The Top Ten Dickens Adaptations

A dear girl suggested that I do a post listing my favorite Charles Dickens adaptations and talking a little about them.  Splendid idea. :D

I'm going to do this in the form of Top Ten, even though I have seen more than that... I may mention the others I've seen at the end.  Anyway, we're going to go from Tenth Favorite to Top Favorite.  Ready, set, go.

10.

A Tale of Two Cities: The Musical

This would actually be higher (or lower, in this case) on the list if it wasn't for a couple things.  It's not that it's a musical.  I've, um, kind of outgrown that prejudice.  Haha.  It's because it's not really an adaptation-- not a movie, anyway.  In fact, I haven't even been able to watch one that's actually a full play-- the 2009 concert thingy is what I saw, and though they did remarkably well for not having much of a set and having the orchestra right behind them, it's just not quite the same.  But it was remarkably gripping, I thought, for being the way it was.  They didn't refrain from actually acting and they had costumes.  (Costumes are just important.  They are.) 

{Side note of sorts: I really, really wish that there was a 'real' adaptation of ATOTC.  And for goodness' sake, I cannot figure out why there isn't-- it's one of Dickens' most famous works, yet the most recent miniseries/movie was from 1989.  It's not as if they're without resources (two versions of Great Expectations being made at the same time? Seriously?). }

But anyways.  The musical is really good and I'd recommend it, especially for anyone who's read the book and wants to watch some version of it.

IMDb | Watch Online | {trailer on IMDb page}

9.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012)

I'm not actually a very big fan of this one.  But it was a new BBC period drama with interesting costumes and recognizable actors, and that pleased me.  It's not as good as your usual Dickens, because only part of it was made up by him; this is his unfinished novel.  And I'm really not sure how much was Dickens and how much was... whoever wrote the script (and I'm too lazy to look it up).  It was still interesting enough... although some of it was a bit too gruesome for my taste.  Really, you don't need to keep showing us a decaying body, okay?  *cough*  Oh, but did I mention that it's got Alun Armstrong?

IMDb | Trailer | Watch Online

8.

Great Expectations (2011)

First of all, I really don't like the story of Great Expectations.  I hear that you can't really know until you read the book, which I haven't, but judging from the two versions I've seen (three, if you count Wishbone :P)... I don't like it.  It's really weird, and really dark.  And though this one seemed to play up the weirdness rather than try to make less of it, it did have some redeeming features and--like I said about Edwin Drood--hey, new period drama! :D  Haha.  I've only seen this once so far. (Really, by the way, my choices for 7-10 can kind of be switched around depending on my mood and what I feel more like watching at the time.)  Some of this movie has a few parts in the violence department where I don't really want to look too closely, I remember.  Anyways, I guess what I did like of this one was more for the period drama than the story itself. Sorry, any fans.  I don't really even like hardly any of the characters; I think that's the main problem.  Herbert Pocket is my favorite, if I remember correctly. ;D

IMDb | Trailer

7.

David Copperfield (2000)

I did enjoy this version of David Copperfield, but unfortunately I could only get it on YouTube (the library doesn't have it, sniff) and it wasn't the greatest quality.  In the 1999 version (which I'll be talking about in a bit), David actually annoyed me quite a bit, as did Dora, aside from their characters... it was the actors.  So there were some things I liked better about this one. (Although Hugh Dancy really need a haircut.) Also it's just fun to have a fresh take on it.  And Anthony Andrews... although if you ask me, he just doesn't suit a villain-ish character very well.  His laugh still sounds too nice. ;)

IMDb | Trailer | Watch Online

6.

Martin Chuzzlewit (1994)

It took me a bit longer to watch this one since it's sort of an 'older' one and not as well-known... really, though, it's only made the year before my favorite version of Pride and Prejudice, and in the end I'd kind of put it in-between an older BBC miniseries and a newer one as far as how well-made (and not slow-moving) it is.  The story ended up being really interesting, though.  I didn't expect quite as much from it since I hadn't heard quite as much about it.  And it was hilarious seeing Julia Sawalha in another giggly role-- she did sound just like Lydia Bennet.  As I mentioned in the recent villains post, a couple characters in this one really boil my blood... and then there's Tom Pinch who is SO nice that it kind of balances things.  (I always feel sorry for him at the end, though.  He deserved some great reward for his niceness. *sniff*)

IMDb | Watch Online

5.

