3/5 Don't Expect the BBC's Bleak House or Little Dorrit
  by L. Rutledge (Pueblo, CO)
Made for the Disney Channel in 1995, this truncated adaptation of Dickens' beloved novel benefits from a strong performance by Peter Ustinov, and a near-brilliant one by Tom Courtenay, but suffers heavily from the role of Little Nell being played by Yorkshire actress Sally Walsh. Walsh's Nell is hardly the tremulous, emotionally complicated, and ultimately unforgettable child of Dickens' imagination, and without that emotional center the film is only modestly gripping and Nell herself is just an inscrutable bundle of bland "can-do" perkiness. The cinematography has the inevitable flatness of a made-for-TV movie: too much light, too little atmosphere. There isn't a memorable image in the entire three-hour movie -- which is shocking for anything based on Dickens. Still, it's a moderately enjoyable time-killer. Just don't buy it with the expectation of experiencing anything like the BBC's recent Bleak House or Little Dorrit.

4/5 Colorful bad-guys carry the story. Intriguing.
  by Reliable Reviews (Carmel Valley, California)

This 1994-version with Peter Ustinov as the grandfather is the best version. 3-hours, in color. The appeal of this film is the colorful and interesting bad-guys scheming against the grandfather and each other, and the perils of sweet, young, Nell. Up until 1869, a few years after the American Civil War, there really were debtors'-prisons in England. If you could not pay your debt; your creditor could have you dragged off to prison. This is a story about a vindictive creditor who wants to throw the grandfather in debtors' prison or worse, and the grandfather trying to elude him.

In this version, Mr. Quilp, the creditor, steals the show as the petty, vindictive, scheming, bad-guy, who enjoys doing evil. No one could play this bad guy better. A nice young woman twenty years younger than Mr. Quilp, who was poor and destitute, marries him to escape poverty, but brings her mother along to live with them.

There are several other colorful characters, such as Mr. Swiveller, the lazy bum gentleman suitor wanting to marry Nell. There is the crooked, obsequious, lawyer Mr. Brass and his icy sister who conspire with Mr. Quilp to harm the grandfather. There is the mysterious, dignified, wealthy, gentleman, making inquiries about the grandfather.

This film is intriguing from beginning to end. Some glimpses of beautiful scenery as they travel the countryside. Some sarcasm and humor from Mr. Quilp.

A good ending is critically important. I removed 1-star for a lackluster ending. The script-writer should have re-written Mr. Dickens' ending, which would have required re-writing the relationship between Nell and her grandfather, which I detail under the "comment" button below.

The characters of the other, 2007 abd 1979 versions are not as colorful. The 1979-version is a slower pace. They are watchable; not bad if you watch them before seeing this better version, 3-stars.

4/5 very entertaining
  by Rain Lily (Guam, USA)
A good storyline of how gambling can ruin a person. Wonderful scenery and backdrop for the story

5/5 Magnificent
  by Roger Long (Port Clinton, OH USA)
This is one gorgeous production that takes the viewer back to the sights and sounds and ethos of Victorian England, even if the film was shot in Ireland, according to the end credits. The details, even those in the background, are impeccable.

Moreover, it is faithful to the novel. One reviewer for Amazon criticized the bittersweet ending, but the denouement was Charles Dickens' own. I thought everyone knew the ending--as everyone knows how "Gone With the Wind" turns out--or "Hamlet" or just about any other standard work of fiction. Knowing the ending surely does not ruin the movie or book for any knowledgable viewer or reader.

The acting is perfect and should have garnered every award for the year this was made. The portrayals of the grandfather, Little Nell, Quilp, his lawyer, etc. are not to be forgotten. Dickens' greatest talent, in my view, as his ability to create memorable characters, such as, Miss Havisham, Fagin, Uriah Heep, Barkis, Mr. Micawber--and lest I forget, Little Nell.

I cannot think of a single thing amiss with this production. I could find some fault with Dickens' novel--too many coincidences, for example--but not with the film. It is a treat to the eyes and ears.

4/5 Excellent entertainment
  by Jennifer A. Clark (Miami)
I never thought I would enjoy this story as I did when I watched this version of the movie... I had never read the book in its entirety, but I did know the story - having been brought up reading Dickens and Shakespeare at school. I never thought I would enjoy Mr. Quilp, but I did, and I wish I could shake Tom Courtenay's hand - I thoroughly enjoyed Quilp - he was the best of all!! I felt sorry for him in the end. Kit was a delight. The scenery was beautiful, the sets excellently put together..
I can't impose on people that the size of the book should not alarm them, as originally these were written in weekly sections. I do think we should all read at least one of Charles Dickens' books (apart from A Christmas Carol) and get the feeling of Victorian England and its effect on children especially, as Mr. Dickens so keenly addresses and describes..