Rating: 
Summary: *SURPRISE! PROVOCATIVE, WITTY CASTLE-DWELLERS*
Review: Romola Garai plays a winsome Cassandra Mortmain in this adaptation of Dodie Smith's ("100 & One Dalmatians") 1930s story "I CAPTURE THE CASTLE." Cassie is a 17-year-old who wants to be a writer and lives in impoverished naivete in a decaying British castle with gorgeous sister Rose, wise-eyed brother, & the famous author-father who has a decades-old writer's block ~ but lacks Micawber's charm. Topaz, the stepmother, is artistically inclined to frequently 'air' her body on the glorious green hillsides. After the castle's American heir and his brother arrive, the story naturally progresses to 'marrying off' the two sisters.
Teen pulchritude living 'clueless' and tattered in a run-down castle adds up to comic situations and angles. The production is reasonably faithful to Dodie Smith's story. It definitely delivers a light interlude for romance fans in their teens and twenties. The film, rated "R" for some nudity, got scant distribution in the U.S., and that resulted in almost no press. At least watching the DVD will allow viewers to critique some discarded scenes AND even a different ending. ENJOY OFTEN ..... the FIFTH STAR is awarded for Beauty!
Rating:
Summary: *GLIMPSES OF CASTLE LIFE: NOT THE WINDSORS !!*
Review: Romola Garai plays a winsome Cassandra Mortmain in this adaptation of Dodie Smith's ("100 & One Dalmatians") 1930s story "I CAPTURE THE CASTLE." Cassie is a 17-year-old who wants to be a writer and lives in impoverished naivete in a decaying British castle with gorgeous sister Rose, wise-eyed brother, & the famous author-father who has a decades-old writer's block ~ but lacks Micawber's charm. Topaz, the stepmother, is artistically inclined to frequently 'air' her body on the glorious green hillsides. After the castle's American heir and his brother arrive, the story naturally progresses to 'marrying off' the two sisters. Teen pulchritude living 'clueless' and tattered in a run-down castle adds up to comic situations and angles. The production is reasonably faithful to Dodie Smith's story. It definitely delivers a light interlude for romance fans in their teens and twenties. The film, rated "R" for some nudity, got scant distribution in the U.S., and that resulted in almost no press. At least watching the DVD will allow viewers to critique some discarded scenes AND even a different ending. ENJOY ~ ~ and more than once......The FIFTH STAR is awarded for Beauty!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome movie!
Review: The acting was simply wonderful, the costumes were wonderful...the entire movie had a rich and decadent feel to it. I loved it! And for the person who complained bitterly about it- maybe you should of watched the movie first. They did not buy the furs, they were given to them from their dead aunt. And they hide from Simon and Neil because the furs were hideous!! I highly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a movie with brilliant acting, a witty script, and is very pleasing to the eye. The scenes in the moat are amazing.
Rating: 
Summary: Of less value then the book but holding some of its magic
Review: The book by Dodie Smith is such a superb read, with such a different air of time and place and a sincere inner growing up account, that any movie aspiring to rise up to its magic is sure to fail. The book manages to captivate the reader from its first pages in its detailed account of the eccentric weird family. Having said that I have to admit that my viewing was largely affected by the fact I read the book beforehand and thus necessarily damaged my objective judgement of this film as a stand-alone work of art.
Yes, compared to the book this is a much inferior work of art. I am not sure the viewers are able to grasp the depth of the inner turmoil both sisters are undergoing, the nature of the father's work or the whole family involvement in this work. The large impact the father's writing (or lack of writing) has on their lives and not just money wise. The film, I admit, is nice to watch and the characters portrayal is very close to what I imagined while reading. The castle itself is amazing and lends its atmosphere to the whole movie - you can almost feel how damp and cold it is. In this case only I fell that seeing is better then reading. However, I remained feeling that if I had only seen the movie I would not have truly understood the story. This is not just a love story. Romantic love is just a vehicle to grow up, or so I understood it, and bonds of love and caring between family members are also one of the main themes of this work.
All actors have fresh, very fitting faces, close to the way I perceived them upon reading. Romola Garai especially is great as Cassandra, a girl in an "in between" stage, turning from a young adolescent to a clever woman whose personal aches and pains bring on a better understanding of other people. Tara Fitzgerald is captivating as the stepmother Topaz.
In spite of my criticism I give this movie 4 points, as it is quite a different unique movie that holds some of the book's magic.
Rating: 
Summary: Annoying faux art film
Review: This is a predictable period piece romance/drama - don't let anyone tell you otherwise. The breathless, repetitive and "affected" narration by the Cassandra character is gauranteed to annoy. On the positive side the female lead is pleasant to look at and Bill Nighy is convincing in his role as a frustrated writer and father.
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful pleasure
Review: This is one of the most perfect films to come out of Britain in the last few years. Centred by a glowing performance by the lovely Romola Garai, it is packed with wondrous actors perfectly suited to their roles. Advertising and critics would lead you to believe this is a light nostalgic memento of the 30's, but it is a coming of age film so mature it lays disgrace on American versions of this genre. Beautifully shot,marvellously directed, exquisitely designed,and lovingly scored, it is an absolute must see for all who love film, emotional maturity, and the generosity of family...and for those who find pleasure just at looking at physically beautiful people. I am in love with them all.
Rating: 
Summary: different than the book, but still okay
Review: This literary adaptation is beautifully written, expertly acted and amazingly well cast. Every actor is exactly right for his/her role. Masterpiece Theatre should be this good. Okay, it's a chick pic, but one any intelligent boyfriend should sit through with pleasure and enjoy discussing afterwards. Get the popcorn. By the way, a fascinating experiment is to compare this movie with The Chateau (2001), which develops exactly the same premise in a totally different way.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly good period piece
Review: This literary adaptation is beautifully written, expertly acted and amazingly well cast. Every actor is exactly right for his/her role. Masterpiece Theatre should be this good. Okay, it's a chick pic, but one any intelligent boyfriend should sit through with pleasure and enjoy discussing afterwards. Get the popcorn. By the way, a fascinating experiment is to compare this movie with The Chateau (2001), which develops exactly the same premise in a totally different way.
Rating:
Summary: A More Modern Jane Austen
Review: This was a lot like Emma and Pride and Prejudice rolled into one. It was a bit plodding and too long.
Rating:
Summary: A More Modern Jane Austen
Review: This was a lot like Emma and Pride and Prejudice rolled into one. It was a bit plodding and too long.
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