Customer Reviews
Beautiful and BitterSweet - By: Laura Knight-Jadczyk, 08 May 2008 
A wonderful adaptation of the original novel. The sets are authentic & the characters are well-done. There were some differences between the this film version & the book, of course; it would be almost impossible to have a perfect match to a novel that is so subtle & heart wrenching; but this version comes very close.
Highly recommended.
Outstanding achievment - By: Gone Native, 27 Mar 2008 A wonderful film, unbelievably well acted & directed.Beautiful shots of the " Wessex" countryside alongside the grim reality of rural squalour, & the unrelentless drudgery of agricultural labour. The smells & the sounds are alll there; one is transported & locked into a world as seen by Hardy.Incredibly well done - the highest praise for alll the production team.
See the film, enjoy it but be prepared to be emotionallly moved. How fickle fate is; what monstrous consequences did the Vicar set rolling with that seemingly innocuous greeting " Sir Jack "
Tears are permitted, & ideed louder than well deserved applause.
A must! - By: J. Neely, 18 Aug 2007 Sometimes when you watch films based on classic books you are too busy comparing between the book to fully appreciate the film version. Well this scores full marks on both accounts. It both succeeds in creating an accurate version of the book, & works well as a film in its own right. Whether you have read the book or not. Whether you are a fan of period dramas or not. This is a film you should watch.
It is both beautifully acted & is visuallly impressive. The photography is detailed & intelligent. The acting is top draw, the characters being portrayed with authenticity which easily involves you in the pathos of the story. As is ever with Hardy, you won't be expecting a typical "happy ending", what you will get however is much, much, more. You will get something that is genuine. Something that you truly moves you, gaining an experience that will stay with you for a long time. Trust me, buy it or rent it today.
Fantastic - but very sad - By: Isis X, 22 Apr 2007 This film suprised me by how good it is. I will be buying this DVD. I haven't finished the book yet, as I find it very hard going & rented the DVD to help me finish the book. As a film in its own right, this adaptation takes you on a journey of highs & lows with the characters, you can not help but feel for Tess. If you like a happy ending like you find in the Jane Austen books, this is not for you. But it is compulsive viewing, beautifully filmed, the characters are realistic & succeeds in showing exactly what Hardy was saying, how hard life was for normal people. Make sure you have a box of tissues handy.
