De grandes espérances

Despite the casting I think you could produce this story with donkeys if it was told and presented well. I'not one to say what dicken's intended or meant but I've been watching this story since I was a kid and so far I don't see any of that in this series. Great cast. How can you say anything bad about oliva colman. It's not her fault they made her look like a fool. She doesn't look like a woman jilted and aged unwell hanging on to the past. She looks more like the female ghost of xmas but made up for holloween. As I recall the story was mostly about envy, especially the envy for something out of your reach which ultimately creates the drama which makes the story timeless. Most of us can identify but it's rarely in productions these days because so much of the culture is narcissistic. So far I'm not getting any of that but a bunch of characters riffing on each other with their own silly purpose. I can't give the film a 0 because there's so much professional effort they got right but they forgot to tell a story, or whatever they're selling, not interested.

I was anticipating this show with great expectations. I circled the day on my calendar. I was looking forward to the deep, colorful characters and masterful story telling and beauty of Charles Dickens. Instead, I found the outline of Dickens' story clothed in a gaudy and perverse costume. I was shocked by the steep incline into evil and darkness. I suggest that rather than having your soul assaulted, tuck a copy of the book Great Expectations under your arm and head for a quiet place to read. Even better, find a friend to go with you and take turns reading out loud. Enjoy the gift of Charles Dickens in all its glory.

It got worse and worse. It started out ok. There were a few instances of context that are not in Dickens, references to opium and the slave trade, and there was some clunky dialogue where women explained they were not ok with second class citizenship. That was ok. I felt it was unnecessary personally but I can see the temptation to make obvious to a modern audience what is implied or inferred.

By episode three it went off into scenes that are not in the book in any way and dialogue that has nothing to do with the novel. It is also slow paced. So much plodding music and a brooding boy. Makes you wonder why it was made.

I would hate anyone who hasn't read the story to watch this and think that this is what Dickens wrote. Charles Dickens would not recognise this dark relentless chunk of misery as his warm, witty and engaging coming-of-age story Great Expectations. The only redeeming feature is the acting of Olivia Colman, superb as always, although why make her such a nasty opium addict? The script bears hardly any reference to the book, and the language used is disgraceful. Where are the many light hearted moments, the amusing conversations, the wry observations? I have endured three episodes and have no engagement or sympathy with any of the characters. I do not intend to subject myself to any more of this dross.

Several of my favorite actors are in this adaptation, and I really wanted to love it. With every episode, I hated this version more and more. The entire thing strayed so far from the book and other adaptations. I get the creative license and interpreting it in a unique way, but my great expectations for this adaptation did not come to fruition. I think my disappointment was in the Pip storyline most of all. There were a few things I did like about this interpretation but it was from other characters mostly. I know Great Expectations is generally depressing, but this version was so extremely depressing and full of heartache and negative scenes (even gross scenes), that it really turned me off. I will not be watching this version again (I have previous versions on DVD).