King Charles III

A terribly flawed film. As a Shakespearean style tragedy, it's an interesting premise, but as "what if" history it surely falls flat. The writer (Mike Bartlett) needed to do his research (much better than he did). I can't believe this is what the BBC has become. I think they've lost their minds if they think they can keep distributing messes like this one.

Its astonishing the kind of battering this movie has taken from some critics. I watched it last night after the Royal Wedding (Harry & Meghan). I needed an antidote to a ceremony that had all the trappings of history and state yet seemed in other ways strangely...'other'. This movie certainly provided the antidote. I enjoyed it for its controversial view of a post Elizabeth II monarchical scenario. I think it scored well in several areas. It underlined the uncertainty arising after 70+ years of Elizabethan rule. That's 3 generations. Assuming Philip would have passed on before the Queen. Charles is shown as 'confused'. Quite probable. However much he prepares himself, the event when it happens will change everything... There is this question in many minds as to whether Charles will accept the kingship or pass it on to William asap. Then how will the political establishment react to the inevitable passing, esp. in view of a possibly stalling Brexit (not mentioned in the movie but there nonetheless). The relationship between Charles and the political establishment, and his sons, is esp. worth watching...

Tim Piggott-Smith does a very good job as Charles. I think William was also well drawn by the actor playing him. The interplay between William and Kate was fascinating. Is she really so driven? I was less impressed by the way Harry was drawn. Not the actor's fault...The script drew him as weak, muddled, somewhat rebellious and a bit 'out of it'. The Harry we know is gregarious, engaging, very active and dynamic, very much his own man and doing his own thing. But he is also very angry about everything re his late mother and how the Palace treated her. This hardly comes through at all. However, I agree with how the story portrays his relationship to the monarchy v the outside world. I watched this film online. I'll buy the DVD. Its worth it. It serves to remind people esp. in the UK, that there are ahead no more Royal weddings...only Royal funerals, for Philip then the Queen, within the next 5 yrs? This movie does us a service by helping to prepare people in the UK esp. and worldwide for that experience. When it happens, the world will change. However much anti-monarchists reject this, the British Monarchy is a Force, recognised and celebrated word-wide for 70+ years. When this happens, everything will change, somehow. I thank the producers for making this movie when they did. There are no spoilers in this review as far as I'm aware.

I don't give a rating because I only lasted 3 minutes into it. After hearing Camilla explain to Kate that Charles is king immediately after the queen's death instead of at coronation, and that the UK doesn't have a constitution, I knew this was written so that characters say things to each other that they already know, for the sake of the audience. Bad writing at its worst.

A great idea and a great presentation. The use of "language style" to separate the classes was a wonderful choice. While the underlying reason for the drama is a bit thin (contrived?), the presentation is well worth it.

This is a fictional story but using largely real, living people not even thinly disguised but under their real names. The time is the Day After Tomorrow, that is the very near future. My first reaction to seeing this is it is a blatant invasion of privacy and exploitation of their name and fame that would invite furious litigation in the USA. The portrayals of certain of the royals is quite defamatory, too.

On the other side, these are public figures and maybe under British law they have no expectation of privacy to defend. Or perhaps they all have given permission to BBC to portray them in any light it likes. The effect is startling here.

The musical score with its recurring bassoon motif is very similar to the music in the movie **Hamlet (2000)** starring Ethan Hawke as a modern day Prince of "the Denmark Corporation". Tribute or rip-off?