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 Best Version Sep 20, 2009
I'm a Jane Austen nut. Pride and Prejudice was the first of her books/movies I got hooked on. Then, I read Sense & Sensibility. It is my favorite. I had to watch all the movie versions. I have read all of Jane Austen's books and purchased many of the Jane Austen movies. This BBC version of Sense & Sensibility is the best, all-time favorite of mine. It would be interesting to hear another person's view of the movie, especially if they hadn't read the book or seen any other versions of the movie. Enjoy!!!
two for price of one! Sep 13, 2009
I was able to get this at quite a reasonable price here. It's great because it comes with two movies on it. Delivery time was average.
 Good but not great Sep 03, 2009
This version seems like it was only made to complete the Jane Austen series by Andrew Davies. This version certainly did not improve on the 1995 version with Emma Thompson and for the most part it imitated it, even some of the actors seem to be clearly chosen with the actors from the '95 adaptation in mind. I did appreciate it including the scene where Willoughby comes to talk to Elinor in the middle of the night after his unhappy marriage but, really whatever extra details were included the emotional intensity and depth of characters did not reach that of the previous Hollywood adaptation.
As far as Miss Austen Regrets goes, it was a miserable movie but then again so was Jane Austen's life. Worth watching once, an interesting interpretation, but not the sort of thing you'd want to watch again and again.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Just as good as the Emma Thompson version! Aug 27, 2009
Just as good as the Emma Thompson version! In fact, its even better! This remains one of my favorite Jane Austen books!
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
(3.5 Stars) Sense & Sensibility: The Best of the Latest ('07/'08) JA Adaptations... Jul 25, 2009
I have to admit I went into this with a bit of a prejudiced opinion... Partly because of what Andrew Davies (the script writer) had to say beforehand about his version. Also from pictures/previews, and reading what other fans had to say on AustenBlog. Personally, I thought the '95 version- on the whole- was fantastic!
Anyway, I ended up watching the film in two parts; so my review is divided into two parts:
Pt. 1:
- Mr. Davies took it upon himself to show the audience in the opening seconds of the film- a glimpse into Willoughby's past. I think it was also his way of spicing things up a bit. Now while background information in some films can be a great help, in this case I think it was a mistake!! ..I my opinion we lose the whole shock of finding it out along with Marianne (much later in the book). Wasn't that the whole point of Miss Austen writing it that way?
- Who on earth picked Dominic Cooper as Willoughby?! ..Miss Austen describes him as "uncommonly handsome.." who possessed "manly beauty and more than common gracefulness". I realize this is a personal opinion; and others might feel otherwise... But in my opinion Mr. Cooper possesses neither!
To the "handsome" part- he doesn't hold a candle to Greg Wise (Willoughby '95), nor to the Edward Ferrars (Dan Stevens) in the new version! I have to say, that for me- their eyes are one of the first things I notice- and his eyes in no way entice me!! Ironically, Mr. Davies steals Mr. Darcy's "fine eyes" line (from Pride & Prejudice) and inserts this as one of Marianne's lines (after her 1st encounter with Willoughby).
As for the "more than the common gracefulness" bit- Was it just me or did the poor chap look like he was about to have a hernia lifting Marianne?! (the grunt and gasp when he put her down didn't help either). I'm NOT implying that the actress that played Marianne was overweight; just that he's not a tall strapping fellow that can pick any woman up with ease. Which is what one would expect Mr. Willoughby to be! (An excerpt from the San Francisco Cronicle/ SFGate article entitled "PBS airs adaptations, old and new, of all Jane Austen's novels"
states the following: 'Dominic Cooper recalled the hash he made initially of one of the novel's most romantic moments -- when his character, the "uncommonly handsome" Willoughby, rescues Marianne Dashwood after she slips and twists her ankle running down a hill. The torrential rain "did make it quite difficult picking her up from a 90-degree angle on a wet, greasy, green hill and turning back to walk up the hill with a very long, wet coat on," Cooper recalls. "When I kind of squatted down, the jacket got caught. I fell over immediately and put her head in a ditch.")
Finally, nothing about his acting or portrayal excited me. Greg Wise will always be the perfect Willoughby to me!
- I still maintain that Kate Winslet is the best Marianne! When she acts- she becomes the character! She has so much feeling and depth!!
I also like the Sir John Middleton and Mrs. Jennings in the '95 version better- very comical!
I'm not entirely displeased with the casting of all the actors/actresses though! In fact, I quite like the new Edward Ferrars (played by Dan Stevens)!
The new Col. Brandon is more of a convincing 35 yr. old than Alan Rickman. But it's still too early yet to tell if I like his acting.
Elinor isn't half bad either, she's more of a convincing 20 yr. old than Emma Thompson. And I have to say, there are times when she sounds a lot like Emma too! However, I still love Emma as an actress.
I also like the new Mrs. Dashwood (Janet McTeer; she played lead actress in "The Black Velvet Gown").
_____________________________________________________________________
Pt. 2:
- So I'm not going to go so far as to say "I'm eating my words"- but I will say that after seeing all the other latest reproductions (Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, and Mansfield Park)- Sense & Sensibility is the best out of the four! Maybe because this version is 3 hrs., whereas, the other three were 1 hr. 20 min. Or maybe due to the fact that Mr. Davies has more experience in the adaptation/reproduction department (FYI: He's the script writer for other Jane Austen works.. Pride & Prejudice '95, Emma -'96 TV version, Northanger Abbey '07)
I still have the same opinion of what I said earlier. I don't like this version quite as much as the '95 one. For the reasons (to recap):
1.) An integral part of the plot was given away before it should have. Which in my opinion lessened the impact that the actual event was supposed to inflict on the reader/viewer. 2.) The choice of actor who portrayed Willoughby. 3.) This lacked the humor the first one had. And if you're familiar with Miss Austen's style of writing- she's very witty! (case in point: Mr. & Mrs. Bennet, and Mr. Collins in Pride & Prejudice).
Thankfully Mr. Davies included in this version an important scene from the book that the '95 one omitted. (**Spoiler Alert**: Willoughby's attempt at redemption: The conversation between Willoughby and Elinor just after he married.) He (Davies) also made a point to include the rest of the (smaller) characters in the book which the '95 left out. (*Spoiler*) And to bring to life a subtle mention of a dual between Col. Brandon and Willoughby. Although it has been said that it most likely would have been a pistol draw rather than a sword fight. ...It reminded me a bit of P&P '95, in which they show Mr. Darcy working out his frustration of rejection by fencing. And I do believe that in Northanger Abbey '07 there's a dream sequence in which Miss Morland's two suitors are dueling it out with swords. I guess Mr. Davies loves sword fighting!
- Also, I was pleased in the acting of David Morrissey (Col. Brandon). More so than Alan Rickman though? I'd say they're pretty even; although as I said earlier- David was a more convincing 35 yr. old.
On the whole, this is well worth watching if you're a fan of Jane Austens works; or if you like period/costume drama's in general!
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