SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

Listonixio Fresh and Exciting

Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

Galina 11 hours long TV miniseries "Brideshead Revisited", based on Evelyn Waugh's eponymous classic novel, has been one of the most pleasurable watching experiences I can think of. It lacks action or adventure, but is one of the most charming, elegiac, moving, elegant, and classy films, TV or otherwise. It is also generous with the delightful humorous scenes in the specific English humor that can't be faked or reproduced outside of England. Both, Sir John Gielgud and Sir Laurence Olivier, contributed to these scenes as well as Nickolas Grace as Anthony Blanche, decadent and flamboyant but sharp and observant acquaintance of both main characters, Charles Rydes and Sebastian Flyte. Anthony Andrews plays golden boy Sebastian as Dorian Grey with heart, beloved and admired by everyone but troubled, unhappy and self-destructing because, as one of the characters insightfully observed, he is in love with his childhood and he refuses to grow up. The production valued are of the highest quality, and never for a moment I stopped enjoying the magnificent settings of such locations as Venice, Morocco, Central America, Paris, and New York as well as majestic halls and glorious landscapes of Brideshead (Castle Howard). The most important aspect of Brideshead Revisited, is, without doubt, Evelyn Waugh's language, and Jeremy Irons, as Charles Rydes, the film protagonist, was born to narrate the pages of the beautiful prose that sounds like an exciting melody of the times passed but not faded. While watching "Brideshead Revisited", I contemplated on why this story of the class that does not exist anymore in the period of time that is long past history is still compelling and riveting. What are these people to me? Why was I running home every evening to continue watching the stories of their lives that on the surface seem uneventful and even boring? I guess the answer is in double magic of great literature that had captured the period of fall of Great Empire and those who disappeared with it and grand film making that did not lose much while adapting it to the screen. One of the best TV series ever made, "Brideshead Revisited" deservingly belongs to 100 Best British TV films.

gin jen Brideshead seizes your being and won't let go. Your heart leaps along with Charles's as he is momentarily admitted into an achingly, intoxicatingly beautiful secret paradise with Sebastian.Then you cannot tear your eyes away from the horror as their Eden starts to get slowly, methodically ripped to bits. As you see Sebastian indeed get "shot full of arrows like a pincushion", you feel every pierce. And you suffer with Charles as his life turns to grey even as he becomes adept at filling canvases with colour.There are no heroes here, and not many villains. Only flawed people trying to manoeuvre as best they can in a world not of their making.But in the end, along with the pain, the beauty remains deep within you.

TheLittleSongbird I am a huge fan of the book, and have been for the longest time. The book has a very poignant story of forbidden love and the loss of innocence, but I love also about the book are its rich memorable characters, memorable settings and thoughtful dialogue. This 1981 mini-series is just sublime and one of the best mini-series there is. I also think anyone who hasn't yet seen the 2008 film with Ben Whishaw, Greta Scacchi and Matthew Goode and are a fan of the book as well should think of avoiding it, as it doesn't do any justice to this wonderful story and has several disappointments on its own terms.The mini-series of Brideshead Revisited does however do justice to the book, as it is remarkably faithful in spirit and in the details. But what makes the mini-series so extra good is how amazing it is on its own terms as well. For one thing, Brideshead Revisited looks exquisite still. You can never go wrong with picturesque settings, beautiful scenery, costumes that stick remarkably well to the period and skillful photography, lighting and editing, and as far as I'm concerned Brideshead Revisited succeeds in every single one of those areas. Geoffrey Burgen's background scoring is melodious and memorable, if careful not to intrude too much at pivotal points.The mini-series' writing is also to be commended. There is a very rich and faithful script, that is thoughtful, intelligent, eloquent, amusing and poignant. Ryder's narration and delivery especially is mesmerising. The way the characters are written impresses too, Sebastian is not too effete too soon and none of the other characters feel sketched over either. The story is still the compelling and poignant story that made me fall in love with the book, it is also very well paced with seldom a dull moment and the themes that form the story are still intact.The acting is truly excellent. Overall, Diana Quick is the weakest of the three leads. Not that she is bad, far from it as she is very compelling and moving in the later episodes, it's just she is not quite ideal at first in terms of looks and age. Anthony Andrews is much better though, he is the epitome of innocence and the destruction of it, and Sebastian as I have said already is not made too effete too quickly which was just one of many mistake that was made in the 2008 film. Roger Milner does very well with a very well-explored character and is very dashing. Pheobe Nicholls is both disarming and charming, and Nicholas Grace is suitably venomous, theatrical and snake-like. John Gielgud is a real scene-stealer too, while Laurence Olivier and Claire Bloom especially play their characters perfectly and faithfully. Jeremy Irons gives my personal favourite performance of this splendid cast, his narration, delivery and portrayal of Charles Ryder is simply masterly.All in all, a real jewel of a series and a must watch for fans of the book, period dramas or any of these fine actors that play their parts so amazingly here. 10/10, though I would give it an 11 or higher if I were allowed. Bethany Cox

Rogermarksmen This 1981 adaptation of one of the finest 20th century novels is as perfect as any adaptation for television could ever be. Returning to it after some years, what is so moving and so eloquently conveyed is the wonderful, poetic and innocent early recall of Charles's romance with Oxford and Sebastian, and the gathering clouds of winter which Waugh tells us close around Sebastian's heart, as his mother's destructive piety and possessiveness destroy him, while Charles is unwittingly caught by her power. We see many Jungian archetypes at play. Also, revisiting it, one sees the homosexuality much more, so delicately described by Waugh merely by hints, yet which he says was high on the list of mortal "sins" between the two young men. Platonic? No, but the subtlety is what writers of Waugh's standing sought - it was after all based on an affair in his own life.Jeremy Irons is superb, conveying with great subtlety and often few words the poetry, the sadness, the regret, the loss of innocence, while Anthony Andrews is equally superb, haughty, childlike, trusting yet betrayed, aristocratic. Claire Bloom as Lady Marchmain is an ice queen of still, too controlled beauty, destroying all with her Catholic obsession, unable to see her own shadow. Gielgud - what can one say except superb? Anthony Blanche is deliciously camp and conveys the centrality to those early days that Waugh describes, and of course Olivier is unsurpassed, and Diana Quick beautiful and as tormented by her faith as was her mother. To watch this after the sorry movie version (just two hours against about twelve!) is a real lesson in how to adapt a great novel. One of thee truly great TV classics.