I believe that this adaptation deserves a much lower grading than the Hollywood adaptation with Gywneth Paltrow, since it doesn't manage to portray any of the Austen's subtle wit and humour, and it does not bring onto screen any likable characters. K. Beckinsale's Emma is a spoiled, self-righteous girl, without the softness or humour of G. Paltrow's Emma. M. Strong's Knightley is a harsh brooding person, without the wit or gentleness of Northam's Knightley. The atmosphere is also rather gloomy: the scenes filmed in the dark, the thieves episode, the more obvious presence of servants in the story. The script might be closer to the book regarding the details, but it is certainly far from the luminous and satiric spirit of Austen. Everybody seems to take him/her-self much more seriously here, and Emma seems never to realize that she is prone to mistakes as any other human being; she preserves that self-righteous feeling until the end of the movie.
Reviews
4 Reviews
Emma
(1996)
An adaptation full of humour!
25 June 2006
It is through this adaptation that I discovered the wit and humour of Jane Austen. Admitedly, the first half hour is rather tedious, but once you start to get to know the characters and start having an idea of what the plot will be like, everything becomes fully enjoyable. Gwyneth Paltrow is a perfect amiable and pretty Emma, while Jeremy Northam is a real treat as Mr Knightley: full of charm and wit, and having a smile of his own, which is certain to gain the heart of female viewers :) Personally, I found this adaptation much more enjoyable (and less gloomy) than the Andrew Davies' version with Kate Beckinsale. The subtle satire of Austen writings is quite obvious in this adaptation; the music is very nice (by the way, there is the same dancing song from Pride&Prejudice'95 version used here, but with a more vivid tonality),and the fact that many scenes are filmed outdoors, among beautiful scenery, give more poesy to the adaptation.
Falling for a Dancer
(1998)
Irish version of Pride and Prejudice
16 May 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is quite nice; it has beautiful landscapes and very convincing actors; and the best part of it is when the viewer starts to discover the similarities with Pride&Prejudice by Austen.
But it still stands on its own; even if some character development is a little bit implausible.
Elisabeth Dermot-Walsh does a great job, and so does Liam Cunningham, whose expressive looks haunt you even after the end of the movie.
Still, the point (or moral) of the whole movie is not so obvious. Could it be that "hapiness could be found in the darkness of places" or rather that if you take a great novel, like P&P and transform it into a story with murder and violence, you might still get away without the viewers asking what is the point.
But it still stands on its own; even if some character development is a little bit implausible.
Elisabeth Dermot-Walsh does a great job, and so does Liam Cunningham, whose expressive looks haunt you even after the end of the movie.
Still, the point (or moral) of the whole movie is not so obvious. Could it be that "hapiness could be found in the darkness of places" or rather that if you take a great novel, like P&P and transform it into a story with murder and violence, you might still get away without the viewers asking what is the point.
The Separation
(1994)
Unconvincing story
18 August 2004
As the title reveals, the story is about the separation of a couple. No reason for the behavior of the two spouses is given whatsoever, and this behavior remains completely unconvincing though the whole movie. The story is told as seen from a third party, who tries to be fully objective, but, in the end, it only manages to describe two irresolute characters, without any particular strong emotion or feeling.
The two main actors look as if they really do not care about the other or about themselves. At each point of the movie, you feel that both the reconciliation and the divorce are equally plausible, and, after some time, you start to care as much as the two main characters (i.e., at all) about what will happen.
The two main actors look as if they really do not care about the other or about themselves. At each point of the movie, you feel that both the reconciliation and the divorce are equally plausible, and, after some time, you start to care as much as the two main characters (i.e., at all) about what will happen.
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