Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Film
Review: I was so pleased with this film. Excellent acting. The characters were realistic in this beautiful story of "Good." 5 Stars!
Rating:
Summary: Elegant, fast-paced version of the Dickens novel
Review: Charles Dickens was both a great storyteller and a witty commentator on the social injustices of mid-19th Century England.150 years later, the class struggles in Great Britain are of interest mainly to historians. Dickens, the storyteller, however, is still a great deal of fun in the right hands. Many of us are familiar with the numerous film versions of 'A Christmas Carol', 'David Copperfield', 'Oliver Twist', 'A Tale of Two Cities' and 'Great Expectations'. Dicken's lesser known and very long 'Nicolas Nickleby' is a hard book to tackle by any standards. Writer/director Douglas McGrath has done an admirable job of turning this ponderous tome into a sumptuous, entertaining movie that runs just over two hours. Sadly, the film, released last Christmas, fell under the radar, and very few people saw it. Perhaps on video and DVD it will find a wider audience. Nickleby [Charlie Hunnan] is a young man whose loving father has recently died in poverty, leaving Nickleby in charge of providing for his sister and mother. They journey to London to seek the help of their only other living relative, Ralph [Christopher Plummer], the dead father's brother. Ralph is a rich, conniving, unscrupulous entrepreneur, who makes his money by convincing rich Londoners to invest in various schemes. He has scant interest in his family. He provides in a small way for the mother and daughter, but sends Nicholas off to the country to work in a dreadful boys' school run by the wicked Wackford Sqeers [Jim Broadbent] and his hideous wife [Juliet Stevenson]. Though appalled by conditions at the school, Nicholas tries hard to do a good job. He befriends a poor lad named Smike [Jamie Bell], who was once a student but is now virtually the Squeers' slave. Eventually, Nicholas and Smike leave the school, and Nicholas sets out to right the wrongs done to his family and to Smike. Wisely, McGrath injects much energy and humor into the movie. The tale may be dark, but the telling is not. The cast is uniformly excellent, and the supporting cast includes such great performers as Edward Fox, Tom Courtney, Nathan Lane, Alan Cumming, and even Barry Humphries, better know as Dame Edna. All in all, one of the better British imports in the last few years.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable, But Flawed Adaptation
Review: This adaptation of Dickens' NICHOLAS NICKLEBY was directed by Douglas McGrath, who also did 1996's excellent "Emma." Nicholas is played by Charlie Hunnam ("Abandon," TV's "Undeclared" and UK version of "Queer as Folk"). The story begins after the death of Nicholas' father and the family's retreat to London. In London, they seek the help of Uncle Ralph, whose lack of empathy leads him to farm out poor Nicholas as a teacher at a sadistic boy's school. Nicholas soon breaks free of his servitude, bringing along his new friend, Smike. As the story continues, Nicholas meets a succession of corrupt people, but he slowly builds a family and "all ends well," in typical Dickens' fashion. The supporting cast is incredible, with many veterans of the stage and cinema appearing. Christopher Plummer is suitably menacing as the evil uncle; Jim Broadbent (Oscar winner for "Iris") and Juliet Stevenson ("Truly, Madly, Deeply") are sinister but oddly appealing as the Squeegs; and Tom Courtenay ("The Dresser") is touching and funny as Noggs. The younger actors are also quite good. Romola Garai ("I Capture the Castle") is radiant as Nicholas' sister; American Anne Hathaway ("The Princess Diaries") does well with her accent; and Heather Goldenhersh ("The Believer") is hilarious as the amorous Fanny Squeeg. More unexpectedly, Jamie Bell ("Billy Elliott") gives an extraordinarily touching performance as the sickly Smike, building on the promise he has already shown. Unfortunately, Charlie Hunnam is only ok, although he does bring an admirable degree of emotionality to the role. Ultimately, he's too contemporary and delicate to fully pull off a period piece of this nature. NICHOLAS NICKLEBY is quite enjoyable at times and has some very good attributes, but it also has some flaws. Why doesn't it work better? I think the main reason is that the film obviously only presents a portion of Dickens' sprawling novel, but tries to include too many supporting characters and side-plots. Dickens' plot machinations and dependence on coincidences simply don't work when taken too much out of context. The film ultimately feels like a series of well-produced scenes that don't gel into a cohesive whole. A number of stars (e.g., Nathan Lane, Alan Cummings, Dame Edna) also pop up in cameos that are, by and large, distracting. A most admirable effort, but it falls short. DVD EXTRAS: Include an interesting director's commentary and a detailed behind-the-scenes documentary.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent version of Nicholas Nickleby!
