【Well crafted on every level.】 Charles Dickens and David Lean would twice prove to be a match made in the heavens. Drawing on Dickens's rich characters and gothic Victorian atmosphere, Lean fashioned two of the greatest novel adaptations ever committed to film. This film was the first of the pair.***** Some say that novels and films are just not very compatible art forms, but if books are from Mars and movies are from Jupiter, then Lean has happily situated his adaptations, like Ceres, in the asteroid belt in between.!! My own perception about the influence of class on psychology of individuals differs somewhat from what Dickens portrays. I've generally observed that those born into wealth often grow up to be idle playboys and debutantes, but those who struggle to reach the upper class seldom become idle when they get there. We develop our work habits, drive, and motivation as we are growing up, based in part on the class to which we belong at the time, and those characteristics don't typically change very much if our social class rises or falls later in life.+++ The idle rich lead an empty existence; the idle poor even more so. The industrious poor must struggle, but have a shot at some happiness along the way. Obviously, the most favorable alternative is to be among the industrious wealthy. The combination of will and means is unbeatable. Great Expectations is a story of contrasts. It is a story of rich and poor; good and evil; love and hate; right and wrong all woven into an intricate possibly decaying tapestry. It is full of suspense and drama. Turn down the lights, take the phone off the hook and enjoy this uninterrupted with a friend or your family. In my opinion this film can be enjoyed by adults, and children 9 and older. I give it four eyeballs on my four eyeball scale because it has great writing, great directing, great acting and Great Expectations fulfilled.★★★★★