Emma

Rating:
Summary: An Unforgotten Classic!
Review: Douglas McGrath's 1996 version of "Emma" is an absolute delight! Modern actors put a new and fresh spin on a timeless classic. Emma's character is brilliantly captured by award-winning actress, Gwyneth Paltrow. The viewer can sympathize with Emma, despise Emma, and fall in love with Emma all in a matter of two hours. Emma's innocence and good heart is exactly what causes pain to many. It is this age-old internal struggle that makes you fall in love with Emma. Emma's escapades will have you wondering, laughing, and may even jerk a tear from your eye. The modern actors bring a fresh look to a story that will live on forever. Emma is the upscale twenty-one year old daughter of Mr. Woodhouse(played by Denys Hawthorne). Emma is a good natured, yet very sheltered girl with an amusement for the art of matchmaking. Emma has been quite successful at making matches among her friends and neighbors. It is Emma's success that is her failure. As Emma becomes more successful at making matches, she obtains a sense of graditude and learns to endulge in self-reward. Making others happy is soon overcome by her own obsession to be successful at making them happy. To the townspeople, Emma is a symbol of perfection. There are two people who are able to see Emma's faults, Mr. Knightly and the viewer. Emma depises the fact that Mr. Knightly (played by Jeremy Northam) is able to see her faults and call her on them. As Emma matures throughout the movie, it is the honesty of Mr. Knightly that she learns to love. One of the main themes in the movie is the old adage "you find love where you least expect it". Emma definately finds love where and when she least expects it. It is a bit ironis that Emma falls in love while attempting to make others fall in love. During Emma's failures, she confides in her only true friend, Mr. Knightly. Emma and Mr. Knightly's solid friendship is the foundation for what is to be a healthy relationship. "Emma" is a friendly reminder to us all...that the one you love the most, may very well be the one you considered least.

~Joel Maxam~

Rating:
Summary: Film Review on "Emma"
Review: Douglas McGrath's version of "Emma" is film filled with love, laughs, triumph and tragedy. The settling of the film is in Highbury, an English village, around 1814. At first the main character Emma, played by the beautiful and talented Gwyneth Paltrow, comes across as a wonderfully proper and well-bred woman of twenty-one, who is loved and adored by everyone in her surroundings. As the movie endures, we see that Emma is quite the Miss Busybody when it comes to other people's love affairs, and may not be quite as perfect as everyone seems to think. Paltrow portrays a young woman with many talents. She has conquered everything from archery to drawing and singing. She is always posed and proper when it comes to the way she presents herself to others. She even brings over food and supplies to the poor that live in her area. No matter how perfect Emma comes across, her judgment in relationships and love needs assistance. Emma has no idea that at her young age of twenty-one, she may not know everything about love, and even less about herself. She did however successfully set up her friend and confidant Miss Taylor with the handsome Mr. Weston, and because of this she thought of herself as a professional in the matchmaking business. Love isn't something that can be forced but instead just blossoms accidentally. This is something that Emma eventually learns when she herself falls in love and didn't see coming. The majority of the movie portrayed a love project Emma was working on for her friend Harriet Smith, played by Toni Collette. Ms. Smith is a timid, respectable woman coming from an imperfect family. Emma insists that Harriet marries Mr. Elton, a local man of good nature; even though Harriet would much rather marry a local farmer. Emma convinces Harriet to turn down the marriage proposal offered by Mr. Martin, the farmer. This is the point in the movie that sets up the complications in Emma's attempt to make the perfect match. As one could have guessed, the relationship Emma tried so hard to develop did not turn out as well as she had planned. The movie "Clueless" is the valley girl version of Emma, in which Cher, played by Alicia Silverstone, also attempted to force love and failed. Like in "Emma" nothing went the way Cher wanted it to and she ended up falling for a person she never thought possible. Even though Emma and Cher's intentions were good and whole hearted eventually they both learned to let love take place without interfering. "Emma" is a movie that most people can relate with and enjoy. The acting is superb and the storyline is comical as well as surprisingly realistic. There is also something to be learned in this wonderfully comical film. Emma is utterly charming in almost everyway and Paltrow does such an amazing job, you can't help but love her, despite her bad judgment. McGrath does an amazing job presented territory that has been much traveled; yet he finds a fresh and new way approach his material. This movie may be able to bring hope and a feeling of romance to everyone who watches it.

