vanyadolly I haven't seen every Wutherign Heigths adaption, but I have seen a lot of them and this one is at the bottom of my list for now. What do you get when you strip a gothic novel of all of all of its mystery and ethereal romanticism? Turns out that the result is a rather tame and uninspiring drama. Ironically this one just comes across as more melodramatic without the proper framework to soften the heightened emotionality and the flowery language, especially as they're acted out by out by actors in their forties. The result was downright hilarious at times when it wasn't plain distracting. There was nothing about this adaption that said Wuthering Heights to me, it could have been any old movie. It has none of the complexity or atmosphere of the book, and on top of that they saw fit to rewrite the characters to a point where they have little in common with their original counterparts. Adaptions seem to have a hard time finding a good balance between Cathy and Heathcliff to make them feel like two halves of the same soul rather than allowing one to overpower the other; whether that's reducing Cathy to the innocent victim of Heathcliff's abuse (2009 mini-series) or making Heathcliff childish and downright pathetic (this movie).I haven't been able to find a perfect film adaption yet, but I wouldn't recommend this one. If you love the book or if you're looking for an adaption that captures it's spirit, I'd recommend the 1970 version with Timothy Dalton for the first generation, or the 1992 version with Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche. Even the 2009 mini-series with Tom Hardy did a better job with the supporting characters.

mmatson10 This 1998 version of "Wuthering Heights" here depicts the emotional intensity, violence, and cruelty of the novel. Never a "sweet romance," it depicts the quite understandable actions of two "soulmates" and the destruction they wreak around them--a drama that somehow ends perfectly in another romance that promises to be as rich and soulful, if more temperate.As Cathy, Orla Brady has the beauty, brashness, and vitality of the original, if not as much of the desire to dominate others. As Heathcliff, Robert Cavanaugh has intensity, intelligence, and physicality, if not the "otherness" of appearance that the book describes. Together, Brady and Cavanaugh show the primal need for each other that is so essential to the book.Like all other film adaptations, this film suffers from the needs of practical aspects of film-making. The essential parts of the story happen when Cathy and Heathcliff are about ages 8-9, 12-13, and 15-16. As in most films, most of these events are played by actors much older than are credible for the events portrayed. It makes no sense for a mature Heathcliff to stay at Wuthering Heights, but it does for a boy of 12 or 13. Why would Cathy value the attentions of a wealthy neighbor? Because she is only 15 and wants to become part of the elite in a stratified society.Maybe someday the film industry will find a way to show people growing and evolving--then one can finally have a perfect film version of "Wuthering Heights." But as it stands, the bleak, yet beautiful landscape, the characters' isolation, and the depth and complexity of each main character are admirably presented. If only the film could be longer! Melanie Matson, 6-11-10

LittleSwallow I find that this 1998 Masterpiece theater TV version follows the novel of the same name pretty faithfully. One who has never read the novel may find the action moving too quickly, so that the flow of the movie may seem slightly abrupt or choppy. However, the movie is only 2 hours long, which is probably why they had to cut out parts of the book and take some liberties with ages and certain details. That does not detract too much from the enjoyment of this movie, which despite its choppiness, has excellent acting, beautiful cinematography (the landscapes are breathtaking), and a wonderfully wrought out, bitter plot which focuses on three generations of two families who are intimately interlocked with each other. Heathcliff definitely comes off as the cruel, embittered man he is in the book, and it's great to see a TV movie capture the personalities of all the characters so well. Highly recommended movie.

jack-smales Emily Bronte would have been proud of this version of Wuthering Heights.While it is rather rushed,it makes up for it by sticking to the nature of the story.It still bears resemblance to the book. Orla Brady was a superb Cathy.She looked and acted just the way she should.Robert Cavangh did not really look like a good Heathcliff,but his acting was good and I suppose that is what mattered.POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEADThe part where Cathy and Heathcliff were children was rushed.They were still children when Cathy stayed at the Lintons and so were Edgar and Isabella,but here they were all adults.Also Nelly was an adult all through the film,but she was supposed to be a child.I think what they should have done was have 2 young actors for Cathy,Nelly and Heathcliff and young actors for Edgar and Isabella.I also think that the Christmas bit was not how it should have been.Anyway,this is a very accurate version and sticks to the nature of the story.I think if it did not it would have been awful. This is a superb version.