Review: I read this novel several years ago, and was thrilled when I saw the Bravo version. However, I noticed some scenes were rather different and offending, and, as another reviewer noted, "sexed up". When this version came out, I was hesitant. I had read the novel once more, and knew Bravo had made some changes. I had my doubts about this one. Thank goodness for everyone's reviews! I bought the DVD and loved it! This is pure Dickens to the bone. Wonderfully cast, acted and portrayed, this moving story, with some incredibly unforgetable scenes, must have been pure magic on the big screen. The DVD is excellent and very lush. You feel straight out of Victorian England and rapidly absorbed into the story. I highly suggest watching both versions, and comparing them to the book. Afterall, I have 3 versions of A Christmas Carol, 3 of Jane Eyre, 2 of Little Women, etc.! Only one thing bothered me-Anne Hathaway. Her teeth are too bleached, her wedding dress too modern, her eyes too penciled, and her hair parted on the side (Victorians were big on symetry and a woman would never have parted her hair on the side). She did not look at all Victorian, but rather like someone on the cover of Bride Magazine. Sorry, but it just didn't cut it. The rest was fantastic. Enjoy both movie and book!
Rating:
Summary: All in all, a top notch Dickens adaptation
Review: Let me start off by saying that I never read the book upon which this film is based. But it must have been a difficult one for Douglas McGrath to pare down to a sizable feature. He pulls it off with visual flair and elegant character acting. The film is as sumptious and enjoyable as McGrath's other adaptation 'Emma' from 1996 with Gwyneth Paltrow. Charlie Hunnam, whom I had only seen on the short lived Fox series 'Undeclared', gives an honorable performance as Nicholas Nickleby, the lead character in this ensemble piece. Nicholas unwittingly becomes head of his family at age 19 when his Father passes, leaving his family with little money. They travel to London to seek the help of their sinister Uncle Ralph (Christopher Plummer in an amazingly cold performance) who gets Nicholas a job at a frightening school run by the cruel Mr. and Mrs. Squeers (Jim Broadbent and Juliet Stevenson, both almost stealing the show). There he meets the crippled Smike (Jamie Bell from 'Billy Elliot') whom he promises to protect. There's tons more but I'll leave the rest for you to discover should you decide to see the film.
Just about every actor on screen is magnificent. Hunnam, Plummer, Broadbent, Stevenson, even Nathan Lane(!) bring such life to the screen. But my favorite performance was from 17-year-old Bell with the difficult role of Smike. He pulled it off masterfully and is sure to become a huge star in years to come. The one qualm I had with the picture was that Anne Hathaway as Nickleby's love interest had so little to do that her character was hardly of interest to me. Admittedly some things must be sacrificed when adapting from Dickens and I think it was much better on McGrath's part to focus on the relationship between Nickleby and Smike. McGrath himself does a great job directing. The film is perfectly set with glorious landscapes and colors. It is interesting how the scenes in the school house have hardly any color at all but once Nickelby and Smike escape, things start becoming bright again. All in all, it's a beautiful picture that definately deserves to be watched again and again. See it, especially if you love period films.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty good
Review: Charles Dicken fans will love this movie. "A Chrismas Story" is better, but "Nicholas Nickleby" is still entertaining. The art direction and special effects are spectacular. The writing has a few weak parts, but the scenes still fit one another. It still keeps Dicken's good name as a writer. Charlie Hunnam's wonderful debut as Mr. Nickleby proves that he'll stay in the spotlight for a while. Jamie Bell is one of the few child stars of today who can act; therefore, he needs to perform more such demanding roles in the future. Anne Hathaway proves that she's traveled a long way in a short time since "The Princess Diaries". All other actors in "Nicholas Nickleby" are great. Overall, this has the emotion and the sense of hope it needs. One will not be disappointed once it's been watched.