Nicholas Nickleby (2002)

I really do like this movie.  It's one of the few actual Charles Dickens movies I've seen (that is, most of them are miniseries) but at least it's long-ish for a movie.  It has a host of recognizable actors, music by Rachel Portman, tons of quotables, a lot of funny stuff and a lot of touching stuff, exciting bits, romantical bits... what more do you look for in a period drama? ;) It does have a slightly different feel to it than most Dickens, and I can't speak for the accuracy to the book but I do know it must be pretty condensed.  However, I've heard from whose who have read the book (or have tried) that that's not necessarily a bad thing...

IMDb | Trailer

4.

David Copperfield (1999)

A lot of the acting in this miniseries is marvelous.  I do so love Maggie Smith as Betsey Trotwood.  And Alun Armstrong in his role, obviously.  Pretty much everything about the miniseries is really good, actually, and that's why it gets fourth.  It's still not my favorite story as a whole (David can be so STUPID sometimes) but it is really engaging.  Like I said earlier, a major drawback is that a couple of the main actors annoy me a lot and obviously that's a little hard to ignore, but... :P

IMDb | Watch Online

3.

Our Mutual Friend (1998)

THIS STORY IS BRILLIANT.  Okay, just had to get that out there.  But really.  :D  It's one of those huge stories with a whole bunch of characters... that is, your classic Charles Dickens, heehee.  A lot of variety in social classes, too, and that's always interesting.  There is one scene that I always skip, but was fortunately informed where it would be and I just covered the screen for that part.  It's nothing bad in the actual plot (if you want more details, I'd be happy to supply them).  This is one of those long ones... nearly six hours, I think?  But very worth it.

IMDb | Watch Online

2.

Bleak House (2005)

This story is also brilliant, and very complex and mysterious-- I guess the reason I was all-in-caps-ing about the last one is because it seems to be less well-known and watched.  But anyways, if you haven't seen this one, you really should.  It's great.  It can be a bit heavy and dramatic, yes, and as a true and proper Victorian novel, people tend to die off (one of them is even murdered, muwahahaha), but the whole thing is not bleak.  Beware its length, however; it's eight hours long but you might be tempted to devour it all at once regardless because it keeps you right at the edge of your seat. ;)  (Did I mention Alun Armstrong is in this one too?)

IMDb | Trailer | Watch Online

1.

Little Dorrit (2008)

And my top pick probably just surprised you all greatly.  (Ha.  Sarcasm.  I do not hide my love for this miniseries.)  It's amazing.  If you are a period drama fan and haven't seen this, I pity you greatly.  Again, tons of characters, some of them extremely annoying, but some very endearing, and the rest crazy; brilliant plot, weird names, mystery, just... Dickens in a nutshell.  A big nutshell, though.  This one is also about eight hours.  Truly a miniseries, people, and it's not meant to be watched all at once.  (Unless you're my mom.)  Now me, I like the length.  When good things are too short it makes me sad. ;)  (On a side note... Alun Armstrong.  Again.  He likes Dickens.) There are a few scenes I choose to skip, but more information can be found about that in my review which should be linked to on the sidebar.

IMDb | Trailer | Watch Online

So there you have it, everyone!  Oh, other adaptations I've seen:

~Nicholas Nickleby (2001)-- I also only watched this one on YouTube, and there were some things I like about it, but some things I really didn't (like some inappropriate content... the other version was much better that way).  

~A Tale of Two Cities (1980)-- It's just quite old, but I enjoyed it anyways at least somewhat... I read the book and wanted to watch an adaptation afterwards.  And it has David Suchet, but I actually saw this before getting into the Poirot series so that didn't mean much to me at the time. ;)  (Same story with Great Expectations 2011, actually.)

~Oliver! (1968)-- Musical for Oliver Twist.  I did like it, just not enough to be in the top ten.

~Great Expectations (1998)-- This version was all right, too... I still just don't much like the story.  And there were only two funny lines in the whole thing... and sadly both were left out of the 2011 version.  Sniff.

~The Old Curiosity Shop (2007)-- Boy, this was depressing!  I don't remember much about it other than that, though.

Okay, now I'm done.  (For pity's sake, don't cheer so loudly...)