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The first adult novel I read was "Kidnapped," when I received it for my 9th birthday. I had a tough time with many of the words, but no one would help me; they would always say: "Look it up. That's how you learn."
Well, I did learn to love Stevenson's work and similar adventure tales; but, the reason I gave this adapted version of Stevenson's work four stars is the acting. I withhold one star for the deep changes to the original story that have already discussed here by other reviewers.
The entire cast did an excellent job, but the work of Iain Glen, and especially of James Anthony Pearson, is something to write home about.
Pearson's facial expressions alone are worth the price of admission, or, more accurately, the price of the DVD.
Take a look at the brief flash of realization on this young actors face, when he tells the weaver that he thought she was a witch, and then he realizes that it was the wrong thing to say.
Better still, watch Pearson/Davie's face in the background as Alan Breck and James-of-the-Glen have a heated discussion, which ends when James's daughter asks Pearson/Davie if he likes smelling like a goat.
This young Pearson, has that special acting talent which allows him to manipulate his face so that it speaks volumes, without a word being said. One is reminded of the remarkable eyebrows of Jack Nicholson and Christian Slater, among other great actors.
