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Sense and Sensibility

Sense and Sensibility

List Price: $19.94
Your Price: $14.96
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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: attaching,a true reflection of the time.
Review: This movie tells about basically,two tennage girls growing up in the early 1800's,looking for love ,facing the dissapointments of it.During this time if you were high class you were expected to marry high class.person with money.This was a problem for the girls,although they were high class,they had loss their money,pennyless.they were sort of, shunned by the society.This movie reflects this poetic period of history with a gracious splender which is hard to find in movies now.Perfect gift for your history lover.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: My all-time favorite movie!!!
Review: Though I was never a Jane Austen fan in high school, this movie has made me a fan. I have gone back and re-read every one of her books and now finally understand why they are classics. This movie has everything. It's romantic, funny, heartwrenching and heartwarming. From the scene where Elinor sits on the stairs drinking tea while her sisters and mother cry in their bedrooms to the scene where Edward at long last, confesses his love for Elinor, this movie is perfect. I highly recommend it! :-)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: British accents, period costume, love, marriage,deceipt
Review: Emma Thompson again gives a great performance as a pre-Victorian woman of great common sense. Kate Winslet portrays her sister, who allows her heart rule her life. The life situations that play out for these two ladies provide humor, sorrow, and a lesson in life in their time.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A classic based on a classic
Review: It seems that for a few years, Hollywood couldn't turn out Austen movies fast enough. This is the only English production of the bunch, and it is wonderful.

The casting is perfect. I thought it very silly that Emma Thompson was going to be the 19 year old Eleanor, and since she produced the movie I thought that was just silly vanity. But she is actually perfect as the too-sensible-for-her-own-good Eleanor. Kate Winslet is great as flaky Marianne. Even little Margaret (Austen's only fully-realized child character) is great as the spunky pre-teen. I remember when the movie came out one reviewer said that Hugh Grant's character "looks like he's forgotten to take the coat hanger out of his clothing" and that is so true... but he's so good as the clueless cad.

The film is beautifully shot, with great sets and scenery. It's a little hard for a modern person to understand why the Dashwoods were so upset to have to move to such a charming cottage! Historical perspective is maintained in the movie, though.

