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Oliver Twist (BBC) [2007]


RRP: £19.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk review

Another costume drama, another classic literary adaptation, and another stellar cast. You can’t help thinking that it all becomes a matter of routine for commissioning editors at the BBC. But panic not: Oliver Twist is, yet again, a strong piece of work, and well worth adding to the corporation’s impressive collection.

Based, as you’d expect, on the Dickens text, and adapted with real skill by Sarah Phelps, Oliver Twist is a strong three hours of drama. The script isn’t ideal for the Dickens purist, as Phelps has brought some new ideas to her work, but it’s hard to quibble with the quality of the drama that results.

Oliver Twist’s outstanding cast is led by Timothy Spall, and also brings together Tom Hardy, Sophie Okenedo, Edward Fox, Sarah Lancashire and Gregor Fisher among others. They inherit and inhabit Dickens’ varied collection of characters with exceptional skill, and they help to vividly bring the tale of the artful dodger to the small screen.

It should be noted that Oliver Twist isn’t a perfect production, with the deviations from the source material presenting a couple of talking points. But it conforms ably to the high standards we’ve come to expect from BBC costume productions, and while it’s not their finest work, it’s a very good piece of television drama that’s well worth investing your time in. --Jon Foster

Editorial
DVD Description

"A who’s who of acting talent captures perfectly Dicken’s army of exaggerated grotesques..." --The Times

Starring: Timothy Spall, William Miller, Adam Arnold, Tom Hardy, Sophie Okenedo, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Edward Fox, Anna Massey, Morven Christie, Sarah Lancashire, Gregor Fisher, Rob Brydon, John Sessions.

This gripping take on Charles Dickens’ classic remains faithful to the spirit of the novel while delivering a modern, thrilling, tragic and occasionally comic edge. Sarah Phelps (EastEnders), one of Britain's most dynamic television writers, has adapted this powerful story,

Oliver is born into poverty and misfortune – the son of an unmarried mother, who dies shortly after his birth; he is soon delivered to the workhouse. There, the cruel Mr Bumble oversees children tormented by starvation and suffering. When Oliver dares ask for more gruel, he finds himself cast out and forced to make his own way in the world.

Running away to London, Oliver meets the Artful Dodger and his gang, as well as the beautiful Nancy and gets the first warm welcome of his life – but he is soon to discover that this kindness requires its own type of payment.

As Oliver is drawn deeper into the dark and murky underworld, he remains unaware that the kind Mr Brownlow is searching for him, while others – the brutal criminal Bill Sikes, the manipulative Fagin and the mysterious Mr Monks – are vying to ruin and destroy his life…

Special Feature:
Behind-the-Scenes
A New Twist on Oliver Twist
Adapted by: Sarah Phelps.

Editorial
Synopsis

This gripping take on Charles Dickens' classic remains faithful to the spirit of the novel while delivering a modern, thrilling, tragic and occasionally comic edge.

Oliver is born into poverty and misfortune – the son of an unmarried mother, who dies shortly after his birth; he is soon delivered to the workhouse. There, the cruel Mr Bumble oversees children tormented by starvation and suffering. When Oliver dares ask for more gruel, he finds himself cast out and forced to make his own way in the world.


Running away to London, Oliver meets the Artful Dodger and his gang, as well as the beautiful Nancy and gets the first warm welcome of his life – but he is soon to discover that this kindness requires its own type of payment.


As Oliver is drawn deeper into the dark and murky underworld, he remains naware that the kind Mr Brownlow is searching for him, while others – the brutal criminal Bill Sikes, the manipulative Fagin and the mysterious Mr Monks – are vying to ruin and destroy his life…

Enjoyable enough, but it's far from Dickens
Review date: 2008-08-19 Rating: 6 out of 10

It always makes my heart sink when I watch the "behind the scenes" documentaries of TV adaptations of books, and the focus is on how they've changed things, tried to make it "relevant to the modern age" and, by implication, improved upon the original. This is an enjoyable story, but it isn't "Oliver Twist." Now, I'm not a purist. I've just finished acting in a local version of the musical, Oliver! which also strays far from Dickens' original. But this one just isn't quite right. The characters keep the same names, but are not the same people. My particular gripe is with the way the Artful Dodger is portrayed. Dodger is a boy who thinks he's a man, cynical, arrogant and a joy to read about or watch. Yet here, he is yet another sulky, stroppy teenager. Oliver, on the other hand, the writers have decided to make less wimpy than he usually comes across. No harm in that - yet is there no other way than to have him answering back the whole time? The story itself is fine, for there at least the writers have kept close to the original. But at times the characters are barely recognisable.

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Reviews


Well I enjoyed it..
Review date: 2008-07-04 Rating: 10 out of 10

When I saw this advertised I was wondering whether to watch this but I'm glad that I did.
I thought 'Monks' was a nasty piece of work.
Timothy Spall wasn't exactly my idea of fagin.
But overall well played by everyone.

DON'T LISTEN TO ALL THE POOR REVIEWS
Review date: 2008-03-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

This BBC adaption of Oliver Twist is absolutely brilliant, if there was 6 stars I would go for that! The change of the story just makes it even better, in my opinion it is much better than any of the films and also the book! I absolutely loved it, and as for those people who rated it 1 star, don't listen to them, because most of what they have said is absolute nonscence, 5 star all the way!

Very poor
Review date: 2008-03-06 Rating: 2 out of 10

Undoubtedly the poorest adaptation of Oliver Twist I have ever seen, and after last years superb adaptation of Bleak House, a really huge disappointment. The cast is utterly wasted and much of their acting is wooden. It really has the feel of a bad end of the pier pantomime. As for the music, it was totally out of keeping with the story. The BBC have made some great TV versions of Dickens novels, but this isn't one of them. Writer Sarah Phelps should never be let loose on a script again, and executive producer/Head of BBC Drama Serials should be sacked for wasting licence payers money. Lets hope the forthcoming adaptation of Little Dorrit is a darn sight better. The previous reviewer said they were gutted when Oliver Twist finished. I was gutted a long time before that!!

What are the bad reviews on about?
Review date: 2008-02-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

I was so suprised to see the bad reviews that this has got.
I think that this adaptation is by far the best Oliver Twist ever.
The acting is brilliant, and the story is fascinating.
Buy this, you wont be disappointed. Seriously, I was gutted when it finished!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Rob Brydon
Edward Fox
Tom Hardy
Timothy Spall
Gregor Fisher

Creators:
Timothy Spall (Primary Contributor)
Rob Brydon (Primary Contributor)

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503257224
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-03-10
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 176 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2007
Language: English (Original Language)

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