Commentaires client les plus utiles
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1 internautes sur 1 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
5.0étoiles sur 5
Catches the spirit, if not the perfect picture, of the ECW, Fév 21 2002
The Rev. Mortimer would be glad to know, that as a high school history teacher in Virginia, USA, I have been showing "Cromwell" to all of my US and world history classes for many years. It explains why our University of Virgina sports teams are called the Cavaliers. It shows the beliefs of the Puritans/Pilgrims and why they wanted to leave England to come to America. It puts the Hobbes vs. Locke argument into the sharp relief of actual human conflict. It explains why a people would rise up in bloody conflict against a fairly reasonable monarch like Charles I. It shows the sloppiness of democracy, as portrayed by the great scenes in the Parliment. I have read widely on the Civil War and am familiar with the innacuracies. The reason that I HAVE read widely in this area is because I saw this film in a theatre as a child. This superb drama continues to inspire me, and my students today.
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1 internautes sur 1 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
5.0étoiles sur 5
6 star rating for Cromwell!, Jui 7 2001
This film should be compulsory viewing in all schools, particularly in Britain and America! Although the film is inaccurate in places, a far more important principle dominates here: that is, as personified in the remarks of 'Hugh' (a Church of England Minister) "on the side of justice and truth!" An earlier reviewer suggested that Cromwell was portrayed as 'too emotional,' but the principles that motivated him were not emotions, but justice and truth! Only three of the main characters in the drama come across in a good light: John Pym, Cromwell, and his wife! Henry Ireton is a 'hot head', Fairfax lacks courage at the crucial moment. These were incredible days, with so many important principles at stake, that one film cannot hope to put everything across. However, Cromwell is a figure of hate these days (modern man cannot stand 'Puritan' principle and godliness), and this film restores his place in English history. What comes across is a man of principle who laid the foundation of the greatness of Britain and America. If only we could have true 'democracy' like Cromwell envisaged, and men who would lay down their lives for the people of the nation. What freedom we enjoy today was purchased at a terrible price. This reminds us so very much of the ultimate sacrifice that God paid in sending His own Son to die in the place of sinners. An absolute truth that in which Cromwell passionately believed. If there were a 6 star rating to be given to one film, this would be it. Historical accuracy simply is not the issue.
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5.0étoiles sur 5
Superb, Nov. 12 2009
This is a superb dramatic rendering of the life of Oliver Cromwell. I can't speak about whether or not the film got the historical facts right or not. But I can say a bit about the representation of Cromwell's Christian faith. Ken Hughes, the writer/Director captured that Puritan's faith very well considering the constraints of film (which, in the case of epic, is about action more than dialogue).
The script stands out as exceptional among epic movies, which were still popular during the period in which this movie was made (early 70s). The acting is tremendous all around (ignore critics who try to lampoon Richard Harris with cheap shots about his strident voice; he was a fine actor. Recall: he is playing a man who, for most of the film, is in the pitch of battle, either on the floor of parliament or on the field of war...would you have him whisper or mince instead?; no, of course not, obviously he's going to belt lines out with as much passion as he can muster). Cromwell was a powerful personality, who displayed military genius without the aid of proper training in strategy or tactics--he was a natural-born warrior. He rose from relative obscurity to conqueror of the English crown--winning every major battle he fought--in the space of nine years, becoming the ruler of England as a result of his tireless efforts. No other European common man had ever achieved so much before him. Who does that sort of thing? This film portrays these points admirably.
As a Calvinist, Cromwell believed in a sovereign God who ruled over all things with kingly authority; so, naturally, when he saw himself being drawn into the centre stage of the drama of his time, he believed it was the hand of God leading events. The film depicts his faith without apology. This is the outstanding feature of the film, in my humble opinion. Most (post) modern historians readily admit they have no clue what to make of Cromwell because he was such a forceful man, who used military power to advance the cause he believed in; yet he had an unshakeable faith in the living God and his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and expressed that faith throughout his life. They see these two aspects as contradictory and conclude that he was conflicted. But many of the great men of faith have also been military geniuses: Abraham, Joshua, Gideon, and David. Why should this be a contradiction? This part of Cromwell, his indomitable faith, is wonderfully present throughout the film.
Was he a saint? Yes and no. No, in the sense that he committed dreadful sins, which the film does not entirely shy away from. But he was a saint, in the evangelical Christian sense, in that he believed in Christ as his Lord and Saviour. This may not be the popular sense of saint (meaning a 'goody-two-shoes'), but it's something to ponder.
Cromwell toppled the king because the king was not acting like a true king but a despot who exploited the authority that God had given him. Charles I conspired with Catholic France to invade England and this made him a traitor to the nation and the Protestant faith. After much agonizing over the situation, Cromwell concluded that the tyrant must go. That's the film in a nutshell.
The final shot left me breathless. It explains the 'contradictions' perfectly. It's absolutely marvellous that a film Director (and a British one!) got the person of Cromwell right, while so many professional historians haven't!
Very good for Christian homeschoolers--as long as the students are in highschool. The battle scenes are intense. And the execution of Charles I, though seen from a long shot, is still depicted on screen.
BTW, Alex Guiness does a fantastic job representing the king, making him very human. Behind his pompous exterior is a very dignified man who truly believed he was doing the right thing. Such a performance (and script) makes this a complex film; a mature movie--which has always been such a rarity.
One final note, concerning Puritanism. A previous reviewer stated that the majority of people during the era of Cromwell hated the Puritans. There certainly were those who hated the Puritans. But several Puritans preachers regularly had congregations of several hundred or even thousand members. There are diary accounts that describe individuals walking miles and miles to hear Puritans preach. Puritan books of sermons and essays on doctrine were bestsellers and outsold all other books. These aren't the only proofs that Puritanism enjoyed widespread approval, but they are starters. Much more could be said. But, it is simply myopic to say that they were universally reviled. That fiction was a 19th century invention that cannot stand up to even the most superficial investigation of the facts.
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