Persuasion

Rating:
Summary: Subltey lost on some, not on all
Review: This movie is subtle. I rate it the highest for all the Jane Austen on film. It's not flashy. It sticks to the heart though. The worst reviews on this site must be taken with a grain of salt. I find that none of them [bad reviews] are compelling.

I saw the movie as a VHS rental first, and watched it several times before returning it, and yerning for a DVD copy of my own.

I have all the other's, save Mansfield Park, on DVD in my own library, and Persuasion has been watched more than Pride and Prejudice, which is an amazing feat in this home.

P & P has long been my favorite, only to be eclipsed by this late discovery of Persuasion on film.

I totally admit it's a BBC production, and sort of dim looking. That's not how this movie should be viewed though, for the heart of the movie beats strong and true and the story builds to utter and complete fullfillment at the end.

C. Wentworth "telling off" Lady Russell is a highlight. His character so vivid, and restrained anger ever present when dealing with Anne. Manipulated, he still loves her. And rightly so.

And as for understanding the story from the beginning, though I'd never read it at the time, I understood it and craved it over and over again.

I've lent my copy to a friend, and am in withdraw. I miss my Persuasion on DVD. The local rental place only has it on VHS, but I may have to go get it. It's really that good of a movie. Now as to persuade others to view this movie, it's hard. My expectations are not every one elses. Most people I know look at me like I'm from a different planet when I ask them if they have seen this movie. They've never heard of it mostly. That explains why I never new it was out. [I've long been an at home movie person only] It's hard to love a movie and want to share it's greatness, but have to tippy-toe around the subject and apoligize ahead of time, since the person may not like the movie. This movie is just like that. I don't get it that other people don't "get" this movie though. It's an incredible tale, on screen or in print.

Rating:
Summary: YAWN! Very Disappointing
Review: Boring and dull is how I would describe this movie.It was very hard to stay awake through.Stupid story and no great acting to be found here.I'm glad I rented this and didn't buy it.Your hour and a half would be better spent elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: I beg to differ
Review: Having enjoyed all of the other Jane Austen films on DVD I was surprised to find that this turns out to be a true dud. The director displays so little creative fire that he must have been selected by a BBC committee. The lead actors are supposed to convey the romantic tension of the book, yet they couldn't have been less inspiring in their roles. The odd thing is that Siskel & Ebert gave it two thumbs up, and they are usually reliable film critics. While the book is brilliant, I do not recommend this film production of Persuasion.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Have Been Better
Review: I read the book and adored it, so I was overjoyed to find the most recent film adaptation of Persuasion was nearly perfect in every way. I couldn't imagine a better casting job. The actors bring Jane Austen's characters to life in a way I can't visualize her disapproving, and the script is just as it should be. I wonder about Mrs. Smith, and that issue of her husband's fortune in the West Indies, but other than that,the film is impeccable. The music sets beautiful tone for the romance taking place, and you couldn't wish for a better Anne or Wentworth. Of course, you'll fall in love with every character in the film-if not for who they are, for how closely they resemble the characters in the novel. Enjoy! I know I did.

Rating:
Summary: A classic
Review: It is a difficult, daunting task to take what was a wonderful novel and adapt it for the screen, but this movie certainly accomplishes it. I have seen it so, so many times and never tire of it, though I still enjoy rereading the book. Moreover, there are many movies I enjoy watching multiple times, but I find that there are certain parts I choose to fast-forward through because I don't care for them. Not this movie. I watch every minute, every time. If this is your first time seeing Persuasion, and you haven't read/don't plan to read the book before seeing the movie, don't read too much in the way of reviews just yet. Half the fun of the story is in the surprises it holds, in the twists of plot that come along the way. But don't forget to read the book once you're done. :)

Rating:
Summary: DOES NOT DO THE BOOK JUSTICE!
Review: I read this book, and loved it. Persuasion was the first book I read from Jane Austen, so after I finished it, I just had to watch the movie. We rented the movie, and right as I turned it on, I knew that it was not going to be what I had exspected. The movie had poor actors, they made the characters in the book look as if they were just to old to live, and love. Among othere things, it left out many scene that are vital to the book.

I watched this with my mother, and I was the only one who read the book. As the movie went on, she had to stop it to ask me what was going on. The beginning of the movie, in my opinion, is the worst part because they leave out that she was once in love with a man when they were younger. It confuses you through out the rest of the movie, which I can say is very long and boring. The romance in this movie is lost. In the book you can read what love she is thinking and feeling, but in the movie they try and show it, although it is shown very poorly.

I highly recomend that a person should read the book before watching this sad excuse of a movie. And if you have already watched this movie, please, PLEASE, do not let it ruin your respect for Jane Austen's writings. Again I will say that the book is 1000 times better than this movie, and I hope that some day, another producer will try to clean up the mess that this movie has made, and produce a better vershion of persuasion.

Rating:
Summary: A Superb Film Adapted From A Literary Masterpiece
Review: "Persuasion," the film, is a faithful adaptation of Jane Austen's final completed novel, and to my mind her finest book. It is directed, with subtlety and brilliance, by Roger Michell. The film is quite able to stand alone, on its own merits - you don't have to know Ms. Austen's work to be captivated by the pure magic of the romance, the Regency English period history, brilliant characterizations, color, music and costumes of this extraordinary drama brought to life on the screen. The movie deals with the same social issues as the book, especially the British class system. Rigid social barriers existed - and everyone wanted to marry "up" to a higher station - and into wealth. This is also a very poignant and passionate tale of love, disappointment, loss and redemption. The point is clearly that one shouldn't ever be persuaded to abandon core values and beliefs, especially for ignoble goals. There are consequences, always.

