Great ExpectationsThe key ingredient in this modern-day version of Charles Dickens's classic is director Alfonso Cuarón, who made the glowing, estimable A Little Princess. If you saw that (and you should), understand that Expectations has those ingredients (great sense of time, place, and timing) but adds modern music and sex appeal; the latter personified by the long-legged Gwyneth Paltrow. Finnegan Bell (Ethan Hawke as an adult, Jeremy James Kissner at age 10) is the new version of Dickens's Pip. He's a child wise beyond his years, befriending an escaped convict... (Robert De Niro) in the warm waters of Florida's Gulf Coast. Finn is also the plaything for Estella (Paltrow as an adult, Raquel Beaudene at age 10), the niece of the coast's richest and most eccentric lady, Ms. Dinsmoor (a fun and flamboyant Anne Bancroft). The prudish Estella likes Finn (catch the best first kiss scene in many a moon) but has been brought up to disdain men; she'll break hearts. As the object of Finn's desires, Estella unfortunately is a one-dimensional character, yet what a dimension! Clad in Donna Karan dresses and her long, sun-kissed hair, Paltrow is luminous. She and Hawke make a very sexy couple. Mitch Glazer's script does better by Finn. He's a blue-collar worker with a gift for drawing (artwork by Francesco Clemente). Following his Uncle Joe's (Chris Cooper) honest ways, Finn grows up as a fisherman, thoughts of Estella and art drifting away in the hard work. When a mysterious benefactor allows him to follow his dream, Finn finds himself in New York, preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime art exhibit--and in the arms of the engaged Estella. Filled with cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki's golden-drenched light, the film has an irresistible, wildly romantic look. Dinsmoor's place is certainly gothic, Estella and Finn's longing encounters glamorous. Cuarón uses an MTV-friendly soundtrack with a confident touch. Songs by Tori Amos and the band Pulp--along with Patrick Doyle's silky score--create passionate scenes. It all ends far too swiftly with a seemingly tacked-on ending (reflecting the book, as it happens) but the film is splendid storytelling. It's a stylish, sweet valentine. --Doug Thomas Oliver TwistIf Charles Dickens were alive to see Roman Polanski's faithful adaptation of Oliver Twist, he'd probably give it his stamp of approval. David Lean's celebrated 1948 version of the Dickens classic and Carol Reed's Oscar-winning 1968 musical are more entertaining in some ways, but Polanski's rendition is both painstakingly authentic (with superb cinematography and production design) and deeply rooted in the emotional context of the story. Both Polanski and Dickens had personal experiences similar to those of young Oliver (played here by Barney Clark)--Polanski in the Nazi-occupied ghettos of Poland during World War II, and Dickens during his hard-scrabble youth in Victorian London--and this spiritual kinship lends a certain gravitas to the tale of a tenacious orphan who escaped from indentured servitude in London society and is taken in by Fagin (Ben Kingsley) and his streetwise gang of pickpockets. As the evil Bill Sykes, who exploits Oliver for his own nefarious needs, Jamie Foreman is no match for Oliver Reed (in the '68 musical) in terms of frightening menace, but even here, Polanski's direction hews closer to Dickens, while the screenplay by Ronald Harwood (who also wrote Polanski's The Pianist) necessarily trims away subplots and characters for the sake of narrative economy. All in all, this Oliver Twist rises above most previous versions, and with the benefit of Kingsley's nuanced performance, Polanski arrives at a compassionate conclusion that captures the essence of Dickens' novel in a way that viewers of all ages will appreciate for many years to come.-- Jeff Shannon Nicholas NicklebyWhile it necessarily streamlines the Charles Dickens classic, this delightful adaptation of Nicholas Nickelby captures the essence of Dickens in all of its Victorian splendor and squalor. With Charlie Hunnam (the U.K. Queer as Folk) doing noble work in the title role, this quintessentially Dickensian tale begins with the death of Nicholas's father, and the subsequent scheme by his cruel uncle (Christopher Plummer, perfectly cast) to separate Nicholas from his now penniless sister and mother. Stuck in a squalid school run by the evil Mr. and Mrs. Squeers (Jim Broadbent, Juliet Stevenson), Nicholas escapes with his loyal friend Smike (Billy Elliott's Jamie Bell), whose lineage will determine the greedy uncle's fate. As he did with Jane Austen's Emma, writer-director Douglas McGrath has crafted a prestigious production that shifts effortlessly between comedy and tragedy without compromising its warm, inviting tone. His dialogue rings true throughout, inspiring a stellar cast including Nathan Lane, Alan Cumming, Edward Fox, and Timothy Spall. Dickens himself would almost certainly have approved. --Jeff Shannon [show more]
