Customer Reviews

Lorna Doone [VHS]

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Fortunately I was able to catch this originally when it ran on A&E and was so captivated I pre-ordered both the video and DVD. The video version differs only slightly from the DVD; the color is not as good. That's it. Overall it's a very good purchase at a reasonable price for such an excellent film.

Fans of A&E's lush romances like Pride & Prejudice, Victoria & Albert, and Emma will enjoy Lorna Doone. It's a blend of romance, adventure, mystery, and something of the sinister, with a Romeo & Julietish twist. The acting is stellar, particularly in the casting of Aidan Gillen as Carver Doone. He completely overpowers the screne whenever present and makes a loathable and yet empathetic villain. Richard Coyle is doubly good as the heroic John Ridd, and Amelia Warner proves she can play leads effortly as the spirited but puzzling Lorna.

It's a film my entire family enjoyed... there was enough romance for the girls, some action scenes for the guys, and enough lush English countryside and magnificent costuming for one and all. Rent it, buy it, borrow it -- see it.

This superb BBC/A & E production filmed in the English and Welsh countryside, is a haunting adventure and touching love story. The story line is quite a complex one and although it turns out happily, it keeps you on the edge of your seat right up to the very end. In fact you might want to keep a box of kleenexes handy! John Ridd's father was killed by the outlaw Doones when John was a boy, and his life complicates further when he falls in love with the Lorna, a member of this this evil family. The journey to find some way to be together is a theme throughout the movie. I did have to watch the movie for a second time before I completely grasped the many background details that motivated the characters. The romantic chemistry between handsome Richard Coyle and classic beauty Amelia Warner took my breath away. It's the best love story I've seen in a while and it contains so many beautiful scenes that I will want to watch over and over again. The movie has many contrasts such as the beautiful English/Welsh countryside - the dark and forboding scenes with the Doones, the ruthless and evilness of Carver - the extreme goodness of John Ridd. During the darker scenes there is a fair amount of killing and violence and so in my opinion the movie is most appropriate for mature pre-teens to adults. It is just over 2 hours and 20 minutes in length and so I was somewhat disappointed to find that the DVD contains only 14 chapters. The soundtrack is beautiful as well, but I believe that at this time it is not available to purchase. In closing, I would just like to say that I think this is a gripping story and I would highly recommend this movie. It really has something for everyone.

Lorna Doone is based on the 17th century English novel by R.D. Blackmore. It tells the story of the feud between the once-noble, banished Doone family and the honest, peace-loving Ridds. John Ridd's father was murdered by the Doones when he was young but John's hatred of the Doones is tempered when he falls in love with the beautiful Doone "princess," Lorna. Lorna and John's love blossoms but Carver Doone - the future head of the family - vows to do everything in his power to make Lorna his wife. Trouble and fighting ensues and secrets about Lorna's birth surface which threaten to divide her from John forever.

This production is brought to us by the A&E/BBC team - the same creative minds behind the 1995 "Pride and Prejudice." Young newcomer Amelia Warner is luminous and enchanting as Lorna while the handsome leading men - Aidan Gillen ("Circle of Friends") and Richard Coyle ("Wives and Daughters") - turn in powerful performances as the blackhearted, obssessive Carver Doone and honest, kind John Ridd. Barbara Flynn ("Wives & Daughters," "Cracker") as Mrs. Ridd, Michael Kitchen ("The Buccaneers") as Judge Jefferys, Martin Clunes ("Shakespeare in Love") as Jeremy Stickles and Peter Vaughan ("Our Mutual Friend") as Sir Ensor Doone are excellent in their supporting roles. The film has a strong resemblance to the sweeping romance and powerful action scenes of "Braveheart" (without the gore). The story moves quickly and keeps the viewer engaged and interested. The costumes, acting, production values and music are all excellent. I was glued to my seat for the entire 2 hours and highly recommend this video to anyone who enjoys first-rate British drama.

