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Summary: Wives and Daughters-What a great movie!!!!
Review: I first saw this movie as a four-part series on PBS' Masterpiece Theatre and I couldn't wait until it came out on video. I snapped up immediately when Amazon.com had it for sale and I recommend anyone interested in Lit/Film to do the same. The scenery was spectacular and lush. The storyline was fabulous and interesting throughout. The portrayals were incredible and multi-faceted making for a satisfying viewing experience. Go, run out and rent or buy this excellent movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as I hoped
Review: Had a hard time watching it all the way through, paused it several times when my attention wandered. Not as good as I was hoping based on the reviews I read of it. Not even close to BBC's production of "Pride and Prejudice." Was good, though. My own expectations were at fault.
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Summary: Wonderful adatation of a mediocre book...
Review: I put off seeing the adaptation of WIVES AND DAUGHTERS on tv and buying the DVD because I figured it was a feeble attempt by the BBC to cash in on the popularity of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Literary critics do not consider Mrs. Gaskell's writing to be as accomplished as Jane Austen's. Gaskell wrote "best sellers" during her day (19th Century approximately 50 years after Austen), but unlike her counterparts of the 19th Century - Austen, the Bronte Sisters, and George Eliot, Gaskell's books did not stand the test of time. It is a credit to Andrew Davies that he has been able to take the wide range of material he has and transform it into perfection. The BBC adaptation of WIVES AND DAUGHTERS IS PERFECTION. First, the DVD itself is clear and beautifully articulated. The sound and color are precise. This is a first class work of art comparable to adaptations of classics such as JEWEL IN THE CROWN and ROOM WITH A VIEW. Second, the lush settings, costumes, and other aspects of scenery and background are extremely realistic and accurate. This is not a tinsel-town sound stage rip-off, this is the real thing. WIVES is comparable to the Merchant-Ivory films. Third, the actors are superb. There isn't a dud in the bunch. As a BBC junkie, I am familiar with most of the actors, and was bowled over by the star power. The casting of Ian Carmichael (Lord Peter Wimsey) and Barbara Leigh-Hunt (Darby's Aunt in 'Pride and Prejudice') as Lord and Lady Cunmore is a fine example of the thought that went into choosing who should play whom. Francesca Annis is fabulous as Molly's very proper new step-mother. The Browning sisters are marvelous (Mystery fans will recognize both of them). And, last but not least, Justine Waddell is a great actress whom I must liken to the young Wendy Hiller. Waddell has one of the most expressive faces around and she plays it well. This young woman is destined to be a Dame of the British Empire. WIVES - as adapted by Davies - is tight, coherent, and flows logically (unlike Mrs. Gaskell's book). Characters behave in predictable but interesting ways. There are no "bad guys" or "good guys" everyone is very human. Even the wonderful Molly is not perfect and I for one would find her unbelievable if she were. Neither Molly's stepmother Hyacinth, nor her stepsister Cynthia are "bad" -- they are beautiful, charming, and self obsessed. Mrs Gaskell was clear and Davies keeps this bit in ... poverty does not make people nice. Molly is a better person because she has always had a loving father on hand to admonish her when she misbehaved whereas Cynthia was forced to fend for herself as her mother tended other people's children. Cynthia has learned some not so gentle survival techniques. I love this story because the people and the events depicted in it are based on real events. Molly is a fictional character but many of the episodes about her life are drawn from Mrs. Gaskell's own experiences and knowledge of other's lives. And, although she may not have used her as a role model, there was a young woman named Eleanor Omerod who became one of Britain's leading agricultural entemologists during the time when WIVES takes place. Eleanor began studing insects casually in 1852 when she observed an unusual locust which she wrote about in her diary. Later, she discovered a rare beetle on her father's estate in Gloucestershire which brought her to the attention of Professor C.G.B. Daubeny at Oxford. Thus she began a life long interest and career in a field few women entered. As a member of the Royal Botanical Society, Omerod was responsible for placing entemologists in Kenya and elsewhere. Fans of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE will enjoy this DVD, but it is not like Jane Austin's tales. Mrs Gaskell was not an accomplished ironist. Much of the tongue-in-cheek humor found in Austin's books is missing. However, Austen made fun of those she deemed pretentious to an excess and as a result, some of her characters are almost two-dimensional. Mrs. Gaskell's characters are developed, even those who might fall into the category of "pretension" in an Austin book. Mrs. Gaskell was concerned with the plight of "fallen" women and their redemption by nonjugmental folks. To Davies credit, this angle of the story has been preserved.
