Richard III: The King in the Carpark + Richard III: The Unseen Story [DVD]

Very interesting to think king Richards body was found in a Car Park with the letter R marked on a parking spot!!! Whatever the true story is about the prince's in the tower at least he was given a proper buriel

I was a bit wary about buying this DVD because of the other reviewers, some of whom complained about the sound quality and the fact that Philippa Langley appeared to be hysterical and on the verge of tears most of the time.Yes, it was a bit muffled sounding at first but either it wore off or I got used to it. The actual live action at the dig was fine - it was the interviews with the participants that were of a different sound quality but... no matter - it wasn't that detrimental to the enjoyment of the film.As for Philippa Langley being hysterical - she wasn't that bad! A bit over emotional at times because, being a Ricardian she wholly believes in Richard III being a good bloke who definitely didn't murder the Princes in the Tower, didn't have a spinal curvature, didn't have a withered arm, and basically didn't do anything naughty whatsoever! Ricardian's are all about defending the reputation of the king and any aspersions cast upon him are offensive to them. That's probably why she got so emotional and was unable to look at the project from a scientific point of view - all she saw was the poor, brave man, unhorsed and surrounded by his enemies, fighting in vain for his life.This film tells the story of the dig for his body from day one, which is the day the actual body was discovered. Obviously, definite confirmation took a little longer but Philippa Langley's intuition told her that these were the bones of the 'lost' king from the word go and she was right. It took a little longer for the sceptical archaeologists to be convinced.If you've seen Steve Coogan's movie, this documentary is the real thing and is more clinical and factual. The movie is a warmer, personal viewpoint and gives more of a detailed account of the initial research and the funding struggle behind the dig and of Philippa's complicated personal life.Read John Ashdown-Hill's book on the subject and also Philippa Langley & Michael Jones' books first and you will enjoy this DVD much more because all the complicated feudal background of the Wars of the Roses described in the books, which is hard work at times, will become apparent as you watch the documentary.Well worth watching if, like me, you missed it when it was on TV.

This documentary gripped a significant proportion of the population when it was screened by Channel 4 in February 2013, even those who have little interest in medieval history or the debate over the true character of Richard III which has occupied historians ever since. The quest to uncover the remains of England's most infamous monarch, the last king to lead his troops into battle and the only one not to have received a proper funeral or a lasting memorial to commemorate his life, is an engaging story if only because it flew in the face of what academics thought reasonably possible and overcame odds of a million to one when the remains of the last Plantagenet king were uncovered in a Leicester car park.The passion of Philippa Langley, who was the prime motivator behind the "Looking for Richard" project, is evident throughout and endears her to us. But the documentary's presenter, Simon Farnaby, steals the show. He is the perfect foil when Philippa becomes rather too emotional and he uses his natural, gentle humour to good effect. He approaches the project armed only with the Shakespearean tradition of Richard's character - that of a vile, grasping tyrant with a hunch back and a withered arm - but his light hearted approach does not mask the very serious contention that Richard was maligned by the Tudors and was, by medieval standards, a good ruler and may not have been guilty of the crimes of which he has been accused.Those who are satisfied by an overview of history will be enthralled by this documentary. Those who wish to look deeper will find it a perfect introduction to further research.I would have presented this review with 5 stars but for the sound quality of the DVD. At times, the background music is rather too much in the foreground, obliterating the narration.

I watched the seeking, finding, digging up. The celebrating, the interview with the G G G something nephew who later made a coffin. The funeral etc. Of course if the tale of his mother's sex life is true Edward 4th was not a true son and the missing princes were not legally princes and after the drowning in wine that brother was gone so Richard was the true king after all.great book.