I agree with those reviewers who suggest that it is pointless comparing the film adaptations with source novels. I would add that they do not live and die in comparison to previous adaptations either.
The acting of the two leads has been criticised for lacking chemistry but I thought that the repression, surely a better title, is a vital part of the story. Here are two people who are afraid of expressing their true feelings.
The scene near the end where Anne goes running is her expressing herself. The letter from Wentworth was the same for him. It is a love story of the time and should be viewed as such I think.
I enjoyed it. Against my better judgement I agreed to see the BBC adaptation the following evening and will accept that it was better overall. But that doesn't take away the enjoyment that the ITV version can bring.
It is a difficult to accept some of the mores from 200 years ago. I felt like kicking Wentworth's beam ends and telling him to act like a man. But then, nice though Anne is, I have to say that she's not the most exciting of heroines. I can accept that part of the story is how a brave and fearless sea captain, fresh from battles with the Spanish and French, can be put onto the back foot by love for a women, and the accepted norms of society, but even so one does feel like shaking him at times. My wife reckons he's the best looking Wentworth ever (a bit like a younger me she said but modesty forbids me to repeat it.) The camera-work was intrusive. In the opening scenes, with Anne running around, reflected at the end of the adaptation, I could see the point of hand held but it did get in the way at other times. And long lingering looks do not do it for me unless there is some deep need for them.
An interesting take on a well established favourite so a brave attempt.
The adaptation is well worth the few pounds the DVD costs. The only advice I'd give is to see it before the BBC one.
6 stars might be seen as a little harsh but it is not a classic.
The acting of the two leads has been criticised for lacking chemistry but I thought that the repression, surely a better title, is a vital part of the story. Here are two people who are afraid of expressing their true feelings.
The scene near the end where Anne goes running is her expressing herself. The letter from Wentworth was the same for him. It is a love story of the time and should be viewed as such I think.
I enjoyed it. Against my better judgement I agreed to see the BBC adaptation the following evening and will accept that it was better overall. But that doesn't take away the enjoyment that the ITV version can bring.
It is a difficult to accept some of the mores from 200 years ago. I felt like kicking Wentworth's beam ends and telling him to act like a man. But then, nice though Anne is, I have to say that she's not the most exciting of heroines. I can accept that part of the story is how a brave and fearless sea captain, fresh from battles with the Spanish and French, can be put onto the back foot by love for a women, and the accepted norms of society, but even so one does feel like shaking him at times. My wife reckons he's the best looking Wentworth ever (a bit like a younger me she said but modesty forbids me to repeat it.) The camera-work was intrusive. In the opening scenes, with Anne running around, reflected at the end of the adaptation, I could see the point of hand held but it did get in the way at other times. And long lingering looks do not do it for me unless there is some deep need for them.
An interesting take on a well established favourite so a brave attempt.
The adaptation is well worth the few pounds the DVD costs. The only advice I'd give is to see it before the BBC one.
6 stars might be seen as a little harsh but it is not a classic.