Clearly I liked Ciaran Hinds performance in this production, but digging down I was surprised to find he also wore armour in a small role in Excalibur.
Back then I liked Hinds and Waddington. Both were great in their roles. Hinds captivated many already with his role in 1995's Persuasion, so seeing him play a tormented character like this was intriguing to watch. Such a great actor. This series has an impressive cast. The heart is really there, and who didn't enjoy the Robin Hood crossover? I wish we had more series and films like this now, that were really thought out and didn't bore one to death with cliche sex scenes because the writers don't know what they're doing with the story.
I was quite a fan of HBO's Rome (even if it did have sex scenes just because you could on cable) and the main reason was seeing Hines as Caesar - so after the Ides of March I found season 2 less compelling without him. While he has been attached to several high-profile projects they often don't seem to use enough of him - such as the film version of Tinker Tailor where he barely has 10 lines. I had not seen Persuasion so seeing this man in Ivanhoe take a nasty villain and create such a complex and convincing character was so impressive. One last thing, looking at finales dealing with trial by combat with a woman's life at stake, I just watched The Last Duel which, while a tad overlong, was definitely worth watching (though poor Ben Affleck could have taken some tips from Hines on being convincing in armour.....
@@Vlad65WFPReviews Well, it's strange isn't it, considering Affleck has worn bulky armour before. I haven't seen Ciaran's more recent work lately, but know Belfast and The Terror had good reviews. I too was a fan of Rome. He is one of the classic actors now. I hoped after The Last Duel, it would be fantastic if we had a return to medieval films again. There is so much from the time period that could be done that hasn't been. Trial by combat in both history and fictional literature is often riveting because so much hangs in the balance. A life of one person, honor, or in some cases an entire nation or the future of law. That project got made however because it had a big name director and was a labor of love. I would like them to bring back the richness of the color in costuming and decoration of the time period and stop making all these muted tones in dresses and tunics as is the fashion now. The upper classes did not have the aesthetic they are given in movies. Which brings me to comparing the Last Duel to the Green Knight. The Green Knight could take more liberties as it was based on a legend. Still, while fascinating, sometimes I think these younger directors and etc are a bit full of themselves with their own cleverness and trying to be cool. WHich look at Warhol movies. THey are talked about in film class and influenced form but no one really watches his films anymore. edited to say I'd love to see a film or better yet, a series of Christine De Pisan's City of Ladies, or Edmund Spenser's the Faerie Queen or many great works that haven't been done.
I own this, you can still get copies on eBay without paying off the national debt. A very, very strong production without any obvious weak links. I saw it first time around but revisiting it twenty years later it was far, far better than I even remembered. Try and keep count of how many faces you recognise!!!
I really wanted to include 1 or 2 more short clips of either Lee or Phillips. The speech in which the head Templar describes the denuding by fire with sexual glee to intimidate Rebecca is astonishing - and that scene on the beach with Eleanor and her two princely sons is so good too. Unfortunately, even my own copies are so protected I could not access those scenes. Checking ebay there are many affordable copies - with shipping being more expensive than the discs!
Here is a question for viewers. I'm lucky enough to have a copy of the series and my regional library also carries it; is this version of Ivanhoe in the library system where you live?
It is a pity that it is harder to find than other versions that have lower ratings. This version also has a very weasley depiction of Prince John which is darkly entertaining. Btw, I also just discovered that Hinds also wore armour in a small role in Excalibur too!
@@thorgodofthunder3204 You, me and many others, I'm sure. Helen's combination of intelligence and fearless sexuality onscreen was a potent combination.
Thinking about it, you could probably make a decent challenge for people to name productions where Mirren has actually kept her kit *on*. No shrinking violet...
I thought this was a fantastic mini series back in the day. There were a few historical mini series i remember and then they seemed to go out of fashion. Treasure Island and Lorna Doone are the two i remember best. Btw Ciaran is pronounced Keeran and not Seeran. Also Sian is pronounced Shan.
