Wolf Hall

For me Damien Lewis portrays Henry very effectively, he may not look like the King but he has that menacing way about him even when he smiles.  I have seen him play evil bad person in another film all to do in a prison and choosing him to play the King in Wolf Hall was a natural, logical choice for me. 

Same here - thought I'd watch on iPlayer, wasn't taken with Damien Lewis (possibly still tied in my mind with the dreadful 'Homeland'), did like Rylance but .......

Excellent really enjoying it, mind you we enjoyed Homeland too. 

WH is quite slow but that kind off adds to it. Can't say I've even noticed the music, so I guess it's not a distraction.

I absolutely loved it, although I have not read any of the books so I can't compare it with them. The performances - from Rylance and Bernard Hill particularly - were superb, and I loved the music as well.

Shooting in natural light, or by candlelight for the night scenes, was a masterstroke, wich gave the production a rather beautiful, moody sheen.

We've got the series recorded, for watching on rainy afternoons. I attempted to watch it when broadcast in the evening but its slow pace and rather subdued lighting sent me to sleep within ten minutes. But then lots of things do that to me.

The first book still resides on my Kindle but I did struggle with the style of writing and only managed a few pages before my attention wandered. I shall persist, probably when lying on a sunny beach somewhere very warm.

I watched the first couple of episodes but wasn't overwhelmed. I was out for the third episode and never bothered catching up. 

The series got better as it progressed. The final two parts, ending with the execution of Ann Boleyn, were superb.

I also agree with Kevin-W regarding the lighting but it helped if your room also had low lighting. It just added to the whole atmosphere of the production.

Dave

(Spoiler alert)

Oops!

Dave

I thought it was utterly wonderful, and the best thing I've seen on TV for years. The pacing was just perfect: so much TV these days seems to be produced for people with the atrention span of a gnat. I thought the music was perfect, and beautifully done.

Henry has six wives, in case anyone didn't know. Another one gets beheaded later..... who'd have guessed?

Really? I thought Hilary Mantel was still writing the book.

Dave

Ha. That brings to mind The Madness of King George. It was originally going to be called The Madness of George III, but the title was changed lest people wondered what had happened to the first two films.

I always wondered why they never made a sequel to Groundhog Day

For 'people' read 'Americans' - in the version I heard. Reminding me of the speculation - put to me once-  that 'Dances With Wolves' was probably the first film with subtitles that any 'Americans' had seen....boom tshh!

G

Wonderful TV drama. Magnetic performance by Rylance that reminded me of Derek Jacobi's presence in "I Claudius". I too struggled with the book but I might just give it another try.

Is there going to be another series of this ? The announcer at the end said that series one is available soon on DVD.

the art direction of this series is the best I have ever seen for this type of material.

Only when the author has published the final book in the trilogy. 2 years and waiting....

The BBC and her publisher should lock her in a room until it is done!

Bruce