Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Doomtomylo a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Tymon Sutton The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

begob Hard up scientist marries into wealth, but eventually must seek freedom.Basically a romantic Victorian costume drama with intellectual trappings. The themes are breeding, heredity, environment, with a bit of political theory, but above all honesty and deception. These don't cohere completely, but the mix is interesting.The film feels very awkward at the start. First up, the lighting is so plain, like a TV drama from the '70s - it really sucked the atmosphere out of the location. Then the dialogue was stilted, and it took a long while to warm to the lead actor's restrained delivery.But it's a very good cast, especially the actress playing Mattie, who as ever conveys so much with her beautiful, intelligent face. Her character is the key to the story and, after all the intellectualising, it's really about freedom of choice without any true insight on the family.They played around with costume, but dressing one character as a bee was a bit much! And in the background the hallmark of an intellectual English film - the constant buzzing of a little chamber orchestra as it saws away mournfully at its cellos.The pace does pick up, and the pay off is satisfying, so overall decent entertainment.

StephanieGould I had to watch this film for a class about Mid-Victorian Britain...with my professors and my class...and I was shocked at the story; Not just how awful the acting was, but that the script was actually bought and given a green light for production. The costumes were stylized and the design was nominated for an Oscar...how that was possible, I don't even know. The only thing redeemable about the film is Kristen Scott Thomas. Mark Rylance and Patsy Kensit give two of the worst performances I have ever seen in my entire life. Rylance's pitch and tone of voice never changes and Kensit was overly dramatic to the point of being comical. I would only see this movie if you want to laugh. But even at that, you're going to be wasting money...even energy by renting this movie. Stay away...

moonspinner55 A U.S.-British co-production for PBS, from A.S. Byatt's story "Morpho Eugenia" (a better title!), this head-scratcher of a human drama involves a Victorian England bug-specialist who comes to stay with a wealthy family and falls in love with his benefactor's lovely but unstable daughter. A carefully plotted picture, which might mean slow or sluggish--yet the film is never boring. Moments of eccentricity, romance and surrealism are blended together with skill, and the actresses in particular (Kristen Scott Thomas and the wonderfully brave Patsy Kensit) are first-rate. It's a difficult film, but one worth staying with. **1/2 from ****

netsmith2001 This movie presents a brilliant stage worthy level of acting to the screen. I was stunned by the quality and subtlety of the performances especially the lead and Kristin Thomas. The story is almost painfully slow but that helps create a mood and sexual tension that works perfectly. I was literally on the edge of my seat both with the drama of the characters and just wanting to be closer to their nuanced performances. Jeremy Kemp as the elder Lord of the manor Sir Harald Alabaster displays aristocratic intelligence rarely found in films. The dinner table discussions of the emergence of the radical new approaches to evolution and culture surrounding Darwin's revelations are compelling. Also the role of Edgar, representing the boorish son who clings to the old ways of class hierarchy is finely wrought. Highly recommended. A thoughtful film.