This epic production from BBC and A & E is simply outstanding, an underated gem that truly has something for everyone. Set in the beautiful English countryside, the movie opens with John Ridd (played by Richard Coyle) swearing vengeance on the ruthless Doone clan after his father is ruthlessly murdered by one of them. The Doone clan lives in a fortress in a swampland and terrorizes the local population, but beautiful Lorna Doone (played by Amelia Warner) wants nothing to do with her evil relatives. She meets John Ridd and it's love at first sight for both of them. Although they see the danger and risks involved with seeing one another, John will not give up seeing Lorna.

Their relationship is put at further risk by sinister Carver Doone (played by Aiden Gillen), who wants Lorna for his own...at all costs. He cares nothing for the fact that she doesn't love him, and he'll stop at nothing to make her his bride. When the aging patriarch of the Doone family, Sir Encor Doone (played by Peter Vaughn), dies, Carver becomes the new head of the family, and makes plans to marry Lorna. John rescues her, however, and takes her to his family's home, where friends of John are heavily armed and prepared to defend the two "lovebirds" from the Doone clan.

After a costly assault on John Ridd's home fails miserably, Carver stops his ruthless pursuit of Lorna, but only temporarily. Meanwhile, it is discovered that Lorna is no Doone at all but actually a royal heir to a vast fortune awaiting her in London. She is forced to go to London and her romance with John is furthur put to the test. The feud between John Ridd and Carver Doone finally reaches the boiling point and a huge battle between the militia (fighting alongside John) and Doone men results in the almost complete destruction of the Doone clan. Will John be able to marry Lorna despite their class differences? Watch and find out!

This outstanding film has great performances, especially from Richard Coyle and the lovely Amelia Warner, and the scenery of the English countryside is breathtaking. This excellent film has plenty of action, romance, humor, drama, and suspense. Modern films that are this entertaining are few and far between, so I suggest you add this gem to your collection!

I can't stop raving about this movie. When it aired on A&E I was glued to my television set for three hours. I have rarely found a TV movie that watchable and fascinating. I instantly loved the story, and not long after bought a copy of the R.D. Blackmore classic novel. The actors became the characters, so much so that you forgot they were just acting.

Everything about this film is superb. The story of a young man, John Ridd, from a farming family in the southwest England in the 1600s who watches as his beloved father is murdered in cold blood by the infamous aristocratic Doone clan, who terrorize the countryside. He grows into manhood determined to seek revenge, only to fall in love with the lovely Lorna Doone, and to come to blows with the violent and controlling Carver Doone who is betrothed to Lorna and will stop at nothing to possess her. The feud between the two families leads to consequences, as does the political intrigue gripping Britain at that time. The opposition towards the Catholic James II inheriting the throne and the illegitimate Duke Of Monmouth's attempts to have the title of King for himself whips the country into a frenzy.

The costumes, locations, hairstyles, production design, dialogue and music are all top-notch, and the performers are all outstanding. It's not just a beautifully shot love story, but it is also full of fast-paced action, humor, intrigue, and drama. Amelia Warner fits the bill as Lorna, her exquisite beauty, fantastic presence, vulnerability and strength embodying her character wonderfully. Richard Coyle, rugged and handsome, is right on in his portrayal of John, a young man torn between his loyalty to his family and the memory of his father, and his love for this young beauty whom he knows is nothing like her vicious family. And the gorgeously roguish Aidan Gillen (I have a thing for Irish guys) is magnetic, strangely seductive and hypnotic as the obsessive, power-hungry Carver, who claims Lorna as his, and who wants all the power, all the while possessing a degree of vulnerability. When the story takes a twist regarding Lorna's true parentage, the film becomes even more engrossing as the viewer becomes more and more invested. What will happen? Will love conquer all? The smaller characters, from the Doones to the Ridds and the neighboring folk, to the nobility, King's army, royalty and the very real historical figure Judge Jeffreys, give the film a scope and adds authenticity to the story. All the people I have shared this movie with have enjoyed it, and have complimented the music, a lovely mixture of folk and Celtic melodies, and the wonderfully lush, green landscape and the design of the houses, cottages, and castles. In short, you feel like you are there, not that you are watching a movie. It all seems so real, making it a marvellous experience. It is a masterpiece!!! Romantics, take note!!!!!

