Nicholas Nickleby [Special Edition] (Full Screen)

Nicholas Nickleby is a beautiful film. The acting is wonderfully done. Especially by Charlie Hunnam (?), Christopher Plummer, and Jamie Bell. Alan Cumming and Nathan Lane are delightful. I loved every minute they were on the screen. The young lady who plays Nicholas' sister is lovely to look at, gentle of spirit, and her face radiates innocence. Anne Hathaway (sp?) does a fine job portraying the sweet Madeline.

The story (which has already been summarized quite well) is very touching. If I'm moved to outward response, it has to be good. I found myself cheering on a couple occasions. Especially the scene in Dotheboys when Nicholas comes to Smike's aid.

The country scenery is lovely and beautifully filmed. I would've loved to have seen more of it.

You will find yourself embracing those who are good and waiting anxiously for the demise of those who are evil. Nicholas Nickleby will move you, inspire you and warm your heart.

This is the story of a young man with great integrity who, after his father's death, has to struggle to keep his family together despite his corrupt uncle's intentions to keep him, his mother and sister apart. First he's got to take employment at a boys' school where the cruel headmaster and his wife abuse the boys constantly, but are particularly cruel to a cripple named Smike. Nicholas befriends Smike and learns to make him an extended part of his family, joins a theater group full of delightfully colorful and humorous people, and he falls in love with a girl who comes from a bad family situation.

One can easily see the moral of the story Dickens had penned portrayed here: Nicholas Nickleby is an admirable and noble character who, despite all the dark and evil people he and his family are surrounded by, perseveres with his integrity fully intact, and accepts people from low society with hearts into his life rather than dwell on the snobbishness he could have leaned toward given his priviledged upbringing before his father died.

Charlie Hunnam delivers a very powerful performance as Nicholas, and you find yourself rooting for him from the very beginning. Jamie Bell, as poor sweet Smike will likely evoke sympathy, hope, and tears, as I ended up crying myself. Christopher Plummer, Jim Broadbent, and Juliet Stevens are all effectively evil, and Anne Hathaway really surprised me since I didn't think she could carry a role like that of Madeline Bray. I absolutely loved Nathan Lane as the theater owner Vincent Crummles, but Alan Cumming as Mr. Folair made me laugh.

This adaptation is not only dark and alternately funny in all the right places, but the photography is clever and beautifully shot, the musical score accommodatingly atmospheric. The stage sets really depict the cruelty of the not so romantic after all Victorian Londontown, and equally capture the beauty and serenity of the English countryside.

This movie is absolutely wonderful in every aspect; gorgeous to look at, excellent acting and direction, wonderful screenplay, and emotionally involving. The DVD extras are really informative and entertaining as well. Don't pass this one by; add it to your collection today.