MovieChat Forums > Lorna Doone (2001) Discussion > John Ridd characterisation book v adapta...

John Ridd characterisation book v adaptation

posted 10 years ago by melwyn
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"John Ridd, a young farmer's boy determined to avenge his father's death..."

Oh no...what a terrible thing to do to the character and the book. The total opposite of what he swore in the book, in fact. A core part of the person he was throughout was that he was not vengeful or angry because he didn't see how it would achieve anything. As another reviewer said, he was a gentle giant.

Why did they change that? Was trying to adapt his character as is just too hard? Did they honestly think it would be better if he was just another vengeful kid like we've seen in dozens of other films/tv shows?

How sad.

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I just want sausages and mash and some cake. Not twigs fried in honey or a donkey in a coffin!

[–] WishfulDreamer 9 years ago

I disagree. John is only angry and vengeful briefly in this film. His mother gives him a talking to before he even grows up to make him stop thinking that way. While of course he feels animosity for the Doones, he in no way makes it his life duty to avenge his father's death.

It's only when his life is on the line that he agrees to go with help to finish the Doones off. After both Lorna and his mother talk to him about vengeance, he even tries to spare Carver. Several adaptations of LD have him simply throw Carver in the bog. Here, he tries to save him. I think they did a good characterization here and Richard Coyle gave a brilliant performance when he brought the character to life.