Redundant and unnecessary.

Overrated and overhyped

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Great costumes, wonderful scenery, great art direction. Unfortunately, this movie suffers from uneven acting and a lack of attention to period detail. The actor playing Carver is creepy, but he is lacking charisma and screen presence - he's kind of a sad little bully and there's no way Lorna would be unwillingly attracted to him (as she was in the book). The actress playing Lorna is sweet, lovely, and appealing but she too, doesn't draw me in.I agree with other reviewers about the variety of accents - I wish they had spent more time getting the accents of the time and place correct and consistent.Also, its really, really silly and takes away from the believability of the whole thing that one of the 17th century female villagers is wearing glasses. Some of the dialogue is way too obviously modern too: "All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy." "I'm not marrying some ignorant farmer," says his sister. "Not if he sees you first." Sounds like a conversation at the local high school. The sad,dramatic music is played way too much and too loudly and distracts from the scenes - overpowering music is a pet-peeve of mine. Honestly, while the movie was playing, I spent more time reading reviews here - it simply wasn't that compelling.Its almost like this movie was made for teenagers (who like romance). This is too bad because even teenagers like period detail and can understand quality movie making. They appear to have made some parts of this movie too quickly and had to skim over some elements - or some of the people working on it had experience and others were still very green. Somehow this one just misses the mark.

As a huge fan of period dramas I came across this one and was looking forward to watching it. However, I found that this adaptation lacks the finesse you find other period dramas. The story was rather predictable (but maybe that's the novel) and I found that the characters lacked depth and the actors and dialogue often lacked emotion. Yes, Lorna (Amelia Warner) is very pretty but she was not captivating. The music (the lover's leitmotiv), even though very nice, was a bit too overbearing and prominent.Having said this, the scenery was beautiful, as were the costumes. It had loads of potential but, in my opinion, it lacked that little something that made me want to watch this again, let alone add this to my favourites and consider watching it once a year, as I do with many period drama miniseries (Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell).

I own the DVD! The wonderful story of star crossed lovers Lorna Doone and John Ridd comes to you by way of A&E (the cable channel) with breathtakingly results. The film will captivate you right from its drowsy beginning to its edge-of-your-seat ending. It is the tale of the infamous Doones and how their reign was eventually suppressed, as well as the man who dared to stand up against them. Lorna Doone is played with perfect conviction by the ever beautiful and graceful Amelia Warner, matched only by the charisma and charm of Robert Coyle who plays John Ridd. This film is one for your personal library if you appreciate finally woven and splendidly told tales that have well deserved endings.

I can't stop raving about this movie. When it aired on A&E I was glued to my television set for three hours. I have rarely found a TV movie that watchable and fascinating. I instantly loved the story, and not long after bought a copy of the R.D. Blackmore classic novel. The actors became the characters, so much so that you forgot they were just acting.Everything about this film is superb. The story of a young man, John Ridd, from a farming family in the southwest England in the 1600s who watches as his beloved father is murdered in cold blood by the infamous aristocratic Doone clan, who terrorize the countryside. He grows into manhood determined to seek revenge, only to fall in love with the lovely Lorna Doone, and to come to blows with the violent and controlling Carver Doone who is betrothed to Lorna and will stop at nothing to possess her. The feud between the two families leads to consequences, as does the political intrigue gripping Britain at that time. The opposition towards the Catholic James II inheriting the throne and the illegitimate Duke Of Monmouth's attempts to have the title of King for himself whips the country into a frenzy.The costumes, locations, hairstyles, production design, dialogue and music are all top-notch, and the performers are all outstanding. It's not just a beautifully shot love story, but it is also full of fast-paced action, humor, intrigue, and drama. Amelia Warner fits the bill as Lorna, her exquisite beauty, fantastic presence, vulnerability and strength embodying her character wonderfully. Richard Coyle, rugged and handsome, is right on in his portrayal of John, a young man torn between his loyalty to his family and the memory of his father, and his love for this young beauty whom he knows is nothing like her vicious family. And the gorgeously roguish Aidan Gillen (I have a thing for Irish guys) is magnetic, strangely seductive and hypnotic as the obsessive, power-hungry Carver, who claims Lorna as his, and who wants all the power, all the while possessing a degree of vulnerability. When the story takes a twist regarding Lorna's true parentage, the film becomes even more engrossing as the viewer becomes more and more invested. What will happen? Will love conquer all? The smaller characters, from the Doones to the Ridds and the neighboring folk, to the nobility, King's army, royalty and the very real historical figure Judge Jeffreys, give the film a scope and adds authenticity to the story. All the people I have shared this movie with have enjoyed it, and have complimented the music, a lovely mixture of folk and Celtic melodies, and the wonderfully lush, green landscape and the design of the houses, cottages, and castles. In short, you feel like you are there, not that you are watching a movie. It all seems so real, making it a marvellous experience. It is a masterpiece! Romantics, take note.