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Best movie of this year hands down!

That was an excellent one.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

M&L, a show I would normally not even give the time of day, however, I 'stumbled' across it, & just watched the 3 part series for the second time. Normally, I am not a person who writes reviews on anything, food, hotels, but was horrified to read several very sad and damming reviews. I thought this series was hilarious, seems like the crew involved in getting this up and running were in-sync to capture the audience, even in a northern, tropical, coastal town in Australia. I was cringing (with joy) at the antics the characters were led, to create their deceptive ways. Thought all the characters were a brilliantly cast group, the plots & schemes totally hilarious. There is one very unfortunate item. The series has such a flowing, strong, story trail to continue production on further shows, but, apparently, and sadly, this is not happening. I think the network here in Australia that ran the series, made a gross error in running the 3 episodes over 3 days. Perhaps, to enhance the experience should have run one episode per week. Initially, I had no idea there were only 3 parts. For what it's worth, that's my take on this delightful production .... brilliant, 5 star!!

I think I know my "Benson(and Holt etc)".I watched this entertaining contemporary take on Lucia's progress with great interest.Longitudinally,Mapp is Lucia's nemesis.What ever is going on in Lucia's busy social life there is always an awful possibility Mapp will pop up.She,well,is not a nice person.One thing I'd like to suggest to the makers of this current series,your production is absolutely sumptuous with fine views of Rye and environs,please don't truncate stories to fit time slots.Two tales ought never be abridged,"War and Peace" and "Mapp & Lucia". That said,there is now surely enough written material to make a longer series than "Downton Abbey"!

It is inevitable that there will be comparisons with the earlier 1980's production and I agree that some of them are justifiably unfavourable and many would agree that the cast of McEwan/Scales/Hawthorn etc. was a tough act to follow.However I think it is unfair to compare the two as its often the case that we deem subsequent productions of any TV show or movie to be inferior to the original because we form our opinions on the first one that we see. It would be interesting to get a consensus of reviews for the new series from people who have never seen the original to see what they thought without being influenced by it.I've read the books several times and also have the original series on a set of DVD's but still enjoyed this new series. Having said that I did find some of the acting a little unconvincing at first but I felt this did improve as it progressed. I also thought that bringing in the Guru (from a prior time in the book) was a great mistake but then it was nice that the vicar's wife 'Evie' was included as she was omitted in the original. Many things in the book were not included in the first series which ran for ten episodes so it was always going to be difficult to do justice to the book in just three episodes, although perhaps there will be further episodes if this series is successful.Hopefully the new production will introduce E.F.Benson's Mapp and Lucia to a wider audience who may then read the books and view the original series.

Good script, fast paced. Altogether entertaining. Colour palette seems rather dark and sombre compared to the insouciant sweet lightness of the C4 original. Anna Chancellor: a bit too butch for the part, too threatening, a bit sour, missed a fragility and joyfulness that McEwan got. Actress portraying Irene (Gemma Whelan) was much better and more credible than the original actress. Miranda Richardson very good, copied some mannerisms of Prunella Scales interpretation I thought. Pemberton also very good, copied Hawthorne's mannerisms in places. Chemistry between Pemberton and Chancellor was not right or credible somehow. Frances Barber - hammy over the top but delightful. All other actors and actresses worked really well. The final shot of Pilsen and Irene apparently bonded surprised me.