Rating: 
Summary: Upper-class, Victorian soap opera
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this new version of "The Forsyte Saga". The series is well-produced, well-cast, well-acted, with the storyline remaining faithful to the books. The series focuses on the lives of several branches of the Forsytes, an upper-class British family in London, beginning in the 1870s and ending in 1901. Primarily, the story highlights the havoc Irene, first as Soames' wife, then later as (young) Jolyon's wife, unintentionally wreaks upon the family. When viewers are first introduced to them, Winifred has just become engaged to the upper-class, ne'er-do-well Montague Dartie. Soames (Winifred's brother) first sees Irene as she is just beginning to go out in society again after the mourning period following her father's death. Young Jolyon (Soames' & Winifred's cousin), who is married and has a young daughter, June, falls in love with his daughter's French governess and causes a huge family scandal when he leaves his cold-hearted wife for the governess and his father disowns him. Although all of these cousins interact with eachother, though not always for anyone's benefit or support, the main focus of the series is upon Soames' and Irene's disastrous marriage. Soames, who is cold, obsessive, and controlling, falls in "love" with Irene at first sight. He exemplifies a Victorian gentleman in that he views women (and wives in particular) as property. In fact, Soames is often referred to as a "man of property" even by his own family. He never really bothers to get to know Irene, or even to take into account her interests, hopes, and dreams for the future. He does show that he can more than adequately provide for a wife, and viewers see that he is obsessed with her, but none of these things equal love. Soames is nothing if not persistent. He convinces Irene's stepmother to accept him as Irene's suitor, and watches the house, hangs about so often that other potential suitors are discouraged and/or driven away. Irene is young, poor, and clearly at a disadvantage--she clearly tells Soames no, that they would not suit, tells her stepmother the same, to no avail. The stepmother has ulterior motives--she wishes to remarry, and so long as Irene is on the scene, men are interested in Irene, so Soames provides a good way to eliminate a rival on the marriage market. Irene finally caves in to the pressure from both her stepmother and the prospect of poverty--she accepts Soames but only on the condition that he release her from her marital obligations should the marriage not be a success. Soames readily agrees, and they are married. Much of the rest of the series continues with the disintegration of their marriage, Soames' refusal to honor his pre-marital promise to her, and her subsequent attempts at escape from an increasingly jealous and possessive husband, including openly flouting her affair with architect Philip Bosinney (June's fiance), and an absolutely appalling marital rape committed by Soames. The stories of Winifred and her family and young Jolyon and his families are seamlessly interwoven with the central story of Irene and Soames. The series progresses with Irene finally leaving Soames for good, Soames' refusal to accept that his marriage is over (following her, pestering her, bullying her, demanding her return and that she give him a son), and Irene's friendships with both old Jolyon and young Jolyon, including her marriage to young Jolyon once Soames divorces her. The series wraps up with the births of Irene's & Jolyon's son and with Soames remarriage (also of convenience instead of love) to Annette and the birth of their daughter.
The series shows the usual attention to detail that viewers can expect from British period dramas, including beautiful costumes, and lovely sets.
I also like the casting, and, contrary to many previous viewers, find that Gina McKee does an excellent job as Irene! In the books, Irene is described as having blonde hair and brown eyes in some parts, and in more parts is described as having amber hair and brown eyes. To me, amber means a reddish-brown (like the fossils) not blonde. She also conveys how trapped and unhappy Irene is in her marriage to Soames. This is the story of a disastrously unhappy marriage, in which she is trapped, watched obsessively by a husband who has no idea how to treat a woman (to think of her as a human being was well beyond the scope of his intelligence and imagination), who wants out, and to suggest that she should be portrayed as anything but lifeless when Soames is around would go against the story and her character. The only times viewers see any life in Irene is when Soames is not around or when she thinks that he is not around.
The other actors, including Damian Lewis, Rupert Graves, Amanda Root, and Ioan Gruffudd round out the cast and give wonderful performances all around.
