Product Details

• Actors: Paz Vega, Angela Molina, Maria Valverde, Sergio Peris-Mencheta and Llusi Homar
• Directors: Various
• Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: Spanish
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Navarre Corporation
• DVD Release Date: June 9, 2009
• Run Time: 143 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002624SIK
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,058 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Juan, Cesar and Jofré, the three sons of Rodrigo Borgia, are headed to Vatican City where it is being held the papal conclave to choose a new Pope. Upon arrival, they will be informed that his father has been elected "Pontiff" with the name of Alejandro VI. The new Holy Father dreams with expanding the Vatican territories in all possible ways. Meanwhile between brothers a great rivalry erupts, as the family enemies are waiting for any opportunity to stop the dominance of The Borgia's in Rome.

Juan, César y Jofré, los tres hijos de Rodrigo Borgia, se dirigen al Vaticano, donde se está celebrando el cónclave para elegir nuevo Papa. Allí se enteran que su padre acaba de ser elegido pontífice con el nombre de Alejandro VI. El nuevo Papa sueña con aumentar los territorios del Vaticano de todas las formas posibles. Entre los hermanos comienza una gran rivalidad, mientras los enemigos de la familia aguardan cualquier oportunidad para impedir la hegemonía de los Borgia en Roma.

English Subtitles

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

76 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars LOS BORGIA, December 8, 2009

By 

J. Prather (Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Los Borgia (The Borgias) (DVD)

First, a few clarifications. Although the "Product Details" section says the film is 120 minutes in length and is presented in a "full screen" version, it actually runs over two hours and twenty minutes and is in a wide-screen format(it looks to be about 2.35:1 to me). Yellow, English subtitles are also available.

Now for the movie itself. I'm not an expert, but the film seems to be fairly accurate historically, especially for "movie history". This is most apparent in the depiction of Lucretia Borgia, played by Maria Valverde. She is not the murderous poisoner of legend, but a pawn of her father and brothers who is married off so the Borgias can create political alliances with other powerful families. There are some liberties taken with historical facts in order to tighten the narrative and make events less confusing. For example, in reality, Lucretia was only thirteen years old at the time of her first marriage. However, there's plenty of corruption, intrigue and assassination to keep the film interesting. Late in the film, when it looks like it might be slowing down a bit, Paz Vega shows up as sword-wielding Borgia opponent Caterina Sforza and gives the film a shot of adrenalin.

The movie is beautiful looking with lucious sets, costumes, and photography. It's fortunate that the film is presented in widescreen so this can be fully appreciated. The acting is also fine. The film has many virtues, but for me, comes up just short of those other Renaissance films QUEEN MARGOT and the first ELIZABETH with Cate Blanchett. That said, it's still a fine, entertaining film and well worth watching.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Los Borgia is fine despite minor flaws, July 7, 2010

By 

TomCZorn (USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Los Borgia (The Borgias) (DVD)

My only major complaint is that the closing credits are in such small print that they are indecipherable, even on a large HDTV screen.

My best friend's major complaint is that everyone shown in the film was too clean, as if they all bathed every hour.

I don't know much about Italian history of the era of the Borgias, but the film appears to try to give an accurate and reasonably unbiased summary of known facts about the Borgias and their times. The cinematography is excellent, the music enhances the emotions without being overly dramatic, and the costumes and architecture aappear to be accurate. The acting is superb and convincing. Paz Vega is outstanding in a very small part.

The events are depicted realistically, with more violence than many would care for; this film is not for the squeamish nor is it appropriate for children.

I liked this film immensely, but I cannot place it on my list of 100 greatest films I've even seen. But I would regret having missed it. Note that it is presented entirely in Spanish, with English subtitles available.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "The Borgias" is a very good effort to re create a colourful period of the Italian history., June 5, 2010

By 

M. Wilkinson "M.Wilkinson" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Los Borgia (The Borgias) (DVD)

If you love history, as I do, you should not miss this movie. Pity it wasn't longer. Details are amazing. The resemblance - based, of course, on existing paintings - of the actors to the actual characters they were playing was just incredible.

Lucrezia Borgia, I was glad to see, was depicted not as the wicked woman we all remember but as a dutiful daughter, used by her unscrupulous father again and again as a pawn for the benefit of the family name.

This is an outstanding period piece. Thumbs up from me!