Thanks for the rec, because I have to say, I was not at all impressed by the trailer. I still can't imagine, after having seen the miniseries, the story being shortened into a movie, but I'm glad you were impressed.
Oh, the trailer sucks. And the movie is a totally different beast than the miniseries - I don't know if I'd dare to watch it if I were too attached to the latter - but it does the job. Though the wine-tasting scene is more hilarious than in the miniseries... also, there's kissing. Yum.
Despite initial reservations I'm no excited about this movie. What a relief to see good opinions starting to pop up here and there. I went ahead and read your review since I read and saw the miniseries several times, so this is not a movie that I can be spoiled for - unless you can count my curiosity on how they handle religion this time around, or if they really touched on the subject in any significant way, unlike the miniseries.
Honestly, I don't know if I'd dare to watch this movie if I were hugely devoted to the miniseries because it's very different, obviously - I pretty much just went for the boy-kisssing and the pretty landscapes, with very low expectations - but the story went much deeper than I expected, and that was a great surprise. Religion is an important element in this narrative, but it's always shown through Ryder's eyes so it's an outsider's view... which, again, feels so refreshing! Heh, warms my little atheist heart. :)
Religion is an important element in this narrative, but it's always shown through Ryder's eyes so it's an outsider's view... which, again, feels so refreshing! Heh, warms my little atheist heart. :)
Refreshing indeed! \o/ I loved the miniseries, but I want to try it hoping it will deliver a fresh take on the novel.
*Waves* This looks like a good movie to see - I loved it on TV, didn't really understand what went so horribly wrong though, and maybe if I see this, I will.
The movie is different, of course - I remember the general feel of the show, it's been too long since I've seen it - but there is much to enjoy in it. And yeah, it delivers certain dramatic clarity to the plot. ;)
Hi hi hi! I missed you too! I'm having a very nice summer, thank you - but I'm mostly excited about going home to visit for a few weeks in the fall! YAY!!!
I am a passionate fan of the book and of the Irons/Andrews/Quick miniseries, which I just started rewatching over the weekend while housesitting in the country with a friend. I don't want to be one of those sort of fans who nitpick to death anything that's not their beloved original, but the line in the advert where Sebastian says to Charles that "you never wanted me, you were just using me to get to my sister" (or similar), raised all kind of red signals for me. This implies a serious collapsing of the time frame, since in the book, Charles's love for Sebastian and his love for Julia are years apart, separated by Sebastian's breakdown, Charles's marriage to Boy Mulcaster's sister, and his painting exile to South America.
Since the summer is freelancing at home time for me, I was planning to duck out and see a matinee sometime this week -- thanks for your post which has me more hopeful.
I haven't seen the miniseries since... wow, since high school, probably - but I remember the general feel of it. The movie is a very different animal, and you're right about the condensed plot: there's jealousy and outbursts at fancy parties, and even an illicit encounter during a freakin' carnival in Venice (yeah, I pretty much laughed through that one). Charles's wife is a brush stroke of a character with only two lines of dialogue (though I found her quite intriguing), South America and the war are just glimpses, and the three main characters are younger both in appearance and in behavior. Then again, unlike Atonement, this movie at least picks a focus and stays with it instead of trying to be seven things at once.
I have no idea whether you as a fan of the novel and the miniseries can like this movie, but I expected so much melodrama based on that trailer that I ended up very pleasantly surprised by the story's depth despite its many, MANY liberties with the original. I hope you'll find things to enjoy about it. :)
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Also, hello! Welcome back!
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Hi hi hi! Good to be back!
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I enjoyed this post very much :)
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Honestly, I don't know if I'd dare to watch this movie if I were hugely devoted to the miniseries because it's very different, obviously - I pretty much just went for the boy-kisssing and the pretty landscapes, with very low expectations - but the story went much deeper than I expected, and that was a great surprise. Religion is an important element in this narrative, but it's always shown through Ryder's eyes so it's an outsider's view... which, again, feels so refreshing! Heh, warms my little atheist heart. :)
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Refreshing indeed!
\o/
I loved the miniseries, but I want to try it hoping it will deliver a fresh take on the novel.
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This looks like a good movie to see - I loved it on TV, didn't really understand what went so horribly wrong though, and maybe if I see this, I will.
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The movie is different, of course - I remember the general feel of the show, it's been too long since I've seen it - but there is much to enjoy in it. And yeah, it delivers certain dramatic clarity to the plot. ;)
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How are you, my dear?
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I am a passionate fan of the book and of the Irons/Andrews/Quick miniseries, which I just started rewatching over the weekend while housesitting in the country with a friend. I don't want to be one of those sort of fans who nitpick to death anything that's not their beloved original, but the line in the advert where Sebastian says to Charles that "you never wanted me, you were just using me to get to my sister" (or similar), raised all kind of red signals for me. This implies a serious collapsing of the time frame, since in the book, Charles's love for Sebastian and his love for Julia are years apart, separated by Sebastian's breakdown, Charles's marriage to Boy Mulcaster's sister, and his painting exile to South America.
Since the summer is freelancing at home time for me, I was planning to duck out and see a matinee sometime this week -- thanks for your post which has me more hopeful.
Reply
I have no idea whether you as a fan of the novel and the miniseries can like this movie, but I expected so much melodrama based on that trailer that I ended up very pleasantly surprised by the story's depth despite its many, MANY liberties with the original. I hope you'll find things to enjoy about it. :)
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