GetPapa Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

BroadcastChic Excellent, a Must See

Kamila Bell This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Skyler Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

elcoat I loved this film when it came out. The portrayals of Ivar the Boneless - actually Ragnar Lothbrok's son, elsewhere - the berserker and the others were fascinating.I liked the game of Fox and Geese between the kings.The battle scenes were authentic and gripping. Alfred's personal struggle was meaningful.As an epic film, it ranks right up there with Jerry Bruckheimer's historically questioned but no less great film Arthur.The other reviewer's mention of Leonard Maltin savagely panning the film reminded me of an unpleasant memory I have about it.I wanted to see it again, and I took along a pretty Swedish-American girl with me over to the Coronet Theater in Davenport IA for a Saturday matinée, for her to see and appreciate my Anglo-Saxon heritage.By chance, the local synagogue youth groups came in. They were lively kids and full of fun, but once the movie started they began making really deprecating remarks about the film and what it showed.Having watched films like Ben Hur and Ten Commandments with respect and appreciation and been deeply moved by them, I did wonder how they would feel if someone had behaved like that during those - their - films. I had thought respect for ethnic heritage would and should be mutual. They were just kids, but I have never forgotten that.In any case, it is a great film which should be out on DVD.

emmint Brilliant film, but then I'm biased as it's British history and I'm British. David Hemmings was excellent, I don't think any other actor could have portrayed Alfred the Great. If you want to know where the Brits come from watch this film and you'll see.If your studying English history then this is the film you should watch, the interplay between Michael York as Guthrun and David Hemmings should tell you a lot. You'll see where a lot of the laws that govern us come from. And how Alfred said that everybody should have access to the law and nobody should be above it.It's entertaining and educational at the same time.

Didier (Didier-Becu) One of the most underrated actors of all time must be David Hemmings but sadly enough he will be immortal for his rol in "Blow up" and it also will be the role that will have chased him throughout his whole career. Sad to see that Hemmings appeared in very weak movies, like "Alfred the great" for instance. We go back to the 9th century at where East Anglia is overwhelmed by the cruel Danes and the help from Alfred (brother of the king who wanted to be a priest). Alfred the Great had his own methods to free his country and what could have been interesting has been completely destroyed as it's too boring (there is strong link to Hamlet's Shakespeare here, and we just saw it too much) or it is just too much of a silly actionmovie (the battles are so long that you tend to fall asleep). I really don't give a damn about this annoying movie that just seems to me like a Robin Hood-movie without a budget.

Jonathon Dabell Alfred the Great is not really a sweeping epic, nor is it a blood stained sword-wielding blockbuster. It's quite a quiet picture, with lots of talk, lots of emphasis on the lovely background landscapes, and a degree of fair amount of precision in terms of costume and weaponry.At the beginning, young Prince Alfred is moments away from turning his back on his duty as the future monarch and is preparing to become a priest. However he is persuaded to forsake these religious ambitions when a Danish invasion force start massacaring people on the coast. He leads the armies of Wessex and Mercia against the invading Danes, and in so doing he earns the first and only label ever to be proclaimed upon a king of England as "somebody the Great".Generally, the film is a bore. However, that gives the impression that it is a complete failure, which in all honesty is probably a bit unfair. Hemmings gives a notable leading performance, York is in uncommonly good form as the main Dane, and there are a couple of bloodily staged battle sequences. Alfred the Great is definitely a missed opportunity, but it remains watchable thanks to a handful of worthwhile moments.