"Anna Karenina"

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - The ageless tragic love story "Anna Karenina" has been given a gorgeous makeover. Keira Knightley heads a wonderful cast in this stylish production set in the Imperial Russia of 1974, when the strict morality of the time could crush the most passionate of extra marital affairs.

With Jude Law playing Anna's strict but deeply loving husband, the audience has trouble making him out to be the villain. He's hoping he's wrong about Anna's Indiscretion, but she admits everything.

The real tragedy is she's too unstable and insecure to make the most of her romantic illusions, and her youthful lover doesn't quite understand the demons tearing her apart.

Add to that the terrible price women paid for adultery at the time. And you can see she would have been better off staying put in a loveless marriage.

The classic love story holds up very well, especially under Joe Wright's elegant directing. And the acting is worthy of a Masterpiece Theater production. "Anna Karenina" works her way into your good graces with three stars.

This "Anna Karenina" is one re-make that truly honors the story.