This is my first of 3 reviews for the The 2021 Classic Literature On Film Blogathon taking place later this week and being hosted by Paul of Silver Screen Classics
Tnx for letting me partake Paul!
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“Peggotty? Peggotty? Peggotty? You mean to say a human being went into a church and had herself named Peggotty? Did you mother sneeze when you were christened?” – Betsey Trotwood
Number of Times Seen – 1 (22 Mar 2021)
Brief Synopsis – A modern version of the famous Charles Dickens tale which shows how a poor boy’s life changes as he tries to make something of himself.
My Take on it – Intriguing adaptation that works quite well.
The way that the story tries to be a bit too politically correct in some of its choice is both bold and a bit awkward at the same time.
Dev Patel does a fine job in the title role and his narration helps the story stay even more palatable as things progress.
The characters from the original story are brought to life in some very enjoyable ways here that helps keep the story feeling relevant to today’s world while also staying true to the original idea.
The film’s biggest problem is that it cannot find a way to overcome the obstacle of things feeling too drawn out.
The original story is quite long, but it’s too bad they couldn’t find a way to keep this more engaging a story.
MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – The Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds, in Suffolk, England, features in the movie. Charles Dickens once stayed there and part of the book The Pickwick Papers is set there. (From IMDB)
Rating – BAFTA Worthy (6/10)
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I had forgotten about the more recent version. You have piqued my curiosity with the description of it being both “bold and awkward.”
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Like Patricia I’m very curious in your description of the version being both “bold and awkward”. You raise a very interesting point about the feel of the story being drawn out and that is evident in many versions that have come out over the years. How do you ‘trim the fat’ and make it engaging for a mass audience? Particularly such an iconic Dickens tale.
Thanks so much for taking part in the Blogathon! 🙂
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I really wanted to see this film when it first came out, but I haven’t yet had the chance. Dev Patel is always fab, in my opinion, and I’m looking forward to this film, flaws and all.
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