The Young Victoria (PG)

Film

Period and swashbuckler films

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Tue Mar 3 2009

‘I will be good,’ Princess Victoria said on discovering she would be Queen. But, as things turned out, it was a touch more complicated. This sumptuous film has no interest in the ‘good’ dumpy adult Victoria, instead giving us a bildungsroman: after a stifling childhood, Victoria (Emily Blunt, above) must find maturity and independence – not easy with a controlling mother (Miranda Richardson), two scheming uncles and a snake-like prime minister (Paul Bettany). As in any traditional romance (and this, written by Julian Fellowes, is so trad its corsets creak), there are blips and the odd tear en route to a prince. That the prince, in this case, is Albert (Rupert Friend), her mother’s choice, just delays the inevitable.

Dignified and charismatic, Blunt gives great lip-wobble, and Friend pulls off the role of sidekick, but historical twiddling can’t render Victoria’s love life interesting and the only moving moment is the epilogue: 20 years’ happy marriage is more than most of us get, but 40 years of sorrowful widowhood is tragedy indeed.

Author: Nina Caplan

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Fri Mar 6 2009

Duration:

105 mins

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(14 ratings)

A very engaging film with fine performances from Emily Blunt and Miranda Richardson, but it fizzled out towards the end and it was a shame there was such a dreadful schmaltzy song played over the end credits which was completely inappropriate and destroyed the mood of the film.

Chloe Clegg Tue Mar 17 2009
Rated as: 3/5
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Excellent!!!!!

Eleanor Tue Mar 17 2009
Rated as: 5/5
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The screenplay must have been written by someone with little grasp of Victorian English. I'm pretty sure Prince Albert would not have used the expression "You know".. ever.

Caroline Sun Mar 15 2009
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What a waste of time. Only the costumes were of note. Scenery was good. Too many long gazes... must irritate some historians..Nuff said.

mary Wed Mar 11 2009
Rated as: 1/5
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Thoroughly enjoyed the film, initially not to sure but glad my wife persuaded me to go...the power of a good women...Location shots were great, and it gave me a much better insight in to the early years of Queen Victoria s reign and all of the politics involved.Jim Broadbent was bril...my Kind of King...

Midge Tue Mar 10 2009
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Excellent movie, full of history, period costumes and a wonderful true story. Only one problem,....it wasn't long enough, I just wanted it to go on and on it was that good.

Neville Mon Mar 9 2009
Rated as: 5/5
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A suprisingly good film. Very emotional in parts. Not a movie I would normally go to see, but glad I did. I would recommend this film.

ms Sun Mar 8 2009
Rated as: 5/5
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Pleasant film. The two leads have great chemistry. Jim Broadbent is particularly funny as the boozy King William

Madison Sun Mar 8 2009
Rated as: 3/5
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... how about the old Victoria?

Moderato Sat Mar 7 2009
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What would the sequel be about then?

Stew Sat Mar 7 2009
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The Young Victoria (PG)

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