Screenplay
The screenplay is okay. Not perfect and it does stray from the book in some areas but I've actually found this to be just a light enjoyable version of Emma that I don't think we're really supposed to take seriously. However, I still can complain about it's accuracies to the book. ;)
Casting
Emma- I think Gwenyth Paltrow was a great pick for Emma. I really like Kate Beckinsale as Emma but I think Gwenyth Paltrow does an awesome job as well. She gets the pride (not quite to the extant Kate did), she's elegant and refined and she does the controlling very well.
Mr. Knightley- Jeremy Northam is a decent Mr. Knightley but not my favorite. While he does get on Emma's case often enough, he does it in a far too good humored manner. The only time I ever felt like he was truly frustrated with Emma was at Box Hill. As eBeth said, he's a little too tall dark and handsome for the role. Besides that I think he's good. :)
Mr. Woodhouse- Not bad not good. Just there. And, might I say it is nigh near impossible to find a picture of this Mr. Woodhouse!
Mrs. Weston (aka Poor Miss Taylor)- A good Mrs. Weston but not my favorite. I really do like her in the role though.
Miss Bates- I like this Miss Bates she prattles on delightfully and really my only complaint is that they make her far too young. Besides that well done!
Frank Churchill- I can't ever quite wrap my head around Ewan McGregor as Frank Churchill but that's probably more due to the fact that I'm used to him being a jedi. Plus his long hair annoys me.... this is the only version where Frank doesn't go get a haircut in London.... and he actually needed one! He wasn't bad in the role but he wasn't great.
Jane Fairfax- An elegant and beautiful Jane. Not real complaint with her.
Harriet Smith- A good Harriet but I think they almost make her too stupid in this version. She's good humored and pretty though. Not bad. :)
Mr. Elton- A fine Mr. Elton but something about him just doesn't seem right to me. Not sure what it is though.
Mrs. Elton- A well done Mrs. Elton. No complaints. In fact I would say this is the character every movie consistently gets right for some reason.
Mr. Woodhouse- Not bad not good. Just there. And, might I say it is nigh near impossible to find a picture of this Mr. Woodhouse!
Mrs. Weston (aka Poor Miss Taylor)- A good Mrs. Weston but not my favorite. I really do like her in the role though.
Frank Churchill- I can't ever quite wrap my head around Ewan McGregor as Frank Churchill but that's probably more due to the fact that I'm used to him being a jedi. Plus his long hair annoys me.... this is the only version where Frank doesn't go get a haircut in London.... and he actually needed one! He wasn't bad in the role but he wasn't great.
Jane Fairfax- An elegant and beautiful Jane. Not real complaint with her.
Harriet Smith- A good Harriet but I think they almost make her too stupid in this version. She's good humored and pretty though. Not bad. :)
Mr. Elton- A fine Mr. Elton but something about him just doesn't seem right to me. Not sure what it is though.
Mrs. Elton- A well done Mrs. Elton. No complaints. In fact I would say this is the character every movie consistently gets right for some reason.
Music
Lovely! Already added to my repertoire! I love listening to it on repeat.
Scenery
Lovely. No complaints
Overall an enjoyable but not perfect adaptation.
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This is the version I grew up with and love to bits! :D
ReplyDeleteMost people did. My dad never cared for it though so we grew up with the Kate Becksale one instead.
DeleteI agree with basically everything you said here:) I know, I can't get over Ewan McGregor as Frank either…I don't think I would have minded, but that hair. WHHHHHYYYY.
ReplyDeleteI KNOW!!!! The hair is just TOO much!
DeleteSophie Thompson (Miss Bates) is one of my favorite actresses! She makes a fabulous Miss Bates (other than being too young) but she really shines as Mary Musgrove in Persuasion!
ReplyDeleteYes she does! I forgot that she was Mary in Persuasion but now that you remind me everything clicks!
DeleteThis is my favorite version, and also the one I grew up with, well, since I was 16 or so. I hate Frank Churchill's hair, but other than that, I adore it. And the soundtrack!
ReplyDelete