One of the most gorgeous, painterly films I've ever seen.

This is sort of a French 'Farewell My Concubine'. It's great to look at and the performances are excellent but because it is so epic a lot of stuff gets lost in the shuffle.

The problem here is that the plot is rather complex, involving a great number of characters whose alliances and motivations are often lost in the shuffle. It's extremely difficult to follow who is doing what and why they're doing it when so there's so much hysteria and intensity on the screen all the time. There is some compelling historical/family drama underlying it all, but it's so heavy on the fiery passions and raging tempers (not to mention blood and boobs) that it's mostly a mess.

A curious historical period drama from France, but nothing particularly special.

One of the goriest costume dramas that isn't out-and-out horror. Still not that great

Catholics against Protestants in 16th-century France. Holocaustically against them in a gruesomely detailed re-enactment of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, the movie's too-early centerpiece. I.e., off-center centerpiece.