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Lee (2222 KP) rated Mary Queen of Scots (2018) in Movies

Jan 20, 2019

Mary Queen of Scots (2018)

2018 | Biography, Drama, History

6.3

(15 Ratings)

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Mary (Saoirse Ronan), having lived in France where she was recently widowed, returns home to Scotland to claim her rightful place as queen. But she is not exactly welcomed with open arms in the world of men and when she also decides to set her sights on becoming successor to the crown of England, a power struggle ensues. Both at home, and with her cousin Queen Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie).

There's not very much that I enjoyed about this movie to be honest. An important and intriguing period in history, involving two extremely interesting and strong women, this should have been so much better. It tries to cover so much ground in its two hour runtime, barely focusing on any particular element for very long. Vast numbers of characters are introduced, none of which are given enough time for you to feel any kind of interest or emotional investment in and at times it drastically shifts between varying tones with confusing editing.

What the movie does manage to portray is that all the men are complete bastards. Scheming, plotting and murdering, all for their own gains. It's sad that, aside from the murdering (I hope), not much has changed in modern politics.

Both female leads, especially Saoirse, are actually very good in this, despite everything, and probably the best scene in the movie is when they meet alone towards the end (something which didn't actually happen in real life!). Sadly though, I was fidgeting in my seat up until that point just waiting for it to end.

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Lee (2222 KP) Jan 20, 2019

@Dianne Robbins this one was definitely relying on the costumes and the beautiful Scottish countryside but I'm hoping it was just down to a bit of bad directing as the characters and their story are just so interesting, such potential. I'm not usually a fan of period dramas but I really love The Crown, that is what period drama should be like in my opinion

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Dianne Robbins (1738 KP) Jan 20, 2019

@Lee I haven't watched The Crown yet but it's on my list. I've heard wonderful things about it.

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Deborah (162 KP) rated Devil's Consort in Books

Dec 21, 2018

Devil's Consort

Anne O'Brien | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

This is the third book by Anne O'Brien I have read recently, and I have found her to be a very readable author - far better that the dull Gregory, if you want my opinion! All three of the novels I have read have been written in the first person, which is a narrative technique that I don't generally care for as it often feels too contrived and limits the point of view (see Philippa Gregory!). However, O'Brien, for me, has managed to pull this off and the first person narrative works for her and gives you a real empathy with her protagonists.

This was a good read and a good piece of historical Fiction, with perhaps a bit more emphasis on the Fiction element, as a few incidents I'm not convinced actually happened, or have been embroidered in the retelling. This deals with Eleanor's earlier life, from just before she becomes Queen of France to just after she becomes Queen of England. There could be a whole other book to be written on her life after the end of this book!

O'Brien made Eleanor come alive for me as a person, even if, as I have already said, I did have some reservations on historical accuracy. I think that if an historical novelist gives you a real feel for a person and makes you want to know more, then they have certainly done their job. There are some good biographies on Eleanor out there, so hopefully readers of this novel will feel inspired to seek them out.