The Hollow Crown

[Simon Atford]

New BBC adaptations of 4 of Shakespeare's History Plays.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00s90hz/episodes/guide

Watched Richard II via my plus box last night and was pretty impressed. Kit and other things might not have been totally accurate for the period but then Shakespeare's plays are not that historically accurarte either alothough Richard II is closer to the real events that some of the others.

Looking forward to seeing Henry IV part 1.

[Marcus Woodhouse]

Ouch! I ended up falling asleep as the viewing was delayed by some stupid game called tennis.
The wardrobe was a real let down. The costumes in Richard II were, at times, interesting, those last night were on the whole pure fantasy. Young Prince Henry wereing a red leather thing that belonged in Game of Thrones not anything approaching "period". I found the delivery poor as well. It was hard to hear what Henry IV was saying a lot of the time.

[Simon Atford]

Interesting doco on Richard II with Derek Jacobi.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... ichard_II/

It focuses mainly on the play rather than the real Richard and Sir Derek expresses his anti-Statfordian views. He believes Richard de Vere Earlo of Oxford wrote the plays.

[ForTheMarshal]

I rather enjoyed Richard II and Henry IV pt1.
Am looking forward to comparing Henry V to Kenneth Branagh's version.

Yes, Hal's coat was a GoT cast-off in my eyes too
Q&A with the costume designer:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tv/2012/07/h ... eare.shtml

[EnglishArcher]

Yes, Hal's coat was a GoT cast-off in my eyes too
Q&A with the costume designer:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tv/2012/07/h ... eare.shtml

Leather + mud = medieval.

What a unique costuming concept.

[Simon Atford]

On a slightly different tack I notice there's been a few complaints about delays caused to the broadcast of Henry IV part 1 because of the tennis.

I had it set up to record on my +box so I was okay but it did bring back some bad memories of watching some sports broadcast that I didn't give damn about whilst waiting for the drama or comedy show I did want to see only for it to be delayed or postponed.

Does sport always have to trump everything else?

[ForTheMarshal]

On a slightly different tack I notice there's been a few complaints about delays caused to the broadcast of Henry IV part 1 because of the tennis.

I had it set up to record on my +box so I was okay but it did bring back some bad memories of watching some sports broadcast that I didn't give damn about whilst waiting for the drama or comedy show I did want to see only for it to be delayed or postponed.

Does sport always have to trump everything else?

Lowest common denominator - please see: football

[Simon Atford]

On a slightly different tack I notice there's been a few complaints about delays caused to the broadcast of Henry IV part 1 because of the tennis.

I had it set up to record on my +box so I was okay but it did bring back some bad memories of watching some sports broadcast that I didn't give damn about whilst waiting for the drama or comedy show I did want to see only for it to be delayed or postponed.

Does sport always have to trump everything else?

Lowest common denominator - please see: football

See sport in general: http://www.cracked.com/article_19670_th ... -fans.html

[ladydetemps]

I enjoyed Richard the II the most. Ben Wilsher's Richard made you actually feel sorry for the King despite it I'm guessing he was supposed to be the 'bad guy'.
I think Henry V was watchable. And having seen the documentary about it first made it more interesting.
But Henry IV parts 1 and 2 were just so...boring and I found it hard to follow the plot.
Sorry shakespere but your play needed some editing. lol!

[Simon Atford]

I wasn't that familar with Henry IV (the plays) before this but I enjoyed them. Good contrast between the Falstaff scenes and the more high end politiical stuff.

Richard II is still probbally the best though.