2018]

Everything is out of whack historically with this series. The Templars were destroyed in 1307 under Grand Master Jacque Molay. Philip IV who once backed the Templars needed more revenue to pay off large debts accumulated by aggressive expansion of his kingdom in acquiring property and land. France found itself in great financial distress and a remedy was required. Philip, with the advice of Nogaret, despoiled the money lenders - the Jews, confiscated personal treasures and fortunes which reverted back to the crown, and then there were the Templars, a rich and powerful order of Christian warriors as targets. To make matters worse for the King he plunged the coinage to less weight in gold. Nogaret drew up a bill of indictment against the Templars and had most of them rounded up. Pope Clement V protested the arrests - the successor to Pope Boniface VIII - and demanded that the King release the Order. Nogaret composed a letter signed by the King himself listing obscene and disgusting acts by the Templars as cause for their arrest. The Templars were put on trial from 1307 to 1312. Most were tortured and burnt at the stake as Molay. I also have a problem with the character portraying Philip IV - he is way too short! Philip IV was at least 6-3. Joan was indeed the Queen of France, but she died in 1305 long before the Templars were put on trial. No mention of Philip IV's three boys - Louis X, Philip V, and Charles IV born from 1289, 1293, and 1294. Isabella is shown being of a mature woman though she was actually 15 during the first trials of the Templars, and not the intriguer as she is portrayed in the show.