<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: DEFINITELY A CRIME
Review: After this film, you wouldn't dare watch another John Hurt vehicle, for days. Or it may actually possess you to indulge yourself with everything John. I mean: How many actors nowadays could dish out a deliciously deranged role with conscience et al -- and still manages to keep you 'laughing' at the same time because you know he's in one of his best acting adventure.
Also and of course, the goddess Siân Phillips is miraculous, indeed. The only CRIME here is the fact that she didn't have enough scenes! Surely, more rewrite could've been easily accomplished, especially since the director changed the ending, for example. Didn't she have a great agent to fight for her 'vanity' rights, back in the days??? Her 'dancing' scene is worth every penny, mind you.
And last, I must commend the inspector, for he did an excellent acting job. His demeanor in the film is a dead ringer to some creature I was recently subjected to -- yuck! On the other hand, I saw this actor in a docu called "Empires, Martin Luther" - or at least I believe that was the same man - but he didn't have a speaking role on this one, as far as I can remember.
Rating: 
Summary: The five last minutes are bitterly disappointing...
Review: How very disappointing! My boyfriend and I were VERY excited to get this DVD. We both read the book - he did a long time before I did - and we were looking forward to see the mini-serie. It was great to see the characters, and see the similarities or differences they had with those that our own imagination had made up. For example, yes John Hurt was a little too old or looked too old to play Raskolnikov, and I had imagined him to be a little more charismatic than that (sorry for the John Hurt fans)... He was a good actor though. He delivered a great performance, and he does look conflicted like I figured Raskolnikov would have been. I didn't especially like the actress that played Sonya, and at times it seemed that she was just plain "bad", especially in one scene where Raskolnikov went to see her at her place, but her voice was as soft as I imagined Sonya's to be. Porfiry was close to how I imagined him though! And Razhumikin(darn Russian names, I'm not sure about the spelling and I don't have the book with me) was close too. The ONLY AND ULTIMATE thing that spoiled the experience was the ENDING. How dare they! I'm sure Dostoevsky would have turned in his grave if he saw that. It just ruins the whole story. One of the best parts in the book was the ending, when he went down the stairs at the station, and out, and saw Sonya, smiled and went back. It's NOT in the DVD! NOT! And Sonya does not go in with him at the station in the book. And he does not go to see Porphyre(Porfiry in English), but Ilia Petrovitch. It makes a big difference to me anyway. There's also the part where Svidrigailov kills himself... that lasted all but 5 seconds! It was also one of the most "poignant" parts of the book. "Tell them I'm going to America"... Would it have been that hard to include it? Also where was the gun when Dunya went to see Svidrigailov... Those part are a bit disappointing (the ending is EXTREMELY disappointing), but overall it was still a good adaptation of the book. There's so much philosophy going on in the book which you can't easily include in a movie, but I think they did a good job. Just the ending would justify giving that movie ONE star, but I'll be honest, I loved watching it up to the end.
Rating:
Summary: Picture on cover?
Review: I have just finished watching this brilliant adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky's 'Crime & Punishment'. The three episodes last seventy-five minutes each, a total of just under four hours. In my opinion, the first episode is the best, but I enjoyed the entire DVD immensely. I do not know how faithful it is to the book as I have never read it, but I certainly shall now.
The wonderful Jack Pulman adapted this for BBC TV in 1979, shortly before his death. Again he manages to produce an impeccable script, full of both drama and humour. Interestingly, as with so many of his works, his wife Barbara Young makes an appearance as the eccentric Amalia Ivanovna - or at least that is what she calls herself.
The cast is outstanding and features many well known and hugely talented players. The amazing John Hurt is simply riveting as the tortured Raskolnikov. Sian Phillips and Frank Middlemass are both very moving and Timothy West is masterfully subtle and understated. Other standouts include David Troughton and Beatrix Lehmann as the Pawnbroker. In fact, the only member of the cast who was not particularly good was Yolande Palfrey as Sonia, but even she was acceptable.
The sets and locations are very authentic and there are some unforgettable scenes. The story is dark and bleak, but enthralling, thought-provoking and simply fascinating.
All in all an excellent production - one to keep beside 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' (BBC TV 1979), 'Anna Karenina' (BBC TV 1977) and 'The Mayor of Casterbridge' (BBC TV 1978).
But why on earth is there a picture of Elizabeth Garvie and David Rintoul in 'Pride and Prejudice' (BBC TV 1979) on the back cover? I am surprised that no previous reviewer has commented on this.
Rating: 
Summary: Truly Great Book deserves a Great Movie
Review: I just finished re-reading the book; it is a masterpiece. I wish I could say the same for the BBC series. For one, the musical score is either absent or irritating. So much of what is compeling in the book goes on inside of the Characters. How about voice-overs or something else (music?)? Let the audience in on the torment and conflict of Raskolnikov (the main character) and interplay of the characters that is so powerful in the book. What I saw was an acceptable theatrical production on film. I've written much more but it's unfortunately been truncated. Simply read the book instead or view this and know that this pales before the book. This is a dreary protrayal.
Rating:
Summary: Splendid teleplay
Review: Read the book -- but this _is_ a superb miniseries. John Hurt is a little older than is ideal for the role of the student Raskolnikov, but otherwise is a fantastic choice for the part. The story is absorbing and thought-provoking, and, at least in the marvelous scene in which Raskolnikov taunts a police inspector --- funny! Crime and Punishment was preceded by an adaptation of Dostoevsky's The Possessed. I hope that will become available.
Rating:
Summary: Splendid teleplay
Review: Read the book -- but this _is_ a superb miniseries. John Hurt is a little older than is ideal for the role of the student Raskolnikov, but otherwise is a fantastic choice for the part. The story is absorbing and thought-provoking, and, at least in the marvelous scene in which Raskolnikov taunts a police inspector --- funny! Crime and Punishment was preceded by an adaptation of Dostoevsky's The Possessed. I hope that will become available.
<< 1 >>
|
