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Nicholas Nickleby [DVD] [2003]
 
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Nicholas Nickleby [DVD] [2003]

DVD ~ Charlie Hunnam
3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

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Nicholas Nickleby [DVD] [2003]
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Product details

  • Actors: Charlie Hunnam, Jamie Bell, Christopher Plummer, Jim Broadbent, Anne Hathaway
  • Directors: Douglas McGrath
  • Writers: Douglas McGrath, Charles Dickens
  • Producers: Gail Egan, Jeff Sharp, John Hart, Michael Hogan, Robert How
  • Format: PAL
  • Language English
  • Subtitles: English, Portuguese, Polish, Greek, Turkish, Croatian, Romanian
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: PG
  • Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 10 Nov 2003
  • Run Time: 132 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B0000BZND5
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 20,870 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
One of Charles Dickens' most popular novels, Nicholas Nickleby returns to the big screen for the first time since the excellent 1947 Ealing version in a visually breathtaking, lavishly produced new Hollywood interpretation. Following the honest and decent young Nicholas through a darkly oppressive Victorian England, the story moves from a grim boarding school to colourful adventures in the theatre and beyond, interweaving as many of Dickens' subplots and rich characters as possible into two hours. The little known Charlie Hunnam makes a spirited hero and is surrounded by such fine actors as Tom Courtenay, Christopher Plummer, Jim Broadbent (wonderful as the grotesque Wackford Squeers), Edward Fox, Juliet Stevenson and Jamie Bell.

This fast-paced film is never less than entertaining and is certainly by far the most handsome screen version of the story, sharing a life-enhancing energy with director Doug McGrath's previous Brit-lit adaptation, Jane Austen's Emma (1996). Inevitably much of the complexity and detail of the very long source novel has been sacrificed, and in this regard the 2000 TV version starring James D'Arcy has the advantage. Purists might be happier still with the acclaimed nine-hour 1982 RSC stage adaptation.

On the DVD: Nicholas Nickleby's first disc offers a superb anamorphically enhanced, 2.35:1 transfer. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is involving and atmospheric and makes the most of Rachel Portman's score. Also included is a very thoughtful and engaging commentary by McGrath, which adds a whole new level of appreciation to the film. Disc 2's most substantial extra is a solid 29-minute "making of" documentary featuring all the main cast and production personnel. The Life of Charles Dickens: "A Mirror to his Work" relates the book to Dickens' life with comments from the cast in an all-too-brief 12 minutes. The Cast on the Cast (16 minutes) features them chatting amiably on the afternoon of the New York premiere. Views on the Set simply produces five key shots from two different angles. The set is completed by a gimmicky trailer and a three-part photo gallery--a fair set of extras but not enough to call this edition truly special. --Gary S Dalkin

Special Features

  • Audio commentary with Douglas McGrath
  • The Life of Charles Dickens – A Mirror to His Work documentary
  • Creating a Classic - "Making of" documentary
  • The cast on the cast
  • A View on the Set - multi-angled feature on 5 key scenes
  • Behind the Scenes photo gallery
  • Trailers

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Customer Reviews

17 Reviews
5 star:
 (5)
4 star:
 (7)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (4)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.5 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Virtue - and audiences - rewarded, 10 May 2007
By Trevor Willsmer (London, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)      
Despite being overlooked on release, Douglas McGrath's wonderful 2002 version of Dickens' tale of good rewarded captures both the feel and the sound of Dickens remarkably well. This world is indeed lived in, and the characters are vividly realised. The underplayed theatricality of Nathan Lane's opening and closing narration, allied to a strong sense of the cinematic sets the perfect tone right from the start, and its reprise at the ending is almost a well-deserved bow from the filmmakers.

It's even good enough to overcome the void at its center that is Charlie Hunnam, clearly cast for his looks since acting isn't a strong point. Indeed, it's bizarre that in a film with so many Americans, Canadians and Australians in its cast, the most unconvincing accent comes from a Brit, but Geordie Hunnam's curiously Scouse accent sticks out like a sore thumb, not only at odds with the rest of his family but also making him sound like a bored Beatle throughout - a kind of benign George Harrison without the `tache or the personality.

Thankfully his blandness is more than compensated for by some excellent work by Christopher Plummer's villainous uncle, avoiding the usual caricature the role inspires, and Jim Broadbent, Juliet Stevenson and Heather Goldenhersch (boasting such a perfect English accent I was surprised to find she was American) as the hideous Squeers family, embracing it and pulling it off magnificently, while Nathan Lane and Dame Edna Everidge are truly inspired casting as the open-hearted but financially challenged theatricals Mr and Mrs Crummles. There's fine work from Timothy Spall, Tom Courtenay, Phil Davis and, most surprising of all, even Edward Fox as well. It doesn't avoid the sentimentality but manages to turn it into genuine emotion, not least because no-one falls into the trap of wildly overplaying - even Dame Edna.

