Customer Reviews:
A must!.......2007-08-18
Sometimes when you watch films based on classic books you are too busy comparing between the book to fully appreciate the film version. Well this scores full marks on both accounts. It both succeeds in creating an accurate version of the book, and works well as a film in its own right. Whether you have read the book or not. Whether you are a fan of period dramas or not. This is a film you should watch.
It is both beautifully acted and is visually impressive. The photography is detailed and intelligent. The acting is top draw, the characters being portrayed with authenticity which easily involves you in the pathos of the story. As is ever with Hardy, you won't be expecting a typical "happy ending", what you will get however is much, much, more. You will get something that is genuine. Something that you truly moves you, gaining an experience that will stay with you for a long time. Trust me, buy it or rent it today.
Fantastic - but very sad.......2007-04-22
This film suprised me by how good it is. I will be buying this DVD. I haven't finished the book yet, as I find it very hard going and rented the DVD to help me finish the book. As a film in its own right, this adaptation takes you on a journey of highs and lows with the characters, you can not help but feel for Tess. If you like a happy ending like you find in the Jane Austen books, this is not for you. But it is compulsive viewing, beautifully filmed, the characters are realistic and succeeds in showing exactly what Hardy was saying, how hard life was for normal people. Make sure you have a box of tissues handy.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic, worthy adaptation.......2006-12-19
I think this adaptation was simply stunning. It remained, as far as I could see, true not only to the spirit of the book but also to the main events described there. In a brief reply to those who may find this depressing, that's Hardy's 'bag' - Plus, I don't think it reflects that Hardy 'hated' Tess. Rather, he told the tale of a young, independent-spirited girl who holds to her set of values despite the people around her. Her parents do love their daughter but are hopelessly naive about what the D'Urberville name might bring, and send Tess off as a young, vulnerable girl; being pushed into the path of Alec D'Urberville, who abuses Tess's naivete, her innocence is stolen and, as is characteristic of the whole story, fated events carry Tess on against her will. When she finds the thing she wants, love and marriage with Angel Claire, fate deals another blow to set her off course. The story is really about the cruelty of fate and the inability of humans to resist its power. But Hardy also considered a loss of religious faith which reflected his own and this is portrayed really well in this film. Other key themes were the effects of the industrial revolution on the countryside culture and life -
this is well depicted in the film.
The acting, beautiful music and good use of lighting / scenery also recommend this film - its so nice to see an adaptation which might inspire you to read the book (probably still the best way to enjoy this tale) than one which puts you off.
Brill for some - I HATED it.......2005-01-26
Tess of the D'Urbervilles is most probably the longest, gloomiest, most disheartening movie I have ever had the misfortune to see in my entire life.
I realise that is most probably not an appropriate sentence to start a review with, but it is my true opinion. I appreciate fully the effort put into the movie and I can see how some people will fall in love with the film. The amount of struggles young Tess Durbeyfield (played by Justine Waddell) goes through are heart wrenching, and in various parts of the movie you are gripped by an urge to try and shake her to her senses. But it seems that fate has decided that Tess will walk the hard road through life. From a young and ripe age, Tess faces the brutal reality of the world, and goes through experiences that are to leave her scarred forever and shape her future.
The film starts portraying Tess's family poverty and difficulties. On the day of the May dance, Tess's father discovers that he is a lineal descendant of the D'Urberville family. Tess is a bashful girl, reluctant between helping her family, which is her responsibility, or finding her own happiness. As her harsh life drags on, she chooses to support her family.
She goes to work for some relatives. There she meets Alec U'Urberville (Jason Flemyng), a distant cousin who is very taken with her. One night, he takes her by force and when she looses her innocence she is never quite the same again. Alec proposes after the act, but as she does not love him, she refuses. She becomes pregnant, and her child dies, shunned by most. If she had married Alec, she could have lived in a beautiful Victorian mansion complete with wood floors and ferns in planters on pedestals. This enormous wealth is hard to refuse, seeing and living in the extreme poverty amongst her family.
A while after the death of her child, whom she Christians Sorrow, she leaves home once again to work in a farm. After her forced submission with Alec, we are led to believe that she will never love again. However, at this farm, she falls in love with Angle Clare (Oliver Milburn), whom all the other milkmaids also love. Angel falls in love with her, too, and pursues her for her hand in marriage. After numerous 'maybes' and gentle rebukes, they share a kiss and she finally agrees. However, her dark secret is eating her up, and is the reason for her initial declination.
