Rating: 
Summary: Could be such a great movie...
Review: ...but, sadly, falls way short. They have a great storyline with a twisted triangle and intense power struggles but the filming is so choppy that one scene ends and the next begins, sometimes with no connection. The scenes do not blend into each other, forming a movie that is pleasant to watch. This movie jumps from one place to another that seems to contradict but with no explanation of the change. One scene the main girl is wildly in love with her husband, is forgiving of the king's adulterous intentions and is supremely happy. Shortly thereafter, she wants revenge on every person she's ever met. Yes, she was betrayed, in a way, but not by EVERYone. The only real high point of the movie is Timothy Dalton, who is a great actor, but this was a lousy setting for his talent. Also, considering the plot of the movie, there were no intimate scenes. The only thing that happens in the bedroom is the king beats the girl and he nurses her back from smallpox. All in all, this story had great potential that was sadly wasted in this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Could be such a great movie...
Review: ...but, sadly, falls way short. They have a great storyline with a twisted triangle and intense power struggles but the filming is so choppy that one scene ends and the next begins, sometimes with no connection. The scenes do not blend into each other, forming a movie that is pleasant to watch. This movie jumps from one place to another that seems to contradict but with no explanation of the change. One scene the main girl is wildly in love with her husband, is forgiving of the king's adulterous intentions and is supremely happy. Shortly thereafter, she wants revenge on every person she's ever met. Yes, she was betrayed, in a way, but not by EVERYone. The only real high point of the movie is Timothy Dalton, who is a great actor, but this was a lousy setting for his talent. Also, considering the plot of the movie, there were no intimate scenes. The only thing that happens in the bedroom is the king beats the girl and he nurses her back from smallpox. All in all, this story had great potential that was sadly wasted in this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Shocking yet Engrossing
Review: As a Timothy Dalton fan, I had to watch "The King's Whore" just to see a new side of my favourite actor, and I was completely drawn into it. There is a lot of fighting and it is rather risque at times, but the plot is memorable. I loved the costumes and the scenery of Europe--this is a period piece about a king who falls desperately in love with a young married woman. She feels trapped because every single person she knows and trusts blames her for not agreeing to serve her king--by becoming his mistress. It takes her own husband disbelieving that she has not yet gone to the king for her to succumb to the pressure, yet she never enjoys his presence at all. A war erupts with France and she becomes ill, and because of the king's love for her, he cannot concentrate on fighting a war and instead heals her himself. I won't give away the ending, but it's a superb film with excellent acting. I definitely recommend it, but caution everyone that it deserves it's 'R' rating.
Rating:
Summary: Shocking yet Engrossing
Review: As a Timothy Dalton fan, I had to watch "The King's Whore" just to see a new side of my favourite actor, and I was completely drawn into it. There is a lot of fighting and it is rather risque at times, but the plot is memorable. I loved the costumes and the scenery of Europe--this is a period piece about a king who falls desperately in love with a young married woman. She feels trapped because every single person she knows and trusts blames her for not agreeing to serve her king--by becoming his mistress. It takes her own husband disbelieving that she has not yet gone to the king for her to succumb to the pressure, yet she never enjoys his presence at all. A war erupts with France and she becomes ill, and because of the king's love for her, he cannot concentrate on fighting a war and instead heals her himself. I won't give away the ending, but it's a superb film with excellent acting. I definitely recommend it, but caution everyone that it deserves it's 'R' rating.
Rating: 
Summary: Disturbing, Violent and un-romantic...
Review: At a cost of $6, I expected an atrocity of bumbling actors with ridiculous looking wigs and huge fake moles glued to their faces. Oh, but what a pleasant surprise! Timothy Dalton, playing the 17th century King of Piedmont, and Valeria Golino, the countess, who's the object of his desire, were absolutely wonderful. One couldn't help but fall in love with Valeria, with that sexy accent, those eyes, heaving breasts and meaty behind (seen for 5 seconds when the King pummels her with his fists in a fit of rage, after she coldly claims they just had sex and NOT lovemaking).Valeria is totally devoted to her husband, yet the King has an obsession with her and makes it quite public where even the pregnant Valeria is taken from the midst of a service to be told by the priests that her future sins for allowing the King to covet her are already forgiven. Afterall, the King is ill with lustful thoughts that only she can cure, and Valeria must serve her King. At first, we shake our heads at the King for actually wanting what he can't have, but he makes it clear he will not force her. "You will come to me willingly," he tells her. Everyone, including her husband, beg her to submit so they can all get on with their lives at her expense. And when she does, she certainly "helps" them to get on with their lives. If the film fails, I'd have to say I can't recall a period film where the King takes orders so nonchanantly and easily, instead of dishing them out. But then again, love makes you do crazy stuff. Though a weak King, we get a sense of his soft heart. Loyal to his true love through infectious sickness and in health, you can't help but be incredibly jealous of Valeria. I mean, who wouldn't want a man like that. But will she continue to hate him with a passion and forever try her darnest to remain as cold as ice, and to escape his bed? Definitely worth the money, but don't expect steamy sex. In fact, there's hardly any, yet the anticipation is quite a handful. One look in both their eyes and you can feel their emotions, whether it be love or scorn. The DVD cover is quite attractive and reminds me of "Boxing Helena", another film with a dominant theme of obsessive love. I give it four stars. Take away half for the King being too weak at times, publicly.
Rating:
Summary: Obsession or true love?
