topic Re: Wolf Hall PBS in Community Chat

Wolf Hall PBS

lulu2 — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 00:52:27 GMT

I wanted to love this but it was beyond slow. (and boring) My husband fell asleep.

If you do not know the back story of Henry VIII, Thomas Cromwell, Cardinal Wolsey, etc, you are definitely have a disadvantage.

I'll give it another week before I call it quits.

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

PinkyPetunia — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 01:00:36 GMT

I also thought it was boring and slow. Will try a few more episodes because I like that period of English history. Philippa Gregory wrote some fantastic novels of this time period (all her novels are fantastic, for that matter) that I could not put down.

I am not familiar with the author of Wolf Hall.

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

SydneyH — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 01:01:46 GMT

Slowest moving book I've ever read and I read a lot.......

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

issiestorm — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 01:07:05 GMT

Gregory took a historical era and turned it into fiction. Many people have a completely incorrect view of the Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn period due to her novels. She also seemed to really dislike Anne Boleyn for some reason. The movie 'The Other Boleyn Girl' is based on one of her fictitious books.

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

KellyS — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 01:16:00 GMT

I know little ""back story"" and still enjoyed the show. Like the actor playing Cromwell and it's good to see Damien Lewis again!

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

chessylady — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 01:19:56 GMT

I agree, the book was very dry. I have read numerous books on Elizabethan England so I enjoyed the show. I can see where those unfamiliar with the intrigues would have a hard time.

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

lulu2 — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 01:38:17 GMT

On 4/6/2015 KellyS said:
I know little ""back story"" and still enjoyed the show. Like the actor playing Cromwell and it's good to see Damien Lewis again!

Not a spoiler but pay close attention to the religious aspect of the story.

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

sunshine45 — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 03:25:41 GMT

my daughter, who is a tudor history buff, says the book was pretty awful. she saw the play in london and said that the play was good. she is hoping that the series will be a lot better than the book, but she has not had the chance to see the first episode yet. she also collects a lot of henry the 8th memorabilia.

she says the phillipa gregory books are just chick-lit with little substance if you are a true tudor history buff.

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

Moonchilde — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 03:45:03 GMT

Not, they are saying, television that will have a lot of appeal to American (vs. British) audiences. It will be unrelentingly dark and twisted, with no light moments and almost no likable characters.

I'm a history buff and a British history buff in particular, but even that's not enough to keep me going until the end, probably. Such.heavy.going.

But there is Mark Rylance (wonderful actor, and the very first artistic director of London's Globe Theatre), Damian Lewis (thud!), the costumes, and the great Tudor houses. Not sure how long I'll last. I didn't like so much time-shifting in Episode 1.

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

insomniac — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 10:53:52 GMT

The book was wretched. I read the whole thing, but it was tortuous.

One of my book clubs chose to read the sequel. That one I did not finish. Enough is enough.

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

insomniac — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 10:54:47 GMT

On 4/6/2015 moonchilde said:
Not, they are saying, television that will have a lot of appeal to American (vs. British) audiences. It will be unrelentingly dark and twisted, with no light moments and almost no likable characters.

I'm a history buff and a British history buff in particular, but even that's not enough to keep me going until the end, probably. Such.heavy.going.

But there is Mark Rylance (wonderful actor, and the very first artistic director of London's Globe Theatre), Damian Lewis (thud!), the costumes, and the great Tudor houses. Not sure how long I'll last. I didn't like so much time-shifting in Episode 1.

Oh, I love the use of the word "thud!"

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

TaxyLady — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 13:55:38 GMT

I liked it. Not the best film about the monarchy I have seen but I didn't find it dry. I still don't know what that ""sleeping sickness"" was that was going around in those days. What would we call it today?

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

muttmom — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 14:04:16 GMT

On 4/7/2015 TaxyLady said:
I liked it. Not the best film about the monarchy I have seen but I didn't find it dry. I still don't know what that ""sleeping sickness"" was that was going around in those days. What would we call it today?

It was the Sweating Sickness.

I thought the show was terribly slow and difficult to follow even for someone who knows quite a lot about this period in history. I'm going to try to hang in there and watch as there are only 6 episodes in total.

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

Moonchilde — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 14:17:14 GMT

On 4/7/2015 insomniac said:
On 4/6/2015 moonchilde said:
Not, they are saying, television that will have a lot of appeal to American (vs. British) audiences. It will be unrelentingly dark and twisted, with no light moments and almost no likable characters.

I'm a history buff and a British history buff in particular, but even that's not enough to keep me going until the end, probably. Such.heavy.going.

But there is Mark Rylance (wonderful actor, and the very first artistic director of London's Globe Theatre), Damian Lewis (thud!), the costumes, and the great Tudor houses. Not sure how long I'll last. I didn't like so much time-shifting in Episode 1.

Oh, I love the use of the word "thud!"

I have been lucky enough to see him out and about twice when he was living in the US, once with his wife & child. He is even handsomer in real life, and his hair/beard are redder than they photograph. Hehe...

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

lovescats — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 14:23:04 GMT

I only watched for a couple minutes before I fell asleep but I didn't like reading all that stuff that they did to transition the scenes but I'll plan on going back to try to watch it again.

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

TaxyLady — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 14:29:49 GMT

On 4/7/2015 muttmom said:
On 4/7/2015 TaxyLady said:
I liked it. Not the best film about the monarchy I have seen but I didn't find it dry. I still don't know what that ""sleeping sickness"" was that was going around in those days. What would we call it today?

It was the Sweating Sickness.

I thought the show was terribly slow and difficult to follow even for someone who knows quite a lot about this period in history. I'm going to try to hang in there and watch as there are only 6 episodes in total.

Thank You.

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

Lynneuk — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 15:47:24 GMT

I thought it was good! Made the characters very human and real. I think sometimes people are so used to American shows and films that are fast paced, loud and dramatic that they can't enjoy quiet, calm acting,lol.

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

WaJa61 — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 17:03:35 GMT

I enjoyed it, too, Lynneuk, and all its subtle nuances. Nicely woven with a very authentic feel.

The flashback scene of Thomas Cromwell and his father... took me by complete surprise.

I will continue to follow the series, though I have not read the books.

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

bikerbabe — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 17:05:35 GMT

I'm watching!

Re: Wolf Hall PBS

SydneyH — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 17:10:57 GMT

On 4/7/2015 insomniac said:
The book was wretched. I read the whole thing, but it was tortuous.

One of my book clubs chose to read the sequel. That one I did not finish. Enough is enough.

Oh no, not a sequel to that dreadful book, lol. I do favor Damien Lewis though, perhaps I shall venture a peek......