But it wasn't all bad. I didn't feel like giving up on the movie until only about 30 minutes remained, and I'll tell you why. The symbolism was quite intersting.
General Symbols
•By increasing spending and especially taxes the democratic party is Very Evil, and it gives our enemies a golden opportunity to divide and attack us.
•The French are untrustworthy and devious.
Specifically
•King Richard was George Bush: start a costly war that will supposedly pay for itself, and right before it's over hand your crown over to the next ruler.
•King John: the naive, inexperienced ruler who takes over at the end of a war that has turned from popular to terribly unpopular; raise taxes to the point they can only be collected by force because they're starving people; abandon all previously embraced bipartisan notions once your position's been secured.
I'd say the 6.9 IMBb gives the movie may be a bit too high, but in the vicinity. I should mention that I watched the unrated version, which is I think 10 or 15 minutes longer than what you may have seen in theaters.
3 comments:
We saw that about a week ago. Agree with you on the plot holes. Yes, the last 30 minutes was the worst.
But the sets and costumes were nice.
The symbolism you claim is a stretch at best. Both in terms of the movie, and in terms of actual history. There is nothing in the movie about King John raising spending (and taxes to pay for his extra spending.) Although it is only mentioned briefly in the movie (maybe not at all in theatrical cut, we watched directors cut) he does make the point that the country is bankrupted because of the reckless spending of his brother and mother, in particular the money spent to ransom his brother out of prison. In real life richard was captured and it took all of the country's revenue for 2 years to secure his release.
Also while in the movie john goes back on his promise to sign some sort of constitution (setting up for a sequel that will probably never be made) in real life it was in fact john who signed the original magna carta. presumably they set this up so he could be the bad guy and robin hood could force him to sign it in the sequel fulfilling dream his father died for.
I agree that this movie was a total mess! However, I liked it. My theory: almost anything starring Russell Crowe can be salvaged by his talent. It was the only movie I've ever watched that I felt confused almost until the end but somehow stayed engaged. As Jim Gust said, sets and costumes were great--pulled me right in. And I think it was the acting (not just Crowe's) that kept me hanging on.
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