I have not seen the various earlier movie versions of Lorna Doone (including the previous BBC 1990 one) but have read the novel several times (one of my favourites). This dazzling BBC production is well worth viewing. In a little under three hours the producers have managed to encompass a great deal of the novel's plot into the screen play. If, instead they had made the novel into a television multi-series it might have become tedious. In this movie, however, there is never a dull moment, it the best kind of intelligent action film.

The original novel was written by Richard D. Blackmore (1825-1900). His classic novel Lorna Doone was published in 1869 and it was an instant success. Few of his other novels are memorable and the only other one that was successful during his life was Springhaven (published in 1887) a tale based on the Napoleonic Wars. Nowadays, Lorna Doone is the only novel he is remembered by and is still read. Like many mid-Victorian novels the plot in the book (which is nearly 600 pages long even in the modern small print editions) is involved and takes more time to unravel than in the BBC version.

The problems of time and space in the context of a movie have been overcome, however, by deft handling. For example, the vague hints of the title heroine's true origins come fairly early in the novel when the hero is still a school boy but in the movie a scene is added later when the secret is unveiled. As with usual BBC classic productions the cast is well chosen. The veteran lantern-jawed actor Peter Vaughan is the clan leader Sir Ensor Doone and both actors cast respectively for hero John Ridd (Richard Coyle) and anti-hero or villain Carver Doone (Aiden Gillen) could not have been better chosen. It is strange, though, how Carver never seems to grow older during the passing of years in the plot. Lorna is admirably played by Ameila Warner and the King's Messenger, Jeremy Stickles, by Martin Clunes. The only historical as opposed to fictitious character is the harsh macabre humour Judge Jefferys played to a tee by Michael Kitchen.

The photography and period costumes are excellent and the West country accents near perfect but intelligible. The novel's setting is Exmoor in Devon but much of the movie was shot in Wales. The studio set shots of London city in the late seventeenth century seem a bit too pristine for the period. The plot may hard to follow for those who have not read the book or lack knowledge of the history of the failed West Country Monmouth protestant rebellion during the reign of catholic leaning James II. The role of the ex-highwayman Tom Faggus is not well spelled out in the movie.
I would recommend that those who are new to Lorna Doone watch the movie first , read the novel and then watch the movie again.

A&E and BBC have produced a beautiful adaptation of the R. D. Blackmore classic novel. I was surprised and enthralled with the protagonists here, namely the talented Richard Coyle, but more on that later. Lorna Doone tells the story of John Ridd, an honest farmer who wants revenge against the Doone family for killing his father when he was a child. Then he reunites with beautiful Lorna, whom he met briefly when they were children. Now she's a beautiful young woman and falls in love with her. But then he discovers that she is a Doone. Will love override his desire for revenge? In the course of the story, we discover various secrets and mysteries, and John Ridd will not give up until he has sought revenge against Calver Doone, his father's killer and the man Lorna has been forced to be betrothed with.

This film has it all -- romance, intrigue, adventure, villains and tragedy. I read the novel quite some years ago, but I remember some of it and the film remained faithful to the book for the most part. I was entertained from beginning to end. I also like the backdrop of the Restoration era and the beautiful scenery of England and Wales. The acting is also great. The beautiful Amelia Warner is wonderful as Lorna Doone. I enjoyed the dark and handsome Aidan Gillen as the villainous Carver Doone. Carver is hateful and brutal -- the perfect villain. But the most surprising one of all here is Richard Coyle in his role of John Ridd. I know Coyle for his memorable role as the goofy and sex-obsessed Jeff in BBC's Coupling, one of my all-time favorite sitcoms. This role is such a shift from his comedic role of Jeff. In here, he is the proverbial hero -- handsome, honorable, conflicted and romantic. I am impressed with this actor and I look forward to seeing him in more productions in the future. Anyway, going back to the story, I loved the twist at the end and I was almost in tears. The acting during those scenes surprised me much. I recommend this A&E/BBC film. North and South remains my all-time favorite period drama, but this one will also be kept on the shelves to be watched again and again. There are faults of course. One of the actresses who plays John's sister had salon-perfect blond highlights in a film set in seventeenth century. Why some actors don't sacrifice their personal appearance for the sake of time period accuracy is beyond me. Also, the acting during the first stage of the film (when John and Lorna were children) is kind of poor. Things improve once the main characters come in. I also wish this were available in widescreen format. The full screen format isn't very good in a modern 16.9 LCD TV screen and the film's DVD transfer isn't so good either. Other than that, this is a definite must see!

