Rating: 
Summary: a great movie
Review: This is such a wonderful movie.As someone who hates movies adapted from books, I was very skeptical of this film. I was wonderfully surprised. This film is a great adaptation. 800 pages crammed into 2 hours 12 minutes? but it was great! The cast is impeccible, perfect for their parts. I would recommend this movie for all
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful adaptation
Review: I don't know how they did it.
Before I watched this movie, immediately after reading the book, I was dreading that it would leave out major parts of the plot, absolutely massacring the story. I honestly didn't think they'd be able to squeeze it all in. But they pulled it off. I don't think I have ever seen a better adaptation, of ANY book. Even with all the changes of setting, I never once felt like I was watching separate, chopped-up episodes or was being rushed through anything.
It is extremely unfortunate that this movie did not get more recognition. I had never even heard of it until I read the book.
I couldn't figure out why "Chicago" won best picture at the Oscars when it was up against movies like "Gangs of New York". After seeing a great movie like "Nicholas Nickleby" I can't even imagine why it was nominated. The injustice of it is depressing.
And how about Jamie Bell as Smike? I thought that was a very praise-worthy performance. He made me cry like a baby.
Rating:
Summary: Delightfully humorous for such a dark tale...
Review: I love Dickens for the same reason I love Roald Dahl -- good always triumphs over evil (something we see far too little of in real life) and this adaptation of "Nicholas Nickelby" does not disappoint. Charlie Hunnam as Nicholas is wonderfully young but does not shrink from the challenges before him. Jamie Bell ("Billy Elliot") is so good as the abused and crippled Smike he makes me weep -- proving that his mesmerising performance in "Billy Elliot" was no fluke. This young man is the real thing, and I'll be first in line when his next movie ("Undertow," with Josh Lucas and Dermot Mulroney) is released. The supporting characters are flawlessly cast and add the humor needed to prevent drowning in the depressing darkness of Dickens' world. The butler to Nicholas' uncle has the most wickedly droll lines in the entire movie and will move you to fits of laughter at a couple of points. Nicholas Nickelby is a young man of nineteen when his father dies, thrusting him from his happy life into a world of grief and adversity, and leaving him responsible for the wellbeing of his young sister and his mother. Together they travel to London, accurately depicted as the dark, dreary, and even scary place it was in the nineteenth century, to seek help from their only other living relative, Nicholas' Uncle Ralph Nickelby. Ralph, very well portrayed by the always fabulous Christopher Plummer, is a cold-hearted old codger, evocative of Ebenezer Scrooge from "A Christmas Carol," interested only in furthering his own fortune any way he can, even if it means harming others. He only begrudgingly helps his dead brother's family, shipping Nicholas off to teach in a Yorkshire boys' "school" that is more like a prison camp, and obtaining employment for Nicholas' sister and mother as seamstresses. His behaviour grows even more heinous when he attempts to prostitute his niece, inviting her to his home ostensibly to act as a hostess, but in reality as a potential plaything for his lascivious business cohorts. Meanwhile, Nicholas finds himself doing the best job he can under very distressing circumstances, but eventually escapes the school, rescuing the crippled Smike and taking him under his wing. If you've read the book you already know the rest, but out of consideration for those who don't know the story, I won't tell any more of it. This movie is beautifully photographed and visually rich; I wish I had seen it in the theatre. I highly recommend this film for anyone over six years old, although sensitive children might be disturbed by the malicious mistreatment of the students in the boys' school. It's also a great way to introduce reluctant students to the classic storytelling of Charles Dickens. I find that as a homeschooler, my own children are inspired to read far more difficult literature than they otherwise would if they have seen a really good film adaptation first.
