Doctor Zhivago [DVD] [2002]: Amazon.co.uk: Keira Knightley, Sam Neill, Hans Matheson, Sam MacLintock, Bill Paterson, Celia Imrie, Daniella Byrne, Nick Stewart, Alexandra Maria Lara, Jeremy Clyde, Daniele Liotti, Anne-Marie Duff, Giacomo Campiotti, Alison Barnett, Andy Harries, Anne Pivcevic, Giovanna Arata, Hugh Warren, Andrew Davies, Boris Pasternak: DVD

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Amazon.co.uk Review
The mini-series treatment suits Doctor Zhivago, Boris Pasternak's sprawling novel of a Russian physician-poet whose comfortable life is upended by the revolution. And this near-four-hour Granada TV production lucidly demonstrates that Pasternak was one heck of a storyteller: the torment of Zhivago (Hans Matheson) as he must choose between his well-bred childhood sweetheart (Alexandra Maria Lara) and the tragically beautiful Lara (Keira Knightley) remains compelling.

The TV treatment can't match the epic sweep of David Lean's feature film, of course, with its cast of thousands and astonishing production design. Devotees of that 1965 version will undoubtedly yearn for Maurice Jarre's tinkly hit "Lara's Theme", too; here, Ludovico Einaudi's score is serviceable by comparison. Matheson, too, is serviceable in the title role, but the uncannily gorgeous Knightley and a supremely decadent Sam Neill (as her dreadful seducer) keep their characters vital. The limitations of the small screen duly noted, the frosty location shooting is handsome. Given the choice, see the Lean film on the big screen every time; but this is a sturdy introduction to a classic story. --Robert Horton

Special Features
English
Region 2

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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews

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4.1 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)

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31 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A surprisingly involving and more faithful adaptation, 1 Mar 2005

By	Darren Harrison "DVD collector and reviewer" (Washington D.C.) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

It may be somewhat sacrilegious to admit this, but I actually prefer this production to the David Lean classic. That is an admission however that I do not take lightly, the Lean version having left an indelible impression on my younger life and the beautiful Lara's Theme having haunted me since I first saw the original version on television back in the 1980s.
No, when I sat down to watch this 2002 adaptation of the Boris Pasternak epic I was all prepared to be both disappointed and resistant to a newer version of the Omar Sharif/Julie Christie favorite - so what happened? Why am I now sitting here so impressed and involved in what should by all accounts be a poorer step child to the colorful, star-filled 1960s movie.
Simply put this movie has the advantage of time. A whole hour longer than the other movie that extra time gives the production of filling in some of the blanks that inhabited the original and more fully exploring the human relationships and interaction between characters. Matheson may not have the acting ability of Sharif but what he does have is the opportunity to more fully realize the character of Zhivago. In this sense this movie is more faithful to the source material and all the better for it.
Matheson plays the part of Zhivago, a man brought up in the shadow of tragedy who feels the pull of loyalty to his wife (and childhood friend) Tonya and a deep infatuation for Lara. With the violence of World War I and the Russian Revolution as a backdrop, Zhivago travels through life torn by conflict.
Less colorful than the original this mini-series compensates with a strong, well defined script and some star turning peformances by Sam Neill and one-time Bond girl Maryam D'Abo (as Lara's mother). Many have also dismissed Keira Knightley in her role as Lara, but I found her both competent and powerful in the role. I found myself both involved in her story and convinced by her portrayal - she was certainly a different Lara than the one depicted by Christie some four decades ago, but one no less realized or compelling. In fact, I would go as far as to say that Knightley's Lara is a more rounded character than Christie's, no doubt due to Knightley's impressive screen presence, but also the longer screentime afforded to her character.
One device I found both clever and interesting was real archive footage from the period that is woven into the story in a fascinating manner.
Included on this DVD is a text biography of author Boris Pasternak as well as over an hour of interviews with the cast. Prepared to be surprised by this DVD and be prepared to fall in love with a whole new version of the DOCTOR ZHIVAGO story.