Viewers are also treated to wonderful social and political commentary (on the status of women as chattel or property, the cumbersome divorce laws in effect at the time, the British class system, the Boer War, etc.) Wonderful series all around. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: It Should Have Been Better
Review: I am a rabid fan of British television, ever since I saw the original 26 episode black-and-white version of The Forsyte Saga in the late 1960s. While I did not expect that the new dramatization of Galsworthy's masterpiece would be an exact recreation of the original (nor should it be), I was expecting that it would be more faithful to the novels. The biggest disappointment was in the casting of Geena McKee in the major female role of Irene Forsyte:it is as though the casting director never read the books. In this case, the producers should have gone to the original series and watched Nyree Dawn Porter, who was the epitome of Galsworthy's Irene. The male cast members generally fare better, especially Colin Redgrave. I was also impressed by the interpretation of Annette, Soames Forsyte's second wife, which, so far, is more faithful to the books than was the original series. Soames and Annette have a marriage of convenience that they work out over the years; it is an interesting counterpoint to the marriage of young Jolyn and Irene, Soames first wife. There are also unsuccessful. and unnecessary, attempts to make the series more "modern,"for example as in making the rape scene between Soames and Irene more explicit than the original or the book. Although the series is flawed, I am going to watch the second half, which is supposed to air later this year or early next year, but with my fingers crossed that the producers made a better choice in the casting of Fleur Forsyte than they did with Irene. The technical aspects of the production are excellent: the sets are impressive, the costumes are colorful, and the majority of the cast members, especially those in the minor roles, turn in good performances.
Rating:
Summary: McKee is Sensational...
Review: As one of England's most gifted actors, Gina Mckee is superb in "The Forsyth Saga" (BBC) . Her subtle, gentle performance gives her character an intensely complex dimension usually stripped out of BBC period dramas. KcKee almost leaves the other actors for dead in many of her most important scenes. An actor of superb technique and armed with undeniably the most beautiful, complex profiles in contemporary film and television. Her alluring, slightly theatrical presence and physicality are what make this remake so impressive. A fine example of an exceptional actor totally in control of her craft, handling an incredibly difficult role with decorum that only a first rate, classically trained, and gifted actor could.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding - Superb - Sublime
Review: There aren't enough adjectives to describe this modern masterpiece. Poignant, heartbreaking and totally insidious, it grabs you and doesn't let go. The casting was spot on and the performances are incredibly subtle with every nuance played just right. It's a brilliant Victorian soap and, like any good soap, it sucks you right in!
Rating:
Summary: The Same Magical Story; Strange Casting
Review: I have been haunted by this story since I saw the movie adaptation - with Greer Garson as Irene - years ago, when I was a pre-teen. I read the book, all of it. The first television series was wonderful as long as the two Porters, Eric and Dawn as Soames and Irene, were the central figures. It became less interesting when the action shifted to Fleur, as played by Susan Hampshire.The new adaptation is streamlined and brilliantly written. It is also well produced, but with two almost catastrophic mistakes. Gina McKee is a moving character actress, but by no stretch of the imagination could she be called beautiful or charismatic. Irene must be radiant; all the characters speak of her beauty, and her presence tears the Forsyte family apart. Both Garson and Porter were convincing in the role of Irene; McKee is not. The second mistake is in the casting of Soames. The book and the earlier film and television versions of this narrative conveyed the complexities of the character of Soames; there was sympathy for his plight. In this new version he is such an obvious villain that he almost turns the entire production into melodrama.
Rating: 
Summary: The Forstyste Saga: Slow Moving but Well Acted
Review: In 1969 as a callow youth I was mesmerized by a black and white flicerking image on our 17 inch television screen. It was, of course, the blockbuster British series of The Forsyte Saga by Nobel Prize Winner John Galsworthy.
Much has changed in my life and the world since that distant Sunday when I tuned in to my local Natiional Education Television station (as PBS was known of in that time).
I have read all the books in the Forsyte Saga and find the writing somewhat old fashioned in that Galsworthy relies on strict narrative without stream of consciousness or other more innovative techniques. Soames mellows in both the books and both the tv series. The best book and the best part of the series is the "Man of Property" part in which we are introduced to the
Philistine Forsytes in the 1970s when the British Empire reigned supreme.
The acting in the new version is excellent. Gina McKee is not your usual beauty but her acting and cold sophistication are a wonder to behold. Damian Lewis is superb as Soames. The supporting cast is excellent.
