GrimPrecise I'll tell you why so serious

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

SanEat A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

grantss England, 1520s. King Henry VIII is in power and wants to marry Anne Boleyn. His current wife, Catherine of Aragon, seems unable to bear him a son and heir and he's besotted with Ann Boleyn. He wants to divorce Catherine but, other than the Pope, the main impediment is Sir Thomas More, a pre-eminent legal authority and devout Christian. More is eventually made Lord Chancellor, one of the highest positions in government. He resigns this position out of protest against the King's plans to go ahead with the divorce. Surely, now that he is out of government and out of the limelight, as long as he doesn't air his views, his principles aren't a threat to the King's plans and he is safe from prosecution?Directed by Fred Zinneman (High Noon, From Here to Eternity, The Search) a wonderfully lavish production. A noble sentiment too - a man willing to stand by his principles no matter what the cost.However, the film moves along at a snail's pace, has excess dialogue and ultimately feels quite padded. Also doesn't help if you know history (and/or, like me, have seen The Tudors) and know how everything will end up.There are moments of relief among the verbosity. Any time More is in an argument on points of law, his sharpness of mind, knowledge of law and expert use of the English language shine through - his wordplay is something to behold.Won the Best Picture Oscar in 1967.

Hotwok2013 Directed by one of the all-time great film directors Fred Zinnemann & with a really brilliant screenplay written by Robert Bolt, "A Man For All Seasons" is just about as perfect a movie as is possible to make. The movie gives an account of the conflict which took place in the 16th century between King Henry V111 & his Lord Chancellor Sir Thomas More, which eventually led to More's execution. Paul Scofield gives a towering acting performance as Sir Thomas More with Robert Shaw (also extremely good) as Henry V111. After the Pope in Rome refused to annul his marriage to Catherine Of Aragon the King separated himself from the Catholic Church & proclaimed himself head of the newly- created Church Of England. More refused to sign the Oath Of Supremacy acknowledging the King's position & also refused to countenance the divorce which would leave the King free to marry Anne Boleyn. The Duke of Norfolk (Nigel Davenport) tries to persuade him to sign a document sanctioning the divorce but More adamantly refuses. The Duke tells him that it doesn't really matter whether he believes in granting the King a divorce or not & that he should sign it anyway, "for fellowship". More answers him by saying, "And when we stand before God & you are sent to heaven for doing your conscience & I am damned & sent to hell for not doing mine, will you accompany me there for fellowship?". After he resigned as Lord Chancellor More maintained an attitude of silence before & during his trial regarding the kings divorce. His thinking was that by doing so they would be unable to gain a treason conviction against him. More hoped he would then be left alone to live out the remainder of his life in peace & quiet. However, the angry King wanted More's head & there was never any chance of that!. Thomas Cromwell (Leo McKern), the ruthless & unscrupulous chief minister to the King got an ambitious, young (& equally unscrupulous) nobleman Richie Rich (John Hurt) to bear false witness against Sir Thomas More which helped to convict him. Cromwell rewarded Rich for his treachery with a chain of office. When More sees it he finally breaks his silence. "Why Richie, isn't that the chain of office for the Ministry of Wales? It profits a man nothing that he sells his soul to the devil for all the world, but to do it for Wales!". As I said at the start Robert Bolt's screenplay is just brilliant. He took the movie's title from a writer & poet who knew him & lived during Sir Thomas More's lifetime. Robert Whittington described him thus:-"More is a man with an angel's wit & singular learning. I know not his fellow. For where is the man of such gentleness, lowliness & affability. And, as time requireth, a man of marvellous mirth & pastimes, & sometimes of sad gravity. A man for all seasons". Jonathan Swift wrote that More was "a man of the greatest virtue this kingdom ever produced". Just before the axe came down severing his head from his body More is reputed to have said, "I die the king's good servant, but God's first".

