Watch Lorna Doone For Free

That was an excellent one.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

A really awful butchery of R.D. Blackmore' minor classic. It departs from the novel early on and by the middle of the movie I doubt that Blackmore, were he living, could identify his work by any means other than the title. The novel is highly recommended, this lame video trashing of it not so much...

This is a wonderful story, with great history, action, adventure, and romance. It's so inspiring to see true love triumph between aristocratic, cast-off Lorna, and rugged, family-oriented John Ridd. The whole Ridd family is so warm and caring you can really see why Lorna is so happy to be with them, and away from the almost animal-like Doones, who were once aristocrats but are now sub-human savages.The only problem is, Lorna Doone herself is actually a fairly minor character in her own story. Nothing against the fetching and gifted Amelia Warner, but as a heroine Lorna tends to let others do most of her thinking for her. It's really John who encourages her to break away from the Doones, and stay snug and secure with his warm, loving family. Then when the truth of her aristocratic background sends her to London, Lorna doesn't do much to protest other than look a bit pained and sad.Frankly, the story seems to leave out all of Lorna's real struggle, choosing between a life of luxurious comfort at the royal court versus the hard work and responsibility of a farm wife in rural Devon. It would have been nice to see a bit more of Lorna at court, sleeping late and having breakfast in bed, being tempted by handsome nobles, lovely gowns, music, lots of gossip and lazy pleasure and sumptuous luxury. There's no sense of what she's giving up to be with John! Another problem is with the villain of the story, Carver Doone. This man is meant to be dark, satanic, chilling, and in his own way devastatingly attractive to Lorna. Instead he's a laughable buffoon. The moment he becomes leader of the Doone clan he makes one stupid blunder after another, yet no one seems to notice. First he leads his men on a raid of the Ridd farm house, and about half of them get shot out of the saddle (by Lorna and John's sisters!) in about ten seconds. But nobody says, "great plan, chief!" Then he gambles everything on having the Doones support Monmouth's Rebellion, with no sense of what's at stake if he loses. Then at the end, his whole clan gets wiped out and all he does is mope and plot revenge against Lorna for jilting him! By the way, it's also very revealing that John Ridd at the end wins reward and pardon from the king for leading the "final assault" on the Doone stronghold in the swamps, yet lovely Lorna seems to have no particular interest in the outcome. Remember, these are the people she's lived with all her life. Even if Carver and his father and grandfather have been cruel to her, you'd think she'd say something to John, like, "please be merciful, darling." Or something! Maybe her mind was still on all the pleasures she passed up in London, or kissing all those handsome nobles of the court!

There are times when a story should contain more than just the plot,and the facts.There are things such as mood,tone,and symbolism that add up to make a story more than just a rousing tale.And,due to the lack of an appropriate villain,that's what this adaptation is missing. "Lorna Doone"is moe than just a story about valorous English rurals fighting an oppressive gang of outlaws.It's also a nostalgic look,seen from the perspective of the Industrial Revolution,at a rustic way of life which has vanished.It's also a positive affirmation of what was referred to,during the Victorian period,as"muscular Christianity."And,it's also the sotry of a gallant,but inarticulate and lonely man's struggle,to find love,and romance with an attractive woman,consumating in a sharing sexual union. John Ridd,the hero of this work,is a bright,physically strong,but unguided and silent man,whose struggle is at least as much within himself as it is with others.And to symbolize this arduous and difficult journey,her requires a worthy opponent. Carver Doone,therefore,is John's alter-ego,and must provide a dark,Satanic antagonist,of formidable nature and significant evil.John MUST conquer his own shadow personality,as personified by Carver.And,on a more realistic level,Carver must be strong,virile,and physically attractive,as a worthy contender for Lorna's love. The actor playing Carver,in this production,is certainly evil,vicious,rodent like,and psychopathic.But he lacks grandeur,authority,presence,and that elemental quality to provide a characterization accurate with the book.Sean Bean did a much better job.

This is a beautiful story, intricately woven, and well worth watching. Of all the versions I have seen, this is by far the best one. The actors have a real chemistry, and the authenticity of the movie make it that much better. This is a movie worth watching several times (a year?). A & E has done it again.