I'm really torn about this movie. I adored the television series, and had high hopes for the film, and in some ways it does deliver. The cinematography as always is gorgeous. The plot involving the inheritance, mostly centring around Maggie Smith and Imelda Staunton, is decent, if somewhat easily predictable. The best storyline is the one given to Thomas Barrow, who finally sees some redemption in terms of his story, and for me it is really the high point of the movie. Tom Branson gets two major plots, and they're both okay, if not particularly enthralling. In an attempt to give everybody some screen time, none of the other stories are particularly well fleshed out for any character otherwise, so we don't really see a whole lot of perennial favourites like Anna and Bates.
For me the real disappointment of the movie is the treatment of Molesley. The final series of the television show worked so hard to redeem his character as a thoughtful, stalwart and intelligent man. The movie has turned him into a complete buffoon. I understand that he is generally thought of as a bit of comic relief for much of the series, but there was no need to treat him like such an idiot in the movie, when the TV show had worked hard to evolve him into a much more grounded character. I don't know what the writers and director were thinking, but his appearances on screen are cringe-worthy and frankly embarrassing.
Overall, the movie was a pleasant enough romp, very much just another episode that happens to be drawn out over the length of the movie. But I think I expected more from a cinematic endeavour, and I certainly expected better treatment of some much beloved characters.
For me the real disappointment of the movie is the treatment of Molesley. The final series of the television show worked so hard to redeem his character as a thoughtful, stalwart and intelligent man. The movie has turned him into a complete buffoon. I understand that he is generally thought of as a bit of comic relief for much of the series, but there was no need to treat him like such an idiot in the movie, when the TV show had worked hard to evolve him into a much more grounded character. I don't know what the writers and director were thinking, but his appearances on screen are cringe-worthy and frankly embarrassing.
Overall, the movie was a pleasant enough romp, very much just another episode that happens to be drawn out over the length of the movie. But I think I expected more from a cinematic endeavour, and I certainly expected better treatment of some much beloved characters.