Every historical film, it seems, has certain requirements: galloping horses, characters swathed in yards of tapestry fabric, demure yet treacherous ladies-in-waiting. Mad Love has all that and more.

| Oct 31, 2018

dwells on questions of Joan's madness to the point of exhaustion

| Original Score: D | Feb 22, 2010

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 23, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | May 20, 2003

A sumptuously-appointed account of the life of the 16th-century Spanish royal Joan of Castile.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 10, 2003

A chick flick of the first order, disguised by just enough historical detail to elevate the proceedings somewhat.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 10, 2003

Nothing more or less than an outright bodice-ripper -- it should have ditched the artsy pretensions and revelled in the entertaining shallows.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jan 10, 2003

Aranda's screenplay and direction are rather shallow, so that this bodice-ripper feels more like a Lifetime made-for-cable movie than an epic, tragic romance.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jan 3, 2003

Accuracy and realism are terrific, but if your film becomes boring, and your dialogue isn't smart, then you need to use more poetic license.

| Dec 19, 2002

So vivid a portrait of a woman consumed by lust and love and crushed by betrayal that it conjures up the intoxicating fumes and emotional ghosts of a freshly painted Rembrandt.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 24, 2002

Lush and beautifully photographed (somebody suggested the stills might make a nice coffee table book), but ultimately you'll leave the theater wondering why these people mattered.

| Oct 24, 2002

Less a study in madness or love than a study in schoolgirl obsession.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 17, 2002

| Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 14, 2002

There's no point of view, no contemporary interpretation of Joan's prefeminist plight, so we're left thinking the only reason to make the movie is because present standards allow for plenty of nudity.

Full Review | Oct 11, 2002

Who needs love like this?

Full Review | Oct 8, 2002

The modern-day royals have nothing on these guys when it comes to scandals. It's only in fairy tales that princesses that are married for political reason live happily ever after.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 4, 2002

There's a little violence and lots of sex in a bid to hold our attention, but it grows monotonous after a while, as do Joan and Philip's repetitive arguments, schemes and treachery.

| Original Score: C+ | Oct 3, 2002

Interesting both as a historical study and as a tragic love story.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 27, 2002

It's Lpez de Ayala's show, and she's relentless in her energy and passion.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Sep 27, 2002

A bodice-ripper for intellectuals.

| Sep 20, 2002