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A Good Movie That Could've Been Great

posted 11 years ago by RyanCShowers
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http://feelthefilms.wordpress.com/2013/06/22/great-expectations-1998/

The best thing Great Expectations has going for it is the breathtaking, inventive, beautiful cinematography. The look of the picture is unreal and unfortunately, ends up being the film's fault. It's such a good looking picture, when it comes to analytical thought, it ends up being a looky film, not a thoughtful one. It almost sleepwalks through scenes that were written with potential to scratch deep into character's minds, but decides not to take the extra mile. Great Expectations doesn't deliver the inside of the movie, just the outside.

I enjoy the update of this old tale, the film's story is an interesting one. It intrigues the audience because we can all relate to wanting something that is "better" than us; we love the things that are unattainable. It tries to takes some profound stances on topics, but doesn't succeed, because the director, Alfonso Cuaron, and the actors have a problem communicating information of the character's thoughts to the audience. Everything we should get becomes obscure.

Ethan Hawke doesn't row down the riverbank, nor does he sink, he just floats, not affecting any of the actors, not the director, he's just there to look nice and move the adaptation from scene to scene. Gwyneth Paltrow embodies the aspects of a first love nicely. Robert DeNiro has some great short scenes in the film, but the ultimate twist in the end ruins his character for me. I thought the twist was excessive and unnecessary. It cheapened the story and the solid ground the film built upon.

Great Expectations sets out with great intentions, seeking to lecture the audience about kindness, love, and that in success comes tragedy, but the film is like looking through the glass windows of your favorite shopping store in the mall with an empty wallet. It's stunning to look at, but fails to psychologically tell the story. Great Expectations celebrates art as well, I wish Cuaron would've dug deeper into the thoughts, motivations, and intentions of the characters because the audience is left empty. A good movie that could've been great.

Rating: 6/10

Grade: B

When it comes to torture, I trust the lady who spent three years married to James Cameron.

[–] maz89 11 years ago

The look of the picture is unreal and unfortunately, ends up being the film's fault. It's such a good looking picture, when it comes to analytical thought, it ends up being a looky film, not a thoughtful one.

I don't understand how the "unreal look of the picture" ends up being the "film's fault". You're saying that it shouldn't have looked so good... because the rest of it didn't live up to your expectations...? Yeah, probably something like that. Regardless of the film's demerits, its gorgeous cinematography cannot also be its "fault".

It almost sleepwalks through scenes that were written with potential to scratch deep into character's minds, but decides not to take the extra mile.

What scenes are we talking about here? I could pretty much tell what was going on in the characters' mind in any given scene. The voice-over by Finn was often a dead give-away, too.

It intrigues the audience because we can all relate to wanting something that is "better" than us; we love the things that are unattainable.

I don't know if it's about wanting something "better" per se (I agree with the "unattainable" remark though). It's more about having a relentless passion or an undying, irrational love for another, something that can't be so easily put into words.

It tries to takes some profound stances on topics, but doesn't succeed, because the director, Alfonso Cuaron, and the actors have a problem communicating information of the character's thoughts to the audience.

I would love it if you could elaborate here. What "profound stances on topics" was the director unsuccessful in communicating? I would hardly call the age-old themes relating to kindness, unrequited love, raging desire and passion, corrupting influence of success, the psychological damage caused by a bad upbringing, etc "profound". What I would call profound is the way in which it tried to render some of these themes through some breath-taking, beautifully-shot and joyous sequences...

I thought the twist was excessive and unnecessary. It cheapened the story and the solid ground the film built upon.

Tell that to Dickens. I thought the mysterious benefactor thread was handled adequately (but not outstandingly). I don't disagree that it's a "good movie that could have been great", but because I'm more forgiving of its imperfections as it gets so many other things right(cinematography, performances, soundtrack), I gave it a 7.5-8.

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.