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I read the book and purchased the DVD of the 1981 series and have watched it several times ... so, can you compress an eleven hour miniseries into a 2hr. 15min. movie?

Opens next Friday and I intend to be there to find out. My religious experience went in the opposite direction from that of the characters, but, the story seduced me with its between war setting and the "very grave sins" that most viewers would be damn ready to commit, since it also offered rare entry into the world of the aristocracy. It had fairly big themes and plenty of them, but, the series allowed everything to unfold slowly for greater impact - just can't do that in a feature length movie - but, some early word indicates that the movie packs more punch and I'm always open to new interpretations.

Anyone have early word? I hear that fans of the three leads from the series will definately have something to say about the new performances, but it is not because of any lack of talent.

Screen Daily review gives thumbs up...

I can no longer think of this title without being reminded of the bizarre story in Tom Shales' SNL book about how Mel Gibson came into the writers room with an idea for a parody called "Bird's Head Regurgitated" and couldn't figure out why no one else thought it was a good idea for a sketch.

Shamefully, it wasn't that long ago that I realised Brideshead Revisited wasn't a sequel.

I'm horrified with the trailer and the idea of recutting a perfect 11 hours miniserie in only 100 minutes.

Waugh travelled to Hollywood in the 40's because MGM wanted to make the film adapatation, that was impossible. Imagine the castintg I've thought

Clark Gable - Charles
Robert Taylor - Sebastian
Greer Garson - Julia

Is it real that the film has had good reviews? or was it a joke?

This season promises to be the best for my tastes: The duchess, Brideshead, The edge of love...

rohmerin wrote:I'm horrified with the trailer and the idea of recutting a perfect 11 hours miniserie in only 100 minutes.

The trailer reminds me of the Hamlet spoof in Last Action Hero, except it's deadly serious.

Narshty wrote:

rohmerin wrote:I'm horrified with the trailer and the idea of recutting a perfect 11 hours miniserie in only 100 minutes.

The trailer reminds me of the Hamlet spoof in Last Action Hero, except it's deadly serious.

Yes, it is deadly serious and they better get mostly right (or nicely reinterpreted) or I'm going to be some pissed off. The movie has not opened anywhere on Cape Cod so I'm still just hoping that they do it well enough to cause me to think about the same things that the series caused me to think about - wasted lives, fulfillment, the power of religion (even if you think it's bullshit), and more.

The series had a profound effect on me, and, believe it or not, I'm perfectly willing to see it in an edited up, heated up, version. These days, I'll take high quality source marerial where I can find it.

Narshty wrote:

rohmerin wrote:I'm horrified with the trailer and the idea of recutting a perfect 11 hours miniserie in only 100 minutes.

The trailer reminds me of the Hamlet spoof in Last Action Hero, except it's deadly serious.

This remake is an obvious travesty. Julia now accompanies Charles and her brother to Venice (!) and Lady Marchmain vociferously objects to Charles's interest in her daughter because it will disrupt her plans (!!) to unite Julia with Rex!!! What's the point in using Waugh's title if the intent is to throw everything distinctive about BR away and turn the whole thing into a generic parent-objecting-to-a-romance story?