I stumbled upon this 6-dvd series and I suppose had quite low expectations but after all it was a BBC production so gave it a chance. I had fond memories of Sam Neill especially from the 1982 movie. I agree with your view but beg to differ on Hinds' performance though, which I found lifeless and almost devoid of the strong emotions that are supposed to drive him to his misdeeds, and eventual salvation. Sam Neill conveyed this internal struggle of a sinfully proud man most convincingly, I think. Anyway, I agree Ivanhoe spends way too much time on his back here, which is boring. Other characters are wonderful and I must mention Susan Lynch who makes Ivanhoe forget the lovely Rowena. She is as bright and determined as the real female lead should be. The dialogue is good, even great, in that English theatrical tradition of Shakespeare, but I think the director allows the fighting to become somewhat unrealistic without it adding substantially to the entertainment. In all, the best Ivanhoe yet...
Why do people like Ivanhoe as a romantic character? He seems unfaithful to Rowena, who never faltered in her love for him. However, here he goes loving someone else, and in the end, he doesn't remain true to that new found love. In real life, he is someone who would be unreliable as a romantic partner.
Well, yes, he seems definitely tempted to stray - but never does. Now, seeing this in a modern and contemporary perspective it could be viewed as making things sadly poignant- that he lived in a time when the prospect of a Saxon lord being with a Jewish woman was beyond unthinkable. It's also very noteworthy that a popular writer working early in the 19th C inserted such sympathetic and fleshed out Jewish characters in his story.
The book is quite quite different. Ivanhoe barely does anything in the novel. And Rowena is barely a puff of smoke REally only Rebecca and Bois Guilbert DO anything or are of any interest. They are always where all the fun has been.
Clearly I liked Ciaran Hinds performance in this production, but digging down I was surprised to find he also wore armour in a small role in Excalibur.
Pleasantly surprised to find it on prime here in Canada. The 97 version was a fave of mine for years. Hinds bois-guilbert is great!
Thanks for the heads up! I hope a lot of Canucks will finally get to see this version now.
My God, they looked so young back then! Where have the years gone?
Yes. And sadly we have started losing some too. They were great in their prime - and even older.
Back then I liked Hinds and Waddington. Both were great in their roles. Hinds captivated many already with his role in 1995's Persuasion, so seeing him play a tormented character like this was intriguing to watch. Such a great actor. This series has an impressive cast. The heart is really there, and who didn't enjoy the Robin Hood crossover? I wish we had more series and films like this now, that were really thought out and didn't bore one to death with cliche sex scenes because the writers don't know what they're doing with the story.
I was quite a fan of HBO's Rome (even if it did have sex scenes just because you could on cable) and the main reason was seeing Hines as Caesar - so after the Ides of March I found season 2 less compelling without him. While he has been attached to several high-profile projects they often don't seem to use enough of him - such as the film version of Tinker Tailor where he barely has 10 lines. I had not seen Persuasion so seeing this man in Ivanhoe take a nasty villain and create such a complex and convincing character was so impressive. One last thing, looking at finales dealing with trial by combat with a woman's life at stake, I just watched The Last Duel which, while a tad overlong, was definitely worth watching (though poor Ben Affleck could have taken some tips from Hines on being convincing in armour.....
@@Vlad65WFPReviews Well, it's strange isn't it, considering Affleck has worn bulky armour before. I haven't seen Ciaran's more recent work lately, but know Belfast and The Terror had good reviews. I too was a fan of Rome. He is one of the classic actors now. I hoped after The Last Duel, it would be fantastic if we had a return to medieval films again. There is so much from the time period that could be done that hasn't been. Trial by combat in both history and fictional literature is often riveting because so much hangs in the balance. A life of one person, honor, or in some cases an entire nation or the future of law. That project got made however because it had a big name director and was a labor of love. I would like them to bring back the richness of the color in costuming and decoration of the time period and stop making all these muted tones in dresses and tunics as is the fashion now. The upper classes did not have the aesthetic they are given in movies. Which brings me to comparing the Last Duel to the Green Knight. The Green Knight could take more liberties as it was based on a legend. Still, while fascinating, sometimes I think these younger directors and etc are a bit full of themselves with their own cleverness and trying to be cool. WHich look at Warhol movies. THey are talked about in film class and influenced form but no one really watches his films anymore. edited to say I'd love to see a film or better yet, a series of Christine De Pisan's City of Ladies, or Edmund Spenser's the Faerie Queen or many great works that haven't been done.
