Lost in Austen
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Movie Reviews of Lost in Austen
Movie Review: From the talking, comes the love.
Summary: 5 Stars
We are living through a great age of Jane Austen inspired prequels/sequels and revisions. Would she be amused or insulted that her works, Pride and Prejudice in particular, have inspired so many others to project what their vision is or what they feel was not stated on the written page? Who can say, but I personally like to think that somewhere she feels a bit bemused and a bit chagrined, winking and enjoying the whole lot all the same.
Amanda Price (charmingly played by the ever talented Jemima Rooper) is a 21st century London girl, unsatisfied with her life and eager to escape her world through the pages of her favorite novel - Pride and Prejudice. She visualizes the written world of Pemberley, Longbourne and Rosings in her mind and longs for the romance of it all. Always be careful what you wish for, my dear, for you just might get it and it may turn out to be far more complicated that what you've envisioned. Enter Elizabeth Bennet (rising star Gemma Arterton) through a doorway portal and commence the hijinks.
The entire cast works well together, but the Wickham turnaround in the hands of the excellent Tom Ripley was a particularly witty plot twist that worked well. The classically trained Elliot Cowan was a marvelous Mr. Darcy and had excellent screen chemistry with Ms. Rooper. I'm a Janeite and have either read or watched marvelous adaptations as well as lackluster interpretations. This is, most assuredly, the former and not the latter.
Movie Review: Love the series but check DVD you purchase
Summary: 5 Stars
I caught this series on the Ovation channel. I was disdainful but curious and watched the show ready to hate it. I ended up loving it instead. The actors are outstanding, the story is very creative and there are little twists and changes in some of the characters that we have come to love and hate from Pride and Prejudice. I was ready to hate Amanda (the modern, dropped in character) and ended up falling in love with her. She was combination of softness and strength and had the brashness of a modern girl, I often fantasize about when reading a period novel. Not quite in your face but very straightforward.
I apologize to P&P die-hard fans, but I was very glad that Elizabeth was not in the series that much. I have always found her to be irritating but the actress that plays her is quite lovely and what I imagined Elizabeth to look like. If you are into Lizzie, this may not be the series for you.
Word of advise though. When purchasing, check you DVD asap. I'd purchase this DVD straight from Amazon and my copy is missing Amanda's performance of "Downtown". It wasn't a skip, but a complete cut of this scene. I stopped watching it because I frankly did not want to find any other scenes missing.
However, I did give the series a 5 star rating because the series itself is sensational.
If you are a die-hard fan of P&P, I hope you are open because this is a lovely fantasy for anyone that has ever wanted to be with Mr. Darcy.
Movie Review: Comical Twist on a Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is a great mix of witty British humour and Jane Austen's classic masterpiece. If you like both of those, you'll probably enjoy "Lost in Austen". It's sympathetic to the original story, and rather than mocking it (like some other Austen take-offs) I felt it paid homage to the timelessness of the themes in "Pride and Prejudice". Two hundred years later, people still have the same feelings, despite the way they might speak, dress and pass their days. It's a testament to both Austen's writing and the writers/producers of this film.
(I won't recount the plot here, as it's been covered many times elsewhere.)
Aside from being an entertaining twist on the original story, I found it very interesting to see how the "original characters" were portrayed in comparison to earlier versions of P&P. It's not just silly comedy - these characters are well-developed and well-acted and not what you may have been programmed to expect. Mrs. Bennet in particular was played in a very different, yet still relevant and believable light, than in the 1995 version. Jemima Rooper did a great job as Amanda, skillfully blending the comedic aspects of the role with the dramatic elements of the story line.
I suspect a few jokes and comments here and there will be lost on non-British viewers, and I think it's a shame that a few scenes from the original series (as aired on TV in the UK)were cut.
Movie Review: The twists & turns far flung from Jane Austen's original are fun & LOL entertaining!
Summary: 5 Stars
I first started hearing about this at a favorite fanfiction sight. I ended up buying a Region 2 DVD from England and buying a multi-region DVD player just to satiate my curiousity. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED. The premise of modern day Pride&Prejudice fanatic, Amanda, finding herself swapping places with Elizabeth Bennet is right out of a sci-fi, paranormal flick-- but once the story gets rolling in Regency England, the pace is fast and one better not blink! The quick, cheeky conversations, and the twists & turns far flung from Jane Austen's original are entertaining and LOL funny. Elliot Cowen as Mr Darcy is outstanding. I think Jane Austen herself would have cast him! He had just the right amount of haughtiness, pride, arrogance, distain and finally tenderness. He gave me chills when he gave Amanda a proper set down at Netherfield; so believable. The escape from Austen's usual canon was surprisingly refreshing and the play with characters was delightful. If you are expecting Austen's masterpiece P&P, this is not it. However, my Austenite sensibilities were not in anyway offended by this blatant & somewhat contrived story. Not wanting to give anymore away, let's just say that the entire ensemble was perfectly cast. It is all done in good humour and very tongue-in-cheek. But I must admit, that had I been in Amanda's shoes, I am certain I would have behaved better! And yes, I'll probably pre-order the Region 1 DVD, too!Movie Review: What Fun!
Summary: 5 Stars
I love "Pride and Prejudice" Okay, I admit that I was forced to read it in high school and only skimmed what I had to. Then I saw the movie with Laurence Olivier and I started to like it. Then I saw A&E version with Colin Firth and I fell in love with the story. I must have seen that version a good 50 -100 times I should think! I have since rented a few other versions of the movie just for comparison sake. So yes, I do love the story.
I love the costumes of the day and the manners. I too have imagined myself in the story...and I am good friends with Jane and Lizzie, and I end up with Colonel Fitzwilliam. Lol! So I loved the premise of this story.
I loved how the characters didn't duplicate the A&E version exactly. Although I do have to admit that Mr. Collins was truly awful - more awful than I would have imagined him. I liked to see how things changed because Lizzie was not there and because Amanda was. It reminds me of "It's a Wonderful Life" when George Bailey sees how everything changes when he is not there. It's remarkable what can happen all because of one person. And I honestly liked the twist that they made with Mr. Wickham. It was refreshing not to dislike him.
I loved most all of the characters and thought that they were cast well. The costumes and sets were wonderful. And I like that Amanda Price was "out of place." I had great fun watching this!