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The acting in this movie by Catherine Zeta-Jones is excellent, as is the small part played by Omar sharif. The movie is strong on entertainment value, but, (like most movies) lacks a lot in the historical department. It starts out by Zeta-Jones telling the audience that she, Catherine the Great, was born in a different country with another name and religion, but they do not tell you what those things were. Catherine the Great was born a minor German Princess named Sophie Federicke August Von Anhatl-Zerbst in Stettin, Prussia, (which is now Szczecin, Poland) and was of the Lutherine faith. The movie implies that She, Catherine was forceable wisked away by the Russian Empress Elizabeth, when in actual fact her father worked long and hard to achieve her marriage to the nephew of the Empress. The movie emplies that her 1st son was not the issue of her husband, but of her lovers, when most Historians agree that he, Paul was indead her husbands child. His looks and terpenment were like her (simple minded) husbands. The movie lacks the beautiful scenery that other movies, like Elazebeth The Golden age show, but all in all the movie is good and has a good entertainment value. I hope this helps anyone who is thinking of buying this movie! Sincerely: PinkreadingladyRead full review
If you are able to get this A&E DVD release at a low price, this might be worth obtaining. However on a dramatic level this DVD falls short because the original 3 hour running time of this mini-series has been truncated to just 100 minutes! It's a frustrating experience but if one wants to see the entire 3-hour program, you might have to get the double disc DVD edition from Germany. (Naturally it's in English as well as optional German.)
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
PLOT: Catherine is 15 when drug into a marriage with Peter of Russia~ Catherine Zeta Jones is very good ~ soap opera tale but HISTORY made a bit more fun~ Catherine Zeta Jones IS FUN~ as the young and very reluctant Catherine who is drug into a horrible marriage at a young age~ Peter is a total selfish and dislikeable man~ gifted with music and little else why even his Mother the Empress Picks a man to "father" a child with Catherine since Peter is not able~ but Catherine is the best at intrigue and makes a game of TIME and patience since she simply waits for the death of the empress~ and then by having selected lovers and loyalty from the most important of the guards~ she has the army behind her~ When Peter takes the throne and plots to kill her~ SHE has a better move and has him removed from power and then with intrigue assumes to be made Empress~ and has the backing of everyone who counts~ and finally eliminates Peter~ and has a coronation so her CROWN is secure~ back stabbing plots counter plots and it goes on and on~ but Catherine (ZETA Jones ) that is glows as the lovely smart and every so cunning girl who takes the total control of all the Russian Empire~ ...better than I expected~ more fun fiction than fact but still we learn about a bit of history we knew little about~ I would give it a solid 7 out of 10 for history made a bit fun with a soap opera flare~ and she is gorgeous too~ IF YOU FOUND THIS REVIEW HELPFUL PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE~Read full review
First of all, I didn't like the price. Second, it was only an average, at best, production. I can understand why the previous owner wanted to get rid of it. Not very entertaining, however, the costumes were very nice. The little revolution that put her on the throne was not displayed in full action, and John Paul Jones involvement in the Turkish conflict was completely omitted. Sorry, not a very historically accurate production. It might have taken more time, but that would have been worth it
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Even though this movie stars Catherine Zeta-Jones who is a talented and beautiful actress, the fact that she stars in this movie is all it has going for it. The viewer gets to see her. I must also admit the costuming was done well. But! If you are searching for an excellent historical movie, this one falls way short of the line. What you see is Catherine Zetta-Jones acting seductive and in sex scenes. This movie does not go very far to tell the true life story of one of the most fastinating women in history. Most of what you have in this movie plot is narration and sex scenes. Hense, it should be called The sex life of Catherine the Great. DANG! What a disappointment! Not an epic movie by any standard. I am sorry I purchased this one.
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