Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-25 15:18:41

Rent this one before you buy!

I'm glad I rented this movie from my local library. I would have been disappointed if I had purchased it first.While the locals and costumes were the usual standard for A&E productions, the story itself was by no means good. It would have been better if there were at least two parts. I felt cheated. If you haven't read the book, I don't believe the video would make much sense.First off, in the book, John did not witness his father's murder. He was away at school. Secondly, the movie didn't make good use of the secret meetings between John and Lorna. In the book their meetings were more intense and romantic. (John knew from their first encounter Lorna was a Doone.) Finally, the most disappointing part of the movie was Lorna's rescue from the Doones. In the book, the setting was in a really bad winter (20 or more feet of snow). Lorna and Gwennie were being starved by Carver to force her to marry him. John carried Lorna and Gwennie away on a sled in all that snow and cold, not on horseback on a bright sunny day as shown on the video.I will say that the acting was first rate and the soundtrack was wonderful. True romantics will enjoy watching it. However, I would not buy this A&E production.

2012-05-25 05:27:11

I love this movie!

This is a wonderful movie! It is complete and entertaining. The actors are wonderful and the scenery is amazing! It's also a beautiful love story!

Ophelia- Lady of the River 2012-05-24 12:47:08

Romantic Predictability...

A & E's production of R.D. Blackmore's novel of forbidden love between twohostile families is lushly filmed, action-filled, and surprisingly dull.Yes, there are a few surprises here and there; however, the story runsintopredictable territory come the last hour and a half, and the charactersbecome too melodramatic to be considered real.The star-crossed lovers do play off each other well, embracing theinvisiblestruggle surrounding their union. Amelia Warner (Lorna Doone) gives theright amount of innocence against ambition, creating a lovely, yearningpicture of a woman finding her way into the world. Her love (John Ridd),played by the ravishing Richard Coyle, battles endlessly for herdeliverancefrom a power-hungry family. Scenes of swordplay, gun fighting, andwarringwords dominate the film, along with the green and black tones of theDoone'saura. Their home and demeanor is cold and dark, in stark contrast to thatof the Ridd's. Yet despite these dynamic action and aesthetic backdrops,Ifound myself jumping ahead at various points simply because I was alreadyahead of the film itself. The characters, though well played, werestandardstock-acting fare. Aidan Gillen's performance of Lorna's rejected suitorwas extremely cartoonish. Each time he was told he should give up hispursuit of Lorna, he would restate his devotion to her then stomp awaylikea child. I kept expecting him to grab a skateboard along the way, ridingoff to his pouting place.I will say that the romantic standard of hero/villain/heroine is not aneasyfoundation upon which to build an unpredictable storyline, especially whengiven a rather caricature-esque setting. Yet director Mike Barker doeshisbest with Adrian Hodges screenplay, and makes a film for inspiredromantics.Although it is predictable at most points, the tale does give theaudiencethe desire to rise in hopeful bliss for two souls so like their own.Lornaand John may be of a different time, yet love burns deep in all of us, nomatter the age or circumstances. If it is to be, there is no death forlove. Lorna and John teach us this, as we rise.

2012-05-23 22:11:13

Dissapointingly below my expectations...

I discovered this DVD at my local library, and curiously decided to rent it because of A&E's renown classics (Pride and Prejudice, Les Miserables...)and the synopsis on the back which made it seem like a very captivating movie. Unfortunately, this movie seemed very poorly produced (if you notice, though Karver is at least 10 years John's senior, he doesn't seemed to have aged from the moment he kills john's father when john was little to the moment he is out to kill John as an adult...)with weak and trite dialogue spoken by obvious amateurs. The plot was fairly good (though very cliche in some aspects), and I won't totally discredit the book for all of the imperfections I have pointed out in the movie (though I have not read it), but I do think that the book probably deserves more credit than the movie does.