Rating:
Summary: The Making of a Woman
Review: Classy. Flawless. Triumphant. All words that can be used to describe the film "Emma." This educational love story turned out to be one of the most appealing matchmaking films that I have even seen. Everyone, including characters and readers alike, seem to be taken back in awe of Emma's desirability, complexity, and purity, in part due to the appeal of the essential English image being portrayed. Emma, in general, comes off as a simple woman, but by looking deeper, it can be seen that she is a complex woman who is genuine, affectionate, and altruistic, while at the same time selfish, mislead, judgmental, and myopic. This all adds up to the woman as a whole and is what makes the story interesting. "Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match." This seems to be the phrase that continuously echoes in Emma's head. Love will always find a way, but to Emma, it must be her way or no way. This is her one greatest downfalls - the fact that "she" is blind, rather than the love. Emma is convinced that men know nothing about their hearts when, in actuality, it is she who knows nothing about her own. She is convinced that her judgment is always correct, but unfortunately, she is fool-heartedly misunderstanding of everything. Could this possibly be because she has never loved before? Is this an unconscious self-defense? One will never know and may only speculate. All of Emma's undesirable qualities are eventually dealt with tactfully - in the form of Mr. Knightley. He is the one voice of reason in the film, and without him, Emma may never have been able to grow to be the extraordinary woman that she is capable of being. Knightley sees Emma for what she is and for what she is capable of achieving, understanding both her foolish aspects and also her good heart - the aspect that is readily apparent and which wins everyone's charm. Yet, Knightley realizes that Emma must grow as a person - exactly the point of the movie - and hides his feelings for fear of endangering his friendship with Emma. Eventually, love wins him over though and he realizes that in order to help her, he must reveal his love for her. In short, he realized that he must take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity before it was too late, no matter what the cost may be to himself, for women like Emma are few and far between. Every other character in the film represents some sort of aspect as love in its entirety. For instance, Emma's father is the male figure that fulfills every positive quality that Emma searches for in a man - whether it be for friends, such as Harriet or Mrs. Taylor/Weston, or for herself. This represents somewhat of an electra complex in the film (the daughter desiring a man with her father's qualities). Emma's major problem though is that she judges people initially at the surface and does not allow herself to be open to the qualities that may fulfill her needs. Although Mr. Knightley may be perfect for her, she does not realize this until she allows herself to open up to love, experience it, and be truly loved. This is the sign of maturity that Mr. Knightley had hoped and waited for and also that which he will be forever thankful. "Emma" as a whole was an exceptional film in which maturation, deception, selfishness, sincerity, and ultimately love played major roles. In its entirety, "Emma" offers a wide array of aspects of love that are revealed in a timely fashion throughout the movie. Only through this meticulous process may Emma - the mislead, selfish girl - mature into Emma - the headstrong, altruistic woman. Although Emma may never achieve the perfection in Mr. Knightley's eyes as she does in those of her friends, - which is not necessarily a negative aspect, for then it would not be true love - she does manage to capture the hearts of the audience and enables the film to be as near to perfect as it may possibly be.

