Much has been said about many such series in recent years, such as "The Borgias" and indeed "The Tudors", but in both cases, the titles are where it starts with crumbling the monument of real history telling.
Of course, writers, directors and producers may say what they will, and audiences may applaud and cheer on them as much as they want, but history is made by much sterner stuff than this.
And by history I mean thoroughly researched and seriously absorbed history, not this comic book / soap opera style crap of trash that keeps on appearing on our screens these days.
Some people are fighting against revisionism of recent history, but hey should also fight against the same when it comes to more remote history telling.
And indeed, if one would only bother to put his nose into real history and biographic books, he would soon discover the true facts of the reign of Henry VIII.
But seemingly and in this particular case, no one really cared so much about reading (of course, and as usual, too much effort).
Instead, what you get here is a smorgasbrod of nonsense played out well by all concerned, in a modernized and falsely fascinating fantasy world of its own.
Younger generations may indeed prefer this version, rather than other more significant and better told tales of the same, and this is why illiteracy today is so rampant and so shamelessly popular.
Why bother with history if you can rewrite it to suit your own fancies and tastes? Well, at least that's what Hollywood and even some British and Irish production companies may think.
But who is the real winner and who is the real loser here?
Winners are those who make money out of these idiotic retelling of history and real losers are those who absorb such products as if they truly represented something of value, when in reality, they are just being taken for a ride.
It is so very disappointing to see how shallow and empty this world has become, with people only being interested in being "entertained" instead of being "informed" and perhaps also why not, "educated".
Ah, that ever lasting self gratification some people have craving for. But is it really so satisfying to know that what you are watching is indeed worthless, when in reality it could have been done in a much more serious way, and perhaps, only perhaps, in the correct and well researched way?
What? We don't have actors anymore interested in playing real historic figures? Are you kidding me?
Of course we have them! And any serious and well committed and trained actor or even actress would actually prefer to play a true biopic of a historic figure, rather then one based on various speculations in time.
Any such actor would jump at the chance to get into the skin of a King, a Duke, a Master or any important figure in history, if the script reflected true events and true history.
But some actors these days only accept roles if well paid and do not care about whether it is the fruit of an absent minded writer or deranged producer, as long as it appears "original", and of course as said, well compensated.
And, oh by the way, and by all means, yes of course, having also a fair exposure on the publicity and fashion market, why not? That brings even more money into the coffers of wastefulness.
And there it goes, history being splattered to the wall like a modern piece of cheap painting art, without intrinsic meaning, nor value and not even solid ground, just thrown to the four winds of movie making.
And they dare call it art...
I have seen better forms of art in paintings of David or Velasquez, or even in the writings of William Shakespeare than this.
But this is the post-Andy Warhol world, where everything can be considered art as long as it is in a serial format.
And there you have it, your modern piece of... well, let me not go into the depths of vulgarity here, but just say wasteful time and escapist wishful thinking.
If you want real history being told, then go and browse for "Henry VIII and His Six Wives" (movie) or better still "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" (The original mini series) dated back in 1972 and 1970 respectively.
Of course, writers, directors and producers may say what they will, and audiences may applaud and cheer on them as much as they want, but history is made by much sterner stuff than this.
And by history I mean thoroughly researched and seriously absorbed history, not this comic book / soap opera style crap of trash that keeps on appearing on our screens these days.
Some people are fighting against revisionism of recent history, but hey should also fight against the same when it comes to more remote history telling.
And indeed, if one would only bother to put his nose into real history and biographic books, he would soon discover the true facts of the reign of Henry VIII.
But seemingly and in this particular case, no one really cared so much about reading (of course, and as usual, too much effort).
Instead, what you get here is a smorgasbrod of nonsense played out well by all concerned, in a modernized and falsely fascinating fantasy world of its own.
Younger generations may indeed prefer this version, rather than other more significant and better told tales of the same, and this is why illiteracy today is so rampant and so shamelessly popular.
Why bother with history if you can rewrite it to suit your own fancies and tastes? Well, at least that's what Hollywood and even some British and Irish production companies may think.
But who is the real winner and who is the real loser here?
Winners are those who make money out of these idiotic retelling of history and real losers are those who absorb such products as if they truly represented something of value, when in reality, they are just being taken for a ride.
It is so very disappointing to see how shallow and empty this world has become, with people only being interested in being "entertained" instead of being "informed" and perhaps also why not, "educated".
Ah, that ever lasting self gratification some people have craving for. But is it really so satisfying to know that what you are watching is indeed worthless, when in reality it could have been done in a much more serious way, and perhaps, only perhaps, in the correct and well researched way?
What? We don't have actors anymore interested in playing real historic figures? Are you kidding me?
Of course we have them! And any serious and well committed and trained actor or even actress would actually prefer to play a true biopic of a historic figure, rather then one based on various speculations in time.
Any such actor would jump at the chance to get into the skin of a King, a Duke, a Master or any important figure in history, if the script reflected true events and true history.
But some actors these days only accept roles if well paid and do not care about whether it is the fruit of an absent minded writer or deranged producer, as long as it appears "original", and of course as said, well compensated.
And, oh by the way, and by all means, yes of course, having also a fair exposure on the publicity and fashion market, why not? That brings even more money into the coffers of wastefulness.
And there it goes, history being splattered to the wall like a modern piece of cheap painting art, without intrinsic meaning, nor value and not even solid ground, just thrown to the four winds of movie making.
And they dare call it art...
I have seen better forms of art in paintings of David or Velasquez, or even in the writings of William Shakespeare than this.
But this is the post-Andy Warhol world, where everything can be considered art as long as it is in a serial format.
And there you have it, your modern piece of... well, let me not go into the depths of vulgarity here, but just say wasteful time and escapist wishful thinking.
If you want real history being told, then go and browse for "Henry VIII and His Six Wives" (movie) or better still "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" (The original mini series) dated back in 1972 and 1970 respectively.