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Parade's End

(40 Posts)
annodomini Wed 29-Aug-12 15:56:40

Alan Rickman as Mr Slope - the best thing in the Barchester Chronicles. When I read the books in which he appears, I couldn't get AR out of my head.
I will suspend judgement on Parade's End for the moment - I did find it confusing.

Mamie Wed 29-Aug-12 15:05:08

You can get Barchester on DVD, we bought it a couple of years ago.

Ella46 Wed 29-Aug-12 15:04:43

Yes ,that was my first experience of the divine AR!

Anagram Wed 29-Aug-12 15:02:24

Agree about Alan Rickman. I've been a fan since Truly, Madly, Deeply.

Ella46 Wed 29-Aug-12 14:59:25

I watched Sense and Sensibility on Monday, with Alan Rickman and it was obvious to me that Emma Thompson should have married AR and not Hugh Grant! grin
Well, I would have blush

I don't care for Ben Cumberbach either.

GrandmaH Wed 29-Aug-12 14:40:47

Now you're talking! best thing AR has ever done but poor chap always plays villains- Professor Snape, Sherrif of Nottingham & love rat in Love Actually. I'm sure he is nice really. Must see if I can get Barchester Chronicles on DVD- Geraldine McEwan was an excellent Mrs Prowdie too!

Good to see the gorgeous Rufus Sewell playing an unusual part.

I'm looking forward to part 2.

susiecb Wed 29-Aug-12 14:03:02

I loved it! BD was wonderful but so was Rebecca Hall. Rufus Sewell showed he is not just beautiful but a good actor. He reminded me of when I first saw Alan Rickman as Mr Slope in the Barchester Chronicles - briliant!

Anagram Wed 29-Aug-12 12:25:33

I thought the sound quality was awful too, and it was commented on in the critical reviews I read. I stuck it out to the end but did find it tedious, and why would a girl in 1912 be sporting a 20's-style bob? I'm afraid I find BC deeply unattractive, but realise I'm in the minority!

HildaW Wed 29-Aug-12 11:50:41

Its visually stunning, and takes quite a bit of 'active' viewing which makes a change. I am still a little undecided but will give it another go on friday before I decide. Yes I believe the books are hard to master so perhaps its not surprising we have to concentrate a bit more. Rufus Sewel as the insane vicar was brilliant!

Mishap Wed 29-Aug-12 08:51:29

I too watched it for the Tom Stoppard element - but I have to admit I also found it very tedious. And as for that ridiculous scene on the golf course - like badly made children's TV or Benny Hill.

I will give it one more go!

Mamie Wed 29-Aug-12 08:24:54

One of the reasons I watched it was because of the screenplay by Tom Stoppard - I gather the timeshifts (is it one word or two?) are much more complicated in the books. OH had once tried to read the Ford Maddox Ford original books and failed, so he gave up on it after ten minutes.
We bought the boxed set of "A Dance to the Music of Time" last year and it felt a bit like that in parts, so condensed that you lost the thread. I gather one of those books took severn minutes of television time....

moomin Wed 29-Aug-12 08:17:28

Oops! Sat through it and decided I'm even deafer than I thought (lots of mumbling angry) and I was quite confused as to who everyone was from time to time. I love BenC in Sherlock, but not impressed so far with this. I'll give it another go though.

I've not read the books but understand that a lot of the writing is "thoughts" rather than dialogue, so perhaps it is a problem converting that to the screen.

Ella46 Wed 29-Aug-12 08:13:54

I found it tedious, so I watched it again after reading about it and discussing it with friends, and I enjoyed it much more!
It was beautiful to watch, but the sound wasn't good and I was very disappointed with the gorgeous Rufus Sewell, usually quite sexy.

Notsogrand Wed 29-Aug-12 07:44:59

I enjoyed it too Mamie. The settings and costumes were lovely and BD is such a great actor. There were a couple of spots where the sound quality of the dialogue seemed to dip, making it difficult to hear, but like you, I will keep on watching.

(Also looking forward to BD returning in the new episodes of Sherlock)

Mamie Wed 29-Aug-12 07:24:44

Did anyone else watch this? I really like Benedict Cumberbatch and thought it was beautifully made. I found the time shifts irritating, but there was something about it that made me keep watching. The critical acclaim is high, so I wondered what other people thought?