(no subject)

[caz963]

I haven't got a lot of time for telly watching, which is probably just as well considering that most of what's on isn't worth watching, but over the weekend, Elinor asked if we could re-watch Little Dorrit. We'd watched it before Christmas and I bought the DVD set when it came out, but hadn't watched it yet.

So we happily settled down to re-watching one of those star-studded adaptations that the Beeb does so well.

I enjoyed it over again - despite the fact that there were a few unexplained plot-holes and a major plot change at the end. I'm not a tyrannical purist when it comes to adaptations - I like them to be pretty true to the book, but recognise that sometimes things have to be changed for dramatic emphasis and things like that.

But what really struck me was the utter magnificence of Tom Courtenay's portrayal of William Dorrit. The whole cast was superb, of course, but he was truly outstanding. He caught every nuance of the character, the childish petulance, the snobbery... all of it was simply wonderful. I thought Claire Foy was very good as Amy - and I "noticed" Matthew MacFadyen more this time around. He's done a lot, I know, and has been very good in everything I've seen him in, but what I really noticed on a rewatch was this incredible ability he has to just... be still, for want of a better expression. I imagine Arthur Clenham must be a difficult character to portray, because he's... well, pretty ordinary, really, and in danger of being boring, as the 'good' characters often are. I haven't seen him as Darcy in the recent Pride and Prejudice, because I can't stand Keira Knightly, but I might just have to give it a go now :-)

I think I need to dig out all the other costume drama vids and DVDs I have. Elinor seems to like them, and she'll have fun spotting all the thesps she's seen in other things. I was thinking of starting with David Copperfield next weekend.

Comments

[hooloovoo_42]

I saw the Knightley version of P&P and seem to remember being vaguely irritated at the cinematic shorthand. The bit in Notting Hill where Hugh walks through the market and the changing seasons worked really well. Miss Bennett sitting on a swing and the seasons changing around her was just stupid.

Other than that, I don't remember much about it, so it clearly made a huge impression on me!

I was about Elinor's age when I saw "I, Clavdivs" the first time it was on!!!!

[caz963.livejournal.com]

Ha! Apart from all the blood, gore and sex, I think she's find it all far too confusing. I seem to remember that I did, and I was in my twenties when I first saw it on a rerun!

[hooloovoo_42]

I was too interested in the blood, gore and sex to worry about the complications of the story. I was 10. There were naked people and John Hurt in it. I was hooked!

[flippet.livejournal.com]

Matthew MacFadyen was the only reason I wanted to watch the new P&P. I was all 'why bother, when A&E already did the definitive version...wait--MacFadyen's Darcy? Well alright, then!'

Now, I'm completely spoiled by Colin and Jennifer. And the A&E version is the version, and you'll never convince me differently. But as I recall, there were some decent things about the new version. Two hours simply isn't enough to tell the story, so that's annoying. The 'realism' (dirt, etc) was an interesting take on things.

To be honest, I can't remember how well Matthew actually did. But the fact that I don't recall it sucking means he probably did pretty well. (I just can't see Donald Sutherland in any kind of 'nice' role, though...he's done too many baddies far too well.)

[caz963.livejournal.com]

I'm an afficionado of the BBC version, too - Colin Firth is Darcy, and there really isn't anyone else who comes close... apart from Laurence Olivier in the 1940 movie!

[fried-flamingo.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I'm very much the purist when it comes to P&P (and Austen in general) adaptations. Like you, I don't mind when necessary tweaks are made to accomodate the medium, but the movie version of P&P at best left me cold, and at worst had me chucking my shoe at the telly (read close up shots of pig's bollocks).

The movie seemed to be made with only a passing nod to the characters we know (McFadyen is more Heathcliffe than Darcy and Knightley is a simpering, giggling idiot - Lizzie Bennet has tits FCOL!).

Oh and apparently the director didn't even bother to read the book because he didn't want it 'interfering with his vision'. To which I shout 'it's not your bloody vision, mate!! It's our Jane's! Now give it back, you're getting it all dirty.' ;)

[caz963.livejournal.com]

I'll allow a certain amount of leeway in adaptaions, but I switch off if they decided to disregard the original. I remember watching the recent Jane Eyre with Toby Stephens (guh!) but in almost the whole of the first episode I struggled to spot a Bronte line!

I have to agree that I don't think Macfadyen - good though he is - is really a Darcy. And the director sounds like a total tosser.
Maybe I'll give it a miss and stick to Colin Firth...

[bingblot.livejournal.com]

Do not, do NOT, on pain of your sanity watch the Keira Knightley version of P&P. It was awful, a crime against English literature, and made me so angry I was fuming for days.

[caz963.livejournal.com]

From the general tone of the comments, I think I'll give it a miss. If all of you think it was a turd, then it must have been a turd!

[bingblot.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure why exactly you'd want to do this but if you're curious to know (partly) why I hate the 2005 P&P with such a passion, you can read my rants about it here, here, and here. (Be warned, they're all very long rants where I go off on the movie, so you might want to give it a pass just for that-- but it might clarify why this would be a 2 hour waste of your time.)

[caz963.livejournal.com]

Heh - I read your rants; I like stuff like that :)

One thing I will say though, is that Matthew Macadyen can act, but I think he was badly miscast.

[bingblot.livejournal.com]

I'll take your word for it; I haven't really seen Matthew Macfadyen in anything besides P&P and he was dreadful in it (altho' the movie was so bad it made everyone bad-- including Dame Judi, and I didn't think that was possible)-- but I'll trust you when you say he can act. ;-)

[salr323.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen him as Darcy in the recent Pride and Prejudice, because I can't stand Keira Knightly, but I might just have to give it a go now :-)


No don't! Honestly. Spare yourself the pain. It is an utterly dreadful movie, and Kiera Knightly is just wretched as a silly, giggling Elizabeth. And don't even get me started on the ways it destroys the characters in the book (Mr and Mrs Bennett happily married? WTF?), or the way it ruins the whole point of Darcy's proposal scene (inexplicably taking place in a gazeebo in the rain!) and then tries to turn him into Heathcliff at the end!

Horrible, horrible! Please, don't inflict it on yourself or your children! /rant ;)

*gets out the Colin Firth version to calm down*

ETA: LOL! Just read the comments above, and I see I'm not the only one with strong feelings about that move!

[caz963.livejournal.com]

Hehe - well no, I wouldn't like to traumatise the kids, although I'm almost thinking I should watch it to see how bad it truly is! But then I think that will have to wait until I have nothing better to do!

If I want more Macfadyen, I think I'll dig out yet another wonderful Beeb adaptation - of The Way We Live Now; worth seeing if you haven't - David Suchet is absolutely fantastic in it.