Rating: 
Summary: Good but not good enough for and Austen fan.
Review: Emma is one of my least favorites of Miss Austen's work and in fact I never could finish it.
However, that being said the story does have some merit to it and the 2 most recent films have done there best to adapt it to the screen.
The 1997 Kate Bekinsale version a far superior to this version.
Not because this film is not well acted or badly cast, because it is not. I like the entire cast of this film, although Ewan looks just damn silly with thet hair piece/wig whatever, yuck!
However as far as the story the Bekinsale version is much more accurate historicaly and to the novel. The characters are not hollywooded up nor the script dumbed down as the Paltrow version is.
Please if you do like period movies and you liked Emma Thompson's
Sense and Sensibility and the Colin Firth's Pride and Prejudice get the Bekinsale Emma, you will prefer it to this version by a mile!
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent, but unengaging
Review: This is a small story, in that nothing really "happens" in it. It's a character study, set in a small circle of upper-class denizens of a village in Elizabethan England. The most dramatic moment is when Paltrow's character lets an insult slip out of her mouth - an act most unbecoming a lady.
From a technical point of view, this movie is nicely crafted. The acting is top-notch, and the story is tight. The look and feel of the period shows an attention to detail that is fun to watch. The only problem is that it was unable to make me care much about any of the characters, or what happened to them. Even when the characters were watching their lives crumbling, I still felt like a member of the audience, watching the actors moving around on the screen. Nothing that happened was able to draw me into the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: b-o-o-o-ring
Review: this movie is good, if you like this kind of movie. the british accents are hard to understand, the plot is hard to follow, and the entire movie is boring, unless you like that kind of movie
Rating: 
Summary: Charming and Elegant!!!! A wonderful movie!!!
Review: Gwyneth Paltrow is the perfect Emma!! She mastered the role of this sweet yet mischievious film based on Jane Austen's "Emma". You're sure to adore this movie! (It's even funny too!)
Rating: 
Summary: No..... just
Review: Is this a good adaptation of Jane Austen? No. Are the costumes and characterizations on target? No. Does it have a good script? No. I know that some people do not care for the A&E adaptation of Emma, but it is far superior...Although Jeremy Northam is very handsome as Mr. Knightley, he is the wrong age and his characterization is all wrong. The character in this version is written as something of a whiner. Mr. Knightley is supposed to be a gentleman of great consequence and responsibility. In the A&E version, Mark Strong may not have the "looks" of Jeremy Northam, but he plays the character the way it is supposed to be and is far more believable. Samantha Morton as Miss Smith is far better than Toni Collette (I like Toni Collette, just not in this movie), and Kate Beckinsale is far better in the title role of Emma than Gwyneth Paltrow. If you are an Austen fan, you will be disappointed with this piece of fluff. I don't care who's starring in it - Jane Austen is a classic author for a reason, and the story should not be changed because some person in Hollywood thinks it needs jazzing up. Should you purchase this video? No.
Rating: 
Summary: thoroughly enjoyable
Review: I think this is when Gwyneth Paltrow became big. Maybe her first starring role? Anyways, sometimes period pieces are hard to understand and follow, but this one moves along at a quick pace, and is suprisingly funny. I say suprisingly because normally when you think comedy, a period piece isn't the first thing to pop to mind. This movie has humor, drama, a great story, and most of all, Gwyneth Paltrow. She shines here. Toni Collete, another very good actress, has a humorous co-starring role here as the loveable frump that Emma (Gwyneth) tries desperately to help. It all ends well, and I love a happy ending. Don't you?
