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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful
This is so good. Having admired David Lean's rather compressed version of Dickens' superb novel for many years and having endured the complete annihilation of the said novel in the abhorrent farrago starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke, it is an absolute joy to witness the sheer quality of realisation in this production. It vastly outclasses the other productions on every level although the Lean has great nostalgic charm and appeal. Relatively faithful to the novel, this is profoundly engaging. The acting is superb.Charlotte Rampling inhabits the character of Miss Havisham at a stellar level, evoking a sympathetic response to the personal tragedy that is her reality. Bernard Hill as Magwitch is clearly as noteworthy as the the two leading actors Ioan Gruffudd and Justine Waddell. All are first class.I recommend this very highly indeed as it conveys the spirit of Charles Dickens' novel in as finely observed and engaging manner, with evident intelligence and creativity.Only the snippiest of reviewers could find any minor fault with this. In my opinion, to date, this is, by a cinematic/dramatic mile, the definitive version of Dickens' Great Expectations. Well done BBC!!!
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
This BBC production of Great Expectations is definitely one of their better Dickens adaptations of recent times, and there have been a lot of them. One problem I have with many of them is that they are too faithful to the novels. Yes, I said too faithful. Take the recent Bleak House, for example. Many people appear to have enjoyed it but I found it almost unwatchable. The long, convoluted plot was rendered in excruciating detail; they seemed scared of angering Dickens fans by altering the slightest detail. I think this is the wrong approach with Dickens as he is the most uneven writer imaginable. He veers between pathos and bathos, hilarity and tedium. Surely no one who is familiar with his work would deny this?
Great Expectations is probably the least flawed of Dickens' novels. Nevertheless, this adaptation is not afraid to change certain details of the book, many of these for the better. Even the ending is changed to make it more open-ended than the book, and more in keeping with the mood of what has gone before. I was disappointed, though, that they cut some of the opening scene between Pip and the convict, as it contains one of my favorite speeches where Pip is told his liver "will be took out, and roasted, and et" if he does not do as he is told.
There are many notable performances, also. Bernard Hill was particularly impressive, I thought, as Magwitch, a very interesting character in himself. Both the young Pip and the adult Pip(Ioan Gruffodd) were good too, and I liked the guy playing Orlick, or "Old Orlick" as he likes to refer to himself. Charlotte Rampling was also good as Miss Havisham, though she looked less desiccated than I had imagined Miss H., in fact some might say she's a relatively attractive speciman of mature womanhood.
An enjoyable and interesting take on the classic tale, though no cinematic retelling could do justice to the power of the best passages of the original, which is probably its author's most complete and most mature novel, and his least sentimental. Illiteracy is the only valid excuse for not having read this book. For those who have, this is a worthwhile reinterpretation of the events therein; for those who have not, I suggest you do so post haste.
Great Expectations is probably the least flawed of Dickens' novels. Nevertheless, this adaptation is not afraid to change certain details of the book, many of these for the better. Even the ending is changed to make it more open-ended than the book, and more in keeping with the mood of what has gone before. I was disappointed, though, that they cut some of the opening scene between Pip and the convict, as it contains one of my favorite speeches where Pip is told his liver "will be took out, and roasted, and et" if he does not do as he is told.
There are many notable performances, also. Bernard Hill was particularly impressive, I thought, as Magwitch, a very interesting character in himself. Both the young Pip and the adult Pip(Ioan Gruffodd) were good too, and I liked the guy playing Orlick, or "Old Orlick" as he likes to refer to himself. Charlotte Rampling was also good as Miss Havisham, though she looked less desiccated than I had imagined Miss H., in fact some might say she's a relatively attractive speciman of mature womanhood.
An enjoyable and interesting take on the classic tale, though no cinematic retelling could do justice to the power of the best passages of the original, which is probably its author's most complete and most mature novel, and his least sentimental. Illiteracy is the only valid excuse for not having read this book. For those who have, this is a worthwhile reinterpretation of the events therein; for those who have not, I suggest you do so post haste.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
This is one of the very best versions of this much-adapted novel. Casting and acting are excellent throughout, as is the general Dickensian atmosphere. Out of a host of superb performances I would pick Lesley Sharp as a truly frightening Mrs. Joe. It is quite a faithful adaptation and any tweaks to the plot are believable. My only 2 reservations are that, firstly, it feels a bit rushed at times (feeling they were trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot). This is especially evident in the opening sequences. Secondly, the dark scenes are VERY dark. I had to turn the brightness up. Overall though I prefer it even to David Lean's version. Lean's is better upto Magwitch's initial capture, and his young Estella is perfection (sorry but nobody will ever beat Jean Simmons although Gemma Gregory did well here). However, this develops characters such as Orlick (totally omitted by Lean), Biddy and Wemmick much more, although Wopsle as usual is given short shrift. The real clincher for me is the better handling of the age leap. In Lean's version, John Mills(too old and posh from the outset) and Valerie Hobson( again too old, too nice and not pretty enough) are completely miscast. Here, however, Ioan Gruffudd and Justine Waddell are much more convincing. Brilliant but with an extra 30 or 40 minutes, it could have been perfect.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A classic adaptation
This beautifully shot, atmospheric and evocative dramatisation, starring Charlotte Rampling as Miss Haversham, is so much better (and more faithful to the text) than the BBC's... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Pasquino
Avoid this copy
I particularly wanted this version of Great Expectations, as I originally had it on tape and had especially enjoyed Charlotte Rampling's performance. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. James C. Kellam
Dutch import
This was misrepresented. It was a Dutch import but carried English sub-titles which I couldn't remove. Therefore it was not possible to enjoy it because of the distraction.
Published 7 months ago by Noel Maw
Happy ending forbidden and banned
One of the cruelest stories I know. Dickens is so cruel we cannot imagine he is a man, what's more a humane human being. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Jacques COULARDEAU
What larks Pip!
Superb adaptation of Dicken's seminal 'poor boy done good' serial, this boasts a host of great performances from the likes of Ioan Gruffudd, Lesley Sharp, Justine Waddell and the... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Captain Pugwash
Great expectations
Sorry, know zilch about this DVD as it was bought as a present, however, the recipient loves it!
Published on 16 Feb 2010 by Thebell
An excellent adaption
Great expectations is a fine novel and is easier to get into than some of Dicken's longer tomes. This adaption is a fine one, which makes me recall the other fine BBC adaption of... Read more
Published on 22 Aug 2009 by Aquinas
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