2012-05-17 19:06:52

Great Movie

This review is from: Lorna Doone (DVD) I remember watching this movie as a teenager. I loved it then and I still do. It's got such a great story.I have wanted to purchase this movie for a while, but haven't found it in stores at all, so I looked it up on the internet and found it on Amazon (for a decent price no less). It arrived a few days later in great condition. I'm looking forward to enjoying this movie for years to come.

2012-05-17 06:40:28

aidan gillen makes this movie

i really really enjoyed this, and i usually don't like made-for-tv movies. honestly, without aidan gillen as the murderous villian "carver doone", it wouldn't be worth watching. but gladly, he is in it, and it is worth seeing!

2012-05-13 17:21:32

Beautiful production!

A&E and BBC have produced a beautiful adaptation of the R. D. Blackmore classic novel. I was surprised and enthralled with the protagonists here, namely the talented Richard Coyle, but more on that later. Lorna Doone tells the story of John Ridd, an honest farmer who wants revenge against the Doone family for killing his father when he was a child. Then he reunites with beautiful Lorna, whom he met briefly when they were children. Now she's a beautiful young woman and falls in love with her. But then he discovers that she is a Doone. Will love override his desire for revenge? In the course of the story, we discover various secrets and mysteries, and John Ridd will not give up until he has sought revenge against Calver Doone, his father's killer and the man Lorna has been forced to be betrothed with.This film has it all -- romance, intrigue, adventure, villains and tragedy. I read the novel quite some years ago, but I remember some of it and the film remained faithful to the book for the most part. I was entertained from beginning to end. I also like the backdrop of the Restoration era and the beautiful scenery of England and Wales. The acting is also great. The beautiful Amelia Warner is wonderful as Lorna Doone. I enjoyed the dark and handsome Aidan Gillen as the villainous Carver Doone. Carver is hateful and brutal -- the perfect villain. But the most surprising one of all here is Richard Coyle in his role of John Ridd. I know Coyle for his memorable role as the goofy and sex-obsessed Jeff in BBC's Coupling, one of my all-time favorite sitcoms. This role is such a shift from his comedic role of Jeff. In here, he is the proverbial hero -- handsome, honorable, conflicted and romantic. I am impressed with this actor and I look forward to seeing him in more productions in the future. Anyway, going back to the story, I loved the twist at the end and I was almost in tears. The acting during those scenes surprised me much. I recommend this A&E/BBC film. North and South remains my all-time favorite period drama, but this one will also be kept on the shelves to be watched again and again. There are faults of course. One of the actresses who plays John's sister had salon-perfect blond highlights in a film set in seventeenth century. Why some actors don't sacrifice their personal appearance for the sake of time period accuracy is beyond me. Also, the acting during the first stage of the film (when John and Lorna were children) is kind of poor. Things improve once the main characters come in. I also wish this were available in widescreen format. The full screen format isn't very good in a modern 16.9 LCD TV screen and the film's DVD transfer isn't so good either. Other than that, this is a definite must see!

2012-05-13 09:33:40

Much More Than Your Average "Bodice Ripper"

This review is from: Lorna Doone (DVD) Set against the lavish and lonely expanse of the moors, this epic of "star-crossed lovers, unbridled greed, dark secrets, and ruthless ambitions" is a stirring and intensely romantic story for both classes... those who enjoy the action and intensity of war and revenge, and the lovers of period drama with wholesome messages and uplifting truths. It's more than a romance; it's a clash of good and evil, a fight for a country, and a passionate story of courage and redemption that has gained it thousands of fans worldwide. The cast is excellent... Amelia Warner lives and breathes the essence of Lorna, her innocence, her compassion, her youth; Richard Coyle is a lovable and heroic man well worthy of her affections; and Adian Gillen strikes a chill down your backbone with one glance from those tantalizing pale blue eyes.I went into it with low expectations, and it exceeded my highest regards and has well-earned the spot of honor on my shelf of movie classics. Compelling, romantic, haunting and with a shocking climax that will shatter your hopes and then restore them again in a breathtaking final sequence, it is a well-acted, well-produced, well-choreographed, well-directed, and well-scored masterpiece. In my opinion, the best A&E has to offer. My only complaint is the complete nonexistence of an accompanying soundtrack... I'd pay out fifteen bucks easily to own such a magnificent score, and more!The DVD is a letdown other than that the color is vibrant and one can see more of what's going on around the main characters. The sound is excellent and the opening menu charming, but there's an absence of trailers, featurettes, even cast listings that would have made it an even better release. An excellent movie, sorely under-appreciated by A&E and the BBC who choose not to push it as well as they might have. I've recommended it to all my friends, even to the point of purchasing an additional VHS so they can enjoy it at home. A beautiful story, and one that you can find worthy of your attentions and time. Lorna Doone is a refreshing change from the everyday romantic film, and what's more, offers you a breathtaking glance into a bygone era to boot. 5 stars, and a winner every time.

