Rating: - Has its moments
Every time I think of this movie, for some reason, the beautiful score comes to mind. I can't get it out of my head, it really is addictive. As for the movie, it is certainly watchable, but lacking. The performances are all good but it felt off at times. I have never read the book, but I was told its not really anything like it. However, as a movie, its pretty decent, even good at times. I think its a tad too long though, and it seemed dragging at times. I didn't really feel anything emotionally for any of the characters, and I think that is what bothers me every time I watch this.
Rating: - Beautiful
I like this movie for so many reasons-- the music is haunting, the scenery is beautiful, the paintings by Orozco are inspiring. Not to mention great modern adaptation, and some fabulous performances by all, particularly Anne Bancroft. You can't go wrong.
Rating: - Not what I expected
My students read Great Expectations and then I wanted to show a movie of the book as a reward. This was not it. This movie has nothing to do with the book except is shares a title. I could see nothing similiar and the language etc was so bad I coulnd't show my AP seniors this movie. I am very disappointed. The tags they suggest are Dickens and classic. It is neither of these. Its trash.
Rating: - So watchable
Everytime I catch this film on Tv, no matter how far throught it is I end up watching it till its conclusion. Such a watchable film. Superbly crafted andacted. One of teh few modernisations of classic tales that actually works.
Rating: - Ethan Hawke brings no expectation of acting skills to a totally ridiculous film!
Where do I begin??? Well...how about UGH!? I tried to pinpoint what I found particularly annoying about this version of GREAT EXPECTATIONS...and then it came to me; there was nothing about any one character for which I felt a single shred of emotion! I might as well have been Estella herself! I freely admit that even Dicken's original story is my least favorite of all Dickens' novels. I have seen three other film adaptations and still did not particularly care for the story or the characters (here the names have been changed as well as the time and the country).Perhaps Ethan Hawke, who plays the "Pip" character,Finnegan Bell, was my biggest objection to this film. I found him to be 100% lifeless,uninteresting and not at all an embodiment of understanding and kindness.With your lead character being so terribly portrayed, the story really never jelled for me. Gwyneth Paltrow as Estella, on the other hand, fares much better as the ice cold and victimized Estella. She seems to understand her character's tragic upbringing and the sexy allure with which she has been educated by Nora Dinsmore (a somewhat odd and uneven portrayal by Anne Bancroft).
I found the New York shots to be totally implausible. Where does anyone walk in New York TOTALLY ALONE on bright,gorgeous sunny days in Central Park West???? Come on!!! Where do leaves cascade down alley ways tucked far,far away from any living green thing??? (I understand the symbolism, but this simply doesn't work with New York City).
The design for the Dinsmore house never once changes over the years of neglect! The same vines that entwined the house when Finn was a young boy on his first visit are exactly the same as when he arrives years later. Vines grow!!!
This entire film was so implausible,senseless and uneven in production.
Patrick Doyle's original soundtrack seemed to me totally incorrect for the sensibility of this adaptation. He must have still been in his Kenneth Branagh mode!
Sorry, but this film is a throwaway...not totally...but still a throwaway!
- Has its moments
- Beautiful
- Not what I expected
- So watchable
- Ethan Hawke brings no expectation of acting skills to a totally ridiculous film!