great expectations
Added 10/28/2009
the dvd i received was in excellent condition! arrived in timely fashion and i was very happy with this purchase!
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Love this movie
Added 8/1/2009
Arrived quickly and in good condition. As for the movie, I love it that's why I ordered it :)
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a cheap soft porn masquerading as art
Added 6/17/2009
I was expecting to watch a visual artistic interpretation of one of Dickens's greatest works, but there was none of that. As a modern reader, I understand that several elements and plots in Dickens's novels nowadays are anachronistic and cheesy at times. But I still recommend that young readers should read these classics for other reasons - eg, to appreciate the difficulty of breaking "thru" the class barrier at another time in England. In contrast, this modernized version of "The Great Expectations" is unforgiveable in its modern plots and cheap marketing ploys and is not worth the time watching it at all. Under the pretense of erotica and arts, the usually great Paltrow stoops so low when she takes off her clothes for some cheap soft porn shots along the light weight Hawke. It's painful for me to watch the movie. I feel disappointed and betrayed when these self-proclaimed artists took a great piece of literature and turned it into a cheap film, along the way, unwittingly dupping the movie goers, using the title of a great novel and the name of a great writer, all in the efforts just to make a few bucks. What a shame!
2 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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VERY GOOD.... but not great
Added 4/14/2009
This movie had some really great things going for it. The leading actors were at their best even as children they had great chemistry going on between them. It was a very sexy, stylish and well put together movie for the most part. The real down fall for me was the character played by Robert De Niro. I know this movie was based on the book by Charles Dickens but really De Niro just got in the way of the flow of the story from the very start to me. They really did not need him at all in this version of Great Expectations. He kind of messed it up for me.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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UPDATING A CLASSIC
Added 1/11/2009
If your literary sensibilities are easily offended by setting changes ( say from London to perhaps Miami, or New York... ), or perhaps any infringement on a Dickens' classic makes your blood boil- trust me you'll loathe this movie. However, though I love Dickens, I also love this movie, and could care less that it is set an ocean away, and a century and half into the future of the original book, nor does it bother me that Estella now bears the last name of Dinsmore ( instead of Havisham ). The fact that Pip is now 'Finn' is also of no consequence to me. In fact I am delighted that he is an artist instead of a businessman ( represented handily by the work of Francesco Clemente ).
GREAT EXPECTATIONS is a beautifully realized romance, with a wonderful soundtrack, gorgeous cinematography, and exceptional performances. Gwyneth Paltrow is simply radiant as Estella, and takes what is essentially a one dimensional ice queen ( pretty much as Dickens, himself, wrote her ) and imbues her with a hint of sadness , and If you've ever lost your heart to someone that is either totally wrong for you, or prefers to see you as 'just a friend,' you will certainly appreciate how extraordinary Ethan Hawkes' performance is. Anne Bancroft gives her character ( Estella's guardian ) much more depth than the original Miss Havisham ( 'Dinsmore' in the movie ) had. The first kiss in this film is better than any I can remember. This is simply a great pic.
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life in parallel worlds
Added 9/25/2009
In a way this is sci fi as at one point missing a train splits
the life of Helen in two: one blond and one with here natural light brown hair.
She seems to be attracted to tall and dark
( the one fellow falls short of handsome?).
Both appear to be cads, but the one fellow is actually alright.
If you like Gwyneth Paltrow, you should like this movie,
but i can't say there is a lot to make you want to see it.
The love affairs are pretty dull even with the fighting.
Paltrow has none of the sparks that one sees in her famous films:
Shakespeare in Love (Miramax Collector's Series) or Proof.
I didn't much like the result.
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Time enough for love
Added 8/15/2009
I'm sure that at some time or other everybody thinks that if I had only done something different from a different decision what would life have been and where would I be now. There've been several movies like this with what ifs sometimes people see the future and come back and correct it; some people never see the future. If you enjoy movies like "Happy Accidents" (2000) that you know the premise of this movie and will enjoy it also. There have been better and worse presentations. This presentation hits the mark.
Helen Quilley (Gwyneth Paltrow) makes it and doesn't make it to the sliding door of the subway. This is where the story split into two parts and we follow each Helen as she is the victim and the master of her fate. Luckily the producers of this film split it into nearly 2 completely different stories so we don't keep seen two versions of the same thing like in the movie "Run Lola Run." Notice also that Jeanne Tripplehorn plays an excellent antagonist.
I am sure that you will enjoy this movie. You will find yourself kibitzing. And wondering what would I have done.
Happy Accidents
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Sliding Doors
Added 7/4/2009
Sliding Doors [Region 2]
I really enjoyed watching this movie. I bought it after borrowing it from the library. Talk about love!! Yes, I would call it a chick flick.
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