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Customer Reviews of Warrior Queen

Those hopes were dashed in the first few minutes of the program and were never revived. My interest (and worse: the spirit of Boudicca) was brutalized by an incredibly poor script, that was brought to life by trite performances -- the result, I'm sure, of a wandering directorial view.

In trying to be a combination of historical drama, historical romance, morality tale, war film, and mystical allegory, WARRIOR QUEEN ends up failing on all counts. It's not good history. It's not entertaining history. And it's simply just not worth watching.

Historically Innacurate
I am a big fan of Celtic History, so when a sibling recommended this movie, I looked forward to watching it. Well, I had to admit I was rather disappointed. This film was little better than "Viking Queen" (cheesy 1967 film loosely based on the life of Boudicca), and in part I thought it was worse, because it was produced by PBS, and purported to be 'historically accurate'.

History: Its difficult to discuss the historical accuracy of Warrior Queen, without giving away major plot points. Let me just say, that a little research will prove that there were great liberties taken in the screenplay and the ending.... Distressingly inaccurate and silly.

Plot: the story was one sided. Celts = Good. Romans = Bad. While the depredations and depravity of the Romans were well covered in this film, Boudicca and the other Celtic tribes were equally brutal to Roman settlers and their families, often committing atrocities worse than those of the Romans. This was, of course omitted to make the Celts appear to be 'pure' and the Romans 'villainous and unscrupulous.' (However one may feel about Roman expansionism, they weren't all evil and corrupt).

The Setting: I thought this was the most accurate. The Roman camps, and the Celtic roundhouses were well done.

The Costuming: contrary to what was portrayed in the film, the Celts, especially the Celtic elite (of which Boudicca and her daughters were a part), understood proper hygiene, combed their hair, and did not run about the country side covered with dirt. Boudicca would need to inspire her troops with her wealth and power, not frighten them with her knotted dread-locked hair and Conan-garb.

Customs: The Celts may not have a traditional written language, but they are strong orators. The skill of their bards, druids and poets were well known. Druids were educated for years in specialized schools. However, when faced with events where oration is required Boudicca and her drippy husband say nothing. The druid says nothing. They appear ignorant and savage rather than strong, boastful and hospitality conscious.

Finally: Celtic Combat. The Celts did not have such a highly developed cavalry. They relied on foot soldiers and charioteers to deliver devastation upon their enemies. I know of no incidents where Children were used to 'burrow' underneath roman forts to create spider-holes and can't imagine a Roman legion falling for such a blatant ploy. Silly.

I could go on and on, but I won't. Warrior Queen was an ok piece of entertainment...But as a docu-drama it didn't work for me.

Wretched beyond belief
Let me quickly state that I am not reviewing this DVD release per se; I am basing my critique on viewing the TV broadcast last year. My memory has thankfully gone dim on many details, but I came away from the tube thinking, "Whoa -- that may have been the worst historical epic I've ever seen."

How did the producers manage to take a very straightforward event, easily translated onto the screen, and mangle it so thoroughly? Beats me. Boudicca's tale should make a fine motion picture -- think "Braveheart" with gender-reversal -- but this ain't even close. Everything about it struck me at the time as sloppy, dopey, inaccurate, unengaging, and flat out awful. History is blatantly rewritten whenever convenient, fantasy substitutes for reality (literally -- the Celts use actual working MAGIC against Rome, how unfair of them, even though it doesn't turn the tide) , and production values are fifth rate at best. Nothing works -- not the ridiculous script, not the hamasaurus acting, not the woeful direction or leaden pacing, not the terrible costume design (the ancient Britons look like cavemen, the Roman army seems to be wearing tin foil and plastic), nothing. What a senseless waste of someone's money. Shame on them all. The real Boudicca would burn this lot to the ground faster than she did Londinium. Consider yourself warned.