Review: At a cost of $6, I expected an atrocity of bumbling actors with ridiculous looking wigs and huge fake moles glued to their faces. Oh, but what a pleasant surprise! Timothy Dalton, playing the 17th century King of Piedmont, and Valeria Golino, the countess, who's the object of his desire, were absolutely wonderful. One couldn't help but fall in love with Valeria, with that sexy accent, those eyes, heaving breasts and meaty behind (seen for 5 seconds when the King pummels her with his fists in a fit of rage, after she coldly claims they just had sex and NOT lovemaking). Valeria is totally devoted to her husband, yet the King has an obsession with her and makes it quite public where even the pregnant Valeria is taken from the midst of a service to be told by the priests that her future sins for allowing the King to covet her are already forgiven. Afterall, the King is ill with lustful thoughts that only she can cure, and Valeria must serve her King. At first, we shake our heads at the King for actually wanting what he can't have, but he makes it clear he will not force her. "You will come to me willingly," he tells her. Everyone, including her husband, beg her to submit so they can all get on with their lives at her expense. And when she does, she certainly "helps" them to get on with their lives. If the film fails, I'd have to say I can't recall a period film where the King takes orders so nonchanantly and easily, instead of dishing them out. But then again, love makes you do crazy stuff. Though a weak King, we get a sense of his soft heart. Loyal to his true love through infectious sickness and in health, you can't help but be incredibly jealous of Valeria. I mean, who wouldn't want a man like that. But will she continue to hate him with a passion and forever try her darnest to remain as cold as ice, and to escape his bed? Definitely worth the money, but don't expect steamy sex. In fact, there's hardly any, yet the anticipation is quite a handful. One look in both their eyes and you can feel their emotions, whether it be love or scorn. The DVD cover is quite attractive and reminds me of "Boxing Helena", another film with a dominant theme of obsessive love. I give it four stars. Take away half for the King being too weak at times, publicly.
Rating:
Summary: What a shock as I was strolling through the DVD section...
Review: I have been searching for this movie for a while now. The funny thing is the title seems to be "censored" for some silly reason. You see the actual title for this movie is "The King's Whore". Everytime I would search that title anywhere it came back as unavailable. If you search VHS on this site you can find it titled "The King's Whore". There is a video jacket pic as well that is almost identical to the DVD insert with the exception that the artwork is changed slightly. The funniest thing about this "censored" disc is when you open it the disc itself is titled "The King's Whore", what was the point in changing the name on the outside??? Anyway now you all know the true origin of this DVD. Go buy it and enjoy for Valeria Gorlino, who quite frankly is the only reason I was looking for this disc in the first place.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I rented The King's Whore many years ago, and it's been on my list of top 10 ever since. I recommended it to a friend in the "fair south" and found that the video was re-titled "The King's Mistress" in Texas. (It'd be easier to recommend a fabulous movie to friends if it didn't have the word "whore" in it). Aside from that, the movie is flawless and beautiful and tragic. The acting is fantastic, the scenery and costumes are superb, and Timothy Dalton is at his best. It may require patience of some to watch (it's not an action thriller), but it has an incredibly soulful ending. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Ultimate Power Play
Review: I saw this movie quite a while ago. I still love it!!!! I viewed it when I was in my very early twenties. I watched it
over and over, never tiring of the constant struggles that the film is so pleasingly packed with. We have all longed
for someone we could not have. Imagine, for a moment, that we are powerful enough to obtain them, even if the
other party is unwilling, and arrogant enough to think that we can "own" anothers heart by the control of their body. I found this movie surprisingly arousing and myself excited by the power struggles within it.
Rating:
Summary: The King's Whore - "Was she worth it???"
Review: I think not!!! Ultimately, she cost him everything imaginable. True, he was obsessed with her and manipulated her into this relationship. The problem I have is that on the first night she went to him, she was obviously more than cooperative and seemed to be intent on using the King. She tells him she wants him to dismiss her husband's family from court, his minister she wants exiled, the home she shared with her husband she wants destroyed so no one else can ever live in it. You name it, she asked him for it. He gives in to every one of her requests. So it is a shock as the relationship continues to see it become so sick where she withholds herself and he becomes more and more intense and forceful. Yet we see her in his bed being coquetteish when she is manipulating him into getting rid of people who are in his service she deems are not trustworthy. Then when he makes overtures toward her she is livid and insists that only he makes love and she just works for the King in this liaison. I don't know -- it can be very confusing and there is no doubt this King is in lust with her and has never before had a mistress so this is difficult for him to handle as well. He told her in the beginning he didn't understand what was happening to him but that he would never stop pursuing her or trying to win her affections. At one point after he has been giving, giving, giving, she tells him that if he wants something from her, he should just ask. So, he bites and says he would like a son. She tells him it isn't going to happen and he, looking wounded, says at times he wishes he didn't love her. She says she wishes it all the time.
It becomes obvious that this King does love her; when she contracts smallpox, he takes total care of her, applying balms and bathing her. Keeps her from scratching herself so she won't be scarred for life. Still, this is definitely an unhealthy relationship. I don't know - women in those days married and had trysts with men who meant nothing to them all the time because they had no control over their lives. The men (fathers, etc.) made those decisions for them and they followed whatever path was laid out for them. Doesn't mean it was right. But that is the way women were treated so it is difficult to relate to her rage increasing as the relationship became more intense. She becomes as obsessed about getting free of him as he is obsessed with keeping her. However, she is constantly given, and accepts, jewelry, art, clothing == whatever she wants and then some, but does not give him any real pleasure as far as can be determined. This review is muddled I know but so are the emotions in this film. In the meantime, Timothy Dalton is absolutely gorgeous. I am not impressed with the Countess. I think she was miscast. Why do I love this film?? I don't know, but it doesn't matter, I do.
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