Rating: 
Summary: St. Ives-What a rollocking romp through the countryside!
Review: ...Just a whim that it might be good because I love the combination of literature and film. I want to tell you what a rollocking, fun ride this movie is, I was definitely not disappointed. The portrayal were fun and first rate, the story was exciting and funny. Everyone interested in Lit/film should run out and rent this film.
Rating: 
Summary: Too silly
Review: Among the few things this flick has going for it are pretty filming locales, lush costumes, warm saturated colors, and golden summer afternoon light. A romp it is, but one that provides neither enough comic relief to be sufficiently entertaining, nor (lighthearted) substance to be engaging or even remotely memorable. "St. Ives" is buffoonery galore. Hints of period piece parody and sprinkles of mild witticisms simply aren't enough to elevate the movie above plain silliness. It isn't an absolute bore per se but too incomplete and predictable to be valued and enjoyed.
Rating:
Summary: Too silly
Review: Among the few things this flick has going for it are pretty filming locales, lush costumes, warm saturated colors, and golden summer afternoon light. A romp it is, but one that provides neither enough comic relief to be sufficiently entertaining, nor (lighthearted) substance to be engaging or even remotely memorable. "St. Ives" is buffoonery galore. Hints of period piece parody and sprinkles of mild witticisms simply aren't enough to elevate the movie above plain silliness. It isn't an absolute bore per se but too incomplete and predictable to be valued and enjoyed.
Rating: 
Summary: Fine Words Butter No Parsnips
Review: First of all, to be fair to this little film, I got my movies mixed up and was expecting Bogdanovich's Saint Jack with Ben Gazarra (still easy on the eyes). This mishap may color my review, but you be the judge: this is a nice little movie that could have been a little faster paced for the very likable comedy that drives the script. This is a classic picaresque story with a lot of potential for irony. It is just a little too sentimental in parts and the music kind of dampers it. The cast is good - how can they not be good - they are English. Miranda Richardson and Richard E. Grant have wonderful chemistry together. Jean-Marc Barr is very good, but he is just a little too subtle and sweet. Still, there are some funny lines, like a line about fine words and a comment about articulating a phrase carefully. The costumes and scenery are lovely if sparce. There are worse ways of spending 90 minutes watching movies. It kept a talented crew and cast of actors employed. Stay tuned for a review of the film I thought I was getting.
Rating:
Summary: Fine Words Butter No Parsnips
Review: First of all, to be fair to this little film, I got my movies mixed up and was expecting Bogdanovich's Saint Jack with Ben Gazarra (still easy on the eyes). This mishap may color my review, but you be the judge: this is a nice little movie that could have been a little faster paced for the very likable comedy that drives the script. This is a classic picaresque story with a lot of potential for irony. It is just a little too sentimental in parts and the music kind of dampers it. The cast is good - how can they not be good - they are English. Miranda Richardson and Richard E. Grant have wonderful chemistry together. Jean-Marc Barr is very good, but he is just a little too subtle and sweet. Still, there are some funny lines, like a line about fine words and a comment about articulating a phrase carefully. The costumes and scenery are lovely if sparce. There are worse ways of spending 90 minutes watching movies. It kept a talented crew and cast of actors employed. Stay tuned for a review of the film I thought I was getting.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent...treat yourself to a little fun and romance....
Review: I bought this film on a whim and will watch it more than once. The DVD version has been digitally mastered and is very beautiful--the blues and reds of the English and French uniforms, the greens of the countryside, the stunning blue of the hot air baloon, the white sand of the coast. Robert Louis Stevenson, a 19th Century English writer whose illustrious compatriots include Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Jane Eyre wrote ST IVES--the book the film is based upon. This tale is somewhat reminiscent of a Jane Austen story with its lover's angst, but it lacks Austen's irony and amazing plot twists. Also, Janie did not include the blood and guts and sex depicted on the screen in ST IVES--but did Robinson? In some ways, ST IVES is more akin to the French tales of the Ancien regime (VALMONT) than the English tales of the Regency period, but unlike the French stories, this tale is relatively upbeat (there are some deaths). Perhaps one might liken ST IVES to the Scarlet Pimpernel but the hero is a real Frenchman, not an English Aristocrat posing as one. St Ives is also fighting for Napoleon when he isn't dueling "wanabees" or chasing pretty women. One day, St Ives finds himself an English prisoner-of-war after back-slapping pal (his second at his numerous duels) unwittingly causes him to slide down an embankment into the waiting arms of British soldiers. St Ives captors transport him to Scotland, where he is placed under the watchful eye and lock and key of Major Chevening who is a bit resentful of having been kept out of the fracas on the continent. Chevening has been ineffectively courting the delicious Flora, niece of Miss Gilcrist. In an amazing turn of events, Miss Gilchrist (who is extemely worldly) and St. Ives are soon both coaching Major Chevening concerning his courting strategies. ST IVES is a hero, not the place with kits, cats, sacks and wives as I thought all these years, and the gentleman's name is pronounced "Santeff". Miranda Richardson is wonderful as Miss Gilcrist (she is related to the Redgraves and Natasha). Richard Grant is oh so funny as Major Chevening, and he and Miss Gilcrist have some very amusing scenes together. I had not heard of the two younger actors who play St Ives and his love interest, but they are also very good. The plotline of ST IVES is not as well developed as Austen's story PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, if it were it would be as well known, but it is as well developed as NORTHANGER ABBY. The characters are two-dimensional, but real enough that one cares what happens to them. The film's strengths include moments of sadness, humor, and above all lots of love-making.
Rating:
Summary: Well worth the viewing
Review: I didn't know about this movie until I saw it in a video store and being a fan of literature adaptations, I rented it. I was so pleasantly surprised to find it to be a fun, exciting romp with lots of great performances. I waited for it to come out on video for sale and when it did I snapped it up. I suggest everyone do the same.
Rating:
Summary: What a fun, exciting love story courtesy of Stevenson
Review: I didn't know about this movie until I saw it in a video store and being a fan of literature adaptations, I rented it. I was so pleasantly surprised to find it to be a fun, exciting romp with lots of great performances. I waited for it to come out on video for sale and when it did I snapped it up. I suggest everyone do the same.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing
Review: I first rented this video on a whim, being the literary nut I am. I found it very refreshing, with its blend of romance, adventure, and sheer naughtiness...and all combined and presented quite gracefully. Excellent characters, superb scenery and cinematography, and, of course, thanks to Mr. Stevenson, an excellent plot. Too bad more movies could not be more tastefully engaging and enlightening.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing
Review: I first rented this video on a whim, being the literary nut I am. I found it very refreshing, with its blend of romance, adventure, and sheer naughtiness...and all combined and presented quite gracefully. Excellent characters, superb scenery and cinematography, and, of course, thanks to Mr. Stevenson, an excellent plot. Too bad more movies could not be more tastefully engaging and enlightening.
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