This story has political intrigue, action, romance and several plot twists. Filmed on location in both England and Wales, this 150 minute collaboration between the BBC and A&E has resulted in an excellent adaptation of the novel by Richard Doddridge Blackmore. Blackmore's novel was first published in 1869 and, except for one brief period about a year later, has never been out of print.

The story begins and ends in Exmoor, Devon, England at the end of the seventeenth century. While it appears there was a wealthy Doone family, from Scotland, that lost their land and settled on the moors of Devon the novel is not so much a story based on history as loosely inspired by it. It starts with the murder of a respectable farmer by the outlaw Doone family. The story then follows his son as he grows, inherits the farm and cares for his mother and sisters. When he accidentally meets and falls in love with Lorna his life is forever changed. Most of the action takes place during the political turmoil after the death of King Charles II, during what is called the Monmouth Rebellion.

Recommendation: Fans of period movies should enjoy this one. I recommend it.

Kyle Pratt

Set in the beautiful valleys of England, this A&E original movie is both gripping, elegant and poetic in its screenplay. It follows the story of Lorna, part of the family of feared and much-hated Doones, and John Ridd, an honest farmer, as they fall in love and struggle to overcome in the shadow of the hate that exists between their families. Based off the book by Richard Blackmore, the movie contains excellent action sequences, non-stop adventure and unexpected twists in plot that will leave you aghast and enthralled. And if that does not interest you, Lorna Doone is a must-see for its historical observation of English life and times during the period of the Monmouth rebellion, and it's enduring theme that, ultimately, love conquers social status, prejudice, and even family secrets long concealed.

Set against the lavish and lonely expanse of the moors, this epic of "star-crossed lovers, unbridled greed, dark secrets, and ruthless ambitions" is a stirring and intensely romantic story for both classes... those who enjoy the action and intensity of war and revenge, and the lovers of period drama with wholesome messages and uplifting truths. It's more than a romance; it's a clash of good and evil, a fight for a country, and a passionate story of courage and redemption that has gained it thousands of fans worldwide. The cast is excellent... Amelia Warner lives and breathes the essence of Lorna, her innocence, her compassion, her youth; Richard Coyle is a lovable and heroic man well worthy of her affections; and Adian Gillen strikes a chill down your backbone with one glance from those tantalizing pale blue eyes.

I went into it with low expectations, and it exceeded my highest regards and has well-earned the spot of honor on my shelf of movie classics. Compelling, romantic, haunting and with a shocking climax that will shatter your hopes and then restore them again in a breathtaking final sequence, it is a well-acted, well-produced, well-choreographed, well-directed, and well-scored masterpiece. In my opinion, the best A&E has to offer. My only complaint is the complete nonexistence of an accompanying soundtrack... I'd pay out fifteen bucks easily to own such a magnificent score, and more!

The DVD is a letdown other than that the color is vibrant and one can see more of what's going on around the main characters. The sound is excellent and the opening menu charming, but there's an absence of trailers, featurettes, even cast listings that would have made it an even better release. An excellent movie, sorely under-appreciated by A&E and the BBC who choose not to push it as well as they might have. I've recommended it to all my friends, even to the point of purchasing an additional VHS so they can enjoy it at home.

A beautiful story, and one that you can find worthy of your attentions and time. Lorna Doone is a refreshing change from the everyday romantic film, and what's more, offers you a breathtaking glance into a bygone era to boot. 5 stars, and a winner every time.