The key ingredient in this modern-day version of Charles Dickens's classic is director Alfonso Cuarón, who made the glowing, estimable A Little Princess. If you saw that (and you should), understand that Expectations has those ingredients (great sense of time, place, and timing) but adds modern music and sex appeal; the latter personified by the long-legged Gwyneth Paltrow.

Finnegan Bell (Ethan Hawke as an adult, Jeremy James Kissner at age 10) is the new version of Dickens's Pip. He's a child wise beyond his years, befriending an escaped convict (Robert De Niro) in the warm waters of Florida's Gulf Coast. Finn is also the plaything for Estella (Paltrow as an adult, Raquel Beaudene at age 10), the niece of the coast's richest and most eccentric lady, Ms. Dinsmoor (a fun and flamboyant Anne Bancroft). The prudish Estella likes Finn (catch the best first kiss scene in many a moon) but has been brought up to disdain men; she'll break hearts. As the object of Finn's desires, Estella unfortunately is a one-dimensional character, yet what a dimension! Clad in Donna Karan dresses and her long, sun-kissed hair, Paltrow is luminous. She and Hawke make a very sexy couple.

Mitch Glazer's script does better by Finn. He's a blue-collar worker with a gift for drawing (artwork by Francesco Clemente). Following his Uncle Joe's (Chris Cooper) honest ways, Finn grows up as a fisherman, thoughts of Estella and art drifting away in the hard work. When a mysterious benefactor allows him to follow his dream, Finn finds himself in New York, preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime art exhibit--and in the arms of the engaged Estella.

Not what I expected

My students read Great Expectations and then I wanted to show a movie of the book as a reward. This was not it. This movie has nothing to do with the book except is shares a title. I could see nothing similiar and the language etc was so bad I coulnd't show my AP seniors this movie. I am very disappointed. The tags they suggest are Dickens and classic. It is neither of these. Its trash.

So watchable

Everytime I catch this film on Tv, no matter how far throught it is I end up watching it till its conclusion. Such a watchable film. Superbly crafted andacted. One of teh few modernisations of classic tales that actually works.

Ethan Hawke brings no expectation of acting skills to a totally ridiculous film!

Where do I begin??? Well...how about UGH!? I tried to pinpoint what I found particularly annoying about this version of GREAT EXPECTATIONS...and then it came to me; there was nothing about any one character for which I felt a single shred of emotion! I might as well have been Estella herself! I freely admit that even Dicken's original story is my least favorite of all Dickens' novels. I have seen three other film adaptations and still did not particularly care for the story or the characters (here the names have been changed as well as the time and the country).Perhaps Ethan Hawke, who plays the "Pip" character,Finnegan Bell, was my biggest objection to this film. I found him to be 100% lifeless,uninteresting and not at all an embodiment of understanding and kindness.With your lead character being so terribly portrayed, the story really never jelled for me. Gwyneth Paltrow as Estella, on the other hand, fares much better as the ice cold and victimized Estella. She seems to understand her character's tragic upbringing and the sexy allure with which she has been educated by Nora Dinsmore (a somewhat odd and uneven portrayal by Anne Bancroft).

I found the New York shots to be totally implausible. Where does anyone walk in New York TOTALLY ALONE on bright,gorgeous sunny days in Central Park West???? Come on!!! Where do leaves cascade down alley ways tucked far,far away from any living green thing??? (I understand the symbolism, but this simply doesn't work with New York City).

The design for the Dinsmore house never once changes over the years of neglect! The same vines that entwined the house when Finn was a young boy on his first visit are exactly the same as when he arrives years later. Vines grow!!!

This entire film was so implausible,senseless and uneven in production.

Patrick Doyle's original soundtrack seemed to me totally incorrect for the sensibility of this adaptation. He must have still been in his Kenneth Branagh mode!

Sorry, but this film is a throwaway...not totally...but still a throwaway!