Rating: 
Summary: Highly enjoyable--what is it with people?
Review: I'm not certain why this movie is so low-rated. Is it a movie in the same manner as "Sense and Sensibility" and "Pride and Prejudice"? No. Is it a good movie? Yes. The movie follows young Catherine Morland, an addict of early gothic novels, with a vivid imagination. When the kindly, wealthy, childless Allens take her on a trip with them to Bath, Catherine is overjoyed. She soon befriends gushing Isabella Thorpe and her vulgar brother John, who appear to be fortune-hunters. Catherine also befriends the kindly, wealthy Tilney brother and sister, Eleanor and Henry. There is also a brother, Frederick (who is VERY interested in the newly-engaged Isabella) and their eerie, falsely-enthusiastic father General Tilney. Eleanor invites Catherine to their eerie family estate, Northanger Abbey. In the mysterious castlelike building, with a death harkening back many years, Catherine's imagination soon disrupts reality, and her slowly growing affection for Henry. I must contradict the people who said that you need to read the book to understand the movie: I haven't, and I did. This movie contains the staples often found in a Jane Austen story: witty repartee, a flurry of manners and morals, dancing and dresses, creeps and nice people, and a chastely tense romance wherein at least one of the people involved must learn a lesson. While in "Pride" it was learning about pride and prejudice, and in "Emma" it was meddling; in this particular movie, it is learning about distinguishing reality from fantasy. Katherine Schlesinger is perfect as Catherine Morland, smaller and wider-eyed than the usual blonde girls in this film. Peter Firth is sexy and sweet as Henry Tilney, who occasionally launches into monologues that both insult and compliment ("She is a disgrace to her sex... and it is a quality I will be sad to see her lose") and Ingrid Lacey is delightful as the haunted Eleanor Tilney. Cassie Stuart is good as gushy fortune-hunter Isabella Thorpe, whose constant effusion hides a mercenary little excuse for a soul; Jonathan Coy is also good, in his relatively brief role, as the rotten John Thorpe. This movie is filmed in a slightly different manner than most Jane Austen films. Reality is interspersed with Gothic fantasies and nightmares of Catherine's; however, this will be entertaining if you have even a passing knowledge of books like the "Mysteries of Udolpho." The soundtrack is relentlessly, over-the-top Gothic in a way that is downright funny. We also get to see more of Bath than in movies like "Persuasion"--I thought those gardens were extremely pretty. The movie is shot in a misty sort of way, with looming decaying buildings and white-clad heroines--it seems to be half spoof, half serious story. And as Jane Austen was a master of satire, I imagine she'd be highly amused. I'm a little surprised that the travesty of Mansfield Park is rated higher than this (watch the BBC version, where they care about the original story) as this is a darn good movie. It's not exactly like Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility; however, it's still very good.
Rating: 
Summary: weird and eery
Review: I must confess that I haven't yet read the book, however, I will now. The background music was, I found, very dominating, and I thought out of sync, but the atmosphere prompted me to read the book. The darkness and mordidness some of the imagined scenes did make me laugh. They make me wonder whether Catherine, a girl of that time, would really have had such vivid and wild fantasies. Overall, it was good, but I would like to have been able to make a comparison with another production, if only to see how someone else would have portrayed some parts.
Rating: 
Summary: A fun and enjoyable adaptation of the Jane Austen novel...
Review: I've read all of Jane Austen's books and am usually very critical of the film adaptations. I have to admit though that the adaptation of Northanger Abbey sort of grew on me after one or two viewings (yes, I've owned the tape for years). I've probably seen this film dozens of times and I really quite enjoy it. Katherine Schlesinger is perfectly cast as Catherine Morland (anyone who has read the book would most likely agree) and Peter Firth has the charm and playfulness to pull Henry Tilney off. True, the film does not pretend to be a faithful adaptation of the book(there are some quirky scenes that Catherine's wild imagination conjures up) but all the same it adds a certain "tongue-in-cheek" element to the story. The major points of the plot, however, are straight from the book and characterizations are pretty much on the dot (especially that of John and Isabella Thorpe). If you enjoy Jane Austen's books then you'll easily find Northanger Abbey a guilty pleasure.
Rating:
Summary: Read the book,instead,please!!
Review: You have no idea how the book is better(ok,probably you have)comparing to this film!the actors are fine,Katharine Schlesinger plays Catharine Morland well,but i found the script to be very strange(those flashback scenes,that was unnecessary)and a bit confusing(if you haven't read the novel first you'll be confuse about their feelings)and they made modifications from the book.Let's hope that BBC make another satisfying Northanger Abbey in the future...
Rating:
Summary: Read the book instead,please!!
Review: You have no idea how the book is better(ok,probably you have)comparing to this film!the actors are fine,Katharine Schlesinger plays Catherine Morland well,but i found the script to be very strange(those flashback scenes,that was unnecessary)and a bit confusing(if you haven't read the novel you'll be confuse about their feelings)and they made modifications from the book.So read the book first!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful adaption of the book
Review: Jane Austen was an amazing and very witty writer. However, her books were written for a different time period. I did read the book, Northanger Abbey, and although still delightful, it was rather slow. I felt the movie did an excellent job of condensing many scenes from the book into one or two scenes (mostly having to do with action ocurring at a ball)in the movie. If you love Jane Austen, period films, delicate love stories or glimpses of society in a very different time - I would recommend this movie. It is treat.
Rating: 
Summary: Disgusting movie!
Review: This movie was such a waste of time! I wish I could give it zero stars. I truly regret ever watching it. I have not yet read the actual book, and I am glad to say that the movie did not turn me off from wishing to read it. It had the opposite effect. Jane Austen is an intelligent and witty writer and I am sure the novel is a million times better than this sickly film. Even if I do not end up liking the novel I am sure it will be vastly better than the film. I wish someone had told me not to bother watching it because those were hours I will never gain back again. The actors were stiff and did not seem to add any depth to the characters they played. It was a slow, ponderous movie. The music was distracting and did not fit the film. In reading other reviews, I learned that the screenwriters apparently took the liberty of adding scenes such as Katharine's daydreamings. Obviously a great mistake to deviate so greatly from the novel and it made the story all the more confusing. The heroine is supposed to have an overactive imagination, but I blame the screenwriters and anyone else who was involved in this film for putting out such a nonsensical, ridiculous and unintelligent film. I only hope that when I finally read the actual novel it will erase this repulsive film from my mind. To anyone who appreciates Jane Austen's novels, please do not watch this movie. I feel it is offensive to anyone with half a brain.
Rating:
Summary: A hidden treasure
Review: This production of "Northanger Abbey" is a thoroughly enjoyable ride, fully capturing the youthful spirit of Austen's under-recognized first novel. Most commonly found for check-out at county/city libraries, "Northanger Abbey" is a hard-to-find gem. The wonderfully 1980's synth soundtrack enhances the quasi-dream state feel, resulting in a nearly surrealistic viewing experience. It's a fun film, not to be missed.
Rating:
Summary: Wow- What a disappointment!
Review: I received this video as a Christmas gift and was excited to see the one Jane Austen adaptation I had yet to see. It was poorly acted and surprising ill cast for a BBC production. I could not believe that the characters fell in love, because the dialogue was very stiff, and the acting even stiffer. Please read the book instead of taking this poor shortcut of a movie.
Rating:
Summary: Remove this tape from your list
Review: The worst representation of a Jane Austen story I have had the displeasure of watching.Do not buy under any circumstances.
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