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Summary: Wonderful DVD!
Review: I watched this movie when it played on KQED and really loved it! We taped and I wathed it so many times. So I decided to get it on DVD. I'm so glad I did. The extra's are really great and found them very interesting. This is one of my favorite movie's now. The plot is really great but I can't go into it now or I'd give away the whole movie! You should see this movie!
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Summary: My new "Favorite Movie"
Review: This movie has replaced "Sense & Sensibility" as my favorite movie. I just simply adored this film. I purchased it without having viewed it, because the reviews posted here were filled with such praise. I would have to say that I prefer this one over "Pride & Prejudice" by five times over. The character of Molly is so dear, and the actress whom portrays her is outstanding. It was such fun to see some of my favorite actors from various British films through out this one, some of them even in minor roles. If you are looking for something fresh and intelligent instead of the mass produced junk then this is a film for you!
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Summary: It's no P&P, but pretty fine entertainment in its own right
Review: I bought this dvd based solely on the rave amazon reviews. For the most part, I was not disappointed. Made by the same winning team who brought us 1995's Pride and Prejudice, the temptation to compare the two series was too great to resist...And that is where I think I went wrong. While there was definitely a familiar "feel" to this mini-series in that the costumes and dialogue were fairly reminiscent of P&P, the story was completely different--not that that's a bad thing. However, at the end of the day, I simply felt the Wives & Daughers storyline was less riveting and, ultimately, less interesting, than P&P. Of course, the fact that I consider P&P to be the best movie/mini-series of all time may have unfairly prejudiced me against Wives and Daughters, but I started out with very good intentions. I really did want to love this movie as much as I love P&P!The story centers around Molly Gibson, a young lady whose widower father decides to remarry when Molly is 17 so that she will have a mother. Unfortunatley, his choice of bride is a rather silly woman for whom one feels as much sympathy as Mrs. Bennet of P&P. The stepmother has a daughter who, like her mother, is incredibly self-absorbed, but, unlike her mother, also at least TRIES to be a good person. The two stepsisters, although completely different, actually care very much for each other, and this was nice to watch. Of course, there's a male romantic interest, but he spends so much time off-camera that I didn't develop any particular attachment to him. Accordingly, when he comes back after a long absence pining after Molly (after first pining for someone else because she's prettier), I felt very little compassion for him. All in all, the story really is about Molly and how she handles the various situations in her life. She's the only person you really care about (well, she and Osborne Hamley, but only because his life is so tragic). And although that's nice, I don't think it warranted five hours. For five hours, I was hoping to develop more attachment to more characters. I was hoping that it would center more around the interactions and dynamics between various characters, rather than simply be "the world of Molly Gibson." In sum, it is fine entertainment, and something I enjoyed watching, but it is no P&P. I think if I hadn't read all these comparisons between the two series, I would've enjoyed Wives & Daughters more. As it is, though, I found it enjoyable, but not amazing. That said, I did find it compelling enough to watch all five hours in one sitting...So while I definitely recommend watching this, I recommend even more that you resist the temptation to compare this to P&P. This will save inevitable disappointment if you, like me, loved P&P and are looking for another period piece to love just as much.
