bkoganbing Going back over the years it seems that every generation gets a new version of Great Expectations . We can't seem to get enough of telling of Charles Dickens's coming of age novel. In this version the brothers Toby and James Irvine playing different ages of Philip Pirrup, shortened to Pip our protagonist hero.Pip's an orphan kid brought up by his sister Sally Flemyng and her husband blacksmith Joe Gargery played by Jason Flemyng and a random act of kindness feeding escaped convict Magwitch played by Ralph Fiennes brings him unseen benefits. A change in lifestyle as he now lives like a gentleman. He can also aspire to court the haughty Estella played by Holiday Grainger. As her very strange guardian Miss Havisham has brought her up, she's to reek vengeance on the male of the species.. Helena Bonham-Carter and that's been a great part for character actresses. Left at the altar by the man she loved, Miss Havisham is the last word in warped. I wonder who in real life Charles Dickens took as his model for her.As it goes young Pip has been believing certain things in his life and based his life on false assumptions. In the end he's happy, but he's got quite a reality check in store for him.Another ten to twenty years there will be another version of Great Expectations. We don't seem to tire of the tale.

Jackson Booth-Millard I've seen a few versions of the classic story, based on the famous novel of Charles Dickens, including David Lean's 1946 version with John Mills and the 2011 three-part TV show with Gillian Anderson, I hoped this one would be alright, directed by Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). Basically on Christmas Eve, Young Pip (Toby Irvine, Jeremy's brother) encounters an escaped convict (Ralph Fiennes), he assists him escaping with blacksmith tools and steals him a pie and brandy, until he and another escaped criminal are arrested. A year or two later, wealthy spinster Miss Havisham (Helena Bonham Carter), who is reclusive living in the dilapidated Satis House and still wears her old wedding dress, is visited by Pip, he falls in love with her adopted daughter Estella (Helena Barlow). Pip becomes an apprentice blacksmith, helping Joe Gargery (Jason Flemyng), the kind husband of Pip's older sister (Sally Hawkins), four years into his apprenticeship, grown up Pip (War Horse's Jeremy Irvine) is told by lawyer Mr. Jaggers (Robbie Coltrane) that an anonymous benefactor has paid for him to become a gentleman of great expectations, Pip is convinced it is Miss Havisham. Jaggers looks after Pip's money until he is older, Pip is sent to London, where he is reacquainted with Herbert Pocket (Olly Alexander), who also used to entertain for Miss Havisham, he schools Pip to learn the ways of a gentleman, until Pip is eventually reunited with Estella (Holliday Grainger). Pip is still in love with her, but she professes that she cannot feel love herself, and meanwhile Pip finds out the true identity of his benefactor, it is the convict he helped out, his name is Magwitch. Pip confronts Miss Havisham, she knows nothing about Estella's true parentage, she asks for his forgiveness for her manipulation of him, before he leaves Miss Havisham accidentally sets her dress on fire, she dies from her injuries. There is also some stuff about Pip trying to help Magwitch escape, but he is arrested and taken to prison hospital, Joe pays off Pip's debts, and following a trip to Egypt Pip returns in eleven years to see Estella, she seems to have opened her heart. Also starring David Walliams as Mr. Pumblechook, EastEnders' Tamzin Outhwaite as Molly, Trainspotting's Ewen Bremner as Wemmick, Jessie Cave as Biddy, Bebe Cave as Young Biddy and Ben Lloyd-Hughes as Bentley Drummle. The casting, Fiennes as the criminal turned father figure, and Bonham Carter as the freaky woman severely bitter being dumped at her wedding, is fine, but Irvine is perhaps too vulnerable, and overshadowed by the supporting cast members. To be honest, I have never understood the whole of the Dickensian story properly, in any of the adaptations, I just know the obvious parts, this film was the book in its entirety, but unfortunately it does not grip you, it feels too moody and everything falls flat, I was bored throughout most of it to be honest, a rather dull period drama. It was nominated the BAFTA for Best Costume Design. Adequate!

studioAT When you look at the cast list for this film you expect something that maybe won't topple David Lean's version of Dickens' classic novel, but at least will be equal to it.It's even more disappointing then at just how far short this adaptation falls. From some examples of poor casting, to some odd story additions/cuts, this version did not do a lot of me.Even the seemingly perfect casting of Helena Bonham Carter falls short, and that was the main selling point for this version going in. I did like that this version didn't make the same mistake as the 2011 TV series did and cut Biddy though.It's a real shame, because this could and should've been great.

fkkemble I love the writings of Charles Dickens and this is one of my favourite stories. I expected a riveting performance but was just plain disappointed. There were lots of great talent, Helena Bonham Carter, David Wallliams, Scottish fellow and Ralph Fiennes among others; some lovely photography but for some reason this just didn't work. I had also watched the version that included David Suchet, Ray Winstone and Gillian Anderson, an unlikely cast and yet it really worked and I was in raptures. Maybe it was because this version was a condensed cinematic version and some of the original story had to be discarded but I had the sense that an intimidating cast list and terrific photography would carry the day but it really didn't. I like all of the actors in this but I really felt that they were utterly miscast. You know, Robbie Coltrane would have been a far better Bumblechook. Helena Bonham Carter just should not have been employed. Too bad- I so wanted this to be good.