Roseofsharon969 2012-05-12 04:36:46

A Swooning Romantic Masterpiece

I can't stop raving about this movie. When it aired on A&E I was gluedto my television set for three hours. I have rarely found a TV moviethat watchable and fascinating. I instantly loved the story, and notlong after bought a copy of the R.D. Blackmore classic novel. Theactors became the characters, so much so that you forgot they were justacting.Everything about this film is superb. The story of a young man, JohnRidd, from a farming family in the southwest England in the 1600s whowatches as his beloved father is murdered in cold blood by the infamousaristocratic Doone clan, who terrorize the countryside. He grows intomanhood determined to seek revenge, only to fall in love with thelovely Lorna Doone, and to come to blows with the violent andcontrolling Carver Doone who is betrothed to Lorna and will stop atnothing to possess her. The feud between the two families leads toconsequences, as does the political intrigue gripping Britain at thattime. The opposition towards the Catholic James II inheriting thethrone and the illegitimate Duke Of Monmouth's attempts to have thetitle of King for himself whips the country into a frenzy.The costumes, locations, hairstyles, production design, dialogue andmusic are all top-notch, and the performers are all outstanding. It'snot just a beautifully shot love story, but it is also full offast-paced action, humor, intrigue, and drama. Amelia Warner fits thebill as Lorna, her exquisite beauty, fantastic presence, vulnerabilityand strength embodying her character wonderfully. Richard Coyle, ruggedand handsome, is right on in his portrayal of John, a young man tornbetween his loyalty to his family and the memory of his father, and hislove for this young beauty whom he knows is nothing like her viciousfamily. And the gorgeously roguish Aidan Gillen (I have a thing forIrish guys) is magnetic, strangely seductive and hypnotic as theobsessive, power-hungry Carver, who claims Lorna as his, and who wantsall the power, all the while possessing a degree of vulnerability. Whenthe story takes a twist regarding Lorna's true parentage, the filmbecomes even more engrossing as the viewer becomes more and moreinvested. What will happen? Will love conquer all? The smallercharacters, from the Doones to the Ridds and the neighboring folk, tothe nobility, King's army, royalty and the very real historical figureJudge Jeffreys, give the film a scope and adds authenticity to thestory. All the people I have shared this movie with have enjoyed it,and have complimented the music, a lovely mixture of folk and Celticmelodies, and the wonderfully lush, green landscape and the design ofthe houses, cottages, and castles. In short, you feel like you arethere, not that you are watching a movie. It all seems so real, makingit a marvellous experience. It is a masterpiece! Romantics, take note.

Lavrinenkov Igor 2012-05-11 19:15:29

Certainly Lorna Doone is worth seeing

Lorna Doone is a BBC film of the novel by Richard Blackmore. It showsthe beautiful relations between two young lovers in the middle of afeud. It takes place in the 1600s when there was much fighting betweenthe catholics and protestants in England. The Doones were murderers andthieves and attacked and killed John's father. He decides to getrevenge. John meets a girl that he saw in his childhood. She is a Doonehiding from a man named Carver who wants to make her his wife. He wasthe man that killed John's father. Despite the dirty tricks of theDoones and the temporary bewilderment of the divided royal authorities,the two sweethearts live happily together in the end.