On the night of their marriage, Tess writes a letter explaining to Angel all she had gone through, despite her mother's warnings. However, she quickly seizes it quickly back before Angel has a chance to read it. They marry the next day, and the crowing crow tells us Tess's misfortunes have not ended...
Will she confess all to Angel on their wedding night? What will happen if she does follow her heart and tell her lover all that is troubling her? This movie does leave you wanting to know how it ends with Tess... and you follow through her entire life in the three hours - that, to be honest, drag. Perhaps Ian Sharp (director) intended this, for Tess's life dragged, but that did not lessen my desire for the movie to be over. I felt it wrenching my heart and my fists clenched numerous times throughout the movie.
The viewer does wish that she had changed some of her decisions, the ones that seem so unbelievably stupid. However, who are we to judge? We did not go through what she did - most of her actions that followed were a sign of her desperation and suffering. I conclude that this is a movie I definitely do not wish to set eyes on again, never again see the sufferings of a young woman unnecessary. After a certain point in the movie I just feel that the Thomas Hardy hated Tess and wished to bestow upon her every evil he could think of. This would not be a movie I would watching again... I can think of many other things to do in three hours a lot more worth my while.
Creena.......2004-06-11
This is a fantastic video portraying Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbivilles very cleverly. This video is addictive and always makes me cry. see how Tess starts off as a innicent girl that lives with mother and father that is taken advantage of by her cousin and ends up having a baby which dies later on.
The best part is when Tess meets Angel Claire in the dairy farm. (Which might I add is played by the gorgeous Oliver Milburn!) But see how a secret that is not told can ruin everything. This is a great video, that makes a wonderful sunday lunchtime watching. The only complaint I have is that we don't see how Angel Claire gets together with Tess's sister at the end of the video, like in the story. But I would definatley get it, if not for the story then for hours of watching of Oliver Milburn!
Tess Of The D'Urbervilles [1998.......2003-08-30
excellent, enchanting and very watchable
Wonderful to watch.......2003-05-31
This is an inspiring and emotional adaptation to watch. The essence of the characters are created well with the three leads playing there characters brilliantly. Justine Waddell plays the naive heroin very well and captures the beauty and nature of Tess. The strange Alec D'Urberville is played by Jason Flemyng and he is well cast as he passes of Alecs sinister intentions effectively. Oliver Milburn plays Angel tolerably well but as some parts reflecting his real character are not added it does not show just how hypocritical Angels character can be. But in all fairness Oliver was well cast. If you enjoy lush scenery the screen shots are excellent and the music very powerful. The adaptation itself is mostly true to the book and therefore someone learning the story for the first time should not be misinformed. Overall a wonderful piece which I would recommend to anyone.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic, worthy adaptation.......2006-12-19
I think this adaptation was simply stunning. It remained, as far as I could see, true not only to the spirit of the book but also to the main events described there. In a brief reply to those who may find this depressing, that's Hardy's 'bag' - Plus, I don't think it reflects that Hardy 'hated' Tess. Rather, he told the tale of a young, independent-spirited girl who holds to her set of values despite the people around her. Her parents do love their daughter but are hopelessly naive about what the D'Urberville name might bring, and send Tess off as a young, vulnerable girl; being pushed into the path of Alec D'Urberville, who abuses Tess's naivete, her innocence is stolen and, as is characteristic of the whole story, fated events carry Tess on against her will. When she finds the thing she wants, love and marriage with Angel Claire, fate deals another blow to set her off course. The story is really about the cruelty of fate and the inability of humans to resist its power. But Hardy also considered a loss of religious faith which reflected his own and this is portrayed really well in this film. Other key themes were the effects of the industrial revolution on the countryside culture and life -
this is well depicted in the film.
The acting, beautiful music and good use of lighting / scenery also recommend this film - its so nice to see an adaptation which might inspire you to read the book (probably still the best way to enjoy this tale) than one which puts you off.
Brill for some - I HATED it.......2005-01-26
Tess of the D'Urbervilles is most probably the longest, gloomiest, most disheartening movie I have ever had the misfortune to see in my entire life.
