Picnic at Hanging Rock - BBC

I have always loved Peter Weir's hauntingly beautiful and enigmatic "Picnic At Hanging Rock" so I thought I'd watch the new version, produced as a series of episodes, on BBC. The series had already been broadcast around the world and had received "rave" reviews.

Well, I was disappointed from the start .....

When "Miss Appleyard" lifts her veil to reveal her face, she seemed to be very young .....

When she moved and spoke, she did so with all of today's affectations and mannerisms .....

In fact, Natalie Dormer is 36 and best known for "Game of Thrones", a highly popular "fantasy" TV series notorious for violence, nudity and sex (usually all at once), which will appear later in "Hanging Rock" .....

When the "pupils" made their appearance, they all seemed far too old for their parts and not much younger than "Miss Appleyard" - Miranda, in fact seems the same age - this being a "modern" re-telling, Miranda, in a flimsy shift, performs the increasingly popular pee-in-a pot scene .....

When the "pupils" were dressed for inspection by "Miss Appleyard", I was struck again by how "modern" they looked, despite being fabulously (over)dressed in Victorian costumes .....

By this time, I decided that 6 hours of a "modern" retelling, with no expense spared to impress those who prefer style over substance, was not for me and clicked "OFF" .....

Re: Picnic at Hanging Rock - BBC

I watched last night , I've never heard of this so found it quite fascinating wondering what was going to happen next , obviously a lot has happened to miss appleyard and I can't wait till the next episode , it all seems to be very dark and secretive

Re: Picnic at Hanging Rock - BBC

If you watch the series then you won't like the 1975 film - it leaves much to the imagination and little resolved .....

Re: Picnic at Hanging Rock - BBC

I have seen the original film, of course, so had something with which to compare this BBC series.

To be honest I thought it too slow, but I'll keep watching to see how it develops.

Re: Picnic at Hanging Rock - BBC

As is typical with these `re-imagined` types of programmes, the characters portrayed are either too modern in their approach (as as pointed out) and far too clean and tidy. When you next watch a serialised Charles Dickens novel for example, notice how clean and well groomed the street urchins are and all with immaculate teeth.

Re: Picnic at Hanging Rock - BBC

Exactly .....

With the ladies (and some of the men), I notice anachronistic hair, eyebrows and lips .....

Re: Picnic at Hanging Rock - BBC

For those who haven't seen the 1975 film, here is what the cast looked like:





Here's the new lot:



Note the "modern" triangular pose, also utilised for "War & Peace":

Re: Picnic at Hanging Rock - BBC

Yes. They look much more realistic.

Re: Picnic at Hanging Rock - BBC

I've just caught up with episode one, and I must admit it did'nt grab me at all. As someone who saw the original movie, and liked it, this was strangely quite different in tone. I'm afraid I did'nt stick with it. However, her indoors loved it. Mind you being a Poldark fan, and all that similar stuff, one was'nt surprised! I always thought it was a true story, until the boss put me straight!!

Re: Picnic at Hanging Rock - BBC

I'm just watching the second episode and, half way through it isn't becoming any more exciting.

So, an hour and a half into the complete series and they have just called off the search for the missing girls.

Dreadfully slow.