I watched this movie last night.
Jul. 29th, 2010 11:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
layne67
I absolutely adored it. And I was thrilled to see '1819' at the start of the movie. That was the year in which John Acklebury was supposed to paint the potrait of the baby Victoria. And I totally saw Viscount Penrith and John everywhere. And cravats and neck cloths and waistcoats had more more meaning than they ever had before!
I digress.
Emily Blunt was amazing as the young queen. She played the part with quiet intensity and subtle fiery that was really awesome. I loved her in The Wolfman ( another period piece ) and I can't wait to see her in The Adjustment Bureau with Matt Damon. And Rupert Friend! I didn't know who he was before this but I loved him as Albert. And I had no idea that Lord Melbourne was played by Paul Bettany *loves* until the end credits ran.
A very moving story of royal drama and intrigue with an amazing, lush backdrop and fantastic costumes, The Young Victoria is a definite keeper.
And because I'm in the mood for period pieces, Victoria and Albert is what I'm going to watch next. The actors in it are not familiar to me but I'm looking forward to comparing it with The Young Victoria. Also, I think
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melyanna_65 will be pleased to know that I've started watching The Tudors. Yes, I saw Tristan and John there, too lol.
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Date: 2010-07-29 03:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-29 05:30 pm (UTC)Thanks so much for the rec! *hugs*
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Date: 2010-07-29 07:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-29 07:30 pm (UTC)I just saw that movie and The Wolfman (consecutively) recently (on DVD) myself.
Young Victoria was okay. I loved the costumes. The thing I had a hard time to get over was the fact that Queen Victoria really had very little power in her time. She was but a symbolic figure imo, hence my interest in her was no way near as Elizabeth I (of course Cate Blanchett was awesome). Oh I also was hugely distracted by how much Rupert Friend looked like Orlando Bloom while watching the movie.
I have to confess The Wolfman was very much a disappointment to me (I saw it three nights ago). I loved the cinematography but the plot was way too predictable, and the characterizations were superficial, especially given the talents behind the roles. Le sigh.
Do you like The Tudors? That's another series I can't move past the first season. Again, try as I may, I had a hard time regarding Henry VIII as a sympathetic character. But Henry Cavil is mighty fine. =p
Layne, if you like period pieces (or historic fiction), I highly recommend Rome. ;-)
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Date: 2010-07-29 09:48 pm (UTC):D
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Date: 2010-07-29 11:25 pm (UTC)Emily Blunt reminds me a bit of Jennifer Connelly but for some reasons that I can't quite pinpoint, I'm not a fan of her, but I love Emily!
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Date: 2010-07-29 11:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-29 11:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-29 11:39 pm (UTC)Aaargh, only 5 more chapters left. The author said something about writing The Secret Diaries of Marchbanks and I really hope she'll do it once she finished with Restraint. I LOVE outside POVs!
I watched random episodes of The Tudors here and there and I actually followed it for the atmosphere and settings and the dialogue, I didn't really follow the story per se. I have such a weakness for British historical stuff!
I'm watching Spartacus, currently at episode 10, and I've heard great reviews on Rome. Rome is next on my list!
Rupert does look a little like Orlando Bloom. That thought came fleetingly to my mind when Albert made his first appearance but with the German accent and the facial hair, and the fact that I didn't know him before, he quickly became just "Albert" to me. I wonder whether the real Albert was as cute as that. Or the real Victoria as pretty.
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Date: 2010-07-29 11:45 pm (UTC)Thanks for the recs, I'll certainly try to get those two movies now that I think he's the next best thing to Jensen Ackles ;P
Btw, I didn't know that Albert died of typhoid when he was only 42. I thought he and Victoria grew old together. That was pretty sad. And also, typhoid? Any idea where he contracted it?
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Date: 2010-07-30 01:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-30 02:00 am (UTC)The summary looks very interesting. I now have 3 Friend's movies to look forward to! ::GLEE::
THanks, Julia :)
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Date: 2010-07-30 06:18 am (UTC)I think that's probably because he hasn't 'gone Hollywood' yet - and perhaps he never will. He has quietly established himself as an excellent actor in relatively low-key films. Who knows, perhaps one day he'll hit the blockbuster circuit. :)
And also, typhoid? Any idea where he contracted it?
It was sad. From here:
After designing Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, Albert had a great impact on the promotion and design of the Great Exhibition in 1851. Here his practical skills and artistic talents found full range and the Exhibition, which was to provide a platform for British skills of design and manufacture, was a tremendous success. The Great Exhibition provided a model for countless such ventures in the future, indeed when Albert died in 1861 he was planning the South Kensington Exhibition. Albert was also heavily involved in the design and decorative schemes of the Palace of Westminster, particularly that in the House of Lords.
Unfortunately, his practical mind turned to solving the problems of the drainage and sewerage at Windsor Castle, which was becoming a serious problem, and whilst investigating the system, he caught typhoid fever and died. Albert was mourned by Victoria for the rest of her long life, as manifested in her preference for black clothing ever after.
After his death, Victoria spent a great deal of the remainder of her life at Osborne House. I expect she felt closest to Albert there, as he designed it and I daresay it was the setting of many happy memories.
:D
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Date: 2010-07-30 09:01 am (UTC)What a bittersweet story ... Thanks for the info, Liz.
The only thing I knew about Victoria was that she was very much in love with Albert, and that she had a distinctive hairstyle :)
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Date: 2010-08-01 03:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-01 10:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-02 11:01 am (UTC)Oh, I remember her! She was in "Devil Wears Prada", Anne Hathaway's character's friend, another secretary for Glenn Close.
And I haven't watched this "Young Victoria". I guess I will wait for it at the Cable. Surely it won't be long. :D
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Date: 2010-08-02 11:34 pm (UTC)Btw, in Restraint, have you come to the part where John was commisioned to draw the potrait of the Dutchess of Kent's yet-to-be-born baby? The baby was Victoria!! Hee, when I saw all those potraits hanging on the walls, I imagined one of those being painted by John. And Tristan was one of the noblemen dancing at the balls.
:DD
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Date: 2010-08-03 08:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-03 08:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-03 08:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-03 08:19 am (UTC)I don't want the story to end!! I want it to go on forever and forever lol.
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Date: 2010-08-03 08:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-03 08:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-03 08:59 am (UTC)