FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: David Copperfield [DVD] [1999]

David Copperfield [DVD] [1999]
enlarge	Director: Simon Curtis Actors: Emilia Fox, Pauline Quirke, Maggie Smith, John Normington, Daniel Radcliffe Studio: 2 Entertain Video Category: DVD List Price: ~~£19.99~~ Buy New: £4.41 as of 21/11/2009 00:36 GMT details You Save: £15.58 (78%) New (16) from £4.41 Seller: great_entertainment Rating: 19 reviews Sales Rank: 2138 Format: PAL, Widescreen Language: English (Original Language) Rating: Parental Guidance Region: 0 Discs: 1 Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 180 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 5014503107529 ASIN: B00005KB4E Theatrical Release Date: April 16, 2000 Release Date: August 20, 2001 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Editorial Reviews: Amazon.co.uk Review Like a fine gourmet meal, the BBC's 1999 adaptation of IDavid Copperfield/I has something to suit every taste: a well-paced screenplay that keeps the tale bowling along without losing the delights of some of Dickens' most sparkling dialogue; a rich gallery of characters; and a cast which features many of Britain's favourite actors. There is, of course, plenty of high comedy but some very tight direction checks any tendencies to over-ripe performance. The whole production is tightly integrated: from David's idyllic if cloistered childhood with his beloved mother and their devoted servant Peggotty, through the shattering arrival of a sadistic stepfather, rescue by his eccentric Aunt Betsey Trotwood and a journey into maturity where his very innocence makes him the unwitting agent of tragedy before all is resolved. Ciaran McMenamin is the mature David, his youthful face increasingly clouded by the gathering of experience. Trevor Eve oozes evil as his stepfather Mr Murdstone, ultimately neutralised by Maggie Smith's Aunt Betsey, a comic performance of true genius that gives frequent flashes of the vulnerable human being beneath. In other inspired pieces of casting, Nicholas Lyndhurst's incubus-like Uriah Heep haunts every scene he's in, and Pauline Quirke's Peggotty exudes the motherly warmth that sustains David during his darkest moments. Three hours of classic drama heaven. --IPiers Ford/I

Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 19 1 2 3 4 Next » Simply glorious March 15, 2004 26 out of 26 found this review helpful David Copperfield is simply glorious. Though not massively faithful to the book (a fact that may make die hard Dickens fans baulk) it presents its cut down version amazingly. pThe BBC builds here on its impressive record of period dramas (including the impassible Pride and Predjudice in 1995), and whilstm being Dickens much of this production is set in dingy victorian London, it doesn't lose any of its beauty. The costumes are wonderful, the rich costumes suiting even the younger members of the cast. The two Davids are wonderful, Daniel Radcliffe shows, at the age of 9 the ability to draw in the viewer that would be exibited two years later as Harry Potter. His eyes alone, on the close ups are enough to make any viewer weep at the various injustices that befall our hero. Ciarán McMenamin is good as the adult David, though I admit a certain inability to see how the young David developed into him.pOf the rest of the cast, its virtually impossible to pick a best. Trevor Eve and Zoe Wannamaker show equal meaness in their roles as David's evil mental torturers and with a cast that also includes such greats as Ian McKellen, Bob Hoskins, Dawn French, Pauline Quirk and Emelia Fox it would be an injustice to single anyone out. That is, were it not for the spectacular performance of Maggie Smith, who pulls out all of the stops in her wonderful, heartwarming performance as David's aunt. The idea of anyone else now playing this role, seems foreign to me. pAll in all this is a great adaptation of a great novel. Filmed in all its beauty by Simon Curtis and his wonderful crew. Let this version stand as a benchmark for a long long time. Best version todate January 8, 2003 S. Baldwin (UK) 14 out of 15 found this review helpful This classic story has been told so many times that it becomes increasingly difficult to take it further. However, this version does just that with an excellent cast and great locations.brIt originally aired Christmas 1999 on BBC1, shown over two evenings. In my house it totally enthralled all who watched it, including two moody 12 year olds who initially complained about being made to watch it - Copperfield at its very best. One NOT to be MISSED! September 8, 2005 Mr. R. Champion (Crawley England) 11 out of 12 found this review helpful David Copperfield has to be the BBC at it's very best! A great cast with superb acting I love it! I personally find Dickens boring to read and so have to watch the dramatisations when they are made. This is a masterpiece! Whilst watching it I go through a variety of emotions and feel exhausted at the end. Having said that I defy anyone who watches David Copperfield not to be touched by this wonderful, moving and touching story! Donkeys!!! March 23, 2009 F. S. L'hoir (Irvine, CA) 5 out of 5 found this review helpful There are many reasons to watch this excellent film: it contains mystery, melodrama, romance, scrumptious costumes, and a splendid cast of the finest actors, including Bob Hoskins, as the debt-ridden Mr. Macawber--always waiting optimistically for something to "turn up"; and his wife, "faithful to the end," played with to the hilt by Imelda Staunton; and, of course, the young Daniel Radcliffe in his pre-Harry Potter days, who portrays the title role with the ease of a natural actor; he is totally believable. br / br /Of the many reasons to purchase this excellent DVD, however, the most compelling is the privilege of watching Dame Maggie Smith reveling in the role of Aunt Betsy. Whether she is banishing donkeys from her green sward or falling backwards into her herbaceous border upon being accosted by her unknown ragamuffin nephew, Dame Maggie is magnificent to behold. The highlight for me was her sending the ghastly Murdstones packing with a flea in their ears; a feat she reprises after the unmasking of the opprobrious Uriah Heap. Smith is so perfect one would think that Dickens had created the role especially for her. br / br /My only criticism concerns the dashing Steerforth, whose character, undoubtedly because of considerations of length, was given short shrift. The film did not develop the friendship that grows between David and Steerforth in school, which explains the utter trust in which David holds his friend when they grow up, and also exposes the utter betrayal of that friendship. br / br /With its theme of embezzlement, the film proves to be especially timely in respect to today's money catastrophe; one wishes that its solution to the crisis--transportation for life--was still available for the financial miscreants; but then I suppose that Australia would refuse to take them! br / br /"David Copperfield" is riveting from beginning to end; and the end is guaranteed to engender mixed feelings--happiness that it ends on such an upbeat, and sorrow that it has to end at all. One almost longs for a spinoff sequel that follows the fate of the Macawbers in Australia. br / br /At any rate, purchase "David Copperfield"; it's a keeper. And then you too will delight in the donkeys and in Dame Maggie Smith! Brilliant, Touching ... January 21, 2002 6 out of 7 found this review helpful I do watch this over and over. It's unfair to single anyone out: nobody mentioned Bob Hoskins' brilliant performance and the inspired casting of Michael Elphick as Barkiss. But for me, Pauline Quirke's Peggotty was beyond great. I can hardly imagine a more moving and sensitively played role ever. Loved it! Showing reviews 1-5 of 19 1 2 3 4 Next »

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