2012-05-05 15:04:09

Great Family-Friendly Entertainment

A very nice mounting of the old romance novel by R.D. Blackmore. Production values are very good, especially the fortress erected by the outlaw Doones, the costumes, and the battle scenes. Lovely hill and dale landscapes of Wales--even though the story is set in county Devon--are a major plus. One wonders why the exiled Doones, a Scottish clan, so long to return to their ancient homelands in the north, when it's even more wet, frosty, and desolate up there! You can feel the damp and cold of the misty green moors in your bones. It's good to see the venerable Peter Vaughn once again playing the crusty, slightly crazed patriarch, the type of role he's played to perfection, going all the way back to Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs, more than thirty years ago. And I was very surprised to see Aidan Gillan playing his evil, treacherous, scheming grandson Carver Doone, having seen him more recently in season 3 of HBO's The Wire, as the scheming and treacherous councilman Calcetti, complete with amazingly authentic eastern US accent.Gun experts might find it problematic that the single shot flintlock pistols are fired continuously during battle scenes, as if the guns were revolvers or held magazines! But I quibble.....The two young leads make a very handsome couple. Lorna is played perfectly by the stunningly beautiful Amelia Warner, with her flawless, dewy complexion, magnificent lips, fabulous eyes. You can easily see why she would be an object of obsession! Her warmth and genuine compassion shine through as well, making her a paragon of virtue and beauty. This would make a great evening or two of family entertainment. And you will probably want to read the book as well.

2012-05-05 06:12:04

A Weak Link

I got this DVD as part of the A&E Literary Classics Romance Collection, and it's one of the few weak links in that otherwise superb box set (a must for lovers of period films and literary adaptations). Lorna Doone is a fun little romp through 17th-century England if you're willing to lower your standards for a few hours, but in all honesty it's really just a clumsy, formulaic Romeo and Juliet tale.The main villain is a sneering cardboard cutout. The central romance is unbelievable: Lorna is never fleshed out (and is no great beauty, either, to be frank), so you never see why John falls in love with her--unless it's just simple infatuation because of the "forbidden fruit" factor. You just have to take the whole relationship on faith since it rarely feels real or compelling. On top of that, the clumsy direction makes a total mess of the fight scenes: there's no sense of focus, pacing, momentum, or drama. (There are little historical anachronisms, too, like John's sister wearing the kind of modern eyeglasses with side bows that hadn't been invented in the West at that time--no big problem, obviously, but sloppy and distracting nonetheless.)On the bright side, this version of Lorna Doone (many have been filmed over the years) features a few memorable performances, like the droll Michael Kitchen as Judge Jeffreys. Plus, there aren't a whole lot of period pieces focusing on 17th-century England; most choose the Middle Ages or the 18th or 19th centuries. So, at least the time period is refreshing. 2.5 stars.

2012-05-04 15:47:38

This movie is fantastic!

This movie was just great! I was a little hesitant when I bought it , but I bought in based on amazon's reviews and it was worth it! It has action, intrigue, secrets and romance. It is worth having in any home DVD collection.

agoaliemom 2012-05-03 23:11:08

Excellent movie!

This is a beautiful story, intricately woven, and well worth watching.Ofall the versions I have seen, this is by far the best one. The actorshavea real chemistry, and the authenticity of the movie make it that muchbetter. This is a movie worth watching several times (a year?). A & Ehasdone it again.

2012-05-02 13:37:13

If Romeo and Juliet had brains or maturity, they'd be John and Lorna.

