Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

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.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

This TV version of Rebecca is directed by Jim O'Brian, is based on the novel by Daphne Du Maurier and stars Charles Dance, Emilia Fox, Diana Rigg, Jonathan Cake and Faye Dunaway.Monte Carlo 1927,shy, young British girl(Emilia Fox)is travelling as companion to the eccentric wealthy Mrs.Van Hopper(Faye Dunaway).In Monte Carlo they meet lonely and mysterious widower Maxim De Winter(Charles Dance)who is on holiday after the death of his wife Rebecca.Maxim befriends and falls in love with the young woman and marries her.After arriving back in Britain she meets his staff and family at Manderlay.After a few weeks she realises there are strange goings on at the house.The creepy housekeeper Mrs.Danvers(Diana Rigg)was Rebecca's maid for years and loved her as well and has become obsessed with her.She tries to convince the new Mrs De Winter that she is worthless compared to her dead mistress.What follows is a dark tale of love,possession,desire and the danger of prying into hidden family secrets.Sticking closely to Daphne Du Maurier's novel you really feel the love that Maxim has for his new wife(who's never named by the way).And there's strong similarities in this to Jane Eyre.Charles is superb as Maxim and he and Emilia have good chemistry.There's fine support from Jonathan Cake as the suave Jack Favell,Rebecca's cousin, Geraldine James as Maxim's haughty sister Beatrice and Timothy West as a doctor who has a secret to tell about Rebecca.Moving,gripping and filled with gorgeous costumes and beautiful location work, this is perfect to watch on a rainy day.

I have always found Lawrence Olivier's portrayal of Maxim de Winter to be distant and forbidding, which detracted from the Hitchcock version of Rebecca, although that film has so much to recommend it. This lovely, warm adaptation is blessed by Charles Dance who makes Maxim a much more attractive man worth fighting for and Emilia Fox is a wonderful actress, even at this young age. The difference in their ages is important to the story and the casting here is so convincing that the book is really brought to life. I am glad it lacks the sinister quality of Hitchcock because it's refreshing to see a different approach and in some ways a more modern take on the story, even though it is set in the correct period. Although I knew the story well, I was still gripped by it, and was surprised by some twists. I saw this when it was originally shown on TV in 1997, and have just seen it again - I think I liked it better this time. Well worth 4 hours of anyone's time, to do justice to such a great novel.

THe 1997 BBC adaption of the renowned romance/suspense novel REBECCA was an interesting take on the novel. But not a very good one. The lighting and photography do nothing to set the suspense and sense of dread in Manderley that is supposed to be the lingering spirit of Rebecca, very unlike the book and 1940 movie. This miniseries focused more on the romance. However, I think that the "spirit of Rebecca" that is supposed to be almost "haunting" Manderley did not come across very well. They did show Rebecca in some flashbacks, which was unique but I thought sort of ruined the "Rebecca mystique". The acting was pretty much all excellent and solid but Charles Dance as Maxim was VERY different. I don't think his portrayal of Maxim was deep enough, it didn't show enough (for total lack of a better word) angst about what was happening. Diana Rigg as Mrs. Danvers was also different, but it worked, she was a great Mrs. Danvers. Emilia Fox as "I" was good too.If you liked the book Rebecca see the Hitchcock version also and compare the two. I find the Hichcock version superior, it is more faithful to book even thought a vital part of the book's plot is slightly distorted.

I enjoyed this version very much, the actors in the main roles were very good. I especially liked the young Emilia Fox as the new Mrs DeWinter. She started out as the shy young girl and became the strong young wife fighting for her love. Charles Dance was very well cast as Maxim, not as stuffy as Olivier. I found Diana Rigg a bit over the top, but the supporting cast were very good, especially Faye Dunaway. The locations and overall look of the show was very pleasing to the eye. I liked this longer , more adult version as it covered the whole story and was very true to the novel. But, like Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice I will always now and again go back and watch the original black and white versions.