Dorian Gray

I've been puzzled by the negative reviews i've seen for this as i really enjoyed it. It looks superb, with some excellent atmospheric Victorian locations. Ben Barnes is perfect as Dorian, good looking but not bland & still sympathetic throughout the film. The character of Emily which has been invented for the film works very well, and Colin Firth is magnificent in his pivotal role. Dorians gradual deprivation is well shown without heading off into exploitation and he is given real depth. His tragedy is very obvious.I must admit to not having read the original book as yet, but I do intend to now. I really enjoyed it but for its full benefit I recommend seeing it at the cinema.

Based on a book by Oscar Wilde i thought this will be interesting film and i was not disappointed. I never read the book so i don't know how close the book is to the film but i must say the writer has done a great job updating this, with a story that really grip you.

The directer has done great job making it very dark but not too dark you can't see thing. Making feel like you are in back street of London in 1800's. The casting was top notch with newcomer Ben Barnes and an really outstanding performance by Colin Firth. Was really surprised to see Ben Chaplin from the comedy show "Game On". He is not bad drama actor too.

You can really connect with characters in this film which it make it really interesting film to watch and an story that alway make you think. Must see.

Very good adaption with a nicely chosen cast with some fresh and familiar faces. Thought provoking about pleasure vs happiness like the themes of the namesake book it's based on. The main character's looks is important to the film and the actor delivers his change from innocence to experience to corruption pretty well.

A bit too long in the last arc. Not entirely sure about the final scene or it's contribution to the film-so the man responsible for corrupting Dorian revenges on him for bedding his daughter. Does he do any self reflection at all for his own suggestions and encouragement that led Dorian down this path? It seems to me like the film is missing this angle of development. This is an example of a missing layer of thematic complexity that prevents me from giving a higher score.

I don't recall the book that much but there might be a few innovations in this film such as the same sex scenes (since the author Oscar Wilde I believe was homosexual) and the motivation of Dorian to change and to compel him to his final act.

'Dorian Gray', directed by Oliver Parker, is definitely a more graphic adaptation of the spirit of the book written by Oscar Wilde. Throughout, I wondered how Wilde would react to the film, were he still with us. On one hand, I believe he would have appreciated the touch of horror; I certainly felt it in his writing. He was quoted from another of his books (Lady Windermere's Fan) "In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it." In this movie, the latter was certainly true for poor Dorian.

On the other hand, the book 'Picture of Dorian Gray' seemed fairly minimalist in affect (as was Barnes' interpretation of the character) so, would Mr. Wilde be a smidge put off by all the melodrama and overt sexual content? Who knows? He used a lot of symbolism and subtle innuendo in his writing, but the politics of the time could account for some of what he didn't literally spell out, I suppose. After all, he was imprisoned for his lifestyle and beliefs, for a time.

Wilde lived a deep and complicated life. His personality and character were revealed through his writing and oh, what I would have given to be on his list of friends. "A good friend will stab you in the front." -- Oscar Wilde

Alas, the book, in this case, pleased my pitiful imagination more than the movie. While the acting was superb, I had a difficult time reconciling myself with what I felt was an over-reach on the tenor of this great story. You know, the old 'less is more' adage.

My disclaimer to the literary elite: I am simply an appreciator of art, not a professional, so take my opinion with a grain of whatever you prefer.

"I don't say we all ought to misbehave, but we all ought to look as if we could." -- Oscar Wilde

I liked the 1945 film very much, but have always looked forward to a newer film that could dare to delve into the excesses that Wilde could only hint at in his novel, and even the 1945 film had to change a minor few details to make it acceptable for that time.

Now, this version - while it does show more, it has far less. There is none of the wit and wisdom of the characters in the novel or the delicate beauty of Dorian, and the ending is completely changed for no good reason.

I still have to wait for the definitive film version that can (literally) flesh out the characters while still keeping the novel intact. Too much to ask?