The camera angles are interesting with high shots sometimes giving one a panoramic view of the scenes; costuming and furnishing on the sets are accurate to the time period involved.
Many people will find the action snail like and grow bored with this nineteenth century soap but those who stick with the proceedings will enjoy the series.
In Simon Montefiore's new biography of Stalin I learned that the Russian dictator considered the old Greer Garson movie "That
Forsyte Woman" to be his favorite movie! There is no accounting for what type of person will enjoy the Forsytes!
If you like action, explicit sexual situations and thrills galore tune in the networks. If you enjoy great acting in a slow actiion talking head series then reserve your chair for this bit of British storytelling.
Rating:
Summary: A Genuine Masterpiece
Review: I take issue with the long-winded reviewer who referred to Gina McKee as "horse faced and unattractive". I am not sure how this comment can be taken seriously in any thoughtful critique of the piece, but in any case, it is probably obvious to anyone wishing to learn more about the 2001 version of the Forsyte Saga that the reviewer is simply spewing catty gibberish; the cast is splendid with no exceptions. As for Gina McKee (Irene); besides being physically striking, the actress portrays a character, who like most (if not all) of the characters in the piece, were created with qualities that are something less than likeable and selfless (perhaps the reviewer was too focused on critiquing physical features that didn't agree with her rather than concentrating on the point of the story. The strong commitment to personal agendas above all else inherent in most of the characters is one of the more compelling aspects of the Forsyte Saga. It is quite simply a masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Best in OLD WORLD COMEDY DRAMA
Review: I absolutely loved this movie. I don't want it to end. I want to see Soames' daughter Fleur grow up and reform her father in his old age. I want to see baby Jon grew up to make his mother Irene proud. This movie was very captivating and funny. I laughed, cried, got angry at..., was happy for... It was great!!! I hope they consider a sequel even if the book stopped at the birth of Soame's daughter Fleur. By the way, I don't think you can get any more dysfunctional than the Forsytes. Smile.
Rating: 
Summary: dumb reviewers and a lacklustre production
Review: I read the reviewer from Paris and thought it was an in depth critique. This person seems to have a good grasp of the period and the book. cmwrb from Lakewood NJ can't read, otherwise he/she would have noticed the review goes light years beyond simply critizing Irene's appearance. And it wasn't longwinded, just thorough. Making stupid attacks without justification is hardly a review -- everyone is entitled to their opinion. The review from Paris was much better than cmwrb's silly and superficial comments. And why the insults? As for me, I didn't enjoy this version of the novels. I also found it added things and didn't go into the depth of the original series. A bit slapdash overall. But it's been some time since I saw the original and read the books, but in all it was a disappointment. So I agree with the person who wrote from Paris, who's far brighter than cmwrb (and no, I don't know either person, I'm just annoyed at the comments).
Rating:
Summary: Probably the best period servies EVER produced....
Review: This six disc DVD series with 2 espisodes per disc, a full 'nine' hour story was so exciting that my wife and I we had a veritable group show up at the house demanding that we can't finish the series without them being there to witness and enjoy every moment ..... And that's what happened, we not only went through the nine hours of Series one but also the more than 6 hours of Series two making it a FABULOUS weekend of 15 hours of exiting, thoughtfull, thrilling and tender stories of love, hate, revenege and posession ..... Trust me you are talking to a guy that falls asleep in most of today's movie theaters after the first half hour so for me to hang in there for a full 15 hourse makes this and absolute MUST recommendation to purchase for your DVD collection.... Oddy enough, I do however think that women from ages 19 and up will gobble up the love stories of the Forsythe saga while the men however MUST be at least 35 years old or older. I guess it has something to do with a lack of violence and explicit gratuitous sex, so, I suggest that you get a DVD of 'Kill Bill Vol1' and have them watch that in another room over and over .... OK I'm not going to go into the story or more details in this review since much has already been written about this famous series ... suffice it to say that I certainly identified with the plight of one of the main characters, Soames, the wealthy Forsyth that marries Ireene, a beutifull young woman that does not love him. Thats the devishness of the story, he suffers for the love of a woman he can't posess while she suffers for the love of men that get taken away from her...... WOW this is the best EVER in DVD and it will deliciously blow away a weekend with you, your friends and significant others ....
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