Customer Rating: 
Summary: "So much to do; so little time to do it"
Comment: I got this video out of interest in Martin Shaw's work, the actor who plays Cecil Rhodes in this video.
The story is told as a series of extended flash-backs into Cecil Rhodes life starting with his arrival into Africa to work in the Kimberly diamond mines. For some inexplicable reason, the script uses a very painful plot vehicle for these flashbacks, namely a Russian princess who was apparently out to get Rhodes in later life for some unexplained reason. This character is painful to watch. Thankfully, she doesn't appear that much. Cecil Rhodes was a very charismatic person, famous for his charm, and Martin Shaw's performance is up to the task. He gives a riveting perfomance; he especially pulls off the emotional scenes quite well. The supporting cast performances are also generally excellent, especially I enjoyed Neil Pearson who is cast as Dr. Jameson. Interestingly, the morally upstanding characters are generally played rather woodenly thoughout, whereas the morally questionable characters (and there are many -- Rhodes and Jameson leading the pack) are vivid and charismatic thoughout.
I did not know much about the history of Zimbabwe (was Rhodesia) before watching this. A little research beforehand would have helped me follow the plot (you can easily find the basic history on the web). The editting is fairly abrupt in many places, perhaps because the original BBC version was 8hrs while this version was cut down to 6hrs. This did not help following the plot either. Nonetheless, "Rhodes" is a very engaging historical drama and a facinating story of an incredible life.
Customer Rating:
Summary: As we now know it was, whether we like that or not.
Comment: So much has been written against white Rhodesia, it's history especially, that I was all the more curious about this series. I remember initially avoiding it when it played on our local PBS station. But I finally sat down and watched this series through in one sitting wondering at times the reasons for making this program. Cecil Rhodes as portrayed in the films came across unsympathetic; possessive, suspicious, power driven are a few of the adjectives I could attribute to this portrayal by actor Martin Shaw. But I was riveted at the same time. You see, this Rhodes was also charismatic, visionary, even messianic. And very determined to grasp and mold another country regardless of the costs even to himself. This film does show racial prejudice with all it's "warts" towards all non-English living in Rhodesia including the Dutch/Boers. It also captures the beauty of that part of Africa as all these people must have lived it. Vast and unspoiled places are so hard to envision in the 21st century. One does not have to like a film's subject to feel it is well done and this film is very well done. Rather than disliking this man, I came away from this film wanting to know much more about Cecil Rhodes. Perhaps that is the success of any historical portrayal. It leaves one intrigued, unsatisfied, and intent. I recommend it to anyone willing to examine the birth of a nation and the human costs it extracts. Rhodes himself died relatively young of a heart ailment; a condition about which he knew and knew further that had he chosen to live a quieter life in the English countryside he might have lived much longer.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Rhodes - Bringing civilisation to 'The Dark Continent'?
Comment: Casting ex- professional Martin Shaw in the role of Cecil J. Rhodes, this 6 hour epic charts the story of Rhodes, his henchmen , adversaries, dealings, deceptions and attempts to realise his dream of claiming all the land from 'the Cape to Cairo' for Britain. All in the name of 'progress'.This well researched piece accurately captures the ruthless ways of life in the frontiers of a mineral rich Kimberley and charts Rhodes as a young man (wonderfully portrayed by newcommer and Shaw's son, Joe), who, faced with terminal illness sets out to realise his Imperialist dreams.
The inluence and impact of Rhode's life on the shaping of the African continent was massive and he is the only man in history to have a country(Rhodesia) named after him. It was not until 1980 that Zimbabwe emerged as an independant nation, 78 years after Rhodes' death at 49.His Rhodes Scholarship for Commonwealth students at Auriel College, Oxford, lives on to this day.
'Rhodes' certainly bring to the forefront a great deal of controversy and poses many moral questions regarding Rhodes' methods adopted in persuing his ambitions. His ruthless treatment of the Matebele nation and deception of Lobengula, their King, seems not out of hatred for the native population but merely as an obstacle standing in the way of his Empire building and beliefs. All in all 'Rhodes' is riveting viewing and deals with a part of History previously relatively obscure.
It is dificult to decide one's opinion of the man even though his character is so fully developed.Ruthless, babaric, manipulative as well as considerate, emotional and generous can all be attributed to the man. The casting of the other main roles are excellent and will definitely encourage the viewer to research more into the period.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Rhodes - Bringing civilisation to 'The Dark Continent'?
Comment: Casting ex- professional Martin Shaw in the role of Cecil J. Rhodes, this 6 hour epic charts the story of Rhodes, his henchmen , adversaries, dealings, deceptions and attempts to realise his dream of claiming all the land from 'the Cape to Cairo' for Britain. All in the name of 'progress'.This well researched piece accurately captures the ruthless ways of life in the frontiers of a mineral rich Kimberley and charts Rhodes as a young man (wonderfully portrayed by newcommer and Shaw's son, Joe), who, faced with terminal illness sets out to realise his Imperialist dreams. The inluence and impact of Rhode's life on the shaping of the African continent was massive and he is the only man in history to have a country(Rhodesia) named after him. It was not until 1980 that Zimbabwe emerged as an independant nation, 78 years after Rhodes' death at 49. 'Rhodes' certainly bring to the forefront a great deal of controversy and poses many moral questions regarding Rhodes' methods adopted in persuing his dreams. His ruthless treatment of the Matebele nation and deceiving of Lobengula, their King, seems not out of hatred for the native population but merely as an obstacle standing in the way of his Empire building. All in all 'Rhodes' is riveting viewing and deals with a part of History previously relatively obscure. The casting of the main roles are excellent and will definitely encourage the viewer to research more into the period.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Both Shaws (Martin and son Joe) are excellent actors.
Comment: First of all, Joe Shaw played young Rhodes and father Martin Shaw played elder. Exciting, new "history" to me -- about Rhodesia and how it got there. I think it is kind of important. Yeah, Shaw wanted a British Empire, BUT he also had Africans marked in his mind as human beings who do count.
