Well, I finished watching the 2001 miniseries, written by Andrew Davies. A lot was altered from the book and since I wasn't the biggest fan of the book, you'd think I would love it, right? Wrong! I know Andrew Davies is famous for sexing up all his adaptations but this was ridiculous, even for him.
I will admit, most of the actors were good with what they were given. The problem is, often I didn't like what they were given! Sir Felix as played by the lovely Matthew MacFadyen was portrayed as much more sympathetic as in the book and really isn't punished in the end. I think Davies was a little fond of the character, actually. His sister Hetta is unrecognizable from the book, being outspoken and free-spirited in the beginning- always giving her mother and brother a piece of her mind. I did find Hetta pretty boring for most of the book because she doesn't do much but it didn't really have any impact when she went against her family to be with Paul, since she was always so openly against them from the start! Mrs. Hurtle as played by Miranda Otto was horrible. The pitiful excuse for a Southern accent was grating to my ears. I found her character one of the most interesting in the book and still sympathetic, but not so in the mini. As for Paul Montague, they tried to make him a stronger character but I really didn't buy it from pretty boy Cillian Murphy. What were they thinking putting such an effeminate looking man in that part? I did like the casting of Lady Carbury, Roger Carbury, and Mr. Melmotte. The latter was very close to how I imagined him in the book. Shirley Henderson as her daughter, Marie, however, was just bizarre, for lack of a better word.
So yeah, I was really not happy with this adaptation.
I will admit, most of the actors were good with what they were given. The problem is, often I didn't like what they were given! Sir Felix as played by the lovely Matthew MacFadyen was portrayed as much more sympathetic as in the book and really isn't punished in the end. I think Davies was a little fond of the character, actually. His sister Hetta is unrecognizable from the book, being outspoken and free-spirited in the beginning- always giving her mother and brother a piece of her mind. I did find Hetta pretty boring for most of the book because she doesn't do much but it didn't really have any impact when she went against her family to be with Paul, since she was always so openly against them from the start! Mrs. Hurtle as played by Miranda Otto was horrible. The pitiful excuse for a Southern accent was grating to my ears. I found her character one of the most interesting in the book and still sympathetic, but not so in the mini. As for Paul Montague, they tried to make him a stronger character but I really didn't buy it from pretty boy Cillian Murphy. What were they thinking putting such an effeminate looking man in that part? I did like the casting of Lady Carbury, Roger Carbury, and Mr. Melmotte. The latter was very close to how I imagined him in the book. Shirley Henderson as her daughter, Marie, however, was just bizarre, for lack of a better word.
So yeah, I was really not happy with this adaptation.