Rating:
Summary: Emma
Review: Chick flick! Emma is just another romance movie of two people falling madly in love with each other. Gwyneth Paltrow plays a typical girl in the movie Emma, directed by Douglas McGrath (I). Emma Woodhouse (played by Gwyneth Paltrow) is a snobby, rich girl who tries to play the town's matchmaker. Miss Emma holds parties for her single friends and pretends that everyone will fall deeply in love, but never wanting herself to be in that very position of love. Mr. Knightley, played by Jeremy Northram, tries to keep Miss Emma aware of her selfishness. Mr. Knightley reminds Miss Emma that she cannot make everyone fall in love; everyone is not always a match made in heaven. Jeremy Northram is the only person who will stand up to Gwyneth Paltrow and is not afraid to speak his mind. Miss Emma only sees Mr. Knightley as a friend, he reminds her of a brother. Soon enough, the brother-sister relationship grows into something more affectionate. The Director, Doug McGrath (I), does a wonderful job of taking the romance scenes and adding comedy into them. He makes Emma out to be a rich, snob but she is very witty and quick with her words. Miss Woodhouse said, "The most beautiful thing in the world is a match well made." Emma is the town's matchmaker; therefore, she only sees beauty in putting people in uncomfortable situations and that may conclude in marriage. Nonetheless, Mr. Knightley always puts her back in reality and tells her that matchmaking is not the most beautiful thing in the world. Gwyneth Paltrow does a beautiful acting job. Her elegance and grace coincides with her athleticism and wittiness. Throughout the movie Miss Paltrow is riding horses, shooting a bow and arrow, and dancing. Her character is always getting into mischief or, usually, she is the cause of it, but somehow using her wittiness she finds a way out of it. Miss Paltrow fits very well into the character of Emma Woodhouse. The only thing I did not care for was those crazy hairstyles. It was always curled funny all over the place. She could have at least neatly made it lay nicely on her head. Gwyneth Paltrow character was suppose to play one of perfection, not someone with hair all over the place. It did not work out well with her athleticism, but is did work with Miss Emma's smart comments. Also, it did not make the rich girl look so elegant. Her dresses were of elegance, but not her hair. Overall, I really liked this movie. It was definitely a chick flick and a romance story. I think the actors and actresses portrayed the characters very well and did a wonderful job throughout the movie. Also, the director played a huge role in helping the actors and actresses do such a wonderful job and adding the comedy with the romance. As for you men, I would definitely stay away from this movie, but the women will love it.

Rating:
Summary: The Perfect Match
Review: "Emma" starring Gwyneth Paltrow is a wonderful tale of friendship and what happens when the line is crossed. Emma Woodhouse is a whitty, clever and somewhat manipulative girl who finds the art of matchmaking exciting. Emma finds her matchmaking skills successful when her nanny, Miss Taylor marries Mr. Weston. Due to the successfulness of Miss Taylor and Mr. Weston's marriage, Emma tries to setup her friend Harriet Smith with Mr. Elton, a somewhat annoying character who turns out to adore Emma rather than Harriet Smith. Emma now doubts herself as a matchmaker and decides to give up the practice altogether.

Mr. Knightly is a man who is the only person to find fault in Emma and her actions. He is very honest and direct with her, and it is his opinion that matters the most to Emma. Emma at times finds his opinions to be rather harsh, but realizes after awhile that they are true. For instance, during a picnic Emma says an inappropriate comment to Mrs. Bates, the local busybody. Mrs. Bates is stunned and embarrassed by the comment and finds herself on the verge of tears. Emma seems to think that no harm was caused and that Mrs. Bates deserved to be put in her place. Mr. Knightly runs after Emma and explains to her that he is repulsed and likewise embarrassed by her actions. Emma does take his words to heart and sobs uncontrollably.

I love the way this movie incorporates the various characters and presents them in an organized fashion. I found myself identifying with many characters, in particular Harriet Smith, because I have been setup with people who have not exactly "worked out." Gwyneth Paltrow plays a very believeable character of Emma. She incorporates the innocence and yet is able to manipulate most anyone to do what she thinks is best for them. For example, Harriet Smith receives a marriage proposal from Mr. Martin, a man she is quite fond of. Rather than be happy for her, Emma immediately tells Harriet to forget about his proposal and continue to pursue Mr. Elton. In the end, Mr. Elton marries a very selfish woman and Emma, for awhile, loses her friendship with Harriet. Harriet eventually forgives Emma for the trouble she has caused and congratulates Emma on her engagement to Mr. Knightly.

