As far as I can judge, this is a satisfactory filmed version of the very famous Dickens novel. Satisfactory doesn't mean it's a great movie, though. My main issue lies with the Miss Havisham character. I've never been impressed with this woman; she seems utterly clueless to me. Clearly, she didn't get the memo that the best revenge is living a happy life. Instead, she turned into a deranged recluse, punishing only herself. And raising a girl just to make her a heartbreaker? That's not romantic - it's stupidly resentful.
It doesn't help that this absurd character is played by Helena Bonham Carter, one of my least favorite actors. She seems like she walked straight out of one of her many gothic movies, looking more deranged than pitiable. Miss Havisham aside, the other characters are believable enough: we have a gloriously beautiful Estella, a suitably befuddled Pip, and a moving Magwitch, with an adequate support cast of the multitude of secondary characters.
As far as I remember, Pip was a bit more of a jerk almost until the end, feeling ashamed and repulsed by Magwitch. But in this version, he takes pity on the poor criminal way sooner. Also, I didn't remember Estella being secretly in love with Pip and wanting to spare him suffering. She was just a cold and indifferent girl to a naive, mediocre boy.
However, the costumes and settings were spot on, even if London looked a tad too messy and dirty. But the countryside? Shot to absolute glorious perfection.
In summary, it's an okay movie but not particularly moving or satisfying.
