Bleak House
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Movie Reviews of Bleak House
Movie Review: Instantly Hooked
Summary: 5 Stars
I had never heard of this Dickens book until I read in the Masterpiece Threatre e-newsletter that they were going to be showing a new mini-series based on it. Since I've acquired a fondness for Dickens' stories, I made sure to mark the date on the calender so I wouldn't miss it.
Like all Dickens' books, they all have a bit of a dark side and loads of characters to learn about and become familiar with. This is one reason why I like to watch Dickens' books as a film before reading them. It helps keep the people straight in my mind and makes it easier to follow.
Of all the Dickens' films I've seen thus far, this story is definitely becoming my favorite of all. The cast for the film was outstanding. My favorite character in the story is Esther. Her sweetness, kind and sacrificial nature is winsome and awe-inspiring. Her sense of right and wrong is much appreciated as well. She's the kind of lady I hope my daughters will become one day.
At the end of each episode on PBS (there were 6 in all), it left me wishing for the following Sunday night to come all the sooner. I was not at all disappointed with this film. The story is very capturing, and you come away from the film wishing that some of the characters were real-life people.
In Dickens' style, there are always surprises and unexpected events that unfold in his stories--Bleak House is no exception.
This film is time well spent.
Movie Review: Smashing, simply smashing
Summary: 5 Stars
Being a Dickens fan (David Copperfield and Tale of Two Cities my favorites) I tried to read Bleak House several years ago but gave up as I found the beginning slow and difficult to keep up with the plethora of characters. I caught this production by chance on Masterpiece Theatre (actually at the time of my writing this I haven't even seen the whole thing... there's two more glorious episodes to go and I can't wait!) and since I missed the first hour of the first episode I decided to read the book to at least catch me up to the point I came in on. Now after viewing each episode I go back and read the corresponding sections in the book to get all of the details. One of the things I love about the book that is difficult to translate in the movie is Dickens' satirical humor and insightful commentaries on human nature ... I love it!!! The movie is excellent... I already know I will buy the DVD. I'm just enjoying the suspense right now of waiting until Sunday to see the next episode; for the first time ever I'm actually looking forward to the END of the weekend. I happen to love the quirky camera zooms, etc... it reminds me of Baz Luhrmann's style of directing (Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Strictly Ballroom) which I love. I also love period pieces done in the "normal" style of filming so am not one of those short attention span types, I just think it's cool. There's not much else I can add to all the other great comments here.Movie Review: NOTHING BLEAK HERE
Summary: 5 Stars
BOY, CAN DICKENS TELL A STORY, OR WHAT?
THIS STORY TAKES SO MANY TWISTS I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN IT. BUT BE ASSURED, IT'S AN EXPERIENCE OF TREMENDOUS PROPORTIONS. THE LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE QUALITY IN THIS SCREENPLAY IS SO HIGH - IT'S STAGGERING. CHARLES DANCE as barrister Tulkinghorn, IS MASTERFUL AS A DECIETFUL AND SELF-SERVING BARRISTER. BUT THE SHOW IS STOLEN BY THE STUNNING PRESENCE OF LADY DEADLOCK PLAYED TO THE NINES BY GILLIAN ANDERSON (X-Files).
I ONLY MEANT TO ENJOY ONE EPISODE PER NIGHT AFTER WORK; BUT I FOUND MYSELF CLIMBING INTO BED AT ALMOST 4 AM AFTER GOING NON-STOP THRU THE ENTIRE 15 EPISODES, AND A BOX OF FROSTED MINI-WHEATS.
IF U ARE INTO ACTION ADVENTURE AND LOUD CRASHES AND EXPLOSIONS OF SOUND EFFECTS OVER HEAVY METAL SOUNDTRACKS, STAY AWAY; THIS'LL KILL YA...
BUT IF U ARE INTO TRUE STORY TELLING, SOUND PERFORMANCE AND SUPERIOR AWARD WINNING ACTING OF THE HIGHEST DRAMATIC CALLIBER, YOU BETTER RUSH TO ORDER THIS. DO NOT RENT IT, BUY YOUR OWN; BECAUSE YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF GOING BACK AGAIN, AND AGAIN TO REVISIT THE EXPERIENCE.
THOSE BRITISH REALLY KNOW HOW TO DO A DRAMATIC TURN, SCENE BY SCENE; AND WITH THE SKILL OF CHARLES DICKENS BEING THE FOUNDATION OF THE THING; THE ENTERTAINMENT IS UNSURPASSED AND NOTHING I WRITE HERE CAN APPROACH THE LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE YOU WILL EXPERIENCE, FOR I AM BUT AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO AN AMAZINGLY AWESOME CINEMATIC ADVENTURE.
Movie Review: Great Mystery! Great Suspence! Great Acting! Great Movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
I would give this film two thumbs up!
The movie follows the book very closely and will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire way through!
Once you begin watching it, you can hardly shut it off!
Bleak house is segmented into half hour sections that leave you hanging with each close. Combined, it makes up nearly eight hours of entertainment and suspense.
The cast is remarkable! Anna Maxwell Martin plays the role of Ms. Esther Summerson, the said, orphaned girl who is taken into the care of the kind hearted Mr. Jarndyce,(Denis Lawson)along with the Ada Woodcourt(Carey Mulligan) and Richard Carstone(Patrick Kennedy)"the Wards of Jarndyce".
Gillain Ander perfectly portrays Lady Dedlock. John Lynch plays the mysterious Nemo. Burn Gorman is the unforgettable Mr. Guppy. Johnny Vegas is Krook. Charles Dance plays the cold hearted lawyer, Mr.Tulkinghorn. Alun Armstrong is "Inspector" Bucket. Phil Davies plays the notorious Mr. Smallweed. That is just a handful of the many memorable characters of this story.
The film is very artistic in its style which adds to the secret and suspense of the story.
The plot is very deep and shows the effects of choices.
Bleak House is a film for anyone who likes good mysteries!
I would highly recommend it to anyone!
Movie Review: I ADORE CHARLES DICKENS and BLEAK HOUSE
Summary: 5 Stars
Have you ever noticed that a Charles Dickens novel or film is like a Walt Disney movie? There is always the beautiful or sweet and innocent heroine or hero (Snow White, Bambi, Cinderella). In BLEAK HOUSE we have more than usual fare for Dickens: The lovely Ada Clare, the real heroine Esther Summerson, the benevolent and \good hearted Dr. Allan Woodcourt, and the kind Mr. John Jarndyce. Then we have the 'characters'(the three faeries in SleepingBeauty). There is the adorable Miss Flite and all her birds, Mr. Turveydrop, Krook and the wonderful Mr. Guppy who stepped straight from the pages of BLEAK HOUSE. Even their names are perfect! Then there is the fabulous Gillian Anderson as Lady Dedlock who has a secret (the Beast in Beauty and the Beast).
And finally, let's not forget the villain (the evil stepmother or the witch)! BLEAK HOUSE has their share of villains but the evil Mr. Smallwood and Charles Dance as the deliciously malevolent attorney Tulkinghorn are not only stereotypical Dickens' scoundrels, but perfect as the people we love to hate.
Throw all these wonderful personalities together and a few dozen more and you have the basis for a fabulous story.
Then take Andrew Davies, the BBC, superior direction, sets, and actors and you have the unparalleled film, BLEAK HOUSE--a true masterpiece.