I find this movie to be lighthearted and a movie in which, the events are presented without much thinking from the audience. In other words, it was a very well versed movie that really left some things to the imagination. The fact that it is a romance/comedy is appealing to me, so of course, I took particular interest in this movie. I did feel though, that in some places the movie did somewhat drag and I felt that the character of Mr. Frank Churchill was a little weak. Overall, I was very pleased with this movie and would recommend it to anyone interested in a well-developed romance/comedy movie.

Rating:
Summary: Not fault with the acting, fault with the portrayel
Review: I admit, although being a great Jane Austen fan, "Emma" is not among my favorite of her books. She herself said that in creating Emma, she was creating a character that no one but she would like.

I just wanted to comment on the relative laughability of the historical accuracy of this version of "Emma". The costumes, while pretty to the untrained eye, are horrendous from a historical standpoint. Look up a book on paintings or fashion plates from the Regency era to get an idea of what people really wore. I didn't think many of them were even particularly flattering to the actors. I also imagine Jane turning over in her grave at the scene where Emma and Mr. Knightly declare their love for one another and then promptly embrace passionately, interlocking tongues and everything else. The expression "Get a room" didn't exist then, and for very good reason. No one would've conducted themselves like that in public, and even in private, unless they were married. 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 the very last scene, as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy pull away from the church in their carriage, they shyly look at each other and then slowly move in for a kiss, not quite sure how to approach it. Then they exchange a modest kiss, not a tongue-down-each-others-throat kiss. Elizabeth has surely never held hands with a man, much less kissed one. It's only our horribly immodest society today that allows tongues to be seen in public.

Aside from the historical accuracies, I think this version does shine in some parts. I think this version of "Emma" has the best of the Miss Bates. I also enjoy the Mrs. Elton in this version also.

There is some fairly good acting here. I do not censure the actors. They are even fairly accurate to the original story. I just find fault with the historical portrayal, which I think is essential to a period movie. Nowadays film is the way that the general public becomes acquainted with different time periods. They will come away from films like this with an incorrect understanding of the way things were in Jane Austen's time.

Rating:
Summary: Someone Elses Emma, but not Austen's
Review: I was so disappointed with this - I should declare my interest right from the start - I am a Janeite and I don't like to see people fiddling around with the divine Austen - and that is the main reason why I really don't like this movie. Bearing in mind that other's don't mind things being fiddled around with then I have to say that this movie is exceptionally pretty - the costumes and cinematography are undeniably beautiful. It is also paced well and I have probably thought it quite funny if didn't know that Austen was actually both a lot more subtle and a hell of a lot funnier.

Also, try as I might I just can't see Paltrow is right in the lead role of Emma. She is too skinny, and pouty - not at all the vision of Regency beauty depicted in contemporary portraits. Paltrow does do a fine job with the accent being America's favourite faux Brit-girl. But her role isn't helped by they script writers who have messed with book too much in my opinon and thus changed Emma to someone a lot more mean-minded..

On the plus side I just loved the two actors who played Mr and Mrs Elton (Juliet Stevenson and Alan Cummings). They have hit the characters off to a T. Mr Weston is also pretty good as is Frank Churchill (played by Ewan McGregor) - but couldn't they have given him a more convincing haircut?

Perhaps it is the nature of the script but I found Mr Woodhouse completely out of character. The subtlety of Austen's portrayal of this character in the novel is completely lost to the script writers. In her book Mr Woodhouse is an ailing invalidish sort with poor understanding - by all acccounts he should fade into the background, yet Austen allows him to dominate many scenes, with his lack of understanding, repeated comments. The ultimate in overwhelming sickness. In this filmed version Mr Woodhouse strides around manfully full of ruddy good health, but little influence - a complete turn around and he lacks the influence he holds in the book over Emma and Mr Knightley.

Emma is also changed in character. In the novel the subtelty of how Emma interprets events around her - and how they actually appear is almost lost. In the novel, Emma never completes anything - except the portrait of Harriet - and that is quite important to the plot.

