Rating: 
Summary: Just a history note
Review: A few people have expressed uncertainty as to the historical accuracy of the picture. For a movie, it is extremely accurate. The wedding and the political actions leading to the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre are right on. The main distortions concern La Mole (Margot's lover). La Mole was not protestant, though he was a political ally of Margot and Henri (as well as being Margot's lover) with the same results shown in the film. Margot did rescue a protestant from the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, though she did not have an affair with him. Henri was also portrayed as being more devoted to Margot than he was in real life. Despite these inconsistencies (especially when one considers how fictitious historical films usually are) this is a stunningly accurate film.
Rating:
Summary: Dumas would approve
Review: Alexandre Dumas was among the first writers of fantasy fiction. He and Victor Hugo pioneered the serial novel. Here's the formula: take a simple hisotrical fact, for example - that Henri III succeeded Charles IX, son of Catherine de Medici. Then let your mind go wild about what the time must have been like, with all its passions and intrigues. Poof! You have a wonderful roman feuilletee that will keep readers coming back and coming back for each installment. Reading La Reine Margot can be distracting, because Dumas was something less than perfect in the continuity department. The story, however has plenty of bones to hang an incredibly good modernized version on them. The linchpins are as old as time itself: the conflict between equally blind and uncompromizing religions, the dilemma of love vs. duty, and the trageday that attends true love. This would be pretty even in modern garb.The production is marvelous. The sets are warm and mysterious. Isabelle Adjani captures all of the sensuality and savvy of Margueritte de Valois. The casting of a very ordinary looking Henri Navarre is brilliant. Those of us who have read the original may miss Coconnais and de la Mole as their significance is underplayed. That is OK. Both actors play the part to a "T". The Duc de Guise is as slimy as you imagine him to be, and Catherine just as evil. Indeed this is Harry Potter - the meticulous transcription of a good novel to film - for adults, and it gets an A+. I guess you can tell how I feel about Dumas. Judge for yourself, but I doubt that very many will watch this film and walk away disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: THANK YOU FOR THE WARNING!
Review: Am I glad that I still own the stunning quality Laserdisc of this great movie!
Rating:
Summary: ..... SO WHAT'S CHANGED?????
Review: AT LAST ON DVD! NOT too horrible a print - vaguely 'washed out' - sound is not too bad, but at least it IS in widescreen! ISABELLE ADJANI as the oversexed, perplexed, and very complicated offspring of another badly tainted semi-regal line was nominated for this role and correctly - quite a feat! The Rest of the cast ~ stellar, nary a false note - especially VIRNA LISI {previously referred to as "The Late Blooming" Lisi when her spectacular looks ala Marilyn Monroe hit our screens - she made a few fluffy comedies then retired - until now! Special to have her back in this guise!} It unfolds like a bad version [really?] of 'DYNASTY' - plots, incest, murder, poisoned books, poisoned lipstick - makes Elizabeth I [across the channel] look positively pristine - although that 'Virgin Queen' also had her share of intrigue and debauchery ...not to mention the occasional head-lopping! Queen Margot is a Great companion piece to Blanchett's "Elizabeth" - not too certain about the actual accuracy of the depicted events .....['based' on a book, 'based' on this and that fact, etc. etc] BUT it is quite timely too, only the fashions seem to have changed [slightly] but the plot could readily be set in any contemporary political house today ['obvious' slayings, err ... 'accidents' optional .........]
Rating:
Summary: A POWERFUL AND SEDUCTIVE WORK OF HISTORICAL FICTION...
