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AIBU?

to think that Jamaica Inn is great TV subject to one proviso.

28 replies

grovel · 23/04/2014 10:20

I can only hear/understand about 50% of the dialogue!

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LackaDAISYcal · 23/04/2014 10:22

Apparently there is an issue with the sound on it. Beeb has had lots of complaints about it. I gave up after the first fifteen minutes!

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mrsminiverscharlady · 23/04/2014 10:23

I'm watching it on HD and honestly haven't noticed a problem, and I often have to put the subtitles on for other things.

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LackaDAISYcal · 23/04/2014 10:24
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grovel · 23/04/2014 10:26

Thanks, DAISY

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Stinklebell · 23/04/2014 10:27

YANBU

I loved the book so was quite looking forward to it. I gave up half way through the first one as I couldn't hear it.

They've supposed to have fixed the iplayer version, and last nights was supposed to be better. I've not watched them again yet so we'll see

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Burren · 23/04/2014 10:30

I think what I've seen of it is a bit hammy, personally, but I agree - even allowing for the fact I am a foreigner who's not particularly attuned to UK regional accents - a lot of the dialogue was difficult to follow.

(I did want to say to the costume designer/director that I'm pretty sure that rural working women in the early 19thc tucked up their long skirts, and didn't just trail around in deep mud with the dirt and damp creeping up the soaking wet cloth towards their waists.)

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caruthers · 23/04/2014 10:33

Another period drama from the BBC....HBO shows are much better than this trotted out drivel.

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EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 23/04/2014 10:38

I just watched them on iplayer but I don't think the first one was fixed. The second one was much easier to understand. It's the accents as well, a thick Cornish accent is quite mumbly.

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windchime · 23/04/2014 10:39

I gave up with it. I read the book years ago but this adaptation is nothing like it. No atmosphere, and the sound quality is awful.

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DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 23/04/2014 11:02

Sound was dreadful as was the production,I gave up on it and I'm a big DDM fan.

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iseenodust · 23/04/2014 11:09

Terribly mumbly. DH said they had a moan about it at work yesterday.

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ICanSmellSummerComing · 23/04/2014 11:22

All that money they lavish on these things and no one bothers to check the sound?

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GoblinLittleOwl · 23/04/2014 12:36

Poor adaptation, no sense of menace and far too much obvious violence; most actors lack clear diction, Cornish accent or not; and I am sick of pictures of mediocre actresses from Downton Abbey plastered all over the pages of The Telegraph.

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ElsieMc · 23/04/2014 13:03

I have found it atmospheric and there are some creepy performances by Ben Daniels and the girl from Bridget Jones. I don't think the sound was better last night, it was worse. I actually couldn't catch some of the conversation from Joss and Patience, the worst being Joss.

Some viewers have pointed out that it is the fault of some of the actors as Ben Daniels diction/delivery is perfectly clear. I think they have tried to make it authentic and grim along the lines of the Village - there were also complaints about this series unremitting grimness.

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wowfudge · 23/04/2014 13:11

Agree that the sound was awful - especially on Monday. Luckily I was recording it as well; I had to keep re-winding bits. I think it's really creepy - and I quite like the grime! I haven't read the book though and decided not to Google the story. Ben Daniels' character doesn't have a Cornish accent, his is RP so far easier to understand if you've not tuned into the accents.

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itsnothingoriginal · 23/04/2014 14:15

Agree it's certain actors causing the problems with mumbling their lines! It's a very good production I think but I'm missing so much of the script that I've struggled to follow the story in places.

It's not the first BBC drama I've struggled to hear - 'Birdsong' was terrible for mumbled dialogue as well. You'd think they would have learned from it!

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Guiltismymaster · 23/04/2014 14:22

Haha, so true.

It's OK for me because a) it's similar to my accent so I have an ear for it and b) I know the story well.

Poor DH hadn't got a clue what Joss was saying when he was spilling all to Mary last night- a slightly important scene!

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AWombWithoutARoof · 23/04/2014 14:29

There's definitely a trend for mumbling on the telly, pretty soon everyone will speak in that absurd whisper that Andrew Lincoln does on The Walking Dead. I think actors equate speaking at normal volume with overacting.

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LadyRabbit · 23/04/2014 14:42

I think part of the problem with the adaptation is that it is spun out over three nights. It's not a dense enough narrative to warrant it. And the acting is really one dimensional, although it looks beautiful and captures the atmosphere of the novel very well. Casting ain't great either - would have loved Paul Bettany in full on creepy mode as the vicar. It's all a bit leaden and dull - would have worked better as a one odd two hour telly movie I reckon.

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Bamaluz · 23/04/2014 15:01

I'm watching it with subtitles on, as recommended on the other thread.

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Madeyemoodysmum · 23/04/2014 15:04

I've stuck with it and it ended yesterday just as it was getting good, has been very slow so far, still I will see it through.

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ChairmanWow · 23/04/2014 15:28

I only realised what Joss had said when Mary repeated it to the vicar! I've not been able to understand 70% of his dialogue.

Generally I'm finding it a bit clunky and it's not managing to be as broody and atmospheric as the makers clearly wanted it to be. Such a shame as I love DDM.

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squoosh · 23/04/2014 15:34

I like it.

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BiscuitCrumb · 23/04/2014 15:37

I think the accents are awful. I'm Cornish so I may be being picky. I watched the first, not bothering with the rest.

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Apatite1 · 23/04/2014 15:38

I thought I as a foreigner I had to use the subtitles because of the regional accent, but now I hear the sound was utter crap!

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