Oliver Twist, 2005

The movie is 130 minute long, with respect to the famous musical version in 1968 "Oliver!", which was 153 minutes.

Based on a well known book of Charles Dickens, (of the same name), this movie told of the story of a young orphaned boy, Oliver Twist. From a hard life, constantly hungry for love and food within the workhouse where he was sent to, to being sold to an undertaker and got mistreated there, Oliver Twist began his journey to London, to find a better life. He was welcomed there by a gang of young pickpockets, whose leader was the famous crook Fagin. Witnessing his new friends pickpocketed others, he was too shocked, and got caught instead. Being clear of the wrong doing, he was cared for by the very same gentlement who was pickpocketed in the first place, Mr Brownlow.

Fagin and his partner Bill Sikes caught up with Oliver Twist when he least expected them, for the little boy was by then, thought the old days with the pickpockets were completely over. Oliver Twist was forced to help the baddies burglarised Mr Browlow's house, but things did not happen as planned by Fagin. Oliver Twist got injured in the process, but recovered later.

A good ending, resulted in a bright future ahead for young Oliver Twist, with all the baddies of the movie got dealt with accordingly.


The costumes and sceneries were beautiful, music was good, but this movie could not be compared to the same level as the famous musical "Oliver!" of the 1968. The new Fagin of this movie almost looked as good as the Fagin in the old version (Ron Moody), but with respect to acting, Ron Moody did a much better job.

Perhaps the fact that Mark Lester, the kid who played Oliver Twist in the musical, was only about 9-10 YO when the movie was done, did make the difference to the success of the movie? He looked and acted in a very innocent manner, represent very well a victim of the environment, society and mishaps of the time. The Oliver Twist kid in the new version (2005), Barney Clark, who was a bit older, did look a bit more calculating, and thus, it was hard to feel deeply for his situation. But then perhaps it was the intention of the director?


There seemed to be a slightly different theme in this new version, 2005. Oliver Twist in this case, was more prepared to fight for what he believed was right. His situations also seemed to be better and better with time, which reached a certain climax, and happily, stayed there (we hope!), as the book/movie implied.

Nancy of the new version 2005, for some reason, missed out the vivacity and passionate for life and everything about her, as the old Nancy in the musical version did (played by Shani Wallis). All in all, this new movie was good, but may not be able to stir the same feelings within the viewers (sad, happy, etc) to the same extent as the 1968 musical version.

(Wrote this review for my friend a month ago!)