Customer Reviews
Compelling and Tragic - By: jordan, 16 Jun 2008 
I'm so happy that Sparkhouse is only loosely based on Wuthering Heights--I've never liked the book & consequently have intensely disliked every close TV adaptation. I bought this DVD on Amazon UK & am glad that I did. Yes at times the story is weighed down by tragedy but Carole the heroine of Sparkhouse is a survivor & a fighter & I ultimately found the story to be more inspirational than depressing. Sarah Smart is brilliant & I'm amazed I haven't heard of other work that she has done (but I'm American so maybe that isn't surprising). There is absolutely nothing lacking in her performance--she is vulnerable & strong & sad & beautiful alll at the same time. Richard Armitage is also excellent--heartbreakingly shy yet strong--and I thought his performance was comparable to his work in North & South. I didn't think Joe McFadden's acting was of quite the same caliber as Smart's & Armitage's (a bit over-the-top in my opinion) but he was still very good.
One side note--the accents of some of the characters (particularly Carole & her family) are quite strong & I needed the subtitles to help me understand what was being said.
I highly recommend Sparkhouse. I only wish American TV productions were half as good!
Literally Breathtaking - By: Richard Mitan-Abel, 30 Apr 2008 I came across this BBC drama entirely by accident having caught a few minutes of it on late night TV. When my DVD arrived, my wife & I sat down to watch the first episode & ended up watching the whole three hours in one go. This has to be one of the most outstanding dramas I have ever seen. Sarah Smart's performance is simply remarkable & she is supported by an excellent cast where no one puts a foot wrong. I have just watched the entire film once again & I was surprised at how totallly gripping it was even the second time round. Don't read the reviews, just buy this film - you certainly will not be disappointed. A more moving, harrowing, thought-provoking 3 hours you will be hard pressed to find anywhere. Magnificent!
Wild, passionate, gripping dramatisation!!! - By: A. Lalor, 13 Apr 2008 After much deliberation I finallly bit the bullet & decided to buy this dvd. I confess I was a bit wary as alot of reviewers have described this movie as being incredibly depressing, & combined with it's links to Wuthering Heights I couldn't help but hold reservations. However I must admit that it's been a while since I've watched a drama with such emotional intensity & general intrigue. Now I can't believe I didn't watch it sooner.
The storyline is absolutely brilliant. From the very first second the movie arrests your attention drawing you into the vicious circle of lies, betrayal & deadly passions that the characters find themselves in. It never slackens in pace & unlike so many dramas, which usuallly include some 'boring part' where you're tempted to go make a cup of tea or glance at your watch this was certainly not the case with this drama. The three hours zoom by keeping you guessing to the very end & are sadly gone before you know it.
The acting is flawless not one character was miscast, & in a drama like this it would have been incredibly easy to pick out any weak links because the characters are complex dealing with very serious issues such as abusive relationships. Together with an appropriately isolated location & a heart-pounding musical score this story is everything you expect from good drama & more.
This movie will undoubtedly be compared to 'Wuthering Heights'. Personallly I never liked 'Wuthering Heights'. Not only did I find the story desperately pessimistic but also unbelievably hard to read. This film thankfully keeps it's links to Emily Bronte's renowned novel very subtle. In fact the majority of the time the story is completely different. The only major likeness is the depressing landscape on the moors, whose violent weather reflects the violence of the relationships of the habitants of the Moors.
Overalll I'd recommend Sparkhouse to anyone who loves a good, original drama. Don't let the Wuthering Heights association put you off. The story may be depressing at places but there are some moments of joy & offbeat humour, & while the ending is tragic in it's own right it does offer some hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Absorbing - By: Pevers, 23 Mar 2008 
This series is so well done. Yes, the story is depressing - as is the Yorkshire weather! - but it is thoroughly absorbing. The three hours just flies by. Stunning acting. The tension is almost touchable.
One of the most depressing movies I have ever scene! - By: J. A. Beattie, 10 Dec 2007 
I can't believe what high reviews this has gotten! I, too, decided to see this after seeing Richard Armitage in North & South (which is a great movie by the way!). I was amazed at how much I didn't like him in this movie, because I was obsessed after North & South.
There have to be only about a few minutes of happy times throughout the whole thing! And unlike other depressing movies, there is no optimism to lighten it up. Perhaps the discrepancy between my opinion & the others' derives from my being American not British. ;)
