Grimerlana
Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike
Rosie Searle
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
Bob
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
cwthe3rd
Extremely well written/directed/acted!Naturally, "the book is better", but what's new about that line?See it asap...
sparkerd
I stared in disbelief as Nicole Kidman entered and I was expected to believe she was a young maybe early 20's woman. I love her don't get me wrong, but that was beyond any sense of reality. Her simpering sugary overly acted "love" affair with Franco made me gag on it's sugary soft spoken sweetness and Franco always looked like he was about to turn to the camera and say, just joking wah wah wah. I don't even know what this movie was supposed to be about as my mind kept straying to other things. Should I go to the grocery store or just order a pizza. Should I do laundry now or wear an outfit I don't really like but is clean for work tomorrow. What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow. At about the halfway mark I threw in the towel and just looked up the actual woman. Her biography was far more interesting than this tripe that the director wanted to go who knows where.
gradyharp
Indeed, one of the first feminists to make a major mark on the world was Gertrude Bell and this cinematic dramatized biography, while magnificent to view and sumptuous in visual details, is not what we have grown to expect from writer/director Werner Herzog who has studied history, literature and theatre and founded his own production company in 1963. Has staged several operas, besides others in Bayreuth, Germany, and at the Milan La Scala in Italy. Herzog has won numerous national and international awards for his films. We have come to depend on his illumination of great people of history: in QUEEN OF THE DESERT he seems anchored in created a vastly impressive period piece rather than focus on the extraordinary accomplishments of Gertrude Bell.As the description states the film is a chronicle of British socialite Gertrude Bell's life, a traveler, writer, archaeologist, explorer, cartographer, and political attaché for the British Empire at the dawn of the twentieth century whose impact on the decisions made about the lands of Arabia and the Middle East were of major importance. She was a woman who left the comforts of life to become and intrinsic part of the great desert she loved so passionately. Gertrude is played with grace by Nicole Kidman, her love interests are Henry Cadogan played by James Franco (impressive in a romance drama for a change), and Charles Doughty-Wylie (Damian Lewis). The supporting cast includes Jay Abdo as Gertrude's guide Fattuh, Christopher Fulford as Winston Churchill, ad Robert Pattison as Col. T.E. Lawrence (aka Lawrence of Arabia).The photography is splendid (Peter Zeitlinger) as is the musical score by Klaus Badelt. QUEEN OF THE DESERT is a fine evening's entertainment – if only the film had focused more on the incredible life and achievements of Gertrude Bell
nzswanny
Truth be told, I haven't seen many Herzog films (although I wish I had now) which is probably why I enjoyed this more than that person who said "a typical Herzog." I thought the cinematography was really good and accurately displayed how Gertrude Bell viewed the countries in her perspective. Nicole Kidman was good in her role and so was the rest of the cast, who all gave good, realistic, stable performances. The editing to join the scenes together was very good, and because of the really good editing the film had a nice flow to it that can let you be carried by the film's wind. The true story that this film was based on is also very interesting, and was a good choice for a movie.Overall, I think you'll like it if you're like me and haven't seen many Herzog movies. Sorry about the bad review, but don't worry, I'm working on it. Right now, I'm just stating what I liked about the film, and if you'd like it or not. My personal opinion is 8.0/10, mostly because of the adventurous, exotic and foreign tone and the beautiful cinematography, and I think you'll enjoy it if you don't have too critical a mind.
