The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Blistering performances.

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.

It's been a long time since I've thoroughly enjoyed anything this good. I'm an extremely discerning viewer and I'm at a complete lost re what some reviewers were watching. Queenie, Miranda Richardson, was simply brilliant and so too was the scrumptious Anna Chancellor. Every character was brilliantly cast. I would certainly like previous reviewers to state other shows that could possibly match this level of viewing. I would so be eternally grateful. It's faultless television and probably better than Jeeves and Wooster. How has the acting world bypass Miranda Richardson whose talents are simply stupendous. Her facial expressions were magnificent and too funny. The wittisms, OMG!! Absolutely brilliant. Au Reservoir!

Set in the chocolate-box town of Rye in Sussex, this English comedy of manners was easily the best thing on British television this Christmas, as far as I am concerned. I just wish the BBC had produced more than three episodes of "Mapp and Lucia", although I have a sneaky suspicion there will be more in the pipeline.Based on a series of humorous novels written by EF Benson in the 1920s and 1930s, series one begins with the pretentious Lucia arriving to spend the summer in Tilling (Rye) with her effeminate male friend Georgie in tow. Lucia renews her acquaintance with bumptious Miss Mapp, the queen bee of Tilling (in her estimation anyway), and from there on in, the two ladies lock horns. "Mapp and Lucia" has a cast of the most eccentric characters, who create the most absurd situations. This could be dismissed as pure froth in pretty scenery, except the author has created (for me anyway), instantly recognisable people and written the most wonderful lines for them. English middle-class aspirations and affectations are ridiculed, as the protagonists compete socially, involving the hapless inhabitants of Tilling in their increasingly frenetic plots. The critics have compared this TV series unfavourably with an earlier one starring Prunella Scales and Geraldine McEwan. Having neither read the books or seen the 1980s version, I am not in the position to comment. However, I shall immediately be watching all three episodes again on BBC iPlayer, and ordering the DVD when they are out."Au Reservoir"Cheeseandchocolatemonster

It is perhaps a bit unfair to make direct comparisons between productions, but that is in fact what we tend do and what most experts do when reviewing food, music, and also films.I found this BBC production of Mapp and Lucia somewhat lacking especially when measured on my simple enjoyment scales. I am not the only one with that opinion.The BBC production has many very fine features. It is shot in HD with excellent camera work. It is quite lavish and sports excellent settings and attention to detail. The cast are a most capable bunch. So what can I blame for the lack of enjoyment when compared to the Channel 4 1980ies production? The fault may probably lie with the adaptation and the direction.There was more of a darker underside to the BBC adaptation, with a lot less of the lightness and comedy found in the Channel 4 production. The gossip and carry-on was portrayed as much more acidic, mean and destructive. The overall effect left a slightly bitter aftertaste, which for a comedy is not great in my book. I have watched the Channel 4 production at least four times over the years, and enjoyed it each and every time.I do not think that I will be able to say the same for this current BBC production.