Sir Walter Elliot, Lord of Kellynch Hall, is an extravagant, self-aggrandizing snob, and a bit of a dandy to boot. He has been a widower for many years and spends money beyond his means to increase his social stature. His eldest daughter, who he dotes on, is as conceited and spoiled as he is. The youngest daughter, Anne (Amanda Root), is an intelligent, sensitive, capable and unassuming woman in her late twenties when the film begins. She had been quite pretty at one time, but life's disappointments have taken their toll and her looks are fading. She and her sister are both single. Anne had once been very much in love with a young, and as yet untried, navel officer. A woman who had been a close friend to Anne's mother, persuaded Anne to call off the engagement, convincing her that she could make a much better match. After much consideration, Anne did not follow her heart or her better instincts, and she and her young officer, Frederick Wentworth (Ciaran Hinds), separated. She has never again found the mutual love or companionship that she had with him.

The Elliot family is forced to financially retrench because of their extravagance. They lease Kellynch Hall to...of all people...Wentworth's sister and her husband. Elliot, his oldest daughter and her companion, move to a smaller lodging in Bath for the season, leaving Anne to pack up their belongings before joining them. She gets the Cinderella treatment throughout the film. Anne chooses this time to visit with her middle sister, an abominably spoiled, whiny hypochondriac, Mrs. Musgrove. She has made a good, but not brilliant match to a local squire. Charles Muskgrove, her husband, his parents, and their two younger, eligible daughters, Louisa and Henrietta, are delightful. There are wonderfully warm scenes of family and friends dining, dancing, hiking over the gorgeous countryside, and at the seashore, that bring the audience smack into early 19th century English life. It is at the Muskgrove estate that Anne meets Frederick Wentworth again, after his absence of seven years. He is in the neighborhood, because his sister is now in the area, residing at Kellynch, of course. Wentworth is now a Captain in the Royal Navy and quite wealthy. When their eyes meet for the first time, you can absolutely feel Anne's longing and remorse. Intense. I cannot imagine a better actress to play Anne than Amanda Root. She slowly transforms herself from a sallow, aging spinster to a luminescent woman in love - and this is Not just the makeup. Wentworth/Hinds is aloof with Anne, although civil. The man was hurtfully rejected once before and it appears that he still feels the sting of her snub. Now Wentworth is on the marriage market and Louisa sets her cap for him. Accidents and various adventures ensue, from the resorts of Lyme and Bath to the Muskgrove estate, bringing Anne and Wentworth closer together. The passion between the two is palpable, although Very understated, (this is Regency England after all). If Ms. Root is the perfect Anne, then Mr. Hinds is the best possible Wentworth. He is as large and virile as she is petite and feminine. He oozes sexuality...but again, he portrays his character with great subtlety. The entire production is brilliantly cast and the acting is superb

I think this is Ms. Austen's most passionate piece. Some scholars say that she modeled Anne Elliot after herself.

This remarkable film, like the novel, and the issues it tackles, is just as germane today as it was when written. Each time I view it, it just gets better. And the romance...well, no one does romance better than Jane Austen.

Rating:
Summary: A delicate and touching love story.
Review: IMO, this production only improves with time. As much as I liked watching it the first time, subsequent viewings served to heighten my pleasure and esteem for this very delicate and special film. Amanda Root is just perfect in her role as Anne Elliot; you can truly feel her every emotion, repressed or otherwise. And Ciaran Hinds is, as always, simply excellent as the dashing Captain Wentworth. Their passion and pain lingers just under the surface and is really exquisitely portrayed and filmed. But, as I've stated, this film has great delicacy and is definitely NOT an in-your-face love story by any means! (Oh, I shudder to think how Hollywood would have handled - botched! - this production.) The cast in general is outstanding, btw.

One note, however, is that if you have not read the book you will not immediately understand the gist of Anne & Frederick's previous romance. The film opens without mention of their past relationship some years earlier. However, the situation is clarified in time.

Persuasion is my alltime favorite Austen adaptation and, in its own quiet way, a stunning film of rare quality.

Rating:
Summary: Amanda Root as the protagonist
Review: At this writing, there are 162 reviews of this movie. I liked it very much, but I'm going to comment only upon the uneven reviews that Amanda Root got in playing the lead role.

I think she's great in the role. Personally, I don't think the beautiful Emma Thompson (in Sense and Sensibility) is really representative of the women of Jane Austen's time. Amanda Root is. Let's face facts. Emma Thompson is a modern woman, forthright and forward. Amanda Root in Persuasion is much more of a 'mouseburger', which I just can't help but believe is more true to the times. She's passive, she's not showy, she's not pushy, she's not a 21st century feminist. And that's all to the good...much more believable.

I really liked this production, especially Ms. Root's performance. She really makes one sympathize with a woman of that time, whose future life depended almost entirely upon whom she married. Women who didn't marry well, and early, didn't stand much of a chance. She would have be dependent upon her relatives for the rest of her life, and would have been the lowest ranking member of the family. Ms. Root played the fear and lost hope of a woman in her situation very well.

Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: An unfortunately lackluster, spiritless production
Review: Persuasion is by no means Jane Austen's most interesting book, but does it have to be so deadly dull? Amanda Root does her best with what she's given to work with, but she generally comes across as a "poor little match girl" type with an annoying hang-dog expression. We never get a glimpse of what could provoke Capt. Wentworth's passion. Her sister Elizabeth is nothing more than a charicature, though the potrayal of her sister Mary is quite good. The movie is too short to develop any of the secondary stories, so that certain plot lines and characters are just stuck into the main story and go nowhere.