BallWubba Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

Verity Robins Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Tymon Sutton The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Kirpianuscus a parable. or a confession. in fact, only a Visconti. because , like many of his film, Ludwig presents the fall of a world. its solitude, its errors. its illusions, fights and manner to discover the reality exploring the soul's questions. each scenes compose a parable. not exactly about a Bavarian king but about the need of director to define a trilogy from Ludwig is the last part. and the success of exercise has two remarkable pillars : Helmuth Berger and Romy Schneider. Empress Sissi is the same from the pink romantic films who defines the youth of Schneider. her experiences are different. and that is the basic nuances who transforms Ludwig in a brilliant parable about power and about beauty.

t_atzmueller "I would like to remain an enigma; to myself and to others", is one of the most memorable (and cryptic) remarks of Ludwig II, the last king of Bavaria. Whether intentional or not, director Visconti seems to have honored the wish of the tragic monarch. Rather than analyzing the person Ludwig, Visconti focuses almost entirely on Ludwig being a neurotic being, alienated from the real world, living in his own fantasy-land of music and mythology, a classic closet-gay, whose entire existence is overruled by his suppressed sexuality.Arguably there has been much more to the historic Ludwig, which was a very complex human. However, this doesn't make "Ludwig" a bad movie.The movie is carried by Helmut Berger who proved with "Ludwig" that is wasn't only a mere pretty face and the toy of homosexual filmmakers, but that he could actually act formidably (and it's rather sad that his carrier declined rather steep after "Ludwig", coming to a point where he only haunted the tabloids with drunken antics, today a mere wreck and definition of a shadow). Equally strong are actors Trevor Howard as the manipulative Richard Wagner and Romy Schneider, who played Sissy, empress of Austria, for the fourth time and finally got to play the character as a real human-being, far off the schmaltzy persona of the Ernst Marischka trilogy.Further points go to the exquisite cinematography and having filmed on the authentic locations ("Ludwig" was among the last films that was permitted to be filmed in Ludwig's castles, which remain among the most visited tourist-attractions in Bavaria, perhaps with the exception of the "Oktoberfest"). Though Visconti obviously has an eye for the aesthetic beauties of the locations, he manages to build up an almost claustrophobic atmosphere which underlines that Ludwig, despite the splendor and grandeur, essentially built himself a golden cage.On the downside are the other supporting actors, which were apparently all chosen on their physical merits, not acting ability. Yes, we all knew that Lucino Visconti was prone to handsome males, but seeing this parade of handsome youths, one almost gets the idea that Visconti cast this crew in his hotel room.In short: "Ludwig" is often overlong, a tad too colorful and occasionally even boring, but it captures the essence of the time. If you're into overlong, colorful epics that can fill an evening, "Ludwig" is highly recommendable.A word of warning and a recommendation: After watching "Ludwig", I'd avoid the 1993 movie "Ludwig 1881", which again stars Helmut Berger in the title role. While generally not a bad film, it pains to see the almost 50-year old Berger reprising his role as (supposedly) youthful king. On the other hand, if one wishes to delve further into the story of King Ludwig, I can only recommend Hans-Juergen Syberbergs 1972 film "Th. Hierneis oder: wie man ehem. Hofkoch wird". It has likewise been filmed on location and despite being a one-man-show of Walter Sedelmayr as Ludwigs former kitchen-aid-cum-master-cook, it does offer many insights into the psyche of the "Fairy-Tale-King" Ludwig.I'd give it a dashing 8/10

pruthvishrathod Final film of Luchino Visconti's German trilogy consisting The Damned & Death in Venice. Ludwig tells the story of king of Bavaria from his crowning in 1864 till death in 1886. It deals with his affection towards musician Richard Wagner, his love affair with his cousin Elisabeth - empress of Austria, his sexuality, clashes with government, eccentric behavior and finally slipping into madness. Visconti once again handles the script masterfully, no doubt he's best when it comes Historical dramas. However this four hour epic keeps its lead character at the center from the first frame till the end. It is a fantastic character study. It takes the viewer through a dark journey of destruction and sadness. Ludwig is a character who wants to live his own life with complete freedom. Of course, he was never a responsible monarch. But as a person one could feel sympathy for him; all the betrayals and abandons at a young age only leads him towards madness. This is quite a neutral take on his life, narration by his fellow servants is another interesting thing about it. It has brilliant sets and costumes. Helmut Berger lives up in the role of Ludwig, from a young romantic hero to a mentally disabled king - he did a great job. Romy Schneider & Trevor Howard also leave their mark. Above all, it is an extra-ordinary historical drama. One of the great achievements of Luchino Visconti.

vitaleralphlouis Based only on the first half of this film (divided into 2 DVD's) I'd rate the film 9 out of 10. The film brings into focus how Ludwig falls forever in love with Sissi, the Queen of Austria; a girl clearly out of his reach but who ties him into knots with her beauty and personality. Romy Schneider returns from the 3 Sissi movies agreeing to play the part only if she could play it with honesty, including all her disillusion with her marriage as well as being queen. Ludwig realizes Sissi has caught on to his flaws, that he's a very insecure man who clings to better people to create an aura of stature. His ill-fated solution is to propose marriage to Sissi's sister, Sophie; if you can't get the one you love then grab up her sister. Truly heartbreaking, even for royalty and all their power.All this is destroyed in Part Two wherein Visconti fabricates a homosexual theme, putting it into graphic terms. In 1972, this was supposed to be daring and brave filmmaking. This theme negates the unrequited love theme we've just spend two hours on. The important thing is that history does not show any hard evidence of Ludwig being homosexual. Because he was lonely from the loss of his true love, and backed away from marrying the sister, he's given a bum rap; here sensationalized by a cinema hack.