Great Expectations

[valda]

I agree that the BBC TV series last Christmas was superior. This might be interesting for someone completely new to Great Expectations but quite ordinary for anyone else.

Islington Vue managed to turn on the lights for the last 10 minutes of the film and naturally the Duty Manager said it wasn't their fault. This is the umpteenth time that has happened at Islington Vue which is maddening -- all blamed on automated projection.


By the way, we moved down a seat before the film started so two people could sit together but had no sympathy for the two who had to separate (poor lambs) who turned up 20 minutes into the film and then lingered in the aisle looking for seats. If you're late, just shut up and take a seat wherever -- do not discuss options. And the young woman next to us in the back row with the large bag of popcorn in the noisiest bag ever -- I finally told her to put it away. I mean how much popcorn can one person eat???? "Oink, oink" said my daughter.

EJW you are brilliant!

Vue Westend was a laugh. I got there and was just sort of waved upstairs and sat in the bar area with C_T and other FMUKers. After a few minutes, someone decided to move to the cinema, so everyone crowded out and stood outside the screen blocking everything for people coming up the escalator. About 8 mins later, a punter decided to actually look in the screen and realised it was empty so we all went in.

Of course as management hadn't collected the tickets, we had to pass them down the row so he could grab them A few latecomers and it was totes full, quite quiet apart from rustling bags etc

[asamaic]

Ah. I waited in the bar until an announcement was made, was one of the first up the escalators and bemused to find the screen already full of people! So it was you lot...

[funthing29]

Of course as management hadn't collected the tickets, we had to pass them down the row so he could grab them A few latecomers and it was totes full, quite quiet apart from rustling bags etc

"quite quiet?"

I was sitting near the door so was constantly disturbed by an endless stream of latecomers, and people discussing where to sit, and also standing next to me to watch the film. So distracting.

[jeanelle]

Well Valda herself was the most perfectly behaved cinemagoer (I was sitting behind her!) Or maybe she was asleep?

This isn't one of my favourite stories but I saw a quirky production at Richmond Theatre recently which I enjoyed (poss headed for the West End, so look out for it) so I was looking forward to this.

It was so loooooong. It was pretty to look at. It was a BBC film and might have been ok on a wet Sunday afternoon at home when you can pause several times for a cup of tea and a piece of cake. Completely unoriginal and a good supporting cast wasted.

Normally I hate a film when you really want to give the heroine a good shaking, but aren't you supposed to want to shake Estella?

[valda]

Of course as management hadn't collected the tickets, we had to pass them down the row so he could grab them A few latecomers and it was totes full, quite quiet apart from rustling bags etc

"quite quiet?"

I was sitting near the door so was constantly disturbed by an endless stream of latecomers, and people discussing where to sit, and also standing next to me to watch the film. So distracting.

yeah apart from the latecomers that is!

[Brian1502]

Went to see this in a pretty full screen 7 at VUE Edinburgh. Agree with everything that has been said. Was great to look at and the usual crowd of BBC actors that tend to turn up in these were also great but just felt so long. Not to sure why this has been released now. To early and to long to capture the kids at Christmas and who is going to go out in winter to p*y cinema prices for this. As I cannot really say anything is bad in this 5/10

[Snowwhite]

also saw this yesterday and i was quite disappointed with the film, felt it was all over the place and quite rushed is some places, although it was a long film i felt that they could have developed some of the characters a bit more, preferred the book so much more

3/10

[jennyw888]

Saw this film at Vue Westend last night, quite enjoyed it, there was some funny bits. 7/10

[Beate]

Why was this in screen 6 tonight? The ushers managed to totally confuse OH (though that's not difficult), first saying screen 1, then go to the bar, then don't know anything about it, then finally, it's in screen 6. So up we ran and were almost the first, only narrowly beaten by a_person and friend.

It got very full and eventually the pair next to us realised they were blocking people sitting together and moved one up. We had a slight delay due to someone giving us a welcome speech then saying so sorry, the film has only just arrived, it will be another 15 minutes. I was about to moan by text to someone but couldn't finish the sentence as it suddenly started! Had two latecomers 35 minutes in but otherwise it was a good, quiet screening.

I don't really know what to make of the film. I confess that even though I possess the book, I have never got past the first 50 or so pages which were actually quite interesting, so I don't know how much was left out, but it felt awfully condensed and superficial, with no real depth to any of the characters. I might also be a bit tired today but I didn't even understand all the ins and outs of the story - sorry Charles Dickens but it felt a bit convoluted at times. And the ending was really quite unsatisfactory. I can't fault the cinematography as the landscapes and costumes were stunning, but I hated the constant tinkly music. I thought Helena Bonham Carter was horrible (can't stand her), although Ralph Fiennes wasn't his usual annoying self. Jeremy Irvine was eye candy and Estella was little more than a pretty face I am afraid to say. The best character was probably Pip's friend!

i wasn't bored as such and it was better than the ridiculous Anna Karenina but I felt this could have been so much better.

7/10

[Diane65]

It started 45 minutes late due to technical problems but we were kept informed and the cinema manager gave us all a free cinema ticket to say sorry - can't ask for more than that.
I did enjoy it but at times the characters didn't quite gel, its one of my favourite films but this adaptation I would have enjoyed more as a film to iron to (I always watch a film when doing the bulk of my ironing) rather than an evening out. 6/10