Starring: John Bowe, Mel Martin, Michael Attwell, Ioan Gruffudd, Kelly Reilly Directed By: Richard Laxton Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: Unrated Binding: DVD Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC Label: Bfs Entertainment Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: September 12, 2000 Running Time: 105 minutes Theatrical Release Date: 1996
Terribly disappointing As a huge fan of the PBS version of Poldark, starring the wonderful Robin Ellis, I was happy to pick this up in the library. OK, I saw that there was a different cast, no Ellis to be found, but I hoped that some of the magic of the story would be salvaged. So, like most all of the other reviewers here, I was quite disappointed at this production. I don't know if it was the fault of the director or the actors but I found the acting to be terribly heavy-handed at times. I know that a bad director can spoil it for even very good actors. I won't bother to go into details.
I did sit through it, because I got interested in the story and the ocean scenes in Cornwall were lovely. I wondered who the Poldark girl was eventually going to chose: the rough and amoral sailor whom they rescued from the sea, the cute village boy or the aristocrat from London. However, when things just got hot...by the fire...between the redhead and the rogue, the credits started rolling...What?!! I checked the main menu and the DVD box to see if I'd missed something...Was this one of a series? It absolutely was not an ending in any sense of the word and I think they should be ashamed to put this out as a complete movie! Don't buy this!
A Disappointment Given the list of truly excellent actors in this film, I expected something special in the way of a continuance of the Poldark saga. The original series was and remains one of my all time favorite adaptations of some of my favorite reading. Unfortunately, talent can be wasted and does not always shine through a terribly lackluster production. A true disappointment!
Would have been a great movie, but... This had the makings of a great movie, but it ended too abruptly. In fact, it ended as if there were more episodes to follow. Apparently this movie met with lukewarm response from the public and the powers-that-be decided to axe it. Not a very smart decidion! They didn't give this movie an opportunity to build a fan-base of its own via video sales.
Still, it is a good movie to watch, especially if you are a Ioan Gruffudd fan. Just do not expect an ending.
Buy the original series from amazon.co.uk Don't waste your money on this DVD. It is fragmented and does not have the quality the original series has. If you have enjoyed the series from the BBC, you should purchase the complete series from Amazon UK (you do need to have a region free DVD player though). It is an investment, which gives about 24 hours of addicting televison. Robin Ellis and Angharad Rees are perfectly cast as Ross and Demelza Poldark. And although the series also strays from the books sometimes, it keeps the overall story intact. Of course production values are always less than with comtemporary movies or productions, but I find that good acting and a good script are more important. It is a shame though that they have edited the series (for contractual reasons it says on the cover of the DVD box) and I always wonder why.
Hellish! OK, I admit I'm a fan of the orginal but, being aware that the original cast were not involved I approached this with an open mind. I came away with one burning question. Had any of the casting department actually read any of the books???
The saving grace could have been the presence of Fiona Victory. In the (much lamented) absence of Judy Geeson, she could have made a very credible Caroline Enys. I have seen Ms Victory in other roles and know that she could have brought the right qualitites to the role. However, she was prevented from doing that by the dreadful screenplay.
In short, my advice is stick to the books or buy the BBC series. This production bore no relation to the books and, had it not bore the Poldark name, I would never have made the connection.
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