Posts: 33,883
Threads: 2,549
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
Stacy has been on this Dickens kick for the pandemic. She just finished GE and loved it. Usually she disdains movie versions of books but she bit at the Masterpiece Theater version. This was done in 2011. It was okay. Stacy enjoyed it until the end, which they kinda botched. It was 3 1 hour episodes. Gillian Anderson was Miss Havisham, a part Helena Bonham Carter could've killed - Gillian was okay. It's such a great story that it's relatively bulletproof as long as it's reasonably close to the original. Stacy, having just read it, was making comments all the way which helped fill in gaps and make it more amusing.
No sword fights. Not particularly DOOM recommended but this might send us on a deep dive with this.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Posts: 15,851
Threads: 977
Joined: Jan 2016
Reputation:
1
Didn't they just release a multi-ethic cast of Great Expectations? That's the one I want to see.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm
Posts: 33,883
Threads: 2,549
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
Maybe? There are so many versions. We're looking to watch the one with Ralph Fiennes as Magwitch (ironically Sally Hawkins is Mrs. Joe in that one and the actress who played Estella in this one kept reminding me of her even though I knew it wasn't her). Helena is in that one too as... Miss Havisham.
There's even a Bollywood version with Katria Kaif
Yeah, I'll be adding to this thread...
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Posts: 15,851
Threads: 977
Joined: Jan 2016
Reputation:
1
My bad. I was thinking of David Copperfield.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm
Posts: 33,883
Threads: 2,549
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
2012 version
It turns out Helena isn't as great of a Miss Havisham as I thought. She was good, but a bit to caricature. A strong cast and production. Stacy said it followed the book well in the beginning but then it omitted a lot because it was a regular length movie (the Masterpiece version had the luxury of an extra hour). HP4 - Bellatrix:Havisham, Voldemort:Magwitch, Hagrid:Jaggers, Lavender:Biddy. Extra points for Sally Hawkins as Pip's sis, but her story is mostly omitted, and Spud as Wemmick. Stacy really liked Fiennes take on Magwitch.
It struck me that Helena has been a burning bride here and in Brannagh's Frankenstein.
Still no sword fights. Not particularly DOOM recommended.
I read where Bruce Lee's film The Orphan is considered a GE interpretation. It's one of his better child films and it's been a long time since I've seen it, but I can see how it could be interpreted so.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Posts: 3,426
Threads: 389
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
0
12-12-2020, 10:56 AM
(This post was last modified: 12-12-2020, 10:57 AM by King Bob.)
I liked the late 90s version with Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow, and DeNiro as Magwitch, but I wonder if it's held up. I hadn't read the book when I saw it.
Highly recommend the book. It might be his best.
the hands that guide me are invisible
Posts: 33,883
Threads: 2,549
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
(12-12-2020, 10:56 AM)King Bob Wrote: I liked the late 90s version with Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow, and DeNiro as Magwitch, but I wonder if it's held up. I hadn't read the book when I saw it.
Highly recommend the book. It might be his best.
Honestly, I don't know if I can handle Gwyneth. She's Estella, right? DeNiro as Magwitch sounds good though. Been thinking of finding the old Michael York version. I saw that as a kid and remember only the scenes with him and Havisham - such haunting imagery.
Stacy is inclined to agree with you on GE being Dickens' best. It is incredibly well woven in terms of story arcs. Maybe I should give it a pass. Did you read the alternate ending?
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Posts: 3,426
Threads: 389
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
0
As I understand it (I think either from an afterword or some article I read once), the original ending was that they don't end up together, and the few early readers before publication hated that, so he changed it to the ending it has now.
the hands that guide me are invisible
Posts: 33,883
Threads: 2,549
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
12-12-2020, 05:47 PM
(This post was last modified: 12-12-2020, 05:49 PM by Drunk Monk.)
Stacy's edition has both endings. According to that, there was the initial ending and the redone ending was at the request of another author who felt the original didn't resolve well. I think she said it was only sent to him originally in a letter.
I prefer them not hooking up in the end. That works much better. Not that I've read it yet, but all the movie versions seem to imply that they hook up and completely omit Pip joining Herbert in his importing business at the end. That's such a tighter conclusion because of Pip getting Herbert set up with that.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Posts: 33,883
Threads: 2,549
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
(12-06-2020, 10:55 AM)Drunk Monk Wrote:
So my birthday film was Fitoor, along with a tasty Indian feast from Royal Taj. It was enjoyable.
It starts scenically in Kashmir, where it takes a shocking turn (see the explosion in the trailer?). This is a modern Islamic take, with lots of liberties like no Xmas. It's only loosely inspire by the book. It moves to Delhi and then London. Lots of musical interludes but no dance numbers. Some very subtle nods to the book but in the end, it's a completely different story. It's artsy and romantic and I totally called the twist ending (really it's only a twist if you cling to the original). Stacy said she liked it but maybe it was because it was my birthday.
No sword fights. Not DOOM recommended.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
Posts: 33,883
Threads: 2,549
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation:
3
I forgot to mention the best part of Fitoor. There’s a dog that looks like Yuki. The puppy looks identical. When he gets to be an adult dog, he looks like Yuki would look if he had normal legs. It was very amusing for us.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse
|