It is also very well written, with my very favourite line in any movie appearing (though I've read the book twice looking for it). Truly words to live by, Mrs. Dashwood tells blabbermouth Margaret that if she can't think of anything appropriate to say, "please keep your conversation to the roads and the weather!" Advice that has never failed me yet :-)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: If you liked the book by Jane Austen, then you MUST see this movie adaption. Emma Thompson has done a wonderful job adapting Jane Austen's text to film -- the dialogue is just as snappy & fun as the writing. This is one of those rare cases in which I liked the movie as well as the book. The movie's setting & cast even exceeded the mental pictures I concocted in reading -- the Barton cottage & the choices of Hugh Grant for the role of Edward and Thompson & Winslet for the sisters are perfect matches for Austen's witty descriptions. The few scenes from the book which are left out seem incidental to the heart of the story -- also, a few characters are left out or "streamlined" into one. My only complaint is the "Hollywood" ending with Marianne's sudden transition to happiness. Austen shows her gradually coming back around to love -- which seems much more true to life. If you've read this book, you'll want to see the movie -- Thompson is to Austen as Kenneth Branaugh is to Shakespeare. For those who HAVEN'T read Jane Austen's wonderful book, this is one of those rare cases in which you can watch the movie first & not feel dissatisfied with the book later. Go ahead & indulge! If you like a period movie, this is a lovely choice -- the depiction of late 18th century British society is both enchanting & funny. If you've seen Hugh Grant in any of his later charming, self-effacing roles & liked him, then you must catch him in this movie -- it's the model for many of his later roles. The costumes, the setting, the dialogue, the acting & the "lesson" are all wonderful here. It's not action-adventure -- it's an Ang Lee film rather than a Bruce Lee movie. Don't expect to like it if you prefer chase scenes & excitement. However, for a heartfelt portrayal of romance, family, and (to boil it down) the quest for "Mr. Right," all set in Georgian England, then try "Sense & Sensibility." It's well-worth owning so you can watch it again & again!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Wonderful movie! My only complaint is....
Review: ...that Hugh Grant is the most typecasted actor in the world. He plays the doddering Englishman to perfection, but I am starting to think that's about all he can do. Same character as Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral,... you get the jist?
Alan Rickman is so fantastic as Colonel Brandon. In the beginning, you can't help but think, "What is that old thing mooning about that young thing for?" But then he just grows on you, and when she cries out for Wiloughby, Wiloughby, you think, "No! Brandon, Brandon!!" He makes the show, as does Emma Thompson's fantastic, if not a bit old, Elinor!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I love this movie.
Review: This movie is right on with the book. Although, there is one part in the book where Willougby explains to Elinor why he did what he did to Marianne, and I feel that it should also be in the movie. Other than that the actors and actresses do an absolutely wonderful job and portray the characters as I did in my head before I even saw the movie. Thank you Emma Thompson!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Clever Pairing but...
Review: ...to be honest, prospective purchasers would be better served by purchasing a copy of the novel and the DVD separately. The book included with the set is very cheaply printed, is often difficult to read because of poor typesetting (facsimile of the original printing?), and doesn't even include a copyright. My suggestion is to find a good-quality paperback (Everyman's is probably fine and is certain to be priced right) that includes critiques, some annotation, and all the other goodies included with contemporary printings of literary classics. There's a reason why Jane Austen has been in print for 200 years, and it's not due to her being a "dead white chick." First-time readers are to be envied.
Austen translates very well to the screen, and this film joins a group of other very enjoyable screen adaptations of her works. The only extras on this disk are a trailer, a commentary (to which I haven't listened), and a few deleted scenes that really would've served no purpose other than disturbing the pace of the film. There are a number of subtitle options, including various Asian languages (perhaps a concession to Ang Lee fans). The print is nice and sharp, and is widescreen but not--unfortunately--anamorphic, the sound is clear, and the soundtrack is beautiful and sparingly utilized.
The movie itself is a joy, and I'm delighted that something of this quality is actually produced these days. It's very true to the spirit, if not the exact letter, of the novel, and contains not one expletive or hint of innuendo (except of manners). Ms. Thompson and Mr. Lee manage to treat us to a consistently engaging slice of Regency life that reminds us that the reason why classics are still read is that they're relevant, ultimately, to the human experience in general. Virtually anyone, regardless of background, can relate to these characters and their situations.
Ignore quibblers who complain that Thompson is too old for the part; these are the same types who'd complain that Mary Martin was too old to play Maria in The Sound of Music. My advice is to always judge a performance, ultimately, as the sum of its parts, which often really is greater than scrutiny of its individual components would indicate. This film is a winner any way you add it up, and is definitely worth owning.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: not the greatest, but not the worst
Review: Anyone who sees "Pride and Prejudice" first will be disapointed. Not that the film makers didn't stick to the book, they did, and very well. But the plot is no where near as fast paced as the former. I read "Pride and Prejudice" and absolutly loved it, as does everyone who reads it. So I began reading the others. None measure up. But this movie is ok. Despite Hugh Grant's performance, which comes off as being quite immature. Yes, Edward was shy, but he didn't behave like a little boy. Everyone else was perfect for their roles. Especialy Fanny. They did clip out a few chracters, but it is for the best. They would have complicated things too much for a movie. Over all a pretty decent film.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Wonderful movie....
Review: Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" is the tale of the 'second' Dashwood family: a mother and three daughters who didn't inherit when the father passed away. The heir swore a deathbed oath to take care of his his step-mother and step-sisters, but his wife, Fanny (I couldn't think of a more appropriate name myself!) talked him out of it at every turn.

The second Dashwood family: Mrs. Dashwood, the mother, Miss Dashwood--aka Eleanor the eldest (Thompson), Marianne (Winslet), and Margaret, are forced to move to a country cottage and fend for themselves on the $500 a year stipend the estate grants them. Of course, in the 1800's they cannot have a career. Further, since they don't have any money for a dowry their matrimonial prospects are not very good, either.

Along the way, Marianne learns some lessons about faith and devotion from Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman). I'm a huge Rickman fan and this is one of his best performances. You get used to him playing villanous roles and Colonel Brandon hardly seems like him.

Eleanor also discovers Edward Farris (Hugh Grant). I can't say the pair of them give the most spirited performance in the movie, but that's what their characters are about, too.

Overall, beautifully filmed, costumed and acted. "Pride and Prejudice" is still my favorite Austen, but this one's a good close second.


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