Very disappointed :(

Purely Joyful Movie!

Memorable, crazy movie

One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

Abdul Karim and a colleague are imported from India to make a presentation to Queen Victoria. Long after Prince Albert and her friend John Brown died, the Queen is old, tired, depressed and bored, and the introduction of the Indian piques her interest: he becomes a Court favourite to the consternation and annoyance of her Head of Household, the Prime Minster, and her son and first in line for the throne. The film tells of their relationship and the background politicking against Karim up to Victoria's death and Karim's return to India.This film is, in many ways, a sequel to Mrs Brown, Judi Dench's 1997 first entry as Queen Victoria and, in some respects, treads similar ground as regards a friendship regarded by some as "inappropriate." This one is quite funny - the audience was frequently chuckling.The script is good and the cast are excellent with, of course Dench on particularly good form as the aged monarch. The story is true - "mostly", as it says at the start - and, if so, the behaviour of certain individuals after Victoria's death is reprehensible.Showings at my local (Isle of Wight) cinema were packed, what with location filming taking place at Victoria's holiday hideaway at Osborne House on the Island, and reactions from the mostly elderly audience were very positive. And I enjoyed it very much despite it not being my type of film.

Did Queen Victoria, head of the church of England, defender of the Christian faith, die in her sins?According to the movie Victoria and Abdul she did exactly that. In her death bed scene there is no Arch Bishop of Canterbury and no mention of Christ or Christianity. In their place is a Sufi Muslim quoting from Rumi with the implied view that Muslims are a peaceful folk and that Victoria died a Muslim with no savior.The movie could have been a good one with superb acting by Judi Dench and many light-hearted and funny scenes but it was flawed by the politically correct author, director, producers, and screen writer who want to push their anachronistic/pc views through a period piece.What a shame that these kind of movies always have to be flawed by faulty worldviews that seem to be always anti-Christian and anti-Western.

The first thing anyone will say after watching this movie is how utterly amazing Judi Dench is, and rightly so, she ones again dons the robes of Queen Victoria and gives a commanding performance as one of the most famous monarchs. A performance worthy of an Oscar, she is an actress with unrivalled talent. This film is so much more then Dench's performance, spellbinding though it was.Ali Fazal, also worthy of accolades and awards, for his superb performance as Indian servant Abdul Karim. His performance is actually rather captivating, The Queen was taken under his spell and as a viewer so was I. Such an intriguing, fascinating character, probably unlike any other man she'd ever encountered.Superb production values throughout, the film was visually dazzling, sumptuous settings, jaw dropping costumes, this was a treat for the senses.A film is meant to move, and allow for escapism, when it can educate as well, it's worth of the elevated sore of 10/10.Absolutely loved it.

A very nice but very dull movie about Queen Victoria (Judi Dench) and a friendship she strikes up with a visiting Indian servant.This is the kind of movie that you can walk out on for long periods of time, come back to, and still know exactly what's happening because everything is geared to being as unchallenging and transparent as possible. If you're terrified of having a thought of your own during a movie, this is the one for you. Dench is cranky and regal, the Indian servant is refreshingly articulate and human (but wait, aren't all Indians supposed to be savages?!!), and the British aristocracy are presented not just as jerks but as bumbling foolish jerks. We know who the bad English people are because they smirk directly into the camera and practically twirl their silent movie villain mustaches. At one point, after talking about traditional English cuisine, one Indian leans into another and proclaims the English to be savages for eating things like blood pudding. Get it? Because English people think Indians are savages, and now the Indians think the English are savages. Isn't that funny?!!"Victoria and Abdul" is the kind of movie the Academy turns to when they need a fifth one to fill out their costume design category. Grade: C