Event Films Collection: Noah's Ark, Merlin, Alice in Wonderland, Cleopatra

Rating:
Summary: Hallmark Classics does it again ! ! !
Review: I have to say this would have to be My favorite Hallmark classic with The Oddysey a close second...

Timothy Datlton plays in My oppinion the best Julius Ceaser ever on film. Tough, Hard, War like but diplomatic and fair stratigic witty and powerful, just like the Romans in history were who achieved greatness. Billy Zane plays a near perfect Mark Anthony who was truely loyal to Ceaser till the death, but was afriad to walk in His shoes of greatness knowing he was only just a man, not Ceaser Himself.

Plus, both got to have make out scenes with Leonor Varela which makes them Both pretty lucky in their own right >:)~

Leonor Varela Plays a supurb Cleopatra who is cunning, coniving, and plotting, and also very very crafty with many resources which she uses on film with good talent.

The Hallmark version does an excellent job with entertaining but also teaching a story behind it all, not to mention one of the best old Roman Battle scences with Timothy Dalton defending Egypt. The first time I watched that I had to reverse My dvd a few times just to watch it over again, the battles were awsome =)

I just only wish Hallmark Classic would have a movie/story/documentry as such all dedicated exclusivly about Constantinople but who knows? Hallmark is definatly on a roll!

Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: The Worst Cleopatra Movie
Review: The acting was terrible and beside good looking actors/actresses, there was nothing to hope for this movie. Do not buy the movie, just rent it.

Rating:
Summary: The book is better as always,but not too bad
Review: I watched this when it came out on TV, then went and read the book(which is WONDERFUL and is now my favorite!). For the book being over 800 pages, what they squeezed into 2 hours was not that bad. Part one was VERY good, though I'm also partial to the queens relationship with Ceasar than Anthony (I have no idea what she sees in him other than his looks, I didn't like him in the book or the movie!) The second half fell a little flat with me as it didn't really focus on the queen herself as much it seemed to me. In the first part you seem to understand why she makes the choices that she does and in the second half its like we're disconnected with her thought process. Not to mention that it leaves out the Twin children she has with Anthony. But it still delivers the message that I thought the book conveyed the most, being that the Cleopatra of history wasn't some just some whorish seductress selfishly thirsting for power, but that she also was a great queen, wife, mother, and an intelligent loving woman.
When this came out on video I bought it and one thing I noticed that bothered me was that a few scenes I remember from TV were left off, most noticably being the scene where Cleopatra comes to Rome and Caesar sees his son for the first time. Without this scene it appears as if she coldly reveals him at a banquet filled with Romans and forces him to acknowledge Caeserion. Another scene where just before Octavious reaches Alexandria at the end where she is sending her son off to safety, I rather missed this scene as it really showed her emotions towards her worry for the welfare of her child but the movie still flowed without it as they left in the scene where she tells him shes going to send him off on a ship. I don't know if this is the case with the DVD.
Overall, its a pretty good movie. I loved Leonore's and Daltons performances, didn't care for Zanes, and loved the costumes and the Alexandria set designs. I would have only given this a 5 star rating if it came out as a perfect representation of the book ;)

Rating:
Summary: GREAT ENTERTAINMENT - THE BEST CLEOPATRA
Review: I was prepared to pass this movie because I have had the limited
view that once a movie is made and has become a "classic" it can't be done again with real success. Well, that is no longer anywhere close to how I feel. I love this film and yes, it has flaws as far as the history lesson is concerned but I don't see that this movie must be historically correct. You know it has been made primarily for entertainment and look at the beautiful people! I love Timothy Dalton, Billy Zane (not particularly in this role)and Leonor Varela -- what a beauty. In fact I have watched the first half of this movie and stopped many times in the past. I felt there was a lot less story going on in the Antony section. I know there are sexy scenes there but frankly I feel the scene with Dalton/Varela in their first intimate encounter was sexier. I don't know how these people move so slowly and project such intense interest in each other. But I like it!! I just happen to enjoy more seductive behavior than the "pounce" and make love approach. I know the seductive people are going to get there and make love as well, and to me it's sexier to watch the buildup toward such an event even if you never witness the event. Get this film. You won't be sorry believe me. I watch it frequently and love just to hear Timothy Dalton's voice. This man definitely gets better and better with age. Treat yourself. If you have any romance in you at all, I think you will love this.

Rating:
Summary: Visual Splendor Rather Than Historical Accuracy
Review: Less campy (and less embarrassing) than the famous Liz Taylor epic yet not quite as sexy as the Claudette Colbert version, this Cleopatra is still highly enjoyable - so long as you are not a stickler for historical accuracy. The pace and visual splendor keep you interested as the comic book-style script unfolds. The settings - Morocco for the exteriors, Shepperton in London for the interiors - and well researched costumes offer a never-ending feast for the eyes. Some interesting twists are added to the overly familiar storyline - the inclusion of Cleopatra's sister, for instance. A nice mixture of soap opera and sword & sandal epic to be enjoyed with an open mind and lots of popcorn.

The acting is surprisingly good although Billy Zane is a weird choice for Marc Antony. But Timothy Dalton relishes his role as Julius Caesar, tossing off dialogue as if it were Shakespeare and dominating every scene he's in. Equally good is Rupert Graves as Octavius whose multi-layered performance becomes more impressive as the film progresses. Of course, the key role is Cleopatra herself and Leonor Varela takes a pretty good stab at eclipsing memories of Liz. She is certainly the right age and has the prerequisite exotic looks (I will confess to being fascinated by her nipples throughout). Just when you think her acting is running the risk of leaving splinters in her co-stars, she explodes with a sudden dramatic intensity and you begin to believe that this spoiled little girl could be the Queen of Egypt. I found this film the perfect way to pass a few hours on a rainy Sunday afternoon.