I LOVED THIS BBC SERIE 1997, AMAZING MY FAVORITE VERSION
An excelllent rendition. I have owned the dvd set for a long time and watch it at least once per year.
Brilliant. As a fan, I'd ask if you noticed any continuity issue but I won't list it unless you want me to - thanks for watching
I own this, you can still get copies on eBay without paying off the national debt.
A very, very strong production without any obvious weak links. I saw it first time around but revisiting it twenty years later it was far, far better than I even remembered.
Try and keep count of how many faces you recognise!!!
I really wanted to include 1 or 2 more short clips of either Lee or Phillips. The speech in which the head Templar describes the denuding by fire with sexual glee to intimidate Rebecca is astonishing - and that scene on the beach with Eleanor and her two princely sons is so good too. Unfortunately, even my own copies are so protected I could not access those scenes.
Checking ebay there are many affordable copies - with shipping being more expensive than the discs!
Here is a question for viewers. I'm lucky enough to have a copy of the series and my regional library also carries it; is this version of Ivanhoe in the library system where you live?
Where I live, it is not available.
It is a pity that it is harder to find than other versions that have lower ratings. This version also has a very weasley depiction of Prince John which is darkly entertaining. Btw, I also just discovered that Hinds also wore armour in a small role in Excalibur too!
@@Vlad65WFPReviews Loved that movie! I fell in love with Helen Mirren after that flick
@@thorgodofthunder3204 You, me and many others, I'm sure. Helen's combination of intelligence and fearless sexuality onscreen was a potent combination.
Thinking about it, you could probably make a decent challenge for people to name productions where Mirren has actually kept her kit *on*. No shrinking violet...
Asgard?
Thanks for the review. Serious portrayal of Robin (the hood) Locksley.
I thought this was a fantastic mini series back in the day. There were a few historical mini series i remember and then they seemed to go out of fashion. Treasure Island and Lorna Doone are the two i remember best. Btw Ciaran is pronounced Keeran and not Seeran. Also Sian is pronounced Shan.
I stumbled upon this 6-dvd series and I suppose had quite low expectations but after all it was a BBC production so gave it a chance. I had fond memories of Sam Neill especially from the 1982 movie. I agree with your view but beg to differ on Hinds' performance though, which I found lifeless and almost devoid of the strong emotions that are supposed to drive him to his misdeeds, and eventual salvation. Sam Neill conveyed this internal struggle of a sinfully proud man most convincingly, I think. Anyway, I agree Ivanhoe spends way too much time on his back here, which is boring. Other characters are wonderful and I must mention Susan Lynch who makes Ivanhoe forget the lovely Rowena. She is as bright and determined as the real female lead should be. The dialogue is good, even great, in that English theatrical tradition of Shakespeare, but I think the director allows the fighting to become somewhat unrealistic without it adding substantially to the entertainment. In all, the best Ivanhoe yet...
well said - I should give the Sam Neill version a closer look
Why do people like Ivanhoe as a romantic character? He seems unfaithful to Rowena, who never faltered in her love for him. However, here he goes loving someone else, and in the end, he doesn't remain true to that new found love. In real life, he is someone who would be unreliable as a romantic partner.
Well, yes, he seems definitely tempted to stray - but never does. Now, seeing this in a modern and contemporary perspective it could be viewed as making things sadly poignant- that he lived in a time when the prospect of a Saxon lord being with a Jewish woman was beyond unthinkable. It's also very noteworthy that a popular writer working early in the 19th C inserted such sympathetic and fleshed out Jewish characters in his story.
The book is quite quite different.
Ivanhoe barely does anything in the novel. And Rowena is barely a puff of smoke
REally only Rebecca and Bois Guilbert DO anything or are of any interest. They are always where all the fun has been.
Robert Taylor for me 👍.
I will need to try that one again. Also, I'm quite a George Sanders fan.