i loved it!!!
its up there with Roman Polanskis version as the best there is!!

A very dark version of the famous tale and this is fitting with its provenance. The acting is in fact superb, especially from the young boy who plays Oliver. The Artful Dodger and Fagin are everything you would expect and it isn't hard to get past the fact that Nancy is a black woman - there were far more black people in London in the Victorian era than most of us seem to believe. The majority of the film rings true and gives a taste of what life in the slums must have been like for a little boy who never truly felt he had a place to call home.

It is also shot incredibly well, and the use of small instalments to tell the story more gradually effectively encapsulates the drama and tension Dickens most probably wanted to put across.

Yes I understand this had a mixed bag of a reception. However, speaking as someone who hasn't read the book, I have an open mind towards this adaptation. I can say I was looking forward to it - having loved the BBC's amazing 'Bleak House'.

Overall I think the story is well executed and Dicken's literature is treated with respect - but some people have pointed out differences from the book - which is a shame - yet I feel as a whole they didn't damage this too much.

Performances overall are very strong. I loved Gregor Fisher from 'Rab. C Nesbitt' as Mr. Bumble, the lead role of Oliver was good too - his performance wasn't annoying surprisingly. Timothy Spall is ace as Fagin, I think the first to use an Eastern European accent (quite brilliantly) he has a warm presence, which makes him perfect to look after a group of orphans. Sophie Okonedo is simply brilliant as Nancy - a very subtle performance. Her demise for me - was quite upsetting. Edward Fox is brilliant as usual as Mr. Brownlow, and Julian Rhind-Tutt gives a startling performance as the dreaded 'Mr. Monks'. For me however out of them all, top marks have to go to Tom Hardy who brilliantly played the turbulent Bill Sykes. His presence is felt throughout - Hardy isn't over the top, and therefore his performance is all the more menacing. The cast in my opinion - is truly memorable - all are excellent.

Finally I will talk about the setting and score. The slums of London are captured brilliantly - with bleak and bustling streets - gloomy workhouses and upper class residents are particularly effective in creating a realistic Victorian era London. The music is a big thing which has either impressed or repulsed. It has even been described as 'schizophrenic' by some. You could say this in that it sometimes comes across as a random and unpredictable cacophany - yet this for me was only a first impression. After a while I began to appreciate how and when the music was used - so overall I can say I liked the score very much - particularly the brilliant opening credits sequence where the main characters are sort of slide-showed, and the music is used well in moments of dramatic tension and character anguish. Hopefully the rather different use and approach to the score in a period drama - will be more seen as innovative as opposed to disruptive or unnecessary.

My only bad point about this adaptation would really be the length. Indeed - it was timed for the BBC's build up to Christmas season - so we couldn't really expect more than a weeks coverage. With the first episode on Tuesday 18th December lasting an hour - the rest up until the finale on Saturday 22nd only lasted half an hour. This happened I think with the brilliant aforementioned 'Bleak House' but that mini-series had a lot more hour long episodes. I think this adaptation would have been that bit better if it had lasted perhaps two weeks. Then again - short and sweet might have been the best. I also think one of the top EastEnders writers penned this - and as much as I loved the script and pace of this great drama - I could still pick up a hint of the soap-ish quality - hence I gave it 4 instead of 5/5.

Be that as it may - I simply loved this adaptation. I can't wait buy it on DVD - and highly recommend it. I hope it gets aired in the US soon - I know they love our period dramas. Even if the script or content or music or whatever is a letdown to adamant fans of Dicken's novel - I highly recommend this for the performances alone. Don't miss it!

Another quality Drama from the BBC. Timothy Spall and Tom Hardy are superb along with numerous great performances from other well known's. Well worth a watch for the fantastic sets and screenplay. Money well spent......

Im always concerned when the remake clasic movies such as this one but i do have to say i loved it. was soo much better then the original. I think Oliver was really good in this one and over all this is the best Oliver Twist ive seen to date.

Brilliant movie, well worth watching.

As said below, Fagin was Jewish, he is referred to in the original story as 'Fagin the Jew', so him being Jewish is staying true to the story, i like the fact they have used it rather than ignored it, and i think Timothy Spall's portrayal is brilliant, it must be difficult to put yet another new spin on a character so well known.

I think the two young boys playing Oliver (William Morris) and Dodger (Adam Arnold) are both fantastic, and Tom Hardy is a brilliantly menacing Bill Sikes. I love it, there's nothing like some Dickens on TV at this time of year, its proper Christmas telly!

So far despite other reviews from people!
ill give it credit its took the orginal oli twist and spiced it up a bit now tell me whats wrong with that!!
so far so good...

firstly, Fagin was Jewish. Hence why he always has a big nose in all oliver twists. I was completely dissapointed in this programe. why was nancy of a african desecent? and half the kids in fagins den black? its pc correctness gone mad.

its like making a movie of winston churchill and having some mexican play him. total tosh!
no way in hell i would buy this, but it looks more real than some other oliver twist movies made. apart from what i mentioned above.

Why was fagin played as a jewish person, thats not how i remember it. Frankly it spoiled it for me and probably wont watch anymore - shame it looked really good. I might of missed the reason of this