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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Too stunning for words, 16 Oct 2007

By	L. Keys "Phaedra Isabella" (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This film (in two parts) is incredible. The cinematography is beautiful, the acting impeccable, and the soundtrack by Ludovico Einaudi is a both stunning and haunting at the same time. The story flows well, the backdrops of the Russian Revolution and the First World War are well portrayed, and their effect on the main protagonists' lives is utterly compelling. You feel something for each character, whether it be empathy with Yury and Lara, pity or sorrow for Tonya and Pasha, or bitterness and contempt towards Komarovsky. Every character stirs a range of emotions. This is a film that really touches the emotions to make you think about human nature, and wonder at how lives can be turned around by chance meetings, and the wider goings on of the world around you; how these events can be a blessing, but also how they can turn things upside down.
This adaptation is also a very good realisation of the book, and portrays Pasternak's ideas well.
Highly recommended!

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21 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A surprisingly fine interpretation of Pasternak's novel, 6 Jan 2005

By	Roger Boon (Dundee, UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This was an utterly compelling interpretation which really captured the spirit of the Pasternak novel.I appreciated the almost architectural beauty and large landscape of the David Lean film of my generation, yet there was an emotional intensity and a depth of character exploration in this version which was missing from the earlier film. The central characters were complex and believable and not understated icons in an icy landscape.

Sam Neill as Komarovsky was a compelling figure and this time you could see why Lara was attracted to him despite the abusive nature of their relationship.Pasternak's central character, Yuri Zhivago,was depicted as a passionate but not bombastic hero. Hans Matheson captured the almost passive poetic romantic whose emotions are torn by the situations in which he finds himself which are reflected in the age of political tumoil that surrounds him.Strong performances by Keira Knightley as Lara and Alexandra Maria Lara as Tanya gave real substance to the tensions he experiences.I had never heard of Keira Knightley when I first saw this production and was amazed at the range which her intelligent acting achieved.Her real age was consistent with that of the young Lara yet she convincingly bridged the gap to the young mother of the later part of the novel. The love scenes were tender, yet passionate and Director Giacomo Campiotti is to be congratulated on his sensitive rendering of these.The relationship between Yuri and Lara truly reflected the sadness of Pasternak's poem,"The Parting."

I only bought the DVD after almost casually coming across this made for TV movie on the box.It's emotional landscape and authentic sets are strong enough to warrant a proper release at the cinema.I suspect Boris Pastenak would have much preferred it to the David Lean film and so did I !

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding
After watching this over Christmas on the TV rerun for the simple fact Celia Imrie was in it. I fell in love with the story. Read more

Published 5 months ago by L. Lambourne

3.0 out of 5 stars What kind of Dr Zhivago do you want?
This new version of Dr Zhivago makes a different choice about how we should regard Zhivago. In objective terms it has always been hard to empathise with a man who does not protect... Read more

Published 21 months ago by B. Welch

4.0 out of 5 stars spend a day or two with both films, and a week with the novel
as other reviewers have expressed their preferences for "the film" Lean's 1965 masterpiece, or the cover (2002 mini series) i will forgo much that should be said about each, but... Read more

Published 22 months ago by Haji Baba's Bizarre

1.0 out of 5 stars good
it's good that no one has bought this film because the David lean version is by far better. Spend your money elsewere and get Doctor Zhivago by david lean and omar sharif.

Published on 28 Feb 2007 by J. Lawrence

2.0 out of 5 stars A modernized version
When the producer, director and screenplay writer of this refer repeatedly in the DVD's extras to "The Film" this isn't to their own made-for-TV effort but to David Lean's... Read more

Published on 26 Jul 2006 by P. Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars A moving and absorbing interpretation
This film comes closer than I would have imagined to capturing the beauty and pathos of Pasternak’s novel. Read more

Published on 19 Feb 2006 by CJ Deazeley

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but could have been so much more
This series was beautifully shot and costumed and ‘looked right' in every way, but it was by no means perfect. Read more

Published on 5 May 2003 by Miss MC Griffiths

5.0 out of 5 stars BRILLIANT!
I bought this dvd after I watched bits on t.v, and I have to say it is the best thing I have ever seen. It has everything a great story needs. Read more

Published on 20 April 2003 by Natalia Cooke, 15

5.0 out of 5 stars The best thing I have ever watched.
The first time I saw Doctor Zhivago was last year when Granda played it on ITV1. I am a romantic at heart and when seeing the advert portraying it as the greatest love story ever... Read more

Published on 4 April 2003 by Mary Clifford

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Doctor Zhivago [DVD] [2002]

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