SYNOPSICS
Los Borgia (2006) is a Spanish,Italian,Latin movie. Antonio Hernández has directed this movie. Lluís Homar,Sergio Peris-Mencheta,María Valverde,Sergio Múñiz are the starring of this movie. It was released in 2006. Los Borgia (2006) is considered one of the best Biography,History movie in India and around the world.
Italy, 15th century. Rodrigo Borgia is a cunning schemer. For thirty years he has worked himself up in the Roman Catholic Church and now has been elected as pope by the college of cardinals. Borgia hasn't any religious motives though, it's all about power for him. With his papal power he starts a reign of terror, eliminating rivals. A new age will start for the Borgia family, he thinks and his four children are the most important pawns. His beautiful daughter Lucrezia and passive son Jofré are married off to tighten bonds with rival families. The same goes for Juan, who is also made captain of the Vatican army. Rodrigo's firstborn Cesare is now cardinal. He doesn't like it all. As the born fighter of the family, he sees himself most fit in the position of Juan. Cesare gets increasingly dissatisfied as cardinal and is more and more agitated by his family. Then Juan suddenly dies after an assault.
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Los Borgia (2006) Reviews
Fresh and lively, not too long
I have just finished watching the "versión extendida" of Los Borgia, the 2dvd-set lasting 92+93 minutes respectively. Was it too long? Not really. The story spans about 14 years (1492-1506), has three or four main characters (pope Alejandro VI with his children César, Lucrecia and Juan), each with their own plots and subplots. While I haven't seen any of the previous, shorter versions, I suspect they were too condensed to give much room to characterization and plot development. In fact, had Los Borgia been turned into a television series twice as long, it might have been better still. What did I like about this film? First, the way it was photographed, the sets and the dresses, that really looked like clothes made for wearing. Second, the acting, which was modest and unobtrusive. The characters -- usually taken to be the personification of all that is evil in the Roman Catholic Church -- were depicted as fully human, at times even likable, without taking away anything of the gruesomeness of their deeds. And that is the third thing I like about this film: the way the makers have turned a black page in church history into a lively period piece, without resorting to cheap pornography, as could easily have been the case. Some minor quibbles: the DVD does not have any extras, which always is a shame, and subtitles (Spanish or English) are sadly lacking -- a drawback to those who, like me, aren't Spanish and might have difficulties understanding everything that is said. Also, for those that are not well up in history around 1500, it might have helped if the makers had inserted dates every now and then. If I remember correctly only once a specific date (1503) is mentioned by one of the characters. In conclusion, I really liked this film. It gives a fresh and lively look on a controversial episode in the history of Europe.
Early dysfunctional family
When we first meet Rodrigo Borgia at a papal election, little prepare us for what this man would turn out to be after he gets to be Pope. His main rivals were Ascanio Sforza and Giuliano Della Rovere. The time was the last part of the XV century. Rodrigo, who was born in Spain, under a the name of Jofre LLancol, changed the name to Borja after his uncle Alfonso Borja was elected as Pope earlier in the century. His ambitions were enormous, and having served five different pontiffs before his own elevation, gave him a taste for power. After his election, Rodrigo took the name Alexander VI. It was common practice at that time that Popes, as well as members of the Catholic elite had families on the side. No one objected because it was a reality as members of that select group came usually from rich and powerful families. Rodrigo was no exception. After being enthroned, he set out right away to consolidate his power because his ambition was to rule the church as well as the rest of Italy. He sired four children, Cesare, Giovanni, Goffredo, and Lucrezia. For purposes of this film, the names of the children were changed to the Spanish version, thus they became Cesar, Juan, Jofre, and Lucrecia. Rodrigo had formidable enemies, but being a sly operator, he decided to marry his favorite daughter, Lucrecia to Giovanni Sforza, a match that should have consolidated his powers. Rodrigo was rumored had incestuous relations with his own daughter. Lucrecia in turn seemed to be quite taken with her brother Cesar. In the meantime, Rodrigo was happily distracted by Giulia Farnese, a gorgeous creature. The Borgias were one of the earliest dysfunctional families in history. The behind the scene machinations were the order of the day in the Rome of those days. All what mattered was how much power anyone had and whose loyalties the people in power had. In turn, their own ambition did them in. Rodrigo died poisoned and the children's fates are well known. Antonio Hernandez, the director of this ambitious film, centered the action around Rodrigo, who had his hands in everything imaginable. This is a biographic account of a family that was doomed because they had it all, but misused their power. Mr. Hernandez, who co-wrote the screen treatment presents a great spectacle to dazzle the viewer. Working with his cinematographer, Javier Salmones, he places the action in palaces and castles that lend themselves to the story. Sergio Peris-Mencheta makes a good impression with his take on Cesar. He casts a fine figure as the favorite son of Rodrigo. LLuis Homar's Rodrigo is perhaps the most dominant appearance in the film. Mr. Homar does a good job convincing the viewer he is the villain everyone felt he was. Maria Valverde makes a delicious Lucrecia, but Paz Vega has nothing to do. "Los Borgia" is a spectacle for history buffs. Although running more than two hours, it packs so much action so no one will feel bored.
