I have never read the novel (and don't intend to), so I cannot say how close or far away this movie is with its accuracy. What I can say, coming through the gate, is that I was first very overwhelmed and confused by all the characters, and events. I almost turned it off after viewing for 10 minutes, but I held on to the very end.

I am still in a flux to what just happened, and cannot say I really enjoyed the film. It was surely interesting, especially Bonham Carter's character. I won't bother to see this movie again though.

Great adaptation of a great novel! Really enjoyed this one. Great cast, great characters.

Good adaptation. This is one of the more convoluted of Dickens' books. Helena Bonham Carter almost steals the show by her wraith-like, self-negating role of a perpetually mourning bride. Interesting subtle side note about class differences (which causes great hurt to Pip's blacksmith family member.)

Very well-done adaptation of the Dickens classic. Strong acting performances. Enjoyed it very much.

My second viewing has improved my understanding of the complex plot and complex and sometimes hidden relationships between the characters. I seriously doubt that one viewing is sufficient to understand the whole plot as a lot rapidly changes in the last minutes of the film.

Previews sadly made this look a lot better than it is. I watched 2/3rds and abandoned it.

High Expectations, directed by Mike Newell, is a remake of the classic film directed by David Lean in 1946 (which itself is based upon the novel by Charles Dickens). Lean’s film was ranked in 1999 by the British Film Institute as the 5th best British film ever released. Newell is a director that jumps back and forth between popular adventure films (Harry Potter, etc.) and highly rated art films (Four Weddings and a Funeral and Donnie Brasco). Lean has 6 films in the top 50 BFI list, while Newell has just one (Four Weddings and a Funeral). The Newell version has one redeeming value; it has the Dickens realistic ending while Lean’s has a romantic ending (perhaps Lean was pressured by the movie industry to assure greater audience acceptance). The relationships of this film are so complex that a diagram is included in Wikipedia to list the love, hate, rejection emotions of the nine main characters.

This DVD movie was entertaining and interesting but not one of my favorite for this year. Not too bad---good performance.