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'The Tudors: Complete Series 1 [2007]' starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers. (StaEAN 5035822596313)

Pulling few punches and garnering its fair share of headlines as a result, The Tudors is a controversial, yet compelling period piece, that dramatically tells the story of the early years of King Henry VIII. Not for nothing though has it attracted its fair share of awards attention.

For The Tudors is a complex drama, and not one to simplify its storylines. The young Henry, for instance, is exploring his muddled romances and his insecurities, against the challenges his kingdom is facing. It’s a plateful for him to deal with, and in the hands of a superb performance from Jonathan Rhys Meyers--a real revelation in the role--as the young Henry, it’s all vividly and skillfully knitted together.

But The Tudors isn’t just about its central character, for there’s a terrific supporting cast at work too. Sam Neill’s Cardinal Wolsey, Jeremy Northam’s Thomas More and Natalie Dormer’s Ann Boleyn are just some who earn plaudits here. Behind the camera there’s the pen of Elizabeth writer Michael Hirst at work, and he too deserves much credit, clearly getting his teeth into the fascinating subject matter.

The Tudors is, undoubtedly, a graphic production, and earns its 15 certificate comfortably. It’s also been knocked for the liberties it takes with its history when putting its story across, with some justification. But it’s also most certainly terrific television, mixing in high production values with strong performances. In short, the ten episodes here will simply have you thirsting for the next series. Not before you’ve rewatched season one a few times, though... --Jon Foster

While there were some things about this series that had me pulling my hair out! I actually did enjoy this series. I am really into the Tudor history and I do know my fact from fiction. The part about Princess Margaret Tudor marrying with a Portuguese King left me thinking "Why OH Why"! Maybe eventually TV producers will listen and actually stick to fact. It seems crazy not to when the facts are just as exciting! It is sad that this has taken some of the gloss away from what is actually a really well made series.

Take it for what it is, there is still some historical ACCURACY in there and I like the fact they actually gave a mention to Henry's sisters, who both had amazing lives and are largely left out of all Tudor films completely (I do wish they had done it properly though :( ).

I think it is ok to accept some poetic licence though, The Tudors doesn't make claim to be historically accurate. But it is highly entertaining, beautifully done, the locations, costumes, casting (yes I know Henry is a bit suspect, blue eyes no red hair, but he does an ok job I think) Sam Neil is just Brilliant and Amazing as Wolsey!

I think they have enough detail in it and the script flows quite well, I think you really do get to know the characters and you get to like or hate them enough, which can be a hard thing to achieve.

The costumes are amazingly varied and beautiful. I think far superior to any I have seen before in Tudor films. I hope the costume department get credit for these as they really were fantastic. They may bordering on fantasy but...meh. Fantasy, Romance, Masques, was all the passion of Henry VIII so it is believable.

Anyway I would buy this and accept it for what it is, good fun, beautifully made and entertaining.

This is perhaps the worst historical drama series ever made. Apart from the hideous historical inaccuracies (e.g. using Victorian carriages to carry Henry V111 et al around)and the vast re-writes of history, the acting is dreadful. Anne Boleyn is like a giggly check out girl at Tescos in somewhere like Bromley. Henry V111 never gets fat and looks more like a thug in a Steven Spiegel movie than one of the most complex kings Britain has ever produced. If ever there was a reason to remove the BBC licence fee then this is it. The Tudors is complete bunkum from beginning to end. Don't waste your money on the DVD like I did!

This is a great series, OK may not be 100% accurate, but close enough to history to not make it a farce. This shows the rise to power of one of the most well known monarchs is British history, and his war against the Catholic church..... The whole cast is superb, with the 3 main factions (the Boleyn's, the Catholics and the Kings supporters) well portrayed. The first series is quite heavy on the sex, however as Henry was supposed to be a very virile king, I suppose that can be justified. My one small criticism is that sometimes it feels like they put so much in for shock value. Although I watched it when it was shown on the BBC, bought it as it is definitely one I will watch again.

I studied this historical period in depth and most evidence suggests, (and it is widely accepted), that Henry VIII was in fact a handsome young man in his earlier years. He was tall and solid, a bit unlike the typical stature of the time, one look at his suit of armour can tell us that. They image we usually see of Henry as a tall, large, bearded man was in his later years. Certainly around the time of his first marriage to Catherine, he was an athletic young man. Even after the end of his marriage to Jane Seymour, after her death, he was widely considered to be Europe's ultimate bachelor in a sense!
It doesn't matter about how good-looking he was on a scale of 1-10, or anything trivial like that. What matters is that he was a strong character who at times was weakened by his lust for women and power. Now, sex was a large part of that.. His desire for son and heir?
Do you think Jonathan Rhys-Meyers portrayed this image of Henry VIII well?

I applaud this series for making it an entertaining piece of drama to reach a wide audience. Personally, I thought it was excellent to watch, although some of the historical accuracies of the chronology or interpretations could be debated. It's unfair to call it 'porno', if you thought it was so awfully offensive, why did you watch the rest of the series? Either that, or you didn't, in which case, you probably don't have a very fair comment to make on this whole serial drama.

The only way to decide if you like this series, is to watch it for yourself. If reviews on here have made you nervous about buying the series, I would recommend it's certainly worth renting at least the first disc.

brilliant series! i love the tudors and this was perfect.
there are some historical inaccuracies but to be honest with a henry this hot who cares!
great series, wish it finished at this one though as the second is so inferior.