Rating:
Summary: Kid Movie Critic
Review: A heart warming film that is fun for the whole family. From the moment you start watching it, it makes you want to know more. Some tears may shed for Smike and there will be lots of laughing. Though Anne Hathaway could have played Nicholas's love intrest better, the movie overall deserves 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Sparkling Dickensian Effort
Review: Writer/director Douglas McGrath has done a splendid job bringing Charles Dickens' delightful novel "Nicholas Nickleby" to the big screen. "Nickleby" is quintessential Dickens in its mixture of sentiment and satire, its finely drawn characters and caricatures, its clear cut delineation of good and evil, hero and villain, its melodramatic and coincidence-ridden plotting, and its championing of the downtrodden underclass of 19th Century England. Like many of Dickens' protagonists, Nicholas is a young man who is forced by circumstances (in this case the death of his father) to leave the comfort and security of his home and family and to venture forth to make his way in the world. On his journey he meets many vivid and colorful characters, all of whom reveal to him both the goodness and the cruelty inherent in human nature. These picaresque tales almost always end up with the hero a bit wiser and less naïve for his experiences - but more committed than ever to righting wrongs and seeking justice for those less able to do so on their own. And "Nicholas Nickleby" is no exception. In his approach to the material, McGrath has employed an amazing economy that allows him to effectively compress a 500-page novel into a 2 hour and 12 minute film. With so much storyline to work with, McGrath wastes no time in setting the scene and defining the characters, then moving merrily along from one dramatic incident and encounter to the next. Yet, the film never feels rushed or telescoped as movies derived from lengthy novels so often do. Each character, whether major or minor, is given the opportunity to make his or her mark on the scene. It's true that, in Dickens' world, the villains and eccentrics are generally far more intriguing and memorable than the comparatively pallid heroes and heroines, but McGrath has succeeded in making even those latter characters moving and interesting. Above all, the film is blessed with a cast made up of first-rate performers who bring each of the author's creations to vivid life. Charlie Hunnam, despite his having to embody a character who is a fairly one-dimensional, conventional "pretty boy," manages to make Nicholas a bit more active and a bit less passive than he might have become in lesser hands. Nathan Lane and Barry Humphries make a delightful couple as Mr. and Mrs. Crummles, the leaders of the fifth-rate theatrical troupe that, for a short while, becomes a family for young Nicholas. Jim Broadbent enacts a fine comic villain as Mr. Squeers, the brutal but henpecked schoolmaster with whom Nicholas quite literally comes to blows. The film's finest performance comes from the ubiquitous Christopher Plummer as Nicholas' evil Uncle Ralph. Plummer understands that the key to conveying villainy effectively is by underplaying the role. By doing so, he helps to ground the film with a much-needed center of gravity. Special recognition should go to the handsome production and costume design, to the fine cinematography and to the lovely score by Rachel Portman. In fact, everyone involved in the making of "Nicholas Nickelby" should take a bow for converting such a fun, entertaining novel into such a fun, entertaining film. Dickens, I believe, would feel honored and proud.
Rating:
Summary: Nicholas Nickleby is a Beautiful Film!
Review: I was not aware that a movie had been made based on the book as I happened by it on a shelf in the video store. I'm typically drawn to movies based on classic literature. Though I've yet to read the book (so I don't know if the movie strays), I hoped the movie would be worth watching. Nicholas Nickleby is a beautiful film. The acting is wonderfully done. Especially by Charlie Hunnam (?), Christopher Plummer, and Jamie Bell. Alan Cumming and Nathan Lane are delightful. I loved every minute they were on the screen. The young lady who plays Nicholas' sister is lovely to look at, gentle of spirit, and her face radiates innocence. Anne Hathaway (sp?) does a fine job portraying the sweet Madeline. The story (which has already been summarized quite well) is very touching. If I'm moved to outward response, it has to be good. I found myself cheering on a couple occasions. Especially the scene in Dotheboys when Nicholas comes to Smike's aid. "How do YOU like it?!" escaped from my lips in that particular scene. :) The country scenery is lovely and beautifully filmed. I would've loved to have seen more of it. You will find yourself embracing those who are good and waiting anxiously for the demise of those who are evil. Nicholas Nickleby will move you, inspire you and warm your heart.
