Customer Reviews

Brief Encounter [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Well, after reading previous reviews, I am glad I don't read them before seeing most movies. I loved this film and thought the chemistry between Burton and Loren was great. I yearned for more intense romantic scenes, but that was part of the effect of the film- to relay to the viewer the frustration of the characters. This movie really moved me. Don't pay attention to the negative reviews. If you like a good romance with substance and message, this is excellent.

The only reason anyone would watch this utterly inferior remark of the Trevor Howard "Brief Encounter" is because they want to ridicule Burton and Loren's wretchedly bad acting. Not only is the script insipid, trite, boring and absurd, the acting by the two major players is an atrocity.

We can expect over-acting and drunken on-camera stupors from Burton, but in this turkey, even the usually reliable Loren falters badly. These two had zero screen chemistry and Burton particularly sleepwalks through every scene.

If you want class, please purchase the excellent original version of 'Brief Encounter' and avoid this bomb.

A bad reviews always seems to be destiny of remake films; everybody compares a film with an old one-without any understanding that new version should be ground in a new startingpoint-new time, new attitude.Sometimes this very limit attitude is very difficult to understand, specially in a case of Alan Bridges "Brief Encounter"-what is very good and beautiful story, and remake film-to TV. Or should I believe that all this missunderstood and critics of this film are only resalt of inability feel any emotions , any sensability to see relatioship of two person under sosicial pressure?
Brief Encounter-starring Sophia Loren and Richard Burton is very beautiful and moving film-without any overacting. It's a full of real life and deep emotion-and expectations of rolemodels of the housewife-and sosial life eihgter. It seems to be very difficult for the American audience understand, that real acting is not acting like those past greats Joan Grawford or Bette Davis usually did; manerism-emotions could be shown more minimalism ways-like Loren and Burton exactly do- and do one of their best roles! Director Bridges has got an interesting athmosphiere between homelife-and railwaystation-where two people try to get something new taste of life-and a world around is so noicy-cruel and routine. I thing that is what is all abouth question in love-and this film shows it very beautiful way; dream of better life-and the ties of ordinary life. Pictures of this VHS-movie are colorfull, sharp and clear. So...

An amazing story of human spirit trapped by social behaviour. A thriller and romance in one. Not only will the story keep you riveted thoroughout, the last line will leave you aghast! Very worthwhile, but take a box of tissues. A true classic!!!

I expected more from Burton and Loren. The script isn't very good and the energy is flat (to me).

You couldn't remake the original and set it in a different time period without making many changes, but this doesn't meet naturally-reduced expectations, even allowing for the less-than-inspiring 70s setting, fashion, architecture, and atmosphere.

I'm not surprised to learn that it was made for tv, and I'm not surprised that in my many years of living in the US and the UK I had never seen it aired on tv until today (on a minor cable film channel).

I first saw the 40s version on the big screen at the NFT in London, and I've never quite grasped the extraordinary hold that film has on British memory/sentiment, although I did enjoy watching it and think it's a good film. In any case, it's much better than this one. They hardly have anything in common except for the title and some plot elements.

My recommendation would be to give this one a pass - there are hundreds of better films to spend your time on unless you are particularly interested in one of the actors, etc.

With all due respect to the last writer, I find that review absolutely incredible. It's more than that - it is ridiculous; unless of course he/she is refering to the original B/W 1940s Brief Encounter starring Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson. That was a classic. Is the reviewer aware that he/she has lavished praise on the 1970s version with Richard Burton and Sophie Loren? Oh yes, it's a nice enough love story - in a daytime soapy sort of way. But it also happens to be the worst remake in the entire history of remakes!