Rating:
Summary: Maybe I was drawn offside
Review: I have noticed that particularly well-written stories attract more intelligent reviews than most of the best-selling trash. Not near as many reviews, of course, but much more literate. The same goes for videos. Quite a number of the reviews praising "Emma" are among the best I've seen on the Amazon site. Conversely, I found three outstanding negative reviews in which the reviewers stated their dislikes so compellingly that I've had to reconsider my perception of this movie. For insight into what I mean, read the reviews below by dinkybob2, Anne Woodley, and Ken Groom. Woodley says, "I am a Janeite and I don't like to see people fiddling around with the divine Austen." Serious writers have been studying Jane Austen's works for 200 years. Patrick O'Brian said he unabashedly adopted elements of her style. (Which is, of course, why writers study other writers.) Woodley speaks for me, too, when she says, "The fact that Austen's perfect words have been read with great enjoyment for hundreds of years leaves me wondering why script writers are so determined to improve them..." It takes a mighty big ego for a screenwriter to presume to improve Jane Austen's use of dialog. Dinkybob2 disliked the "laughability of the historical accuracy of this version of 'Emma'", and she explains why. Ken Groom expressed the same objection. Dinkybob2 objected to a passionate and graphic kiss between Emma and Mr. Knightly, and explains, "The Colin Firth/Jennifer Ehle 'Pride and Prejudice' shows what I think is a lovely example of how people in love would've behaved together [in that period]." Many persons familiar with eighteenth-century social customs, as they were accurately described by Jane Austen, would agree. Austen fans identify the characters she created down to the last detail, and their precisely-described conduct as well. Indeed, has any author ever excelled Jane Austen in characterization and scene descriptions? Both dinkybob2 and Anne Woodley suggest other screen adaptations of Jane Austen's books which they feel are superior to Emma, and they provide lucid reasons for their opinions. This forum for customer comments presented by the Amazon site is one of its most valuable features. Contrasting viewpoints, when well expressed, are highly influential in my buying decisions. Maybe I was misled into believing I enjoyed this film because the version produced by BBC was so gosh-awful. (I'm pleased that it isn't offered on the Amazon.com site.) Austen said Emma was "nearly" twenty-one. The actress who played Emma for BBC was at least 35 when the film was made, or looked it. Jane Austen would not have considered her "handsome," as she described the real Emma. BBC's Mr. Knightly was combative with Emma, not sensibly argumentative and genteel during their debates. Among the grievous aspects of the BBC movie was that the screenwriter had the audacity to completely rewrite Austen's superb dialog between Emma and Mr. Knightly. Most viewers who posted comments on this "Emma" liked the movie. Maybe you will too. But, then again, some four out of five readers out of over 1000 who commented on "Cold Mountain" were very positive in their reviews while I thought it was a piece of trash. (It was awarded the National Book Award, too.) So much for my likes and dislikes.
Rating:
Summary: Good, clean fun!
Review: Once again, Gwyneth Paltrow doesn't hold anything back in this lovely and refreshing version of Emma. Captivating view, acting, and script makes this a joy to watch. You'll cringe when she insults, be sad when she is, and laugh at everyone's antics. All aspects of this glorious film are well done, and in conclusion, this movie leaves almost nothing more to be desired in a film. Good, clean fun!
Rating:
Summary: The Cleanest Countryside
Review: This movie is perfect - literally. Not a single hair is out of place, no hedgerow untrimmed, no dress wrinkled. Everything is pale and pastel and crisp. The sounds of high society parties and small city bustle make this film so quaint - and tender. The novel is a must read...after you see the film. I only say this because it will be easier to pick up on Austen's subtle style of humor. Yes, there is humor in Austen. She pokes gentle fun at Emma's high-societal meddling, which far from doing any harm, proves that seventeenth century rich folk probably had nothing better to do than dramatize every tiny conversational detail. The film accentuates it. Sets seem small and closed in. The colors are notably soft and warm. Gwyneth's perfectly pained expressions and pale skin make the wanna-be matchmaker come to life on screen. Her accent - well, I didn't pay attention. It just seemed believable enough to not stand out. The music is suberb. Rachel Portman found a way to express with music that uptight, but lovable and good intentioned soul of Emma and her crew. Check out the music for 'Chocolat' too! For more Austen - watch 'Mansfield Park'. The newest one. It takes a few liberties with the novel, but it's still irresistible. Of course, there is no substitution for the books. They are delightful.
Rating:
Summary: Great!!!!!!!!!
Review: My favorite movie of all time. I really love it. Gwyneth Paltrow is briliant.
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