romanorum1 The screenplay of this excellent historical drama of 16th century England was written by Robert Bolt, who based it upon his revised 1960 play. In the opening scene Lord Chancellor Cardinal Wolsey (Orson Welles, who has two scenes) has summoned counselor Thomas More to his office. What Wolsey really wants is More's help concerning the imbroglio involving King Henry VIII. The king, although presently married to Catherine of Aragon, wants to divorce her for his mistress Anne Boleyn. More responds that the Pope allowed Henry VIII's dispensation so that he could marry Catherine, his dead brother's widow. More says, (Now) "he asks the Pope to dispense the dispensation for state reasons." No, More will not assist Wolsey in his dilemma. The lustful Henry wants a son as heir and does not have one with Catherine. Of course, Anne Boleyn happens to be fifteen years younger than she. More further tells Wolsey, "I think that when statesmen forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties, they lead their country by a short route to chaos."Will Roper (Corin Redgrave) wants to marry Meg (or Margaret = Susannah York), one of Thomas More's daughters. More refuses as Roper tends towards Lutheranism. Meg is strictly Catholic, like her family. Alice (Wendy Hiller), More's wife agrees with Thomas. Later, Roper will moderate his views and will marry Meg. In his real lifetime, Roper remained Catholic.Time passes. The Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal of England (Nigel Davenport), rides to the residence of Wolsey, who's dying of disease. Norfolk grabs Wolsey's gold chain, the symbol of his Chancellery position. Norfolk tells Wolsey he's lucky he's dying, as the king would have him imprisoned in the Tower of London. Obviously Wolsey has failed in his appeal to the Pope on Henry's behalf. Sir Thomas More is Wolsey's successor.On a sunny summer day, King Henry VIII (Robert Shaw) and his entourage travel by boat to Chelsea, More's estate. A feast is laid out indoors. But Henry's real purpose is to convince More to agree with his plans to divorce Catherine and marry Boleyn. Outside, the king says he is More's friend. He also states that he was not really married to Catherine. More is neutral and tells Henry that it is a matter for the Pope. As Henry cannot get More's support he raises his voice for all inside to hear. He then lies and says he will let More alone. "I have no queen! Catherine's not my wife. No priest can make her so. They that say she is my wife are not only liars but traitors! Yes, TRAITORS!" Then quietly, Henry continues, "See! You see how you maddened me?" We comprehend how dangerous the megalomaniac Henry really was. To catch the late tide, Henry's group leaves without dining. Thomas Cromwell (Leo McKern), new Secretary to the Council, is dangerous too. Cromwell takes in Sir Richard Rich (John Hurt), a faithless man of disgustingly weak character (a real historical person). He wants Rich to provide him information about More. In turn Cromwell offers him the position of Collector of Revenues for York. The plot against Thomas More has begun despite King Henry's previous assurance to the contrary.Time passes. At the Canterbury Convocation, a herald acting for the king extorts one hundred thousand pounds from the gathering of bishops and priests for perceived misbehaviors. (Their properties were also confiscated.) Furthermore he queries whether they will break from the "PRETENDED See of Rome" and acknowledge Henry the title "Supreme Head of the Church in England." In other words, buckle or else (those that didn't suffered immeasurably). By breaking with the Roman Catholic Church, Henry feels it's his divine right to become the spiritual leader of England (!) as well as its political sovereign. At this point More resigns his position as Lord Chancellor (after three years of faithfully serving the king). He remains tight-lipped. More releases his household staff while Roper blasts the king's actions. More later tells Norfolk that the Pope is a descendant of Peter, the only link from Christ. The king remains adamant and wants More to bless his latest marriage. As More does not, he offends the king's supporters. Norfolk tries to convince More to concede, but the latter is a man of conviction. Norfolk retorts, "This isn't Spain, you know. This is England!" Time will expose the irony. Then the King's Parliament passes an extreme act that if one refuses the oath of the king's marriage, he is branded a traitor and executed. More later says that this " . . . is directly repugnant to the law of God, and his Holy Church."So the last quarter of the movie focuses on More's shameful imprisonment in the Tower (a dripping cell) and subsequent trial. More advises his family to leave the dreadful country. But he has reasoned that he cannot be harmed by refusing the Supremacy oath as his enemies cannot prove his objections. Remaining devoted to his Church, More has a conscience and knows he will be judged by God. When he first walks into the trial chamber perceive how the court atmosphere is all stacked against him. The corrupt magistrates disregard proper protocol. Repulsive Richard Rich will commit perjury with worthless feedback. More retorts against the wicked fellow, "Why Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world, but for Wales?" Nevertheless, the dutiful More will quickly be found guilty and sentenced to surrender his head. "I die his Majesty's good servant but God's first." Saint Thomas More, a venerated Catholic saint, was a gem. He championed "charity, modesty, justice, and thought" against evil. Incidentally, he wrote "Utopia." Paul Scofield terrifically reprised his stage role as the beleaguered counselor. The film stands the test of time as one of the greatest films in British cinema history. The Oscar winner for Best picture, it presents wonderful performances and period costumes and sets.

gavin6942 The story of Thomas More, who stood up to King Henry VIII when the King rejected the Roman Catholic Church to obtain a divorce and remarriage.This film brings in the issue of whether there can be a right church, and Martin Luther's objections to the Catholic Church (particularly his concern that people were buying their way into heaven). This is interesting, because even though More is the film's tragic hero, there is still an undercurrent of criticism against his beliefs.The film won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. That is quite the accomplishment, and it is a shame that few people today (2015) are likely familiar with it. It could definitely hold up as well now as it ever did, and is certainly open to interpretation.