Review: Based upon a romantic work of historical fiction by Alexandre Dumas, "Marguerite De Valois", this is yet another triumphant period piece by Miramax Films. Critically acclaimed, the film is the winner of five Cesar Awards, as well as the prestigious Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize. The film is set in medieval Catholic France during the reign of Charles IX. There has been unrest between the Catholic majority and the Protestant (Huguenot) minority. It is August 24, 1572, a day that will live in infamy. The day begins auspiciously enough, as it is the wedding day for Margot, the sister of Charles IX. It is an arranged marriage between Catholic Margot and Protestant Henri de Bourbon, the King of Navarre, a province in France. It is a marriage that is supposed to quell the unrest between these two warring religions. As such, many Protestants travel to Paris to see the union between these two royal personages. After the wedding, the evil and power hungry Dowager Queen, Catherine de Medici, mother to Charles IX and his two younger brothers, Anjou and Alencon, as well as Margot, sets in motion a series of intrigues and plots and reveals what her true motives were in arranging this marriage, motives that the King of Navarre already suspects. Far from being a merger to unite Catholics and Protestants, it is a call to arms against the Protestants, resulting in the infamous St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, in which over six thousand unsuspecting Protestant men, women, and children were brutally slain. Margot, who initially dislikes her husband and is known for her wantonness, does make a pact with him to be his ally. When the carnage begins she is appalled but is soon drawn into her family's plots and intrigues. She realizes, however, that her survival, as well as that of her husband, depends upon her new lover, La Mole, son of Coligny, the King's slain advisor. Thereafter, Catherine de Medici continues to plot against the King of Navarre, seeking his death. Margot spends most of the film trying to keep her mother and brothers in check and her husband safe, while satisfying herself with La Mole. Isabelle Adjani is stunning in the role of Margot. Luminous and looking ethereally beautiful, she is simply magnificent. Daniel Auteuil is terrific as the beleaguered King of Navarre. He infuses the role with a warmth and humanity that makes the viewer instinctively root for him. Jean-Hugues Anglade is excellent as Charles IX, a weak king dominated by his ruthless, grasping mother who would rather see her favorite son, Anjou, on the throne. Anglade makes the role three dimensional as he adds a certain sensitivity to the role. Pascal Greggory, who plays Anjou, adds a certain delicious creepiness to the role of the envious younger brother who longs for his brother's death so that he can wear the crown. Virna Lisi is a commanding presence as the evil Catherine de Medici, who would willingly sacrifice her children for power and see so many of her plans go awry. Last but not least, Vincent Perez is excellent as handsome and loyal La Mole. Potential viewers of this French language film should be aware that it is an extremely violent film, due to the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. It is also sexually explicit, with frontal nudity scenes. Moreover, while the DVD provides wide screen format, excellent audio and visuals, as well as scene selections and subtitles, it does not offer any extras. Notwithstanding this, the film is one that all those who enjoy period films or historical fiction will, undoubtedly, enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: A POWERFUL AND SEDUCTIVE WORK OF HISTORICAL FICTION...
Review: Based upon a romantic work of historical fiction by Alexandre Dumas, "Marguerite De Valois", this is yet another triumphant period piece by Miramax Films. Critically acclaimed, the film is the winner of five Cesar Awards, as well as the prestigious Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize. The film is set in medieval Catholic France during the reign of Charles IX. There has been unrest between the Catholic majority and the Protestant (Huguenot) minority. It is August 24, 1572, a day that will live in infamy. The day begins auspiciously enough, as it is the wedding day for Margot, the sister of Charles IX. It is an arranged marriage between Catholic Margot and Protestant Henri de Bourbon, the King of Navarre, a province in France. It is a marriage that is supposed to quell the unrest between these two warring religions. As such, many Protestants travel to Paris to see the union between these two royal personages. After the wedding, the evil and power hungry Dowager Queen, Catherine de Medici, mother to Charles IX and his two younger brothers, Anjou and Alencon, as well as Margot, sets in motion a series of intrigues and plots and reveals what her true motives were in arranging this marriage, motives that the King of Navarre already suspects. Far from being a merger to unite Catholics and Protestants, it is a call to arms against the Protestants, resulting in the infamous St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, in which over six thousand unsuspecting Protestant men, women, and children were brutally slain. Margot, who initially dislikes her husband and is known for her wantonness, does make a pact with him to be his ally. When the carnage begins she is appalled but is soon drawn into her family's plots and intrigues. She realizes, however, that her survival, as well as that of her husband, depends upon her new lover, La Mole, son of Coligny, the King's slain advisor. Thereafter, Catherine de Medici continues to plot against the King of Navarre, seeking his death. Margot spends most of the film trying to keep her mother and brothers in check and her husband safe, while satisfying herself with La Mole. Isabelle Adjani is stunning in the role of Margot. Luminous and looking ethereally beautiful, she is simply magnificent. Daniel Auteuil is terrific as the beleaguered King of Navarre. He infuses the role with a warmth and humanity that makes the viewer instinctively root for him. Jean-Hugues Anglade is excellent as Charles IX, a weak king dominated by his ruthless, grasping mother who would rather see her favorite son, Anjou, on the throne. Anglade makes the role three dimensional as he adds a certain sensitivity to the role. Pascal Greggory, who plays Anjou, adds a certain delicious creepiness to the role of the envious younger brother who longs for his brother's death so that he can wear the crown. Virna Lisi is a commanding presence as the evil Catherine de Medici, who would willingly sacrifice her children for power and see so many of her plans go awry. Last but not least, Vincent Perez is excellent as handsome and loyal La Mole. Potential viewers of this French language film should be aware that it is an extremely violent film, due to the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. It is also sexually explicit, with frontal nudity scenes. Moreover, while the DVD provides wide screen format, excellent audio and visuals, as well as scene selections and subtitles, it does not offer any extras. Notwithstanding this, the film is one that all those who enjoy period films or historical fiction will, undoubtedly, enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: You can live with the rotten DVD quality
Review: because this an absolutely fabulous film. Top drawer French cast. Adjani is luminous and can actually act. Rent this puppy and wait for Criterion or someone to produce a better quality DVD.