Nice history of the family. Little about the period
Really nice film. I enjoyed it a lot, and was not long at all. May be is because I love historic films. One of the best things about the film, is the way the Pope and the cardinals are depicted. They are not pious people like in many films. Instead they behave like emperors and politicians, which is probably nearer the reality. There is also some nudity, but I don't think they abuse of it at all, even more if we read about the morals of the Borgia family. The only thing I didn't like much about the film, is that it narrates only the facts surrounding the Borgia family and their political interests, buts speaks very little about the overall situation in Europe, and the important changes in Europe's art and society during the 14th and 15th century.
A 15th Century Dysfunctional Family
'Los Borgias' is a nice film to look at. The sets, costumes and art direction are quite good and I think they fit with the time period. I also think director Antonio Hernandez has tried to make the film as historically accurate as possible. However, even though the film spans more than 2 hours, I felt that it was lacking in something. The characters aren't properly developed. The relationships between the characters are displayed quite well. It was rumoured that Rodrigo had an incestuous relationship with his daughter and the director too remains ambiguous in his depiction rather than 'taking sides'. I felt that the writer could have done more to delve into the psyche of Rodrigo and Cesar. Further on the technical side, the cinematography is inconsistent and the soundtrack is very standard. The performances at times appear theatrical. Lluís Homar is passable. Sergio Peris-Mencheta fits the part. The best performance comes from Angela Molina but her role is tiny and almost insignificant to the story. María Valverde performs decently. Paz Vega is wasted. As some have mentioned, 'Los Borgia' may have work better as a longer feature film (with adequate story and character development) or a TV series. Hernandez's film is a good enough one-time watch that attempts to provide some historical insight. At least it got me interested in reading about this dysfunctional family.
Well...
I'm always a believer in trying to find positive things to say about anything. So, here goes. First positive comment: The male leads are really great looking. Second positive comment: The female lead ain't bad either. Third positive comment: Ummm... This film is incredibly long. IMDb has a running time of 120mins, but I made it closer to 2 3/4 hours. This time dilation phenomenon was made even more noticeable by the fact that this was probably the most boring film I've seen since...since... Kingdom of Heaven last year. (You know, it makes my back creak to even think of that film again.) The one difficulty I had (apart from actually seeing the action past the members of the audience who kept leaving the auditorium in front of me) was that I found myself completely lacking any sympathy for the main lead roles. At all. I just didn't care what happened to them. They could have conquered Europe or caught Malaria and shivered away to frost and bone and I wouldn't have batted an eyelid. Lucretia Borgia was a an absolute love and I did at least feel sorry for her as her brothers and fathers had successive husbands organised, wedded to her and then murdered. Pobrecita! Also, I couldn't work out if there was a deliberate incest theme going on between her and the males in the family, There was lots of full-lipped kissing between them and her. I'm sure it's all been researched, but it was a bit odd. And, as all the women in the film ended up naked and all looked 'pre-raphaelite' it was hard to tell who was bedding whom at times. But the Guys? Come on! I was waiting for the father to die for the last hour and a half and hoped there'd be a rebellion a lot earlier in the film so it would all be over. Perhaps the director was trying to make the audience feel what it's like to live under an oppressive regime where you can't change anything. I too would have liked them all dead but surely that's not a good thing to say about the starring players whose every move you have to watch for 120/165 mins. I would like to say something else positive...think, think! The set's? No, nothing special. The music? No, irritatingly it repeated the same theme over and over again. No, not just the same theme, the same music! It's a shame the Borgias didn't conquer Germany or they might have learned what a variation was. (OK, I know I'm a few hundred years too early) The costumes? I was thinking during the final scene how completely amazing the photography was on House of the Flying Daggers. It's a sad moment for a film when you think how much better other films are WHILE you're still watching it. Set-piece action-sequences? There weren't any! Fisticuffs in the church square that was 100 times worse than a first-time amateur read-through of Mercutio and Tybalt and then a bit of horse riding here and there. Food? Even the popcorn machine was broken. (Not really a fault of the film, but it didn't help!) Nudity? If you're going to take someone's clothes off then make sure they're stunners, please. (Dove soap adherents make note) So, there you have it. In fact the best bit was when someone's mobile phone went off. The audience sighed with relief. When that happens, you KNOW the film's in trouble. I thought Snakes on a Plane was dodgy, but obviously I seriously misjudged the standard. Snakes on a Plane was un-reservedly EXCELLENT compared to this. AND they had girls whom it was worth paying to see naked. Don't hesitate when you come to chose where your money goes.