Customer Reviews
Pedestrian adaptation of a classic tale - By: R.J.W89, 27 Nov 2007 
'David Copperfield', is, by alll respects, a brilliant story. It is partly autobiographical, but this gives the story an extra layer. The story of a man's development from boyhood to man is nothing new, & Dickens' novel sets his tale apart because of his emphatic understanding of human nature. This adaptation however, is fairly pedestrian in its handling of human emotions. Trevor Eve is perhaps, a little OTT & there is very little depth to his character, whilst I could say the same to Emilia Fox & Zoe Wannamaker.
The real triumph of this adaption is, I feel, Maggie Smith's performance which is in a league of its own. Betsy Trotwood is a very likeable character anyway, but Smith is superb.
The film is worth a look though, for any period drama fan, however to get the real benefits from this story, I'd recommend the book.
Romantic, Funny, Sad, Heartwarming - By: Mr. Nicky G. Woodward, 01 Jun 2007 
I have just finished watching David Copperfield today & was suprised how long it went on for! It's approx. 180 minutes long, but that's definitely not a bad thing.
I've never read the book, so I don't know how closely it resembles it, but even if there were bits missed out, I felt that there was enough said to understand the crux of the story & I reallly enjoyed it.
Daniel Radcliffe plays the young David Copperfield reallly well & Ciarán McMenamin also plays the older David well too. I especiallly liked the choice of actors including, Maggie Smith, Pauline Quirke, Bob Hoskins & Zoe Wanamaker.
I would definitely recommend this adaption to everyone because it's not too sickly sweet, but not to violent either. But do have some tissues handy as some scenes are quite sad.
One NOT to be MISSED! - By: Mr. R. Champion, 09 Sep 2005 David Copperfield has to be the BBC at it's very best! A great cast with superb acting I love it! I personallly find Dickens boring to read & so have to watch the dramatisations when they are made. This is a masterpiece! Whilst watching it I go through a variety of emotions & feel exhausted at the end. Having said that I defy anyone who watches David Copperfield not to be touched by this wonderful, moving & touching story!
Simply glorious - By: , 15 Mar 2004 David Copperfield is simply glorious. Though not massively faithful to the book (a fact that may make die hard Dickens fans baulk) it presents its cut down version amazingly.
The BBC builds here on its impressive record of period dramas (including the impassible Pride & Predjudice in 1995), & whilstm being Dickens much of this production is set in dingy victorian London, it doesn't lose any of its beauty. The costumes are wonderful, the rich costumes suiting even the younger members of the cast. The two Davids are wonderful, Daniel Radcliffe shows, at the age of 9 the ability to draw in the viewer that would be exibited two years later as Harry Potter. His eyes alone, on the close ups are enough to make any viewer weep at the various injustices that befalll our hero. Ciarán McMenamin is good as the adult David, though I admit a certain inability to see how the young David developed into him.
Of the rest of the cast, its virtuallly impossible to pick a best. Trevor Eve & Zoe Wannamaker show equal meaness in their roles as David's evil mental torturers & with a cast that also includes such greats as Ian McKellen, Bob Hoskins, Dawn French, Pauline Quirk & Emelia Fox it would be an injustice to single anyone out. That is, were it not for the spectacular performance of Maggie Smith, who pulls out alll of the stops in her wonderful, heartwarming performance as David's aunt. The idea of anyone else now playing this role, seems foreign to me.
All in alll this is a great adaptation of a great novel. Filmed in alll its beauty by Simon Curtis & his wonderful crew. Let this version stand as a benchmark for a long long time.
Doesn't do the book justice! - By: Kamal, 14 Mar 2004 
I read the book before I watched the movie & loved the book to bits. I liked the characters & how Dickens had developed them but it didn't come out in the movie. The beginning of the movie started well. Young David, older David, David's mum, peggotty, mr & miss murdstone, ham peggotty & Mr peggotty were cast perfectly. The young & the older Emily were completely wrong though. Young Emily is meant to be more shy & playful but in the movie, she wasn't at alll! From then, it just got worse. Nicholas Lyndhurst was totallly wrong for Uriah Heep & Agnes was terrible! Agnes is meant to be a very friendly, loving & guiding character in the book & thats why we grow to love her, but in the movie, she's always depressed & jealous of Dora. It's completely wrong! One of the most amazing characters was completely missed out! Thomas Traddles! Also, in the book, I thought it was great how David, Martha & Mr Peggotty found Emily after Rosa Dartle had but there was no Martha this time & it was not as good as it should have been. If you want my opinion, read the book first & then watch the movie otherwise your impressions will be spoilt. Try another version of David Copperfield!
