George Taylor So while we have 500 cable movies, why are so many movies, like this one, lost to viewers? An interesting look at British history, when they were paying the Danegeld, Michael York, as usual, gives a superb performance. Well worth hunting down to see, it's an enjoyable film.

lee-86603 If there is no historical accuracy then why bother and there is very little of that. The characteristics of Alfred's personality does not really seem to fit the historical record either. Because of the significant discrepancies it was hard for me to enjoy it. Not sure I am a big fan of the writing and the dialogue between Alfred and his wife. The Danes invented the shield wall not Alfred. Alfred built fortified towers to keep the Danes from having easy victories. His first child was not Edward. His wife was NEVER called the queen they just did not believe in that in those days. It was not really until Ethelred the unready named his wife Emma queen that the term was used regularly. NOTE: Emma was the mother of Edward the Confessor. At least they got it write that one of Alfred's major contributions was the writing of a code of laws and then education.

tonstant viewer I've been looking forward to seeing this movie for over a decade. Was it worth the wait?.....No.It's possible to make a great historical drama that combines plausible human interaction, Christian vs. Pagan triumphalism and rousing battle scenes. Franklin Schaffner's "The War Lord" with Charlton Heston works on all the prescribed levels, and has an unexpected emotional delicacy as well. It takes place only two hundred years after "Alfred the Great" does, so if you want a good costume picture that you will remember without regret, track down "The War Lord" immediately and dismiss this glum opus from your mind.James Webb wrote some crackerjack movies, among them "Trapeze," "The Big Country" and "Cape Fear." This is not one of his better ones. Clive Donner directed some good movies, including "The Caretaker," "Nothing But The Best," and "What's New, Pussycat." This is not one of his better ones."Alfred the Great" offers tiresome characters who interact in implausible ways, unpleasant and unsatisfying religious harangues, unattractive physical surroundings (the only picture I can think of offhand that makes the Irish countryside look repellent) and battle scenes that are long but only occasionally interesting. The script is clumsy and inaccurate, the direction is hit-or-miss. The whole proceedings are faintly depressing at best, and if you are feeling uncharitable, a lot worse.Among the actors, only Michael York appears to be having fun, playing a hairy villain for once instead of a saccharine juvenile. However, there is the grim pleasure of watching Ian McKellen in his film debut looking ugly and awkward, with no way of knowing that he would ultimately become a bigger movie star than the entire rest of the cast put together.

Didier (Didier-Becu) One of the most underrated actors of all time must be David Hemmings but sadly enough he will be immortal for his rol in "Blow up" and it also will be the role that will have chased him throughout his whole career. Sad to see that Hemmings appeared in very weak movies, like "Alfred the great" for instance. We go back to the 9th century at where East Anglia is overwhelmed by the cruel Danes and the help from Alfred (brother of the king who wanted to be a priest). Alfred the Great had his own methods to free his country and what could have been interesting has been completely destroyed as it's too boring (there is strong link to Hamlet's Shakespeare here, and we just saw it too much) or it is just too much of a silly actionmovie (the battles are so long that you tend to fall asleep). I really don't give a damn about this annoying movie that just seems to me like a Robin Hood-movie without a budget.