Emma
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Movie Reviews of Emma
Movie Review: Not The Everyman's Emma
Summary: 5 Stars
I think, to a certain degree, comparison with Douglas McGrath's 1996 movie featuring Gwyneth Paltrow is inevitable. However, I must alert my reader to the fact that - when I praise this alternate version from Diarmuid Lawrence - I do so with the original novel in mind. This mini-series has not a movie's glamour, nor does Kate Beckinsale match Paltrow in beauty. However, with regards to Jane Austen's beloved work, this is undoubtedly the more faithful adaptation. Beckinsale's portrayal is less flighty and silly then Paltrow's... she carries the character's grace perfectly in every scene. The superb Samantha Morton, despite her slimness, is a perfect Harriet Smith; it is hard to make so stupid a girl endearing, but Morton does it with such apparent ease even her must enthusiastic fans must believe what they see. Lucy Robinson (better known by most as Mrs. Hurst from Simon Langton's 1995 "Pride and Prejudice") is so wonderfully obnoxious she almost undoes Mrs. Elton, who should be unbearable, but is instead wonderfully entertaining in both vanity and snobbery. Olivia Williams (The Jane Austen of Jeremy Lovering's "Miss Austen Regrets") is truly beautiful... more beautiful perhaps then the title character. What is more, she sings like a nightingale! Together with Raymond Coulthard as Frank Churchill (who is almost too charming to garner dislike as he should), the two make an astonishingly handsome couple. Mark Strong is not a very polished Mr. Knightley, but he plays the part admirably, with feeling, and with forethought which is apparent in his actions as well as his expressions. Even Prunella Scales, who must compete with Sophie Thompson for the title of "Best Miss Bates" withstands all independent criticism. Despite being somewhat rough, the production values grow better upon review... those subtleties in the use of music, camera-shot etc will become more evident and thereby easier to appreciate. Truly rewarding, for those who will properly attend to it.Movie Review: Beautifully done
Summary: 5 Stars
This edition of Emma was so true to the actual novel, and the acting was extremely well done. I honestly was hesitant in buying this at first. I am a big fan of Jane Austen and movie adaptions based on her novels. A while ago I rented the Hollywood version of this movie. I fell in love with it and decided to buy it. But then I found this version, and had a hard time choosing which one to get. I ultimately ended up choosing this one, but I eventually ordered the other one as well.
Each edition (Hollywood and A&E) are extremely entertaining. Although I would say that the A&E version is the one you should get if you're in the mood for a true Jane Austen adaption. The Hollywood version is much more of a comedy, and one that you would watch when you're in the mood for laughing.
The A&E version was very true to the novel. The acting was extremely well done, and very believeable. I would say that the best actors, and character potrayls in this version are Emma, Frank Churchill, Harriet, Miss Bates, Mr. Elton, Mrs. Elton, Mr. Woodhouse, John Knightley, and Mr. Weston. In the hollywood version Jane Fairfax, Isabella Knightley, and Mrs. Weston were better than the A&E actors. As to Gwyneth's potrayl of Emma she did very well, but Kate Beckinsale is so much better for the part, and she made a better emma. But both Mr. Knightley's were excellent in their role. I particularly prefer Mark Strong, but the other actor in the hollywood version is just as good.
So my suggestion is to buy both versions if you can. If you can't defineatly choose the A&E version. The only thing I didn't like in the A&E version that I liked better in the Hollywood version is the actors for Jane Fairfax, and Mrs. Weston. Kate Beckinsale was a beautiful choice for Emma.
Movie Review: Superior in Every Way
Summary: 5 Stars
I was originally introduced to Jane Austen's Emma when it was on my reading list in college many years ago. I enjoyed it, but I was then more interested in action stories than in parlor romances, no matter how well written. Even then, however, I marvelled at how Austen uncovered the emotions and motivations of her characters with such beauty and facility of language.
With the inexorable passage of time my tastes have evolved, and now I am less enamored with action and more with depth of emotion and meaning. Hence, on a day like today as I am home with the flu, I gravitate toward quality films like "Emma" to pass the time. With both the Paltrow and the Beckinsale versions of the film here at hand, I watched them both.
Though I do enjoy Gywneth's acting and hold her performance in "Shakespeare in Love" to be superb, she has less to work with in this film. Against the Kate Beckinsale version, which I am primarily interested in applauding, her's pales in comparison.
This film, which stars the Kate Beckinsale whom I first met in "Much Ado About Nothing" as Hero, is rich with attentiveness to Austen's story. It maintains to a great degree the story's language with the dialogue often just as the author wrote it. In addition, the setting amongst some of the more splendid period homes in England lends to it an authenticity that helps with that all so needed suspension of disbelief. The acting and casting are solidly excellent with Mr. Knightly believable in both age and nobility and Beckinsale an ideal choice as a charmingly effective Emma. This version is the one to watch. If you enjoy Jane Austen, her language and characters, you'll enjoy this film.
Movie Review: Difinitive Emma
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a really difinitive production of Emma. Aside from the slightly jujeune leading lady (which gets her correctly - even Jane Austen knew she was somewhat dislikable), played excellently by Kate Beckinsale, we have the best Jane Faifax in gorgeous and extemely talented Olivia Williams. William's Jane is highlighted by some of the prettiest music pieces chosen for Jane - which is part of the character's prowess, and "makes" her for us as an audience (whether or not she is actually playing it). And superlatively talented Samantha Morton perfectly cast as the sweet odd-duck. She is so believably sweet and dim, she is a joy.
This version is a bit more wintery and indoor than the version relesed just before it - that one is more summer and green. But despite some really good performances in the other, this one is so much better on all levels it is silly to compare them. The Direction here is really good, giving all three of the young heroines some breathing space in their own environment from time to time, which really helps us feel and care for each of them. And we finally DO care for Emma because she gets a resounding come-uppance.
For anyone who thinks Beckinsale's Emma is too dislikable, see the 1970s version - a long, detailed "play for tv" version in which Emma is extremely cold, disapproving and you just want to slap her... often. (Still it is an on-target performance and worth seeing.)
Movie Review: Far superior to the Gwyneth version
Summary: 5 Stars
I reviewed the Gwyneth version and stated my antipathy to Ms. Paltrow there. I just don't like her, really, and found her sadly unconvincing as the high-spirited, myschievious, and slightly smug Emma.Kate Beckinsale, on the other hand, was totally believable and pretty enough to make us believe that she had reason to be smug.
I just found that this version had a spirit the other one lacks. Mark Strong as Mr. Knightley was perfect, I found him incredibly sexy without being so handsome that you couldn't understand why Emma had never even thought of him "that way". He was a MAN in a way the other Emma's Knightley, while very handsome, just wasn't. And Mr. Knightley was quite a man in the book as well. Strong's chemistry with Beckinsale is very compelling, as well.
This version is also more atmospheric. Most indoor scenes are fairly dimly lit, making us really feel as if we are in the candle-lit room, instead of watching a movie. The scenery is beautiful and the secondary cast-particularly Prunella Scales-interesting and fun to watch. We really feel, in this film, the social structures of the time.
Aso, the script for this film does not attempt to "improve" Jane Austen's work, as the Paltrow version does. There are no added scenes here simply for effect.
All in all, I found this version delightful, and have watched it many times.