Emma, Grade: B+I must admit that I'm biased to the Gwyneth Paltrow version. It's the first one I saw and I fell in love with those portrayals of the characters. This movie also got me interested in reading the actual Emma so while I read it I imagined the characters from Gwyneth's version.
So I wasn't quite sure how I'd take to this version. I'm not a big Kate Beckinsale fan anyway (I thought Pearl Harbor was dreadful). So the first time I
watched it I thought it was a bit boring and too long and I hated all the portrayals except for Harriet Smith (Samantha Morton is an amazing actress and she played Jane Eyre in the A&E version). But for this challenge I figured I'd give this one another go. It was a lot better the second time around! I think it has to do with reading Jane Austen For Dummies. I understood the story better from understanding the culture better and thus the dialogue became more witty.And for some
trivia: Mark Strong who play Knightley is the seventh brother in the movie Stardust. He's so hilarious in this movie; a comic genius towards the end!So both are definitely great to watch and I added this version to my DVD collection as well! I'm so glad I took a second look at this version and am excited to reread the book and then rewatch the movies to see how things are different and similar!
Part of the Everything Austen Challenge.
I know what you mean about Gwyneth's Emma - she plays all her foibles beautifully.
ReplyDeleteI do love Mark Strong's Mr Knightly though - a really emotional performance. The one character I love in both versions and can't separate is Jane Fairfax - both actresses were gorgeous and mesmerising Polly Walker and Olivia Williams.
Looks like you are moving along on this challenge! I really have to get moving on it again.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely partial to Paltrow's Emma as well. I may give this one a try. It sounds like fun!
ReplyDeletei didn't even think to look for another emma film version after watching the one with gwyneth. because i liked that version a lot. but i think i'll give this one a try. i got the dummies book last week and will read it beforehand.
ReplyDeleteI've been looking for this version. I just watched and reviewed the "other" Emma :) with Gwenyth Paltrow and loved it. I thought she had a great performance. My library doesn't have this one and I can't find it on TV. I don't really want to buy it!
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