Paul Evans I feel a little naughty watching this right now, as ITV are currently transmitting Jenna Coleman's portrayal of Victoria, but I had to see it. A totally sumptuous film from start to finish, it looks sublime, the costumes are meticulous and opulent. Ir is easy to see the involvement of Julian Fellowes, it has a lot of historical accuracy, many costumes are exact copied for instance. The location work too, is simply first class.I know during its Cinema run, many people raised an eyebrow at Emily Blunt's casting as the young monarch, but in my humble opinion she does an incredible job, an utterly beautiful girl, she has more then enough presence to fill the shoes. Some of my favourite actors here, Miranda Richardson, Jim Broadbent etc, and they are all brilliant, but it's Blunt you can't help but keep your eyes fixed on.The music is glorious, from the very off, we here Zadok the Priest in the opening, and it just gets better.A tragic, but wonderful story truly is brought to life. Pure and raw emotion is captured in this film, the torment of longing and missing someone is beautifully captured, a very human film. 9/10

Kirpianuscus a real useful film. for its delicate beauty. for the different side of a legendary queen. for the recreation of atmosphere. for costumes. for the cast. and, more important, for the flavor who has different nuances by many other historical films because it gives the emotion who seems similar to the feelings when you admire old family pictures. its grace is the basic virtue . and the science of director to explore the parts of a kind of labyrinth of events, choices, gestures and decisions preserving the air of fairy tale who defines each love story. because it is a love story but "in nuce". the young queen is the axis of the venerable grandmother of Europe.

Tim Kidner Don't get me wrong, Emily Blunt seems perfect as the young Queen, her diction exemplary, her poise Regal. As are all the leading players are (not diction, or poise!) very good in their roles from our favourite big and small screen stars - Miranda Richardson, Paul Bettany, Mark Strong, Rupert Friend, Jim Broadbent etc.There are lots of reviews up here and so I won't want to repeat too much of they say, but somehow, the very high standards of production, often very glossy (and Oscar winner for Costume Design), plus the lush and swelling stereo (surround) sound, take away the tactility of both the subjects and the film itself. Not that I'm necessarily wanting to get back to the VHS quality of 1980s 'costume drama', mind you!Maybe it's because many of the characters are portrayed as hard-nosed and bitchy, out of date and greedy. This does highlight the romantic side of the film, though, between Victoria and Albert, as they get to know each other, but this takes a good while to reach and isn't as clammily awful as it could have been. Endearing almost, which is a bit distant from the often perceived hardness of the monarch in her more documented reign of later life.It's entertaining enough with some gorgeous photography of some lovely stately homes and is perfect fodder for a dark early winter's evening. There's no sex or violence, though adults will be in no doubt when those bits take place, hence the PG certificate.As a history lesson, it's OK, it's never rammed down our throats and if we choose, we can just let it run and simply enjoy the surface sheen. The acting never really is raised beyond what is needed - Jim Broadbent as King William IV shouting very loudly at a huge banquet might be considered as full-bodied acting but it's not necessarily good. The two main players do have their moments but Julian Fellowes' (writer also of Downton Abbey) screenplay is necessarily rather clipped and to the point - I don't think small-talk was the done thing in Victoria's household!So, good solid entertainment that's good to look at and which should please the Period Drama brigade as well as reaching a wider - and younger, audience. The Sinead O'Connor end titles song is a beautiful and fitting climax that firmly tells us that this film was intended to be a popularist one, which, I think is a good thing.

Armand delicate subject. beautiful images. science of detail. result - an history lesson, a love story, new slices from a princess life/struggle, great performance and drops of political affairs. first steps of a queen out of any definition. beginning of a new era. and atmosphere of romance, force, innocence and difficult decisions. its important virtue - grace. the impression of subtle dance in middle of arena. nothing complicated, all full of flavor of that period. it is not exactly a show. it is an exercise about values and feelings. sketch of freedom power. picture of ladder for metamorphose of a kind of Cinderella in a magnificent queen. only strange - the portrait of Leopold I of Belgium. but nothing is perfect!