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Anne'sCurls
Anne'sCurls
20. RE: HENRY VIII
May 16 2010, 4:01 PM EDT | Post edited: May 16 2010, 4:01 PM EDT
Keith was the best in both productions. He looked and acted the part and as he aged you could see his personality changing. Unlike with The Tudors I could understand how the people he hurt the most, his children, could still go to bed loving him.
Richard Burton is next on my list, although he did not have the red hair the man just oozed the personality ahd charisma of a king and man who expects to be obeyed in everything.
I do tend to like Eric Bana a little, he had the height and body type of Henry prior to his accident and fat days. But I don't think he had the personality down, there was something very off about his King Henry and he seemed more like a school boy being told what to do by the likes of Anne and given a stern talking to by Katharine, as opposed to the man who expects to be listened to and obeyed by everyone.
Jonathan doesn't fit the role of Henry for more reasons than just his looks. He doesn't have the prescence or the personality of a king imo. He comes off more like a spoiled teenage brat than a spoiled teenage brat who is also supposed to be a king. Whenever he throws one of his temper tantrums I just have to laugh, for example "I'm the king of England" in season 1. This show has focused too much on sex appeal and not enough on the historical character they are trying to portray.
Ray W. was an ok Henry but it is just so hard to get pass the accent. He sounds like Henry VIII circa 1890s English slums. Do you find this valuable?    
royalfalcon
royalfalcon
21. RE: HENRY VIII
May 16 2010, 4:13 PM EDT | Post edited: May 16 2010, 4:28 PM EDT
I know I have stated this before., but I have to say in my opinion Jonathan has done a brilliant job of playing Henry. Although he does not look anything like the King physically to me he captures the charisma .and mercurial temprement of Henry quite superbly. 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
Kittywake09
Kittywake09
22. RE: HENRY VIII
May 16 2010, 4:21 PM EDT | Post edited: May 16 2010, 4:21 PM EDT
"I know I have stated this before., but I have to say in my opinion Jonathan has done a brilliant job of playing Henry. Although he does not look anything like the King physically to me he captures the charisma .and mercurial temprement of Henry quite supurbly."
Well said royalfalcon.

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MsSquirrly
MsSquirrly
23. RE: HENRY VIII
May 16 2010, 4:31 PM EDT | Post edited: May 16 2010, 4:31 PM EDT
The thing is that we all have this image of Henry from Holbein's portrait and that was painted when he was about 45 years old. I am just reading Derek Wilson's 2009 biography of Henry and he says :

"..Hans Holbein Junior was a genius....He has provided us with that image of Henry VIII which, whether we like it or not, automatically comes to mind when ever the name of the king is mentioned. We see him standing belligerently, hands on hips, his barrel chest adorned with jewel-encrusted vesture, his codpiece thrusting forward. He glowers at us from the canvas, warning us to not even think of contradicting him. The portrait is a magnificent piece of propaganda, which has proved its effectiveness from the time of its creation in 1537 right down to the present day. However, (leaving aside issues of art appreciation) that is all it is -- propaganda. A starting point for a realistic understanding must be the rejection of this forceful icon. This is the Henry as he wanted to be seen-- strong, assertive, his own man, not only powerful but worthy of power. This image of 'Henry the magnificent" has always ,in the popular imagination, seen off other less flattering evaluations.....To Martin Luther, [he]...was a 'fool'. a 'liar' and a damnable rotten worm'. ...Jacob Burckhardt found him 'loutish and disgusting'. Charles Dickens was repelled by a man who was nothing more than 'a blot of blood and grease upon the history of England'. In our own day Diarmid MacCulloch has not hesitated to compare the second Tudor to Joseph Stalin. The prevailing interpretation seems to be that of a monster but one who is nevertheless compelling -- aggressive, macho and definitely sexy. Like him or loath him, there is absolutely no doubt that 'Bluff King Hal' remains everlastingly fascinating" ......contd
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MsSquirrly
MsSquirrly
24. RE: HENRY VIII
May 16 2010, 4:47 PM EDT | Post edited: May 16 2010, 4:47 PM EDT
Contd...and he has a point. None of the other interpretations really showed him in his early years as the "superstar" that he was. The Image of that large square dignified King was just a propaganda from later in his reign.

I found Keith Michell's performance to be very theatrical but I loved Richard Burton's interpretation. Erica Bana,....well all I can say is that movie was such an abortion of the facts that I couldn't see him as Henry at all. JRM was a surprising choice and I have to say I had to see more of his performance before I started to see him in the role. My personal opinion is that he pulled it off. He showed the "aggressive, macho and definitely sexy" Henry in a more realistic way than has been portrayed in the past. Face it, every actor is just giving his interpretation and JRM has given us a modern portrayal that people today can relate to. I have thoroughly enjoyed a trip with JRM down Henry lane. 3  out of 3 found this valuable. Do you?