Ameriatch One of the best films i have seen

Lumsdal Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Yash Wade Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Kirpianuscus package for a precise message, portrait of a hero, not real interested by historical accuracy, it is one of films who impress for its details. first, it is the film of Alec Guinness who gives a splendid Charles I Stuart, fascinating lawyer of his convinces and position, one with his noble condition and giving special light to each scene. than, Timoty Dalton does a good job as prince Rupert. the tensions in Parlament and the battle scenes are useful sketches of real events. the basic problem - the impossible mission of Richard Harris. the script imposes to him a too ambiguous character, hero, off course, but unrealistic and without a precise purpose. and that does the message of film to be a text with too many paragraphs.and many paragraphs are contradictory. like the the reactions of Cromwell. his position at the start of Civil War - far by historical reality.he must be the Hero but the manner to do him a hero is almost bizarre. and the absence of the measures under the reign of Lord Protector are the great sin. but, for its good points, it remains an interesting film.

Michael A. Martinez It's a bit awkward to see Irishman Richard Harris spitting venom and turning against his king at the idea England hiring on Irish mercenaries and bowing to a Catholic Queen, but he puts in a very fun performance in this little-represented section of history. The film plays its cards too soon with the pacing though, bringing us the most exciting action, scenery, battle scenes and dramatic panache early on and then ending on more of a somber courtroom whimper. Nicely, the film stays apolitical and presents both sides with some sympathy. Alec Guiness really shines as King Charles I, managing to play the role as bumbling and arrogant yet sympathetic as extremely courageous to the end and as an unfortunate product of his time. It's really interesting to see Michael Jayston playing one of the more vehement revolutionaries in this film, especially considering the next year he'd get his big starring role as the very pro-establishment titular character NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA, a very similar film about the end of a European Monarchy.CROMWELL is unfairly forgotten these days, especially considering it is quite lavish, somewhat realistic in terms of production design and battle tactics, and features excellent performances by a whole host of familiar British performers like Timothy Dalton, Jack Gwillim, Douglas Wilmer, Charles Gray, Frank Finlay, and a lot of other actors I recognized from "Doctor Who". B-movie stalwart Ian McCulloch is credited though I failed to identify him, maybe as he was so young at the time and, like everyone else in the film, difficult to recognize under wigs and heavy makeup.

succab You have to look at this film as it is, excellent acting, superb costumes and at brief moments, some wonderful landscape shots. Its description of our history a little simplistic (but at least not in 'lets dumb it down for the American market' terms!) to to fully embrace the facts really does need a lot of staying power, I mean have you read S.R.Gardiners three or is it four volume work on 'History of the great Civil War'?. Trust me this concise version is more preferable.Prince Rupert was indeed a vile German nephew of Charles, ask the 'brummies' of that period, so him being deported was a most enjoyable ending, as was the verbal insult to him being a 'foreign mercenary' by a parliamentarian at first battle.But you know really, right at the end when you listen to Cromwell talking of creating schools and University's for the people; to create a democracy and be their own Government... its still holds up today, such stiring stuff. Churchill wanted to name the 'Spitfire' after Cromwell, he had to settle for the Tank in stead.

Lucy Coppinger Overall, I genuinely liked this film as it was enjoyable to watch and rather entertaining. I would recommend this film to those who are learning or have learnt about Cromwell as it is well put together and gives you a brief overview of the Civil Wars and the key information there is to know, however, this film is for entertainment purposes and doesn't go into great detail. When learning about Cromwell, I saw him to be the sort of character that he is perceived to be in this film and I believe that Richard Harris plays his role of Cromwell extremely well taking on the role of a passionate man who was indeed, hard to understand at times. At times I did feel that this film was rather dramatic however, I felt it was well put together and a very good effort in depicting and emphasising the person that Cromwell was in the 17th century.