Wuthering Heights (1998)

Waste of time

Good concept, poorly executed.

An absolute waste of money

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

This 1998 TV version of Wuthering Heights is superb, if a touch flawed in a few fundamental areas. Novel purists will be sure to adore this one.Robert Cavanah might be the most evil portrayal of Heathcliff I've seen yet. Oh he does have his sympathetic moments, but overall this version really plays up how despicable he is, even going so far as to having him sexually assault Isabella on their wedding night. Other highlights in the cast are Sarah Smart as the second Catherine and Matthew Macfadyen as Hareton, whose animosity evolves into the love that finally breaks Heathcliff's desire for vengeance. In fact, one of this miniseries' greatest strengths is the second generation, so rarely incorporated into WH adaptations.My main gripe is that some areas are too, well, nice for this story. Catherine is written as a thoughtless but overall naive girl. In the book, she was downright cruel and certainly not as naive as she is painted here. Plus the thirty-something Orla Brady is much too old to be playing the character. The music is romantic, but, like the Alfred Newman score for the 1939 movie, too sweet to fit such a dark story.Nevertheless, this is a beautiful adaptation and WH fans like myself will be sure to appreciate it.

Being an avid Bronte fan, especially Emily, I have seen every single adaptation of their novels. While most screen adaptations prove to be rather disgraceful, there are some "gems" which, though not equaling the original source, turn out to be masterpieces in their own right. Such is the case with this wonderful TV adaptation of Wuthering Heights. It follows as closely to the book as possible, and takes great pains to bring the characters and their world to life, and succeeds with flying colours. Robert Cavannah and Orla Brady are near perfect in their portrayal of the two star-crossed lovers Cathy and Heathcliff, and David Skynner, the director, does his best to emulate the chaotic atmosphere in which their love blossoms in the novel. But the most enjoyable part of the movie - and indeed of the novel - is the allusion to the post-Heathcliff Wuthering Heights epitomised by the union of Hareton and Catherine Linton.This is a dark, dreary, passionate and compelling adaptation - probably the most stirring, and definitely the most faithful to the original - for it shows why we love and continue to love Emily Jane Bronte's masterpiece! I most strenuously recommend it to every Bronte fan - Victorian world doesn't get bleaker than this!

As a big fan of wuthering heights, i was ready to give this film a chance. But i have to say, i hated it. Robert cavanah is not right for heathcliff. More importantly, this film does not follow the book. it kills the book in fact, and changes the plot. Cathy and hieroglyphs loveis more sexual in the film than in the book, and shows lust rather thanlove. i was very upset with this adaptation. as a stand alone film it would have been good, but as a novel adaptation - a very poor interpretation. The 1992 wuthering heights with Ralph fiennes however is an amazing film. it is very true to the book, very emotive. i cried 3 times throughout the film. Ralph fiennes plays heathcliff exactly as i imagined him. Juliette binoche pulls Cathy and Cathy's daughter off very well. Horton is portrayed perfectly too. i recommend anyone to watch the 1992 film, and not this television version.

Out of the four versions of Wuthering Heights available on DVD {1939, 1971 and 1992 being the others}, this is the closest to the book. It's far from being a perfect adaptation, the definitive version is still to come. Of course the 1939 version is artistically far superior to any of the others, but it's the least faithful adaptation. Both this version and the 1971 version stopped virtually half way through the story. The 1993 one did attempt to tell the whole story, but was somewhat stuffy and lacking in the intense emotion required. This TV movie, shown in two parts, is far more successful in telling the whole story, and certainly does not lack for emotion. There are a few changes {maybe one day we will be able to see Heathcliff and Cathy first meet the Lintons as children rather than adults} and the first part of the story is rushed. There is the odd unnecessary touch, such as seeing Heathcliff semi-rape his wife. Generally,though,it's pretty faithful, does most of the great scenes in the book well and even adds a few details from the book that were not in the other mentioned versions at at all, such as Heathcliff tying up Isabelle's dog, or Heathcliff throwing a knife at her. Orla Brady is as close to the Cathy from the book as one can get, and while Robert Cavanagh is visually not an ideal Heathcliff, he really shows the evil of the character like few others.Despite all this, this modestly produced version still manages to have a great deal of the required emotion, and despite Heathcliff's nastiness the filmmakers still manage to make one almost feel his pain and torment. The ending is beautifully done, aided by some very John Barry-like music.It's not the perfect adaptation, but it will certainly do. However, a message for the next person to film Wuthering Heights- make it a lot LONGER!