Cinematic Persuasion

We all know this is my favorite story. And I only have 2 versions to share with you. But today, unlike most days, I have no obvious bias, because I love them both. Each version is wonderful for different reasons. They are as follows:

Persuasion (2007) This is the first version I was able to watch. And then I watched it with my roommate Ashten almost every day. It’s very sweet, Captain Wentworth is very swoonworthy (we nicknamed him demi-god) and it’s fairly accurate when it comes to the story. The ending is a bit awkward (if you’ve seen it then you know) but still wonderful. Go watch it. Now. Even if you’re reading one of the other books.

                 

Persuasion (1995) I was able to watch this one just a couple of months ago for the first time and completely fell in love with it. Each character is portrayed to perfection. It’s a lovely, lovely movie. Watch this one too.
                  

Happy Reading!

Cinematic Northanger Abbey

Apparently, there is only one Northanger Abbey. I’ve seen it and I enjoyed it. Felicity Jones plays Catherine and Henry Tilney is played by JJ Feild. I quite enjoyed Catherine Walker’s performance, who played Henry’s sister Elinor.

                       

Liam Cunningham plays General Tilney. I’ve always liked him, too bad he's so mean in this one.

                                    

Bonus: Carey Mulligan (Kitty Bennet, 2005) is Isabella Thorpe!

                             

This adaptation really shows off the “gothic” romance and daydreams that Catherine is prone to, though they are highly sexualized, which I found odd. The castle used in the film very stately and the surrounding countryside is beautiful and green.

                    

It was actually filmed in at Lismore Castle in County Waterford, Ireland. The castle is owned by the Duke of Devonshire (the same family who own Chatsworth).


Happy Reading!

Cinematic Mansfield Park

Mansfield Park used to be my favorite of the Jane Austen novels. I felt a kindred spirit thing going on with Fanny, who kept her mouth shut and waited for the guy she loved to realize they’re perfect for each other (even though they’re cousins). Okay, so I didn’t relate to the cousin bit, but the pining, silent type was totally me in high school.

Despite this I really like the 1999 version with Frances O’Connor and Jonny Lee Miller (he’s in everything). It’s not very close to the book (Fanny is sarcastic, opinionated, and somewhat feminist) but I can separate book from movie easier than some people. Unless they mess up Hunger Games like they did Twilight. Then we’re gonna have problems.

                   

Mansfield Park (2007) is the only other version I’ve seen and I have to say it’s quite accurate (the BBC is nothing if not accurate). Fanny is as demure as they come.

                                           

What do you think? Who makes a better Fanny?


Happy Reading!

Cinematic Emma

There are 5 versions of Emma that I’m going to propose. Starting with the one everyone has heard of.

Emma (1996) The one with Gwyneth Paltrow. It’s really good, accurate, funny, sweet, and bonus, it has Toni Collette before she was famous Toni Collette. And Rachel Portman did the music so there’s a lot of clarinets and upbeatedness and strings. Huzzah.

                                  

Emma (2009 mini series) This one is very good, and they made Emma and her relationship with her father more 3 dimensional, which I thought was interesting. Emma is played by Romola Garai and Mr. Knightley is played by Johnny Lee Miller. Bonus: Mr. Weston is played by Robert Bathhurst, who was Lady Edith’s pseudo-love interest in the first season of Downton. Alas, poor Edith, Miss Taylor beat you out.

                         

Emma (1996 BBC) This one is alright. Not my favorite but on the plus side, it has Kate Beckinsale before she was a vampire. She portrays a very young Emma, which is accurate but still…eh. It kind of got overshadowed by the Gwyneth Paltrow version. The 90s were a big time for Jane Austen.

                                        

Aisha (2010) The Bollywood version of Emma with Sonam Kapoor and Abhay Deol. It’s cute, the music isn’t typical Bollywood fare, and Sonam is very pretty. I couldn't find a trailer with English subtitles but you can pretty much understand what's going on.

