Great Expectations -Masterpiece Theatre, 1999-

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good production . . bad dvd
This latest version of Dickens' sprawling novel of love, jealousy, betrayal, and redemption is a faithful (or as much as possible, even in a 3-hr production) rendering. It is well cast, with Ioan Gruffudd as the most handsome Pip on film, and Charlotte Rampling giving her usual regal performance as Miss Havisham. Production design is good, with grim revisionist views of 18th century London typical of modern adaptations. Photography is first rate. What is unacceptable is that the DVD is, apparently, recorded straight off the PBS broadcast -- just as if you recorded it yourself -- complete with all the ads for Mobil, lugubrious intoductions by the pedantic host of Masterpiece Theatre, and PBS icons lingering for 30 seconds at a time throughout the film. Distracting, annoying, and unacceptable. Order the Region 2 disc from the BBC if you can play it. One should not pay a high price for a DVD that one could record off the air, and is little more than an ad for Mobil and PBS.

Mood is the Strong Point in Jarrold's 'Expectations'
Julian Jarrold's adaptation shines not because of its faithfulness to the plot of the novel, but because of its effective use of character and mood. Both Abel Magwitch and Miss Havisham appear as ominous figures, much more so than in any other attempt to put Dickens' classic novel to film. Ioan Gruffuld's Pip, likewise, is more frightened as a child, more vulnerable as an adult, than we have ever seen him before. Estella is crueler and more beautiful. The mood throughout, from Pip's strange encounter in the graveyard, to his peculiar encounter with Orlick, to his final encounter with Estella, is often more grim, never more comic than the Dickens. A cloud seems to hang over everything, even its brightest comic moments, offered up in the movie by Wemmick and Herbert. Often, what works well in a novel does not work well on screen. Jarrold understands this, and presents Dickens' characters as real human beings, establishes a setting that complements mood, and creates a version of 'Great Expectations' that is, in my opinion, one of the best every made.

My expectations were groundless
I bought this DVD to see a very true interpretation of my favorite Dickens' novel. The movie itself is special and makes the wonderful mood. But this DVD contains the advertising - the big emblem which appeares every 15 minutes in the right bottom corner of your screen. It overlaps the picture and what is worse - you can't dip into the motion. It appeares twelve times all throughout the movie and is always very disturbing. I felt that I spent my money not well, because of this stupid interupting advertising. I was disappointed. But in the rest of things it is a wonderful movie.

Mr. Dickens's divorce affected this story.
Actress, Justine Waddell, who was great as the sweet and wonderful Molly in "Wives and Daughters", co-stars. Here she plays an attractive woman dealing with a young man infatuated with her. Here her character is not so sweet and not so wonderful. She plays this part effectively as you feel the young man's emptiness. This sub-plot, with more focus, could tell a good moral about the difference between infatuation and true love, but I don't like the whole story this sub-plot is within, and the weird scene with the old lady in her old house. This story needs a contrasting character pursuing deeper love. The 1981-version has a better first episode; but then drags. The 1947-version is better, with John Mills, father of Haley Mills. The book's author, Charles Dickens, married his wife Catherine in 1836. They were together 21-years, and had ten children. During his marriage he wrote his brilliant novels: "Oliver Twist" 1839, "A Christmas Carol" 1843, and "David Copperfield" 1850. Mr. Dickens divorced his wife in 1858. Mr. Dickens wrote the story "Great Expectations" after his divorce in 1861. Divorce affects everyone no matter the circumstances. Unlike "Great Expectations", Mr. Dickens's great novels have a high-minded thought; balance with moments of cheer, triumph for the main character, adventure, and interesting characters. A novel is not a classic just because it is old and assigned in English class. "Great Expectations" lacks the charm that make his other stories true classics. Charles Dickens's book "Oliver Twist" is wordy for all but the imaginative and quick reader. "Oliver Twist" DVD's are great for all, because the story has been so polished by so many people. Before TV, before movies, before radio, every town had theatre that performed plays. Every town in England and America performed the play "Oliver Twist". For 90-years until sound movies became common, all these towns kept improving the play "Oliver Twist", until today, on DVD the polished story skips along with great lines. The story "Great Expectations" did not get this polishing in the theatre. "Great Expectations" needs more than polishing. Take the many interesting ideas, drop the dreary, and rewrite the story with more uplifting purpose.

The Production is Great......But dont Buy this DVD
Even though I have never read the book I found this Production very good. I would recommend this to any one who is a Dickens Fan but do youself a favour and dont buy this DVD release. As a British review on Amazon uk site indicated this DVD looks as if it was copied straight off the TV and also the commentary in the beginning and end of the movie telling us about the Great Expectations novel made the DVD worse. Masterpiece Theatre has spoiled this Great BBC Production of Dickens Great Expectations with it's Commentary (even though they think they are being helpful- but are not) and poor DVD. Four Stars for the Production itself but giving this Two stars because of the DVD quaility. Wait until BBC Release a DVD of the Production and the DVD quaility will be much, much better. I will be selling this DVD and wait until BBC release the DVD in Australia.