Rating: 
Summary: What is there to say?!!!
Review: I purchased this tape solely on the reviews I have seen by my fellow members, and I have not yet read the novel. I feel obliged to confess that I was not at all disappointed. Instead, I found myself idolizing this spectacular movie for what it really is, absolute brilliance! A must see, must own video!! And now, I am going to do what I should have done a long time ago, read the novel.
Rating: 
Summary: very good movie!!
Review: I thought this movie was great! The acting in this film makes you feel as if you were there right along side them,feeling the same pain and triumph they are. So if you are a fan of made for tv movies, this ones for you!!
Rating: 
Summary: Not THAT great
Review: I'm sorry, but compared to other movies of its kind this movie did not rate high. The romance wasn't there and I barely felt sorry for the girl.
Rating:
Summary: Great saga.........
Review: If you read the book you will love the movie. If you are used to all the happy endings of the Jane Austen type stories and expect it of this movie, you will be disappointed. It's very sad and you will be left feeling empty and possibly weepy. But sometimes that's just exactly what you're in the mood for, right? I thought the casting was dead on. Tess was exactly as I pictured her as was Angel Clare. Don't you love when that happens?
Rating:
Summary: Great saga.........
Review: If you read the book you will love the movie. If you are used to all the happy endings of the Jane Austen type stories and expect it of this movie, you will be disappointed. It's very sad and you will be left feeling empty and possibly weepy. But sometimes that's just exactly what you're in the mood for, right? I thought the casting was dead on. Tess was exactly as I pictured her as was Angel Clare. Don't you love when that happens?
Rating:
Summary: Stays true to the spirit of the book
Review: In this version Of Tess of the D'Urbervilles, the very essence of the book is caught in a way that is but too often unseen. Tess, Justine Waddell is the perfect actress to play this role. Not only are the physical apperances remarkably alike but so is every emotion expressed by Waddell which are just like the ones Hardy describes. The rest of the cast does a superb job as well. Especially Jason Flemyng who plays the seductive yet repulsive Alec Stoke D'Urberville. Perhaps the only complain I have is leaving out the book's ending in which Angel and Tess' sister, 'Liza-Lu a "spiritualized image of Tess" whom Tess had asked Angel to marry and teach her the things Angel had taught her, witnessing from a far the raising of the black flag in honor of Tess' execution and joining hand in hand as they run on. Overall this video is a rare treasure.
Rating:
Summary: Great Film
Review: Justine Waddell captures the very essence of Tess. unlike the actress in Polanski's version of Tess. The music, scenery, and acting are superb.
Rating:
Summary: Wish I Could Give This Video 6-Stars!!
Review: Justine Waddell is truly brilliant in this skillful adaptation of Thomas Hardy's famous classic. Her "Tess" is breathtakingly beautiful without being at all self-conscious of her looks, and is genuinely charming and adoring. Whenever Tess cries (and she does that A LOT due to her tragic circumstances), it's impossible not to be affected or to reach quickly for the box of Kleenex. This is a sad and compelling story set in the later part of the 19th century, about a simple country girl named Tess who is the oldest child in a poor family with many children. Due to her family's poverty, she is forced, at 16, to find work (i.e. taking care of the fowl farm) at the great House of a family called the D'Urbervilles (whom Tess and her family are led to believe are their distant relations). Naive Tess (who then knows nothing about the "dangers" of men), is quickly courted and seduced by the young lord of the House, Alec (who has set his sights on her since the first day they meet), although she doesn't love him. In her distress, she later packs up and leaves the House to return home; both Tess and Alec not realizing that she is already carrying his child. The child is born but later dies of illness. Tess leaves home a second time and finds work as a dairymaid in a distant place where she meets and falls in love with Angel Clare, the handsome and well-respected son of a clergyman. Angel, who is unaware of Tess's "past", falls in love with her and holds her in awe for her virtue, beauty, grace and goodness of heart. Tess tries to tell him of her past, but each time, fate cruelly intervenes and she never gets her chance... until it is too late. On their wedding night, Angel confesses to Tess that he has been promiscuous in the past and begs for her forgiveness. Tess readily forgives him and with this opening provided by Angel, she proceeds to tell him of her past relations with Alec and the resultant child, truly believing that Angel will forgive her as he himself has been forgiven for his own past sin. But this is not to be.... and great tragedy (Hardy-style) ensues. I loved the novel, and find this adaptation to be one of the most supreme of period dramas ever produced. The casting, acting, directing, cinematography and screenplay are simply perfect. I particularly enjoyed the scenes where Alec is teasing and courting Tess e.g. the very picturesque and charming moment at the strawberry garden. It is also endearing and funny to watch Alec teaching Tess how to whistle ("whistling" being necessary as his mother, the eccentric matriach of the House, insists that Tess whistles to her caged birds every morning as part of her duties). Another funny and delightful scene is when Alec asks Tess for a good-bye kiss after failing to persuade her to stay on at the House. She immediately offers him her cheek (for the kiss), glares angrily at him and says: "See how well you have mastered me!" Inevitably, there are slight deviations from the novel e.g. Tess's sister, Liza-Lu does not appear in the last scene (as in the book). Also, Alec's character is portrayed in a better light in the movie i.e. he frequently shows his sincerity in loving Tess and persistently offering to take care of her. He has many faults.... but he does love her and has never abandoned her once he finds out about her destitute situation. Can't say the same for Angel's character, though. He can't accept Tess because he deems Alec to be her "husband by nature" and not himself. Angel may also be suffering from broken dreams and a broken heart, but with his hypocrisy and evident cruelty, he hurts and crushes Tess more than Alec ever does. This series (4-hour long) is a masterpiece one can watch over and over again, despite its tragic storyline. I love the theme song which is a beautiful melody that stayed in my head for days! In my personal opinion, Justine Waddell deserves an Oscar for her brilliant performance, and one fine production like this is worth 10 of Hollywood's blockbuster-"Titanic"-type movies. Just watch this video and see if you don't agree!
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Movie We Have Ever Seen!!!!!!!!!!
Review: My family and I Love this movie so much. We have watched it countless times since it first aired on A&E last Sept. We bought two movie videos of it, because we were afraid we might wear it out. Everything about this production is Wonderful. We wish it would even be released on DVD, then we would even by another copy of this Great movie. The musical score for this movie is so Beautiful and Moving. We wish that the soundtrack would be released on CD. We could just go on and on about this Unforgettable movie!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: I am a Justine Waddell fan
Review: My name is Sarah and I am 12 years old. I thought that Tess of the D'Urbervilles was a very good film, in fact I thought it was brilliant. I have seen other films with Justine Waddell in, they were The Woman in White and Wives and Daughters. I strongly recommend Wives and Daughters as absolutely fantastic especially if you are as big a fan as me!
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