                         

And last but not least, Clueless (1995), Like I said, the 90s were a big time for Jane Austen.

Bonus: knee socks and funky hats. And Paul Rudd before he was famous Paul Rudd.

           


Happy Reading!

Cinematic Sense and Sensibility

Believe it or not, there are more versions than just the one with Emma Thompson. That one just happens to be the best. So let’s start there.

Sense and Sensibility (1995)
                

Bonus: Music from Little Women in the trailer!


Sense and Sensibility (2008) comes in second. It’s really good and moves a bit faster than the 1995 version.
                    

Bonus: Cousin Matthew is Edward Ferrars!


I Have Found It (Kandukondain Kandukondain) In case you can’t read that original title, that’s because it’s the Tamil (South Indian) version of Sense and Sensibility. With the ever lovely Aishwarya Rai playing the Marianne character. I haven’t seen this one though I found it at my local library. But it’s Indian so I must include it.

                   

Bonus: Peacock feathers!


Prada to Nada (2011) This one is cute and fun. I’ll let the trailer speak for itself.
                     

There is another version (another mini series from 1981) but I haven’t seen it. Actually I think I saw part of it when I snuck into a Jane Austen class in college that I hadn’t been able to formally take. But all they were doing that day was watching this version and I found it boring and left again.

Happy Reading!

Cinematic Pride and Prejudice

After writing this post I realized why P&P is generally everyone’s favorite. Because there are so darn many of them. Sheesh.

Pride and Prejudice (1940) with Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier (usually I like them). What can I say about this one? Greer Garson was 36 when she stepped into Lizzie’s shoes and Laurence Olivier’s Darcy is practically amiable (Lady Catherine is portrayed as a crotchety prankster, “haha, just kidding, only wanted to see if you were good enough” character. Wrong.) Don’t get me started on the non-regency costumes. But if you ‘re a true P&P fan, go ahead.

               

Pride and Prejudice (1980 mini-series) I started watching this one but didn’t finish it. Mr. Darcy had a very square jaw.

                                   

So I’m already predisposed not to like him because he automatically reminds me of the jerk sports announcer in The Big Green.

                              

See what I mean? Moving on…

Pride and Prejudice (1995 the other mini-series) kept close to the book, excellent performances, really long but good. This was the first P&P I ever saw, I was around 10, loved it, then read the book. So thank you BBC for introducing me to Jane Austen.

                                        

Pride and Prejudice (2003) the Mormom version. Modern day, light hearted, kinda cute. The interpretation of Mr. Collins is hilarious.

                                          

Pride and Prejudice (2005) Joe Wright’s version isn’t as close to the book but his cinematography is exquisite and it shows a more grimy aspect. Whether or not it’s truly historically accurate is up for debate but it is certainly more rainy, muddy, and crowded than traditional versions, which I like. Plus it’s the only one I own so I watch it the most often.

                                

Bride and Prejudice (2004) the Bollywood version. With Aishwarya Rai playing the character of Lizzie. It’s funny and colorful but all the songs, except one, are sung in English, which I think really detracts from it. Please don’t judge all Bollywood movies by this one. This isn’t typical Bollywood. (Also, totally unrelated side note, neither is Slumdog Millionaire. It’s not Bollywood at all. It’s just a good movie made in India about living in India. Okay, ending rant.)               
                    
                    

Let’s not forget Bridget Jones’s Diary. Although Renee Ze… I-can-say-it-but-I-can’t-spell-it’s version of Lizzie is an only child, chain smoking, clumsy woman who doesn’t have much in common with Elizabeth Bennett except a love triangle. And I can’t remember for sure but I don’t think there is a Collins character. Surprise, guess who plays Darcy (literally named Mark Darcy)? Hey, when it works, it works. Bonus: Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones as Bridget’s parents. Love them.

                       

Happy Reading!