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Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play Great Expectations The moment young Finn sets eyes on Estella she becomes his inspiration and his obsession Despite being warned "she&39;ll only break your heart" he vows to win her love Years later thanks to a mysterious benefactor aspiring artist Finn is off to New York where he is reunited with the icy and beautiful Estella When she agrees to model for him Finn&39;s dearest hopes may at last be realized--along with his darkest fears Oliver Twist Escaping the workhouse to seek a better life in London young Oliver Twist (Clark) is befriended by a pickpocket known as the Artful Dodger and introduced to a collective of young boys who are trained to steal for their enigmatic master Fagin (Kingsley) Reuniting with screenwriter Ronald Harwood (who scripted the Oscar-winning The Pianist for him) Roman Polanski approaches Charles Dickens&39; formidable classic with an earthiness not present in previous cinematic versions With a host of finely observed performances (not least from Ben Kingsley as the iconic Fagin) painstaking authenticity in the set design and sumptuous cinematography this is the essence of the novel that will entertain viewers of all ages!Nicholas Nickleby When his father dies young Nicholas Nickleby&39;s family is left penniless and he his sister and his mother venture to London to seek help from their wealthy Uncle Ralph (Plummer) Unfortunately Ralph&39;s intentions are less than good and the family is split apart Nicholas is sent to teach at Dotheboys Hall a squalid school for orphan boys run by the cruel and abusive Wackford Squeers (Broadbent) Within the dark grim walls of Dotheboys Nicholas befriends a kind-hearted and mistreated boy named Smike (Bell) and together they run away setting off on an adventure to reunite the Nickleby family and build a new home of their own A Christmas Carol This 1984 version of the Dickens&39; classic A Christmas Carol directed by Clive Donner stars George C Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge A miserable old man who hates the festive season is taught the true meaning of Christmas in this definitive version of Dickens&39; Yuletide tale Actors Gwyneth Paltrow Ethan Hawke Anne Bancroft Hank Azaria Robert De Niro Ben Kingsley Leanne Rowe Mark Strong Charlie Hunnam Stella Gonet Christopher Plummer Anne Hathaway Jim Broadbent Jamie Bell George C Scott & David WarnerDirector Alfonso Cuaron Roman Polanski Douglas McGrath & Clive DonnerCertificate 15 years and overYear 1997 ; 2005 ; 2002 ; 1984Screen Widescreen 2351 AnamorphicLanguages English - Dolby Digital (51)
A four-volume collection of films based on the novels of Charles Dickens. In the modern-day version of 'Great Expectations' (1998), ten-year-old Finn Bell (Jeremy James Kissner) is coerced by the convict Lustig (Robert De Niro) into helping him escape from the authorities. Later, when he is taken to the home of bitter recluse Nora Diggers Dinsmoor (Anne Bancroft), Finn (Ethan Hawke) is introduced to the beautiful Estella (Gwyneth Paltrow), whom he is fated to love. In 'Nicholas Nickleby' (2002) young Nicholas (Charlie Hunnam) has to become the head of the family after his father dies, leaving them penniless. In desperation, he turns to his uncle (Christopher Plummer) for help, but this only leads the family into even more of a mess. In 'A Christmas Carol' (1984) the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge (George C. Scott) is a misanthrope unimpressed by the fuss everyone makes during the festive season. That is, until, his sleep is disturbed one Christmas Eve by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, each of which takes him on a journey which helps him to open his heart to his fellow man and to thereby learn the joy of Christmas. Finally, in Roman Polanski's adaptation of 'Oliver Twist' (2005), Oliver (Barney Clark) escapes from a miserable apprenticeship and travels to London. Once there, the Artful Dodger (Harry Eden) initiates him into an infamous gang of pickpockets led by the notorious Fagin (Sir Ben Kingsley). After a robbery goes wrong, an innocent Oliver soon finds himself on the run from the evil Bill Sykes (Jamie Foreman).
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