All in all an unexpectedly delightful, genuinely likeable, sincerely heartwarming film that deserved more success than it found - but as Mrs Crummles notes, in the great struggle between "those aged combatants art and commerce... art, it would appear from the receipts, is in its usual position of jeopardy."


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9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars No reservations, 12 Nov 2004
By Michael Bo - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
I dare anybody to watch this Dickens film through with dry eyes! Anybody that claims he or she did has a nonchalant way with the truth, if you ask me.

Director McGrath has made a number of tough, but altogether valid choices concerning what to skip and what to keep in his film of Dickens' marathon novel in order to keep the running time just barely within two hours. I can just see Dickens nodding benignly from up above. Charlie Hunnam is angelic, but also unsentimental as the gentle Nicholas, separated from his mother and sister, as after the death of his father they surrender themselves to the mercy of his cynical brother. The heart of the plot is Nicholas' friendship with the cripple Smike (Jamie Bell is brilliant, simply brilliant), a boy that he saves from the archetypal sadistic Dickensian orphanage.

McGrath's film is positively brimming with eloquent supporting actors, and in the late autumn of his career Christopher Plummer proves himself to be quite the actor in what may amount to his best part ever as the cruel uncle.

I can even recommend the extras on the extra DVD, they are to the point and for once not a complete waste of time.

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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Almost perfect Nicholas, 16 Mar 2008
This came as a bit of a surprise, suffice it to say, due to the photo used on the cover. I expected less but was so pleasantly surprised!

I read Nicholas Nickleby years ago and have no plans to read it in the near future. That said, I had forgotten much of the story. It is obvious, though, that even without remembering much of the book nor the story, there is much that has been left out of the movie. No matter. What is left here is perfect. Although we may never know why Ralph Nickleby lost his ten thousand pounds just by watching the film, we understand that there must have been some behind-the-scenes scheming going on and that's perfectly fine.

Although definitely a drama, the comedic elements work so well here to lighten the desperate dark Dickensian times.

The film is perfectly cast. Charlie Hunnam as Nicholas is delightful-- moral, upright, brave. Christopher Plummer was unbelievable. Although he's not seen too much of late, it's great to see him in such a plumb role here. He's marvelous-- nasty and cruel with a small amount of humanity left in him (very small and easy to dismiss) to make him extremely complex rather than a caricature. Nathan Lane was a scene stealer and added a large dose of much needed relief from the darkness. And Jim Broadbent and Juliet Stevenson were incredible-- Juliet Stevenson especially. She delivered each of her lines with perfection. At one point, her husband, the evil Mr. Squeers, tells her that she alone could take away any man's pride more quickly than anyone else in England. Recognizing the statement for the compliment it was meant to be, she responds adoringly.

I cannot recommend this highly enough. Highly watchable! And, for younger viewers (not too young, maybe 10 and up), this is a great intro to Dickens, too.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't bother with this version
That's it really. Go to the RSC version every time for the real Nick-Nick experience.

They just don't get it with this one - the characters are two-dimensional and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by N. Baker

5.0 out of 5 stars charlie
this film is well worth a watch just 4 charlie i really enjoyed it charlie your lovely x please buy this dvd u wont be dissapointed trust me
Published 17 months ago by Mr. J. Edmunds

4.0 out of 5 stars Douglas McGrath Nicholas Nickleby is the Better Version
This is the better version to watch and have in your private collection. It has all the elements without going over the top. Read more
Published on 30 May 2007 by vessie@oz

4.0 out of 5 stars The BBC version is better
The 1977 BBC adaptation of Nicholas Nickleby, starring Nigel Havers, is better than this one in every way, with two exceptions: (1) at 325 minutes, the BBC version is much longer;... Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2007 by Rita Kelly

4.0 out of 5 stars Pull out the Kleenex for this one . . .
This film was an unexpected pleasure, and a risk well worth taking!

First and foremost, in true Dickens style, the language was deliciously pretentious and... Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2006 by The Advisor

1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointing
Why, oh why did they cast Charlie Hunnam as Nicholas? It was not so much the accent, although this did jar a bit in nineteenth century London and we know from Bridget Jones and... Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2006

4.0 out of 5 stars Go to see the bad guys
If, like me, you'd rather not tackle the 800-page Dickens novel NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, then this cinematic Cliff Notes version is a convenient and satisfying... Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2006 by Joseph Haschka

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable!
I actually enjoyed this version of Nicholas Nickleby. My daughter and I watched this on one of our cable channels and we really enjoyed it! Read more
Published on 3 May 2004 by Sandra

1.0 out of 5 stars do not waste good time and money!
I recieved this DVD as a christmas present and have only been able to watch it once. Every time Hunnam spoke I felt annoyed. He cannot act full stop. Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly enjoyable
A funny, fast paced comedy/drama set in Dickens' vision of a miserable England, full of rich characters. Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2004 by H. R. Trigg

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