johnhoffman-48975
I had the VCR tapes, but I haven't had a VCR in years. I have read many reviews and everyone agrees this is one of if not the best versions.of this Classic. Come on people, you can make money with getting this updated, which we all know is the driving force why companies do what they do.
Hitchcoc
Even in a lengthier presentation like this, there are elements of the story left out. Everyone knows the story of Phillip Pirrip (Pip) who grows up with his nasty, vengeful sister, and his Uncle Joe, the kind, patient one. Pip is assaulted in a graveyard by a convict named Magwitch (Anthony Hopkins) who threatens him and his family if he doesn't bring him food. Pip manages this at great expense to himself and Joe. The opposite of Pip's situation is the home of Estella, who lives with her Aunt (Miss Havisham) who was left at the altar in her youth and has never recovered. She is very rich but powerful and unhappy woman who taunts Pip's poverty by throwing Estella at him. Estella is a snob and, of course, Pip falls in love with her. The story then involves Pip becoming a gentleman (I think that means a guy that doesn't have to work for a living). He becomes a ward and believes it is Miss Havisham that is supplying his finances. There are numerous turns of events as Pip's "great expectations" are affected by gale force winds. The acting is excellent with a host of wonderful characters. I actually enjoyed this more than the David Lean film.
TheLittleSongbird
Both the Lean film and this are brilliant in their own way. Lean's was a little more atmospheric and the most inventive directing-wise(Lean told the story masterfully, always one of his strong points), no other version has done the opening graveyard scene better, and there are also the performances of Martita Hunt, Finley Currie and Jean Simmons. In terms of versions, it's my personal favourite. Adaptation-wise though, this is the best and most faithful, it's the version with the best ending and (to personal knowledge) it's the most complete version.The other versions seen include the very good 1999 adaptation with Charlotte Rampling as Miss Havisham; the respectable but rushed 2011 mini-series(the two leads were also miscast despite being more age-appropriate than Lean's leads); the decent but hugely flawed animated version from Australia(interesting for Estella at her most sympathetic); the recent 2012 film that was a mixed bag; and the dull and uninspired 1974 TV film with Michael York. Most looking forward to the BBC version with Joan Hickson.1989's Great Expectations is wonderfully done in so many ways. It looks splendid for starters, thought was clearly put into the visual details, regardless of how big or small. The period detail itself is sumptuous to look at and when needed there is that feeling of desolation like in the early scenes. Atmosphere-wise too, Great Expectations(1989) is one of the most evocative adaptations of any piece of literature viewed recently, it perfectly matches the tone of the book while also having the feeling of the Victorian era come to life. The photography is fine too, not as cinematic or as inventive as in the Lean film(then again this is a different medium we're talking about) but it is hardly a hack job. The music is well-used, sometimes used sparingly to allow the scene and storytelling to speak for itself, and creates an ideal mood, not too over-bearing and not too low-key.As for the writing, no complaints there either. It is adapted beautifully, intelligently and faithfully, and evokes a great deal of thought. There is the sense of Dickens' prose coming to life from the pages, nothing is anachronistic, nothing is stilted and nothing is too wordy. For an adaptation of a classic it strikes all the right notes. Don't let the length deter you, for a story this dense, this rich and this detailed, and with a lot of themes and conflicts going on, a long length is necessary.More importantly, the storytelling is sustained over the running with no problem, in no way does it feel incomplete, thin or run-out-of-steam quality. And for anybody who prefers really faithful adaptations, this is for you. Of the adaptations seen this is easily the most faithful and complete to the book(certainly the most faithful adaptation of anything I've seen since my viewing a few months back of the Russian And Then There Were None), the darkness, richness, conflicts and themes are all there and developed beautifully. And it's the adaptation with the best ending too, Lean's wasn't so much of a problem personally but the others bungle it(the 1974 version was the absolute worst in this regard. The opening scene is not as atmosphere or suspenseful as Lean's, but still well staged and acted.Of the performances, the standouts are Anthony Hopkins' Magwitch and especially Jean Simmons' Miss Havisham, two of the biggest stars as the most interesting characters in the book. Hopkins is outstanding, one of his best performances for me, in the early scenes he is appropriately menacing but later on he is sympathetic and he carries the role with an admirable amount of dignity. Simmons practically disappears into the role of Miss Havisham to the point of almost-unrecognisably, and dominates the screen every time she appears. Kudos to the costuming and make-up for making her look as ruined and broken as possible, quite possibly the most physically convincing of all the Miss Havishams, while allowing Simmons to give the character grace, an almost regal command and a sense of torment. You find yourself feeling a tad scared of her as well.Anthony Calf is one of the better adult Pips, handsome and youthful(not pretty-boy quality though like in the 2011 adaptation), yet gentleman-like, but never bland, similar attributes to Ioan Gruffodd in the 1999 version but a little more commanding. Kim Thomson is fine also as Estella, a little too old perhaps but still beautiful and expressive yet with a coldness and haughtiness. The best done Estella in personal opinion is in the 1999 adaptation, the only adaptation to get Estella completely nailed, but Thomson is one of the better ones. John Rhys-Davies is a humble and dignified Joe with some steel too, while Ray McAlly plays Jaggers with firmness and intelligence.Overall, brilliant, succeeding as an adaptation and on its own. 10/10 Bethany Cox
camiela
Disneys version of Great Expectations is the longest and most complete version of the often filmed Book,and probably would have made Dickins himself proud.Attention is paid to even small details,and the entire cast does a fine job. The really stand out performances however are those of the films two big name actors (and the films greatest talents).Anthony Hopkins plays the convict Abel Magwhich,who the main character Pip meets as a boy in a grave yard and befriends,and who re-appears years late.The other really stand out performence is given by Jean Simmons as Miss Havisham,whom Pip meets soon after the grave yard incident.It is interesting to note that Simmons played Estella as a 15 or 16 year old girl in 1946.In this version she has a much more complex role of the mysterious,eerie and somewhat demented Miss Havisham:a woman of ruined and decayed beauty who has become so thin she is spectre-like in appearence.Disney has gone to considerable length to make Simmons look bad enough for the part,and at times she is unrecognizable except for her voice.At other times even the fright-mare make-up cant make her look quite bad enough.Still Jean Simmons gives the part a grace,dignity,and even a regal quality which is not there in previous versions of the charactor.Simmons version of Miss Havisham is fascinating and she dominates/steals every scene she is in.The rest of the cast also does a fine job,and though the film is more than 3 hrs. in length it is well worth the time.