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Summary: A Charming Adaptation
Review: An acclaimed award-winning British miniseries comes to America at last in this intriguing and heartfelt story of romance, mischief, and heartbreak. The tale begins with Molly Gibson, the only child of a well-known and beloved country doctor, whose mother died when she was very young. Spirited and often outspoken, Molly is a vastly different person of society than you might anticipate. With a passionate love for her father, and an undying fascination with bugs, her happy, glittering little world soon comes tumbling down when her father announces his engagement to Mrs. Kirkpatrick. Soon her life has changed dramatically with the introduction of two fascinating young men, a past full of scandal and secrets... and a stepsister that is a glittering social butterfly to her quiet and demur solitude. The mini-series is excellently filmed and timed, from the writers and producers of Pride & Prejudice. The costuming is absolutely breathtaking, the characters well-portrayed and deep, and it stays faithful to the original adaptation right down to the dialogue. Its only flaw, if any, is that the first hour rather lags, but picks up more swiftly as the plot moves into the second part. In true form, the BBC gives us a glittering array of gowns, horses, sprawling estates, and fashionable arrangements; as well as with a host of humorous side trails and dialogue. It's serious and yet comical; reaching into both areas with great success. They've packed this release with plenty of "goodies," from a long biography/documentary on the author to interviews with the cast and crew. I found that the featurette was somewhat well done but that the opinions of the actors differed from their characters. Their regards to Cynthia and her mother were more sexual appeal, while I found the film very clean and without any suggestive material. Perhaps I was reading it wrong, or perhaps they overlooked the film's own high points, but in all, a very nice DVD release.
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Summary: lol, I just LOVE this movie...
Review: You know, I already wrote a review for this movie, but I just felt I had to break away from the "professional" stance (although I gave it 5 stars) of my last review and scream to the world: I LOVE THIS MOVIE! It's funny and refreshing and happy and so thoroughly entertaining it's darned ridiculous. The name in of itself is impish. Everything about this movie, from it's music to its cinematography to its acting and plot twists suggest a terribly dignified but unsophisticated fun fun fun romp through emotions and who we as humans are and how ridiculous we can be sometimes. This is the movie to watch if you're feeling down. It's deep deep deep, but so darned much fun! It's soothing! It's a treasure! It's a delight! And it's Exxon Mobile Masterpiece Theatre/PBS/BBC. What else could you possibly want?
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Summary: Brilliant!
Review: The story (about relationships between family members and friends) is beautiful and carefully preserved by not straying too much from the novel. The film is a sort of "coming of age" as it follows the charismatic Molly as she grows into a charming and loveable young woman. The costumes are lavish and beautiful! And the acting.... Truly outstanding. Justine Waddell, Keeley Hawes, and Iain Glen, along with the rest of the exceptional cast, give phenomenal performances in their respective roles, and interact well with one another. The film is filmed in the same vein as the A&E adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice - if you enjoyed that, you'll be sure to love this charming and romantic film.
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Summary: Not Jane Austen, but a winner in it's own right
Review: This production was one that I hadn't heard of, and I bought it based on Amazon's review, and those submitted by other customers. I was looking for something Austenish, and very happily stumbled across this. It isn't really much like Austen, other than that Austen and Gaskell both wrote in the 19th century. Each woman had her own voice, and their stories are different, but equally satisfying. This production is visually beautiful and the acting is superb. The first time I watched it, nothing much seemed to be happening, until it was over. Life is like that I suppose; it happens while you're looking somewhere else. I can not praise this enough. It is just beautiful, and resonates on many levels. The producer and screenwriter are the ones who gave us the delicious Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. The humor in this story is more subtle and sometimes unexpected, so it hits you harder. Gaskell's people are more human and more lovable than Austen's, who are more like sketches and caricatures. These seem more like real people. I love this more each time I see it. Much as I adore Austen, I would have worried about what she thought of me. Mrs. Gaskell and I would have had tea and not worried at all! 5 stars on every level. Love that BBC.
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