Best movie of this year hands down!

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

I'm a bit late in the day, having only just seen part of the 2014 series on the Freeview Drama channel. I'm afraid this was inferior to the 1980s version...but that had the advantage of 10 episodes. Three episodes means compression - and that usually means distortion. Sorry to say, this 2014 version completely missed the books' flavour which was so well caught in the earlier series.I was puzzled by some changes: for example, on the page and in the earlier version Irene Coles is an impoverished artist who, for part of the time, lives in a shack; in the three-parter she is as expensively dressed as the object of her (made explicit) affection. The books are not hard to find, so do please read them: you will find them a constant source of pleasure.

I really didn't think I would like this but as each episode played I grew to love it more and more and was actually quite upset when it finished. I've been to Rye and so got a lot out of watching the series and trying to familiarise myself with the streets and the extraordinary church. I thought each character was well cast and I loved the cat and mouse games between Mapp and Lucia and not knowing what plot each one would come up with next. I thought Miranda Richardson was fantastic in her portrayal of Mapp, including her fake teeth and the way it forced her to talk.... very funny. The characterisation was brilliant, as was the set and the way Tilling looked exactly as you would imagine. Had I seen the 1980's version I would be able to understand why a few of these reviews favour the former series, however I feel in love with it and just wish there were another series to follow.

It's too bad there aren't more programs like this instead of the mind numbing talentless wannabe cry fest shows like Brittan is talentless or yawn factor.....Great characters and witty scripts. I hope they make another series. I can understand why many don't get this as it is clever and intelligent. If you have a discerning taste in comedy then you will love it! If Borat is more your style you will be bored and miss the point all together. Steve Pemberton is very talented and he works so well in an ensemble cast full of talented actors and actresses. I would love to see more from Steve Pemberton. This reminds me of Agatha Christie and PG Woodhouse and it is a very similar to Blandings in tone and character.

Good script, fast paced. Altogether entertaining. Colour palette seems rather dark and sombre compared to the insouciant sweet lightness of the C4 original. Anna Chancellor: a bit too butch for the part, too threatening, a bit sour, missed a fragility and joyfulness that McEwan got. Actress portraying Irene (Gemma Whelan) was much better and more credible than the original actress. Miranda Richardson very good, copied some mannerisms of Prunella Scales interpretation I thought. Pemberton also very good, copied Hawthorne's mannerisms in places. Chemistry between Pemberton and Chancellor was not right or credible somehow. Frances Barber - hammy over the top but delightful. All other actors and actresses worked really well. The final shot of Pilsen and Irene apparently bonded surprised me.