Rating:
Summary: history with healthy doses of lust, intrigue, & brutality
Review: From a story by Alexander Dumas, the famous nineteenth century Afro-French writer (Count of Monte Cristo, Man in the Iron Mask, Three Musketeers, etc). I actually came upon this film only because it had Jean-Hughes Anglade from Nikita and Killing Zoe. He is wonderful but the real scene stealer is Isabelle Adjani! You would never have noticed that she was well over 38 years old when then film was made, she looks so much better than she did 16 years earlier in Herzog's Nosferatu remake. Adjani is absolutely captivating, she has a screen presence that can only be compared to the likes of Ingrid Bergman or Gong Li. If you really like her, check out Camille Claudel which is probably her only other really good film. La Reine Margot is a luscious political adventure set around the event of the terrible true-to-life St. Bartholomew's Day massacre of 1572. The supporting cast, including Anglade as Charles IX, and Vincent Perez as Adjani's lover La Mole, is consistently superb. If you haven't seen this, you are definitely missing out. La Reine Margot probably helped to influence the similar medieval themed queen epics Elizabeth (1998, UK) and Suriyothai (2001, Thailand), both of which should definitely be checked out if you enjoyed this one. One of the best films of the 1990s.
Rating:
Summary: history with healthy doses of lust, intrigue, & brutality
Review: From a story by Alexander Dumas, the famous nineteenth century Afro-French writer (Count of Monte Cristo, Man in the Iron Mask, Three Musketeers, etc). I actually came upon this film only because it had Jean-Hughes Anglade from Nikita and Killing Zoe. He is wonderful but the real scene stealer is Isabelle Adjani! You would never have noticed that she was well over 38 years old when then film was made, she looks so much better than she did 16 years earlier in Herzog's Nosferatu remake. Adjani is absolutely captivating, she has a screen presence that can only be compared to the likes of Ingrid Bergman or Gong Li. If you really like her, check out Camille Claudel which is probably her only other really good film. La Reine Margot is a luscious political adventure set around the event of the terrible true-to-life St. Bartholomew's Day massacre of 1572. The supporting cast, including Anglade as Charles IX, and Vincent Perez as Adjani's lover La Mole, is consistently superb. If you haven't seen this, you are definitely missing out. La Reine Margot probably helped to influence the similar medieval themed queen epics Elizabeth (1998, UK) and Suriyothai (2001, Thailand), both of which should definitely be checked out if you enjoyed this one. One of the best films of the 1990s.
Rating:
Summary: MORE than five stars!
Review: I am an avid French Hugeonot history buff because of my family ancestry in that lineage of leaders so the story of St. Bartholemew's has always been etched in my mind. Seeing this movie completely and totally set the entire picture up for the wedding, and then the deed. The entire thing made historical sense from a dramatic point of view. I honestly saw so much documented history in this film that I got lost in the parts that were dramatized, so much so, they seemed real. This is the kind of movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat while you follow every historical twist and turn like a quickly winding, twisting road. If you blink you will miss a turn! This honestly is the best film I have ever watched, American or foreign. Adjani captivates in her role in ways that are spellbinding. She's not called one of the greatest actresses in the world for nothing. She can deliver the goods, and she does, and boy how she does. You just have to watch the movie yourself, I don't want to spoil any part of it. This is a must have for the Hugeonot French ancenstry groups all over the world, a film for the family library. It tells it like it is with a realism that is entirely accurate.
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