To Kill A King Details

To Kill History

One of the most important events in British History on film.

On paper this should have been one magnifficent spectacle, it is however very dissapointing.

One can't help think that the constrsaints of budget hampered the production here.

Instead of telling the story of how England became a short lived republic, the narrative instead concentrates on the straining relationship between Fairfax (Dougray Scott) and Cromwell (Tim Roth). Fine in theory but the film portrays Oliver Cromwell to be nothing more than a power hungry despot who after disposing England of it's monarchy likes the idea of being a king of sorts himself.

This is of course naieve and a very simplistic view of the aftermath of the English Civil War. I had no doubt that the film's sympathies lay with the royalist tradition.

The best moments to watch out for are the verbal interchanges between Cromwell and King Charles 1 palyed well by Rupert Everett, it is these scenes that capture a feeling that Cromwell is the only man the King actually fears.

Disapointing yes, but definately worth watching just to be miffed by the Historical distortions.

I ENJOYED THIS. CAST WAS EXCELLENT AND THE PRODUCTION SHOWED HOW RUTHLESS CROMWELL WAS IN HIS BLIND BELIEF OF WHAT HE SAW AS EQUALITY. YOU HAVE TO ADMIRE THE CONCEPT BUT THE BLOODY WAY IT WAS EXECUTED WAS LIKE IN MOST HISTORICAL RECORDS HORRIFIC. THIS IS A FILM I WOULD RECOMMEND AS WORTH WATCHING AS IT GIVES A VERY FAIR PICTURE OF BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY USING ANOTHER INDIVIDUALS DIFFERENT VIEW POINT.