I realise that is most probably not an appropriate sentence to start a review with, but it is my true opinion. I appreciate fully the effort put into the movie and I can see how some people will fall in love with the film. The amount of struggles young Tess Durbeyfield (played by Justine Waddell) goes through are heart wrenching, and in various parts of the movie you are gripped by an urge to try and shake her to her senses. But it seems that fate has decided that Tess will walk the hard road through life. From a young and ripe age, Tess faces the brutal reality of the world, and goes through experiences that are to leave her scarred forever and shape her future.
The film starts portraying Tess's family poverty and difficulties. On the day of the May dance, Tess's father discovers that he is a lineal descendant of the D'Urberville family. Tess is a bashful girl, reluctant between helping her family, which is her responsibility, or finding her own happiness. As her harsh life drags on, she chooses to support her family.
She goes to work for some relatives. There she meets Alec U'Urberville (Jason Flemyng), a distant cousin who is very taken with her. One night, he takes her by force and when she looses her innocence she is never quite the same again. Alec proposes after the act, but as she does not love him, she refuses. She becomes pregnant, and her child dies, shunned by most. If she had married Alec, she could have lived in a beautiful Victorian mansion complete with wood floors and ferns in planters on pedestals. This enormous wealth is hard to refuse, seeing and living in the extreme poverty amongst her family.
A while after the death of her child, whom she Christians Sorrow, she leaves home once again to work in a farm. After her forced submission with Alec, we are led to believe that she will never love again. However, at this farm, she falls in love with Angle Clare (Oliver Milburn), whom all the other milkmaids also love. Angel falls in love with her, too, and pursues her for her hand in marriage. After numerous 'maybes' and gentle rebukes, they share a kiss and she finally agrees. However, her dark secret is eating her up, and is the reason for her initial declination.
On the night of their marriage, Tess writes a letter explaining to Angel all she had gone through, despite her mother's warnings. However, she quickly seizes it quickly back before Angel has a chance to read it. They marry the next day, and the crowing crow tells us Tess's misfortunes have not ended...
Will she confess all to Angel on their wedding night? What will happen if she does follow her heart and tell her lover all that is troubling her? This movie does leave you wanting to know how it ends with Tess... and you follow through her entire life in the three hours - that, to be honest, drag. Perhaps Ian Sharp (director) intended this, for Tess's life dragged, but that did not lessen my desire for the movie to be over. I felt it wrenching my heart and my fists clenched numerous times throughout the movie.
The viewer does wish that she had changed some of her decisions, the ones that seem so unbelievably stupid. However, who are we to judge? We did not go through what she did - most of her actions that followed were a sign of her desperation and suffering. I conclude that this is a movie I definitely do not wish to set eyes on again, never again see the sufferings of a young woman unnecessary. After a certain point in the movie I just feel that the Thomas Hardy hated Tess and wished to bestow upon her every evil he could think of. This would not be a movie I would watching again... I can think of many other things to do in three hours a lot more worth my while.
Creena.......2004-06-11
This is a fantastic video portraying Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbivilles very cleverly. This video is addictive and always makes me cry. see how Tess starts off as a innicent girl that lives with mother and father that is taken advantage of by her cousin and ends up having a baby which dies later on.
The best part is when Tess meets Angel Claire in the dairy farm. (Which might I add is played by the gorgeous Oliver Milburn!) But see how a secret that is not told can ruin everything. This is a great video, that makes a wonderful sunday lunchtime watching. The only complaint I have is that we don't see how Angel Claire gets together with Tess's sister at the end of the video, like in the story. But I would definatley get it, if not for the story then for hours of watching of Oliver Milburn!
Tess Of The D'Urbervilles [1998.......2003-08-30
excellent, enchanting and very watchable
Wonderful to watch.......2003-05-31
This is an inspiring and emotional adaptation to watch. The essence of the characters are created well with the three leads playing there characters brilliantly. Justine Waddell plays the naive heroin very well and captures the beauty and nature of Tess. The strange Alec D'Urberville is played by Jason Flemyng and he is well cast as he passes of Alecs sinister intentions effectively. Oliver Milburn plays Angel tolerably well but as some parts reflecting his real character are not added it does not show just how hypocritical Angels character can be. But in all fairness Oliver was well cast. If you enjoy lush scenery the screen shots are excellent and the music very powerful. The adaptation itself is mostly true to the book and therefore someone learning the story for the first time should not be misinformed. Overall a wonderful piece which I would recommend to anyone.
UK DVD:
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- The Chorus [2004]
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- The Lake House [2006]
- The Motorcycle Diaries [2004]
- The OC - The Complete Season 2
UK DVD List
UK DVD
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