Lady Jane | | Cast : | Helena Bonham Carter, Cary Elwes | | Director : | Trevor Nunn | | Studio : | Paramount Home Video | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | May 29, 1986 | | DVD Released Date : | December 12, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 01, 2005 | | Summary | My views on Lady Jane | Content
 | I have this movie in VHS format. I simply loved it! Being a Renaissance/Medevial fan, I found the costumes just wonderful. Even though, the history books tell us that Jane Grey and Guilford Dudley weren't as passionate as the film depicted, I found the love scenes nice. I have read all the books about Jane Grey to know that she came from a time of abuse. Historians potray her as a "plain" girl with reddish hair. She probably looked after her great uncle Henry VIII. I can go on and on about this, but I won't. Just read up on the history and enjoy the film for what it is made for...entertainment. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 29, 2005 | | Summary | Well done in the main | Content
| Fortunately, I watched the film before researching the history, so I wasn't hung up on the lack of historicity of the love story between Jane and Guilford; in fact, I was able to enjoy it, especially because there was no illicit love as a consequence of their already being married when they (by the movie) fell in love.
Because of that, I thoroughly enjoyed the film -- it was a good cast, well acted, well directed. The story of Lady Jane, with or without the mostly-ficticious love story, is a beautiful and heartening one. I must disagree with those who call it a tragedy: she died for her faith, and the movie showed well that she wasn't bound to this earth and had higher hopes and an unshakable faith in the sacrifice of Christ and the prospect of eternal life with Him.
Some interesting things, whether intended by the director or not, are some minor cinematographic events that color the story and add interest to the entire production. At the beginning of the video, there's a hunt going on, and a young doe is chased and finally caught, amid very dramatic opening music. I don't think that was just a random way to begin the movie, but rather, it gave a pattern for the rest of the story: Jane is the doe. Also, I find it intriguing that at the beginning, Mary's confessor approaches Jane at the time that the doe is being killed, and at the end, he approaches her again, and she is shortly killed.
More than that I won't say -- you can pick up on the subtle hints for yourself.
Caution: two skin scenes that don't lend much at all to the movie, and so are easily skipped. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 12, 2005 | | Summary | Entertaining, if inaccurate | Content
| The common complaint about this film since its release is the inaccuracy concerning the "love story" between Guildford and Jane. It's certainly true that the couple were not the passionate lovers depicted in the movie: the marriage itself was actually not consummated, per the orders of both sets of parents, until Edward VI was dead - an arrangement which suited Jane just fine.
What's also inaccurate is the portrayal of Jane and Guildford as sixteenth-century Socialists, fighting for the rights of peasants and pursuing economic justice in the form of a "real shilling." In all probability, neither of them gave much of a rat's ass about the poor, in keeping with the attitudes of their own class: Guildford was by most accounts a spoiled brat, and Jane, while undoubtedly intelligent (having been raised for a time under the tutelage of Queen Katharine Parr), was far more interested in ongoing Protestant reform than in social and economic reform. Ironically, *had* Jane gone on to reign, it's quite likely that she would have been every bit as intolerant as Mary I in terms of religion.
So Jane and Guildford were hardly compassionate do-gooders determined to make the most of their tragically short lives, nor was theirs the romance of the ages. This is still a fine movie -- beautifully filmed, well-acted, and - if you're willing to suspend the window of disbelief - a good tearjerker of a "historical romance." |
| Rating | | | Date | April 30, 2005 | | Summary | Young Intelligent Beautiful Jane.. WAS REPLACED BY A (...)! | Content
| NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!! UNACCEPTABLE! This is a diaster! I LIKE IT NOT! I'LL GIVE 3 REASONS!!!! IT'S MORE THAN JUST A HISTORICAL INACCURACY!!
1)There is absolutely NO evidence that Jane and Guildford loved each other and it would be crazy if they did! Shame on the filmakers for trying to show or convince us this! A fine mate for Jane would be Edward VI. This is a catastrophe! JANE DID NOT LOVE GUILDFORD!!!
2)Helena Bonham Carter and Cary Elwes look NOTHING, NOTHING like the real Jane Grey and Guildford Dudley. Jane was said to have sweet red hair- not dark brown! She must have been replaced by a clone! Guildford had dark brown hair- not blond! The actors of Jane and Guildford in "Elizabeth R" looked much real!
3)Jane was intellegent and studious (not to mention cute and beautiful!). But, this DVD made her look like a fool! Her silly feelings and talk to Guildford Dudley really is a catastrophe!
The Tudor age was one of the most interesting times in history. Jane Grey was an innocent, sweet little girl. This movie is a disaster. I would not just call it "historically inaccurate" but meddlesome gossip! GENERALLY SPEAKING, THIS DVD IS (garbage)!!!!!!! |
| Rating | | | Date | April 15, 2005 | | Summary | Bring out the tissues | Content
| The acting is superb and makes you feel that you are part of the action. However you do feel like telling them what to do or say. The story is loosely based on a sixteen-year-old girl Lady Jane Grey (Helena Bonham Garter) on the throne of England for just nine days in 1553, and how everyone tries to manipulate her.
The genealogy behind this can get quite complex but the story is strait forward. Naturally the costumes and scenery add to the movie. If there was any music I did not notice it.
For those who want historical accuracy, go watch a documentary. That does not make this anything less than great entertainment. It has religion for the religious, love fort the loveless, and teaches us to stick our neck out for our principles.
Did I mention that this is an engrossing film?
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