Review Of The 2012 BBC TV Mini Series Of Great Expectations

I decided that I would watch the BBC Mini Series of Great Expectations, I did this so I could see its portrayals of Miss Havisham as well as become more familiar with the rest of the story. I did not want to be influenced by the previous looks that had been done of Miss Havisham but it was interesting to see and analyse these looks as well and see what I would do differently or improve upon.

Overall I liked this BBC Mini series. I thought that the choice of actors for the characters was good and think that generally they played their roles well. I thought Gillian Anderson, who played Miss Havisham, acted as I would have imagined Miss Havisham to; she played the weak, tormented and sad role well.  However I believe that the voice she put on for the role was too high pitched and almost child like, which to me did not fit to what I had imagined. I also thought that Vanessa Kirby, who played Estella, was too innocent and I don't think she quite captured the nasty side of her character. I do however think that Ray Winstone, who was the convict Magwitch, played the role how I had envisaged, I think that he captured the rough, dangerous and thankful persona well. I think that it was a shame that they did not include the character Biddy in the TV Series. She played an interesting role in the book as she evoked the humble side of Pip, who throughout the book always wanted to better himself.

I think that Gillian Anderson resembled the Miss Havisham I had imagined through the make up, hair and costume. I think that the design of the make up in the very early scenes in her and Pip's first encounter, was good as it was minimalistic so therefore represented the make up trends in the Victorian era, but highlighted the mistreatment and the effect of her torment, for example through the use of the dry lips and the pale, almost grey skin. I think the hair design was also clever as it showed off well the fact that she had started to prepare for her wedding day but stopped after she was jilted. I liked the wedding dress as it was distressed and hung loosely from her body as described in the book.

Overall I like the TV mini series and thought that it portrayed well the story and characters that I had imagined. Watching this has inspired me and made me aware of styles and looks that I like as well as the ones that I do not want to create with my Miss Havisham look.

Gillian Anderson As Miss Havisham
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/8907506/Gillian-Anderson-Helena-Bonham-Carter-and-Miss-Havisham-on-film.html

Gillian Anderson As Miss Havisham
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/8907506/Gillian-Anderson-Helena-Bonham-Carter-and-Miss-Havisham-on-film.html?image=1