Great Expectations

Do you know what that is? Your boob? No, it's my heart... and it's broken. "Great Expectations" is the latest cinematic incarnation of what is considered Charles Dickens' darkest novel, and despite the contemporary setting, it remains true to the themes of the Victorian-era romance: unrequited love, the conquering of class barriers, and the mysteries of fate and destiny. And though it is saddled with an uninspiring script that lacks the emotional beats requisite for a romance based on such rich source material, Alfonso Cuaron has crafted an elegant and picturesque fairy-tale, a credit to his skill as a director. The very young ...  Read the complete review

Whatever your opinion of the day-to-day programming churned out by the BBC, it is hard to fault their expertise with classic literature, and Tony Marchant's dramatisation of Charles Dickens Great Expectations is no exception. There have been many versions of this story made over the years, David Lean's film version usually being the one quoted as the definitive, Great Expectations, but this 2 part production, first shown on BBC2 and now available on video is quite exceptional. The grown up Pip is beautifully played by Ioan Gruffudd, star of Hornblower and Titanic. His portrayal of the young village blacksmith who believes he has "great ...  Read the complete review