A decent offering from Burbank Films Australia that is neither among their best or worst. If anything I'd say around middle-ish. I do think the voice acting is too eccentric, the dialogue has moments where it awkward and I do agree that the basic storytelling is all-over-the-map and reads of story highlights. And in that regard, the execution of these highlights are somewhat of a mixed bunch. The scenes with Magwitch in the marshes and Miss Havisham in the creepy house I felt did lack menace. However, the adaptation did have some interesting touches, Magwitch's attempts to escape from his pursuers was done in a harrowing way and I did like that you did feel sympathy for Estella by making Bentley Drummle a genuine cad and that life in London was less inviting than that with Joe Gargery. The animation is also quite handsome and rich, there are some thought-provoking moments in the script that make up for the awkward ones and the music is decent. Pip and Herbert are likable characters, and Estella is sympathetic and not passive like I can find her in other adaptations of this very multifaceted story. Miss Havisham and Magwitch are rather disappointingly characterised, as I find them to be the book's most memorable characters. Overall, animated but could have been more. 6/10 Bethany Cox
