Review - Great Expectations

13 June 2013, Singapore – You can’t resist a movie when you have both Lord Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange in another movie. Impeccable acting from Helena Bonham Carter and Ralph Fiennes made this feature length film into something watchable and bearable.

Remaking a classic movie based on Dicken’s novel, fans are likely to make comparisons between Newell’s and David Lean’s 1946 masterpiece and, probably, Alfonso Cuarón’s 1998 version (which is my favorite). Jeremy Irvine’s sloppy performance is outshone by his brother Tony as young Pip. Holliday Grainger’s Estella lacks the grace and elegance, and her double chin really distracts me.

This 2013 remake faithfully retells the story, but lack resonance with the younger audience. And if you are watching this movie just for your Literature paper, scrap that idea.

Synopsis

Charles Dickens’ classic tale of Pip, a poor orphan who befriends an escaped convict and who grows up in the company of a bitter old woman, Miss Havisham, and her haughty young ward, Estella. Pip learns the rewards of both vindictiveness and gratitude as a result of these events.