Rating:
Summary: Disapointing...........................................
Review: I found this new version of Charles Dicken's wonderful book Nicholas Nickleby to be disapointing. Charlie Hunnam's Nicholas seemed shallow, insipid and abrupt. Jamie Bell's performance as poor Smike was one of the only high points. Also we never see some of the most interesting characters, Madame Mantalini and her husband for instance, and are barely intorduced to little Miss La Creevy. If you are simply in the mood some light and abriviated Dickens then this is the movie for you. However, if you really want to see this classic brought to life, then I highly reccomend Acorn Media's beautiful 2000 version, featuring James D'Arcy who made a far more kind, deep and human Nicholas, and Lee Ingleby, who is brilliant as Smike. Also staring Charles Dance as Ralph Niclkeby. The Royal Shakespeare Company's "The Life And Adventures Of Nicholas Nickleby", is wonderful as well.
Rating:
Summary: Ok
Review: The movie was Great, but Anne Hathaway didn't do a great performance in my opinion. I had liked her in The Princess Dairies, but she just didn't go with this movie. So it kinda makes it less interesting when you don't have characters (actors) that don't go with the movies.
Rating:
Summary: Thumbs up to Dickens and McGrath
Review: Nicholas Nickleby is a classic: the story of friendship, hardship, and the struggle to live independantly in 19th century England. Douglas McGrath beautifully brings Dickens' masterpeice to life.
The Story: We find the title character (Charlie Hunnam) a recently fatherless teen who takes his mother and sister to their estranged uncle (Christopher Plummer) seeking financial aid. Little does the family know that all Ralph Nickleby has to give is hate and lies. The odious uncle sends Nicholas to Dotheboys Hall, a "school" for unwanted boys, where he encounters the cruel Squeerses (Jim Broadbent, Juliet Stevenson) and the abused Smike (Jamie Bell), with whom he escapes and sets out on his adventure to rescue and reclaim his family.
The Thoughts: With a star studded cast and excellent score, Nicholas Nickleby is poignant and comedic. A definite must-see.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Movie/ Much anticipated DVD
Review: In anticipation of the DVD release of Nicholas Nickleby on 7/22/03 I wanted to write a review of the movie: Most people, like myself, know Dickens from his beloved "A Christmas Carol". Prior to seeing this movie I knew nothing of the story. From the previews in the theater it looked interesting. The film more than lived up to my expectations. I was blown away by this movie (especially the surprise ending which had me in tears). Beautifully crafted, Nicholas Nickleby has everything going for it. A great story, perfect casting, colorful cinematography, and a beautiful soundtrack.
Briefly, the story involves the fate of Nicholas after the death of his father. He is forced by his cruel uncle to leave his sister and mother to attend a terrible boarding school, which is more like a prison. Talk about child abuse!
He manages to escape with Spike, a sickly attendee who almost gets beaten to a pulp prior to their escape. As the story unfolds a strong friendship forms between Nicholas and Spike which portrays human dignity at it's highest level. I'll say no more in fear that I may give away too much of the story.
The strong cast includes Christopher Plummer, Jim Broadbent and even a cameo by Nathan Lane. The DVD should be outstanding, I can hardly wait. Sadly, this amazing movie wasn't in the theaters for a long time. Great films rarely appeal to the general movie going public, which is a crime. This is a story that I feel all age groups can appreciate. It stayed with me for days...
I can't say enough good things about Nicholas Nickleby. Buy the DVD, you won't regret it.
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