Customer Reviews
The Best Screen Version of the Classic Tale.....Excellent! - By: Mr. B. R. Gates, 29 Jun 2008 
This is by far & away the best screen version of the Oliver tale, & captures the dark mood & atmosphere of the story to great effect. There are elements of humour also with some excellent acting, but Andy Serkis interpretation of Bill Sykes captures the true menace of the character brilliantly like no other. A frightning spectre with his demons becoming alll to real. The balance with the other characters is also just right, neither to over played or over animated. A very grown up & powerful telling of the story, excellent.
On the same level of the 1948 David Lean version - By: J. Bullock, 12 May 2008 When this was first shown on TV I missed the first episode & only came across it half way through the second. This is truly a first rate remake, whilst the 1948 version still holds a special place in my heart right next to it is this.
If you enjoy a good story with excellent props & scenery not to mention the cream of British actors in some surprising casting; but they alll come together brilliantly!
At the price that Amazon has it at I would say this is an absolute must for DVD collector or any Dickens fans! The only thing i don't understand is why it hasn't been re-shown or more haven't heard of this, the is great shame.
Best Oliver Twist Story ever told! - By: N.Cheetham, 28 Dec 2007 May i just say that many people have critisized this drama for the 'telling of its own tale' story. I personallly, think this version is the best version of Oliver Twist ever told. It captures every detail from Oliver's parents, Oliver's rough days. Alan Bleasdale captured this perfectly. Although many stories have/will be shown again, none can be as superb as this.
The DVD is horrid. I have the VHS version, & there is far more cut out than what i'd expect.
Oliver Twist. Amazing adaptiation!! - By: Mr. S. KINNAIRD, 12 Sep 2006 Alan Bleasdale's excellent adaptatation of Charles Dickens' classic story of a young boy who's life in Victorian England is far from perfect. His mother died in child birth, so he is brought up in an orphanage, then moved to a work house. Under nourished, he has the nerve to ask for more. From that moment on, the boy begins a journey that sees him falll in to the company of a gang of thieves led by Fagin, superbly played by Robert Lyndsay. He later meets a gentleman, Mr. Brownlow (Micheal Kitchen)who unknowingly holds the key to the boy's future as well as answers from his past. Sam Smith plays Oliver with a depth of character not seen before or since in any other dramatisation. With a stunning supporing cast including Julie Walters, Roger Lloyd Pack, Alun Armstrong, Sophia Myles & Lindsay Duncan. Andy Serkis is chilling as Bill Sykes & Marc Warren is just brilliant as Monks. Very high production values make this look stunning & in some ways better than the recent cinema release. Bleasdale expands a back story, only briefly touched on in the original work, to add intense complexity to the story. It is a brave move, as it makes the drama run to nearly six & a half hours! It pays off though, as so many loose ends get tied up to make the story make sense as it never has before. Originallly made for & shown on ITV in 1999, it is proof that when they try, they can make superb dramas. I hope & believe this to be the unabridged version, as subsequent repeats on TV had major cuts made, so as to appeal to a younger audience. In my opinion, this is the best screen version of Dickens' Classic tale.