Rating:
Summary: Flawless film
Review: This was the best film I've seen in ten years, probably more. It was, as others have said, brilliant on multiple levels--acting, writing, direction, cinematography, music--and captures the essence of Dickens' rhythm, humor, and humanity. I simply wish to add my voice to anyone contemplating seeing this film or even buying it. I saw it in the limited run in theaters and bought it. I hadn't purchased a film in several years at least. This one was more than worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Have your hanky handy
Review: I read the book when I was around thirteen. I've seen at least one other film version, however this one is the best. Perhaps because I'm an adult now, and the story affected me more. It has a universal theme of misfortune met with strength and resilience. Nobility. I think we all can relate to the human spirit being challenged, and our hero choosing the high road. A morality play, if you will. An evil uncle who can choose to aid his dead brother's family, but instead chooses to see if he can degrade them into turning into as despicable a character as he is. You truly feel emotions watching this film, and you root for Nicholas, his family, and his friend Smike. If you need a good cry, and who doesn't at some time or another, watch this film. On the flip side, Nathan Lane had me cracking up! Great screenwriter whose words were beautifully realized by a sparkling cast.
Rating:
Summary: one of THE best movies ever (adapted from a book of course)
Review: i love this movie! christopher plummer~~BRILLANT...he's so incredibly gifted, he brings this wonderous feeling to the film! jim broadbent is so wonderful, i get chills thinking about it. can't possibly say enough about charlie hunnam, or however you spell his last name...he's so awesome, i was speechless when i saw him act. granted, i've seen him on that show...what was the name? never mind. but here, he really flexes his acting muscles! anne hathaway, such a sweetie, i loved here in this. she is able to capture the essense of the time perios. and last but not least, jaime bell...what a cutie! he adapts a limp, and is so incredible in this movie. see it just for him! all in all, this movie is great...very worth the money.
Rating:
Summary: Nicely done........but the James D'Arcy version is better.
Review: This is a nice effort by director Douglas McGrath, who also brought us the excellent film adaptation of Jane Austen's "Emma." It has light and airy feel to it with lovely and talented stars, beautiful cinematography and a partly comedic and partly dramatic treatment to Charles Dickens' story. Big kudos would go to the talented cast composed of Charlie Hunnam, Christopher Plummer, Anne Hathaway, Romola Garai, Juliet Stevenson and Jamie Bell. There are, however, some notable shortcomings. Having seen the 2001 tv version ("The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby") starring James D'Arcy (which is also available on DVD), I feel that this adaptation pales in comparison. For one, Charlie Hunnam (as Nicholas) feels a little out of place in this period piece. He just has such a modern look that he seems slightly awkward in this Victorian tale. James D'Arcy, on the other hand, seems natural to play Nicholas. He has that intensity and earnestness that makes you want to root for him from the start (and he is beautiful to watch, too). Christopher Plummer is always good in everything he does but to my eyes he pales in comparison to Charles Dance's excellent portrayal of Ralph Nickleby. Mr. Plummer's Ralph is mean spirited and cranky while Mr. Dance gives a more chilling and believable portrayal as Nicholas' greedy, heartless uncle. Another problem is the time constraints between film vs. tv. Clearly this version feels fairly rushed. I like to think of it as the "Cliff's Notes" version. There is little time to deal with character development and certain characters (such as the eccentric Mantalinis and the scheming Arthur Gride) and plot lines were lopped off. The tv version has the advantage of being able to stay more faithful to the story and introduce us to a colorful range of characters that makes for a richer adaptation. I enjoyed this version of Nicholas Nickleby. It is well worth renting on dvd. However, if I had a choice between this or the tv version, I would far prefer seeing the tall, handsome and talented James D'Arcy (who will soon be seen in Russell Crowe's "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World") play Nicholas over Charlie Hunnam. In short, this is nice to watch once in awhile but the 2001 tv version is the one I prefer to keep in my dvd library and watch again and again.
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