Very Cool!!!

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Sorry folks, but I must concur with "httpmom" from SF above - - this was pretty weak by BBC standards and I've seen very, very many BBC productions. The acting wasn't terrible, but it wasn't up to BBC standards (with the exception of the fabulous Michael Kitchen, who made Judge Jefferys totally believable like he does with every role he undertakes!) The accents were all over the map - - literally. Some of the actors sounded American, others sounded English, some Welsh, Irish, etc. It had an almost Hollywood-shallow ("Hollyschlock") feeling to it. The actors were all beautiful to be sure but the dialogue didn't ring true (sounded more like 19th century dialogue than 17th century, but maybe that's what the book's like?). Everyone had perfect teeth and skin and the sister who was wearing glasses - - HELLO?? This was supposed to have taken place in 1675. It wasn't until 1730 that a London optician named Edward Scarlett devised the rigid sidepieces that rest atop the ears and turned the spectacles that had been used for the previous 500 years into eyeglasses. Before that, people used spectacles that had to be held in place or mounted on a holding device to be held up to the face. So why was the older sister wearing regular glasses? Oh, maybe she stopped at LensCrafters after getting her blonde highlights put in at Super Cuts. (Looks like somebody didn't do their research on this one.) At least they weren't all cosmetically made up to the hilt. Anyway, I bought the Romance Collections I and II and this is the stinker of the first collection, in my opinion. Watching this version of Lorna Doone is not a waste of time but the previous gushing reviews about it have me puzzled.

I had not heard of this production, so I had no expectations of it. I am a fan of the BBC literature miniseries, and the lead actor (Richard Coyle) in this had a small, disagreeable role in "Wives and Daughters." What a nice surprise to see him in such a positive role, so charming and sincere. He is wonderful here, complex and layered.I found this film to be an unexpected joy. The plot has many twists that went in unusual directions, the countryside vistas are gorgeous, it is like a rustic country vacation with a love story. If you want to find faults, there are always some to be found. The villain is handsome but one dimensional - and what is up with the "soul patch" beardlette and the hair? (And he is the reason why this is a 9 and not a 10... too modern phsyco, rather than tempestuous highlander.) The heroine is lovely, but really a bit too young to have the acting complexity to hold our interest for this long. One of the sisters has horrible modern highlighted blonde hair which many actresses have now, and it is the bane of period movies... why didn't they fix that? Some of the plot points are silly and expected, but still... overall, this is a delight, and the costumes, sets and villages feel authentic and isolated and real. At the half way point, the story completely surprised me and took us to a different place. How fun. This film is also a rare one; in that I think BOTH my parents would enjoy it. It is enough of a man's story to hold my father's interest, but enough of a woman's story to keep it lively and lovely. Much of the action is outdoors at some locations which are part of a national preserve/park which lend a fairytale quality to the action, perfect for this legend of a magical romance in a very real world.Completely enjoyable!

This particular version of Lorna Doone begins on a grand and exciting historical scale and quickly spirals downward into an average star crossed lovers tale in which a pretty boy...who can't speak or act...for reasons not be known in the script... falls in love with a pretty girl...who can't speak or act. They meet by accident and then in secret without any of the intensity that such a love would usually entail. They smile at each other a lot and run around a spectacular Whales country side while epic music plays in the background. There are a few good battle scenes...some rather beautiful but astonishing costuming...some off the wall wonderful but inaccurate hair styles for men...think Samurai warrior meets Middle Earth...some great acting from a few minor characters and Peter Vaughan...who unfortunately...for the viewer...but happily for him...dies about half way into the story. This movie won awards for photography and visual effects which is the reason I wanted to see it but the script lacked grit and believability. Not up to the usual BBC standards...did they collaborate with Touchstone or something?

I first saw this movie one day at the library. I had never read the book. I knew next to nothing about it. When I watched it, I couldn't get enough of it. It felt like a roller coaster ride. I loved the love triangle and that you faced one thing after another. Amelia Warner was wonderful as Lorna. I was extremely thankful she played Lorna as a girl who could stand up for herself and as someone you're not always really sure you can trust. Aidan Warner (Carver) was extremely evil,but you can see how much he loves Lorna. However, I hated that Carver really didn't age from the beginning to when you see him all those years later. Richard Coyle was unbelievable as John. I loved how much he frought to keep Lorna. Still, I felt that John's and Lorna's courtship was much too rushed.