Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful, tragic, story
Review: I love "Nicholas and Alexandra." I read the book when I was a teenager and it helped start me on my lifelong interest in Russian history and history in general. I saw the movie when it first came out in 1971-72 and have seen it many times since. The VHS version is OK but suffers by being too obviously edited down and shortened. The DVD version is much preferable because we now get all of the original film. The parts which were edited from the VHS version were not crucial to the story, but they add so much to it. We see Nicholas and Alexandra in a tender moment with their newborn son, before they learn of his hemophilia, Lenin with his wife helping to start the Bolshevik Party, the Tsar's daughters in a moment of light hearted play, a sweet family discussion between the Tsar, Empress, and their children, and a tense encounter between one of the daughters and a prison guard in Siberia, plus several more scenes. Furthermore, the DVD version has a "featurette" narrated by the actress who played Tatiana. This gives us some interesting behind the scenes looks at the movie's filming. So, even if you already have the VHS version, by all means buy the DVD too!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, tragic, story
Review: I love "Nicholas and Alexandra." I read the book when I was a teenager and it helped start me on my lifelong interest in Russian history and history in general. I saw the movie when it first came out in 1971-72 and have seen it many times since. The VHS version is OK but suffers by being too obviously edited down and shortened. The DVD version is much preferable because we now get all of the original film. The parts which were edited from the VHS version were not crucial to the story, but they add so much to it. We see Nicholas and Alexandra in a tender moment with their newborn son, before they learn of his hemophilia, Lenin with his wife helping to start the Bolshevik Party, the Tsar's daughters in a moment of light hearted play, a sweet family discussion between the Tsar, Empress, and their children, and a tense encounter between one of the daughters and a prison guard in Siberia, plus several more scenes. Furthermore, the DVD version has a "featurette" narrated by the actress who played Tatiana. This gives us some interesting behind the scenes looks at the movie's filming. So, even if you already have the VHS version, by all means buy the DVD too!
Rating:
Summary: Nicholas and Alexandra DID have British accents
Review: I loved movie as a teenager and I still love it in my 40's. I am a huge history buff, and it is important to me that films like this be historically accurate -- which Nicholas & Alexandra certainly is. It does take a somewhat "soap opera" view of history, focusing on the personal problems of the Tsar's family. But that is exactly what it sets out to do -- tell the personal story of the last Tsar and Empress. And what a story! A fiction writer would have a hard time coming up with a plot involving the all powerful ruler of Russia, a sick child, a bizarre, crude, "holy" peasant with supposed healing powers, a World War, a pair of revolutions, murder, mayhem, you name it. And, for the benefit of the writers who have raised the subject of Nicholas and Alexandra's British accents in the film, in real life, they always spoke to each other in English. Alexandra was raised primarily in England, by her maternal grandmother, Queen Victoria. So English was her native language, which she spoke with a British accent. Nicholas had a British accent as well, since he learned English from his English nanny -- and the fact that his aunt was the Queen of England probably didn't hurt. Their letters to each other were also all in English. They have been published, and make facinating reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Nicholas, Alexandra, Alexei and Their Problems.
Review: I must say that after viewing this movie once more, I am horrified at the horrible acting and the horrible script writing. Especially the pious Grand Duchess Tatiana showing her body to one of the Bolsheviks and crying to Olga about how "I am so pretty, I want a man, wah wah wah"... the characterizations of the Imperial Family, if you have read about them, are just so under-defined. It's pretty much one of those movies that didn't look into the essence of Nicholas and Alexandra, the book, nor the personalities of the two loving rulers.
Rating:
Summary: Nicholas and Alexandra
Review: I think that this movie was the best movie i have ever seen it was GREAT!!! i saw the pics. of the real Czar and his wife and the people playing the roles looks so much like them . i think that anyone would like this movie (even if they didn't like history)
Rating:
Summary: Historically accurate
Review: I use this video to teach this period of hitory to my World Cultures Class. It takes alot of class time but is well worth it. It is very easy to connect history and literature together with this visual representation of the period. I believe using video is an excellant way to teach history. Video enables students to see what was going on at the time they are studying. Many studens learn visually.
Rating:
Summary: History story telling at it's best
Review: It takes the Brits to put out pictures of this type.It follows the book a lot closer than most,they tell it like it was.The sets are really lavish like you would expect in the winter palace.As usual the Brits bring out thier fine cast of supporting actors,you know this picture wasn't made on the cheap or corners cut.The adaption from the book is first class.If you are a history buff this is for you,you can't go wrong with this CD.
Rating:
Summary: Michael jayston is the best actor in the world
Review: Michael Jayston was wonderful in this film. I love all his work and thought that he gave a heart rending and excellent performance. He is up at the top with the best actors of all time. I think that he is a marvel and a genious of the acting world, and should belong in Hollywood.
Rating:
Summary: Nicholas II brought back to life
Review: Michael Jayston's portrayal of Nicholas II was astounding! I doubt Nicholas II himself could have done a better job. I have seen movies where great actors (such as Ian McKellen) portray Nicholas II and none of them come close to Jayston's performance. This is a fine example of how the Academy Awards are not always given to the best actor. Anyway, all of the other actors in the movie are quite good as well with a few exceptions. Roderic Noble portrays Alexei as being a cynical and suicidal kid. He comes off very annoying and we all know the real-life life Alexei evoked sympathy rather than contempt. Perhaps for this reason, Roderic Noble did not have much of a screen career. James Hazeldine's portrayal of Stalin is also a bit out of key. I believe a commendable performance goes to Michael Bryant portraying Lenin. His performance surpasses even that of Maximillian Schell's (who is a fine actor) portrayal of Lenin in the 1992 movie "Stalin". It is interesting to see the young Brian Cox make an appearance as Leon Trotsky. Finally, Laurence Olivier briefly steals the show as the far-sighted and practical Count Witte.
Although I have given the movie 5 stars, it is not without flaws. I think the music soundtrack to the movie is mediocre. Had Jerry Goldsmith (may he rest in peace) scored it, I think the movie would be more well known. Also the assassination of Rasputin is poorly done since it is inaccurate. Prince Yussopov after all, was nervous and not high on opium! A better depiction of the assassination is performed in the Russian movie "Agoniya". Finally, in general the second half of the movie sort of fizzles once the First World War starts.
The DVD picture quality is first rate, although the 2.0 mono soundtrack is a bit of a let down. It is great that the DVD contains about 15 minutes of restored scenes. Watching the restored scenes, one can easily see why they were deleted. The most bizarre restored scene is where the Grand Duchess Marie flashes one of her captors and says "do you want to see me?" Obviously, not historically accurate!
By and large a great film that lives in the shadow of its overrated predecessor "Doctor Zhivago".
Rating: 
Summary: A spectacular yet flawed film
Review: My beef about the film is that they took liberties in telling and condensing the story when it wasn't necessary. In Tobolsk the family lived in the Governor's Mansion - not a log cabin in the woods. Yekaterinburg looked like some Spanish town rather a city in the Urals. None of the movie was filmed in Russia or Finland (for obvious reasons). The execution involved eleven people - in the movie they cut down the number. Other scenes were outright inventions.None of the church or religious scenes came off right. They seem more Catholic or Anglican than Orthodox. Nicholas was taught English from the age of 8 by a Scottish teacher, Mr. Heath. He had an accent in English, but it wasn't identifiable as "Russian". They all would have sounded 'upper crust' so the accents were fine for me. Suzmann and Jayston were superb. Suzmann was a little too glamorous and Hollywood looking for the role, but she pulled off the characterisation well. I don't know if it's well known, but the Romanov family walked out on the premier because of the changes made to the story.
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