WHOA, yes, I said it! Not that I don't love Romeo and Juliet, but it's nice, now and then, to see a pair of lovers who are NOT dysfunctional teenagers. Maybe it's just because I've recently watched such excellent but frustrating tragedies as Wuthering Heights and Tess of the D'Urbervilles, but this movie was SUCH a breath of fresh air. Both John and Lorna are honest, assertive, and genuinely kind, so there are none of the usual games with characters serially lying to one another until you'd just rather they not get together at all - you ROOT for these two. I know that many people out there will say that Carver is hot/pitiable and if bad boys are your thing, then by all means, enjoy. If, however, you've thought the recent selection of BBC romances somewhat devoid of likable protagonists, I highly recommend Lorna Doone.I do have a whole host of complaints about the actual execution of this film, which is why it gets only four stars instead of five. The pacing is uneven at times, the action is filmed in such a way that can make it hard to follow, and there are not enough close-up reaction shots during the meatier scenes (just my opinion). Furthermore, this DVD version is most unfortunately NOT widescreen, and it's painfully obvious when beautiful moments are interrupted by the realization that half of a character's face is off-screen. Even so, the excellent story and appealing cast make this DVD well worth owning.So the next time Romeo and Juliet, Heathcliff and Cathy, or Angel and Tess get you down, watch Lorna Doone instead, and you'll remember that some fictional characters still demonstrate the best in humanity.

pdwebbsite 2012-05-01 23:44:08

Now read the book...

Not having television means I miss out on many of the gorgeousadaptations that the BBC features. Thank goodness I have a publiclibrary that is well-stocked in DVD classics. Lorna Doone is one suchclassic I have yet to read, but fully intend to do so after watchingthis stunning romantic adventure film. I had not realized the film wasover two hours long, and I remained rooted to my laptop screen theentire time. I did not expect such a magnificent film. What could havebeen a predictable Romeo and Juliet tale had enough twists to make itplausible and more than satisfactory.While the other reviews speak to the plot and applaud the fine acting,I would like to address the authenticity and rapport. There wastrueness to the actors, as if they had become the characters. The Riddfamily truly seemed to care for another, and displayed genuine familydynamics. The only actors I recognized were Martin Clune who did suchan unforgettable portrayal as Mr. Chips, and then there was the soldierwho was Mr. Tumnus from Narnia. The principal actors were unknowns tome. Lorna did carry a regal air about her, even when she was thought tobe a Doone and not a Lady. John Ridd had the earthy, honest nature of afarmer who had the soul of a poet. The mother was excellent in herability to see past opinion and look into her children's hearts. Iproperly loathed the villainous Carver. Slimy and psychopathic, andterribly pathetic, right up to the end.I can't wait to read the book, because it's rare to find that a movieis better than its written counterpart. This might be the exception...

2012-04-27 22:11:47

A pleasant surprise!

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 in this had a small, disagreeble 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 villian is handsome but one dimensional - and what is up with the "soul patch" beardlette and the hair? 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!

claire51-2 2012-04-27 15:52:44

great bbc drama

I thought Lorna Doone was great for the christmas holidays. it wasdifferentthan the 1990 version,. this version added more to it you saw more ofdoonevalley and the evilness of carver doone some of the scenes were the same,but a lot longer. 170 mins put into two parts. Richard Coyle did a greatjohnridd. a lot of fighting in it and romance so if you haven't seen itdo.

2012-04-27 04:37:12

The Best

I think that this movie was sooo goood! I enjoyed it immensely and i could watch it with my little sister, my mom, and my older brother all at once! I loved the story line. I loved every single actor, and everything kept you in suspense! I loved all of the surprises!

2012-04-26 07:58:45

So This is Where the Cookie got its Name

Two hours of viewing, and no sign of any cookies, much less "Lorna Doone" cookies. But there are compensations for this omission. For instance, the law and justice scenes are probably accurate for this time in England, and suggest why the Founders of the United States made sure to write procedural due process into our bill of rights, and later into our 14th Amendment. The key action sequence starts when Lorna's rescuer is sentenced to death, to be commuted if he goes and cleans out the pro-protestant Doone clan, before they can link up with Monmouth in his bid to succeed to the British throne, and displace the Catholics. This incentive is enough, and the Doones are destroyed.This is very interesing, and at times even gripping, even if "English literature" types of costume-intensive British dramas have given this category of film a stilted, boring reputation.