Rating: 
Summary: Grittily superior to a prissy book
Review: This is one of my favourite portrails of early mediveal life in all it gritty detail. The adaptation takes all of Walter Scott's annoying Deux et Machina out and leaves the watcher with a gripping, dynamic tale. The care that is taken with the minor as well as major details is a joy to behold with great costumes and settings and a wonderfully authentc feel.Ciarán Hinds is absolutely superb as the Templar Sir Bois-Gilbert as is Christopher Lee as the Templar Grand Master Sir Lucard de Beaumanoir and Susan Lynch as Rebecca. Steven Waddington's Ivanhoe is good, but definitely diminished by the three previous actors. Whilst more Brannagh's Henry V than Olivier's I feel that this adaptation is only strengthened by that fact and would be replacing my tape version with a DVD one today if it was available as region 2.
Rating:
Summary: It was wonderful
Review: This Ivanhoe series was a wonderful experience. The movie takes a story that can be hard to follow in the book and makes it into a lovely, heartbreaking, and heartwarming story. Ciaran Hinds as Bois-Guilbert IS the show and is absolutely superb. He alone made me want to watch Ivanhoe over and over again.
Rating:
Summary: Pure enjoyment.
Review: Though this is a five-hour movie, it is hard to turn away from it once you start watching it. The previous reviewer Cearawrite was right, it's got everything in the story, and in this movie. Ciaran Hinds is just magnificent! His acting in this moive as Brian de Bois Guilbert is irresistible. It is really a pure enjoyment watching this well-made production, though it doestn't have big name Hollywood stars,or a big budget. This great Medieval story, believable characters, and superb acting can easily take you through the whole movie, and then wanting to watch it all over again for another five hours!!
Rating:
Summary: Pure enjoyment.
Review: Though this is a five-hour movie, it is hard to turn away from it once you start watching it. The previous reviewer Cearawrite was right, it's got everything in the story, and in this movie. Ciaran Hinds is just magnificent! His acting in this moive as Brian de Bois Guilbert is irresistible. It is really a pure enjoyment watching this well-made production, though it doestn't have big name Hollywood stars,or a big budget. This great Medieval story, believable characters, and superb acting can easily take you through the whole movie, and then wanting to watch it all over again for another five hours!!
Rating:
Summary: The true grit and glory of medieval england
Review: Upon watching A&E's Ivanhoe I was blown away by the gritty realism in dealing with warfare as well as the everyday happenings during the 12th century. The battle scenes are the best, the most intense since Braveheart, and the romances that spring up are both poingant and heartbreaking. The acting is incredible down to the smallest character (fool, gurth, and tuck are very good) the direction is sound, without letting the camera movement take away from the gritty aspect of the movie's realism. this is the only interpretation of Scott's Ivanhoe a person will ever need.
Rating: 
Summary: Romance novel/action movie version
Review: Very true, movies do not have to follow the book word for word (in fact, sometimes it is better if they don't) Some scenes are better left out and so are some characters. Fine. So long as it is true to the overall "feel" of the book, I won't give a whimper. That said, I really did not like this movie. (I shan't refer to where it diverges from the book, I will simply judge it on it's merits as an epic.) The tendancy lately of period pieces is to take cliches long abandoned by their respective genres and thrust them into time periods where they do not belong. Examples you say? Glad you asked! Killing messengers. Left and right. And in very hammy ways. Giving the damsel a sword (as if she would want to use it, she'd stain her dress!) What was the point there? Graphicly showing all of the death scenes. Yes, I realize the middle ages were no picnic but really, there is such a thing as good taste and it is not exercised in this case. I really wanted to like this movie and I gave it a valiant try but it was frankly too gross. If blood guts and writhing in agony don't disturb, fine, whatever makes you happy. I just wish there had been some sort of warning. PS The Knights Templar were certainly corrupt (that is rightly portrayed in this case) but no more so than your average knightly order of that size. Also, it is generally accepted by historians that they were executed so that rulers could access their massive wealth more than for corruption or heresy. In conclusion, if this sort of thing is to your taste, I suppose you should go for it. For the more faint of heart, stick to the classics.
Rating:
Summary: Distasteful rubbish
Review: What characterizes this movie is an utter lack taste and decorum. The inability to understand that wanton violence does not make a good movie, destroys any shred of regard I might have felt toward the movie. Why is it that every time a messager appears in this movie, he is killed in a prompt, corny and unneccassary fashion that does not keep with the spirit of the book. You would think that all medieval messagers would quit under such conditions!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: Wow! What I can say - I loved it! Although I haven't watched the 1982 adaptation of this film yet, I feel that I can safely say that this version is undoubtedly my favourite. No - for the sceptics out there this film is not an absolutely faithful rendition of Sir Walter Scott's novel but it successfully conveys the character and plot developments expressed by Sir Walter. I enjoyed the film so much that it forced me to read the quite lengthy and tedious novel over and over again. Ciaran Hinds being one of my all time favourites definitely did not disappoint as Bois-Guilbert. But does he ever? I must admit that he was also my initial attraction to the film as the novel is not one I greatly enjoy eventhough it is an amazing piece of literature. Although George Sanders gave a magnificent performance as Bois-Guilbert in the 1952 version and was supporting Robert Taylor's timeless performance, Hinds is not only perfect for the part but he also upstages Steven Waddington who plays the leading role of Ivanhoe in this version. Waddington is very good but Hinds is awesome and still is the main reason why I never tire from repeatedly watching this film and reading the novel. Susan Lynch is quite remarkable as Rebecca. She is just as good as Elizabeth Taylor and suits the part equally. However, Victoria Smurfit who plays Rowena is a bit bland for my liking. Joan Fontaine's admirable performance is greatly superior. Compared to the 1952 adaptation, this version gives the viewer more insight into the characters' relationships, personalities and the reasons for many of their actions which are illustrated thoughout the novel. The animosity between King Richard and Prince John is particularly more accurately portrayed as opposed to the 1952 version. This film is so well manufactured that it makes you enjoy Sir Walter Scott's classic much much more. It is without a doubt a must see.
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