The original Tenko movie was shown on American television in the mid 1980s. I believe on cable. I caught every episode I could. It was simply some of the best television ever made and to this day many moments and characters are clear in my mind. The intense drama of women surviving against all odds was riveting. I remember feeling very involved with the characters and totally bereft when at the end of the last episode Marion on the boat says "Well, that's that." I wanted to cry out "No! What happens to everyone? How does the reunion go between Marion and her children? Does her marriage survive? What does the Dr. go on to do?" Now I see there was a sequel movie. I wish I could get my hands on it. I don't believe it has been shown in the U.S. I would love to see the series repeated on the Arts and Entertainment channel or on public television. This series did not pull any punches about the horror of the prison camp. The characters were well drawn, complete people with the flaws and courage found in ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.
Reviews
2 Reviews
Elizabeth
(1998)
What an awful mess
17 February 1999
This was a major disappointment. I couldn't wait for this movie to be over and that's a rare, rare reaction to a movie I don't like. It's the one movie in recent history that I almost felt I should get up and leave. The only reason I didn't was the high price of admission and the fact I had made a special journey into New York (dragging a friend along with me) to see it on a big screen.
Cate Blanchett is wonderful, but she is surrounded by a movie gone astray. I don't expect an historical film to adhere slavishly to historical accuracy, but this screenplay pays only lipservice. Elizabeth's own story is filled with the most wonderful drama, intrigue and romance. This film treated it as overwrought soap opera. It never takes advantage of the real words and events of Elizabeth's life.
The film tries to do too much and never finds a cohesive story line. Your left floundering with characters dropping in and out with little explanation of their importance. Major characters such as William Cecil and Robert Dudley are badly cast and played even worse. They little resemble the fascinating and intriguing actual characters of history.
What a waste of the opportunity to bring Elizabeth's story to the big screen and get Cate Blanchett to play her too! Yes, I love the costumes and Bloody Queen Mary is played to perfection, but it's not enough. I have no concept why this is nominated in the Best Picture catagory for the Academy Awards.
Cate Blanchett is wonderful, but she is surrounded by a movie gone astray. I don't expect an historical film to adhere slavishly to historical accuracy, but this screenplay pays only lipservice. Elizabeth's own story is filled with the most wonderful drama, intrigue and romance. This film treated it as overwrought soap opera. It never takes advantage of the real words and events of Elizabeth's life.
The film tries to do too much and never finds a cohesive story line. Your left floundering with characters dropping in and out with little explanation of their importance. Major characters such as William Cecil and Robert Dudley are badly cast and played even worse. They little resemble the fascinating and intriguing actual characters of history.
What a waste of the opportunity to bring Elizabeth's story to the big screen and get Cate Blanchett to play her too! Yes, I love the costumes and Bloody Queen Mary is played to perfection, but it's not enough. I have no concept why this is nominated in the Best Picture catagory for the Academy Awards.
Tell Your Friends