Simply awful. We gave up after the first section. Glenn Close was fine but the actors playing the three sons were dire . And one turned out to be Rafe Spall who now delivers fine performances. The feasting scenes were laughable . The scenery lacked credibility. What a waste of effort; I am sorry that we bothered. Quite the worst film we have had from Cinema Paradiso !!
but difficult to avoid them when not only is this a remake of a distinguished film from the sixties, but both versions are based on the same stage play, and the scripts of the films are virtually identical (not necessarily a bad thing, because there is some fine language). Although there should have been more scope by 2003, this film does not escape its stage origins much more successfuly, despite lots of shots of the countryside and freezing cold settings complete with mistletoe. The direction is no more than workmanlike.
As for the performances, the three sons are a mixed bunch, with Rafe Spall unrecognisble as the fat, dim and vicious John. Anthony Howard does bring out some of the weakness and vanity which later made Richard I England's worst-ever king. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers actually isn't bad as the not-so-innocent young French king, although a haircut would have been welcome. As Henry's mistress and prospective daughter-in-law Alais, the beautiful Yuliya Vysotskaya (coincidentally, the wife of the director) models some nice clothes and pouts when required.
But this film revolves around the two leads. In Glenn Close and Patrick Stewart, the film has two fine actors and there's nothing very wrong; but for me, there is still a feeling that something important is missing, as if the key ingredient has been omitted from a classic dish. I think that is because they act the parts, quite well; but Hepburn and O'Toole actually elevated themselves beyond the script and in doing so, became these two people for a few hours, as if we were there in that French castle.