I Cannot Recommend

Fan Fiction. Simply because I don’t read it. I have no interest in adding to the immortal words of Jane Austen. And by extension I cannot recommend the mini series Lost in Austen, even though I watched it to see if it had any merit. My problems with this series are thus:

1. Pin your hair up woman! Everyone else is doing it, you just look like a ninny.

                         


2. Darcy and his Very Square Jaw.

                                

Again with the square jaws. Booo.


3. She messed everything up. Everything. I won’t go into details but seriously, if this were to really happen everything would be ruined. It should be retitled “Post Modern Woman’s Ridiculous Fantasy of Living in Pride and Prejudice Where Only She has a Happy Ending”.

                 

She even literally asks Darcy to dunk himself in his pond so she can live the dream.


On the plus side
1. The sisters are all more interesting and relatable characters. Even Lydia isn’t as annoying as she usually is.
2. Hugh Bonneville plays Mr. Bennett. But even he couldn’t save this tripe from belonging in the gutter.

Have you seen it? Am I wrong? Tell me in the comments or leave a post on the event wall.

Happy Reading!

Movies about Jane

I can only recommend 2 in this category. (I think they might be the only two out there anyway.)

1. Becoming Jane, A) it’s a sweet, rip your heart out in the end love story (which I like) and B) James McAvoy. The music is really good too and Anne Hathaway stars in it. Bonus: Maggie Smith
                     

Did anyone else catch the Little Women AND Sense and Sensibility AND Emma music in the trailer? Huzzah! Potter Fans, keep an eye out for Mrs. Weasley and Narcissa Malfoy.

2. Miss Austen Regrets
Lovely movie about the end of Jane’s life. It shows her strength, sarcasm, and the plight of a woman during her time. Bonus: Hugh Bonneville
                    

Happy Reading!

Austen Email

Today just for fun, what if some of Austen’s characters were real and their stories were being lived out today? Since we’ve been talking about the importance of letters in Jane’s novels and how to write a letter like Jane, here are examples of what some of her most famous character’s inboxes might look like:

Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice

                   

Elinor Dashwood, Sense and Sensibility

                     

Anne Elliot, Persuasion

                       

Unfortunately not all of the books have inboxes but if you go to the website you can see Mr. Darcy’s inbox and Catherine Morland’s as well. They also have other famous inboxes for LOTR, Harry Potter, Dickens, Star Wars, even historical figures.

Happy Reading!

A Regency Soundtrack

When I study or write, I like to have music going in the background because it helps me focus. Aside from my nerdy tendency towards soundtracks in general, I think the soundtracks from Jane Austen movies are always a good choice. It takes you back to a time when gentlemen and ladies really danced, when letters were written by hand, and when Here are a few of my favorite songs.

                    

    
                   

                    

                     

                      

                      

What about you? Are there any songs you particularly like that I missed?

Happy Reading!

Fun Jane Austen Media

Maybe you’ve seen these already. If you haven’t, you should absolutely watch them. If you have…how about another go?
             

                    

WHAT’S WITH THE SQUARE JAWS? Oi ve.

                      

The next one has some language and it’s a little crude in it but still pretty funny and surprisingly accurate.
                     

Happy Reading!

I Could’ve Danced All Night

Have you ever watched a Jane Austen movie and wished we still danced like they did? I do all the time. A young lady had to know all the dance steps for the current dances if she wanted to attend a ball. These gatherings were the best way for young people to see friends, meet new acquaintances, and hopefully catch someone’s eye. According to The Jane Austen Handbook, there are 5 different kinds of dances:  the minuet, cotillion, quadrille, contredanse (country dance), and the reel.

Most of the dances I’m finding appear to be contredanses: gentlemen on one side, ladies on the other, facing each other. The lead couple works their way down the row.

   Same music                       
                       

        
             

Not all dances were so somber. They could also be noisy, crowded, sweaty, and awesome.     
                            

The music in the next one is more of a soundtrack and not a historically correct dancing tune but I still like it :)         

                                  

There are still groups that hold dances like these, usually Jane Austen societies or other historical reenactment groups. If you find one let me know!

Happy Reading!