The gradual build up in her frustration and that she is led astray by Frank Churchill's lack of social graces is also a necessary plot element in the novel. In this film we see quite a petulant and not particularly nice Emma right from the start - someone who is prepared to gossip meanly to Harriet about the Miss Bateses. I just didn't think a pouty, truculent portrayal of Emma was necessary - nor a rather sulky portrayal of Mr Knightly

As to Harriet Smith she is supposed to be stunningly beautiful. Not taking anything away from Toni Collette who I do think is very pretty - they didn't do a good job in fitting her out with flattering costumes - or hairstyles, and I don't think she rates as stunningly beautiful at all. Its quite a key point to the book really - and it was something that would have been pretty easy to do.

I realise, in the interest of the length of the film it is necessary to cut down scenes, and cut out elements, but very often they completely rewrote lines which altered the scene's meaning completely (Mr Elton's comments on Emma's portrait of Harriet, The first meeting of Frank Churchill and Emma, even the opening wedding scene) All unnecessary. 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 to so little evident result.

If you want to see movies where Austen characters are allowed (for the most part) to speak and Look as they should I felt the Colin Firth 'Pride and Prejudice' or Amanda Root's 'Persuasion' were wonderful

Rating:
Summary: Perfect!
Review: I've been a Jane Austen fan since I was a little girl. Honestly, when the movie version came out, I was afraid to go see it; I had such strong images of Emma and her companions in my mind. I didn't need to be afraid. Every actor was perfect! I've never seen a better cast movie!! Somehow the spirit of Jane Austen was channeled by the director; she would have adored this film. Emma was never meant to be taken as seriously as her other works; that's why I loved "Clueless" as a sweet tribute to Austen. After I saw the Hollywood version, I bought the BBC version. That was a waste! It was so puffed full of its own self-importance I felt like I was in an English class lecture. I watch the Hollywood version all the time, but the BBC version sits all dusty on my tape shelf. I'm glad someone else liked the 'I rode in the rain' line; it always makes me cry. (But then again, I cry during X-Files (now there is a beautiful example of true love!)) When Emma and Mr. Knightly are about to dance, because, she says, "It is not as if we are brother and sister" "Indeed not" he replies, and the look on his face is perfect: love; lust, longing. Wow. I can't imagine a better adaptation.

Rating:
Summary: Delightful from print to screen----- A film well made
Review: Great attempt by Douglas McGrath to bring Jane Austen's timeless classic to silver screen. This adaptation compressed the lengthy novel into a concise,witty and upbeat narrative satire. Without losing the essence of the oringal.

Gwyneth Paltrow gave an excellence performance playing Austen's heroine.She obviously did her homework.With polished english accent,she sang and played the piano,dance,sew,draw,played archery,and not forgetting acted as Cupid. Being the backbone of the movie,Emma Woodhouse tried to matchmake friends around her namely Harriet Smith. The outcome showed she clearly not quite cut out to be cupid however things seem to turn out well and merry eventually--thanks to the crafty works by Jane Austen. The film didn't forget to bring out the best of Austen's creation. Emma Woodhouse is beautiful,clever,witty but with pinch of insensitive and willfulness but clueless when come to matters of her own heart and interest. With some twists and turns with some harmless mishaps,she ended up with her Mr.Knightley. All sprightly done.

The castings are near perfect with exceptional casts like Toni Collette,Jeremy Northam,Ewan McGregor,Alan Cumming,Juliet Stevenson and Phyllida Law.Great rapport and numerous intellectual dialogue.

"Emma" has one of the best costume and art direction with distinct details of the 19th century England society. It's oscar winning sound track also added to the enjoyableness of this romantic and delightful film.

The captivating aura of this film make watching Austen even more fun and entertaining . Everyone and everything turned out great. A film well made.

Rating:
Summary: Very enjoyable
Review: I missed this movie when it was a New Release, because the descriptive blurb on the box calls it a "comedy" and doesn't even mention Jane Austen. I am so glad I finally discovered this movie! I've watched it twice, and enjoyed it exceedingly! I have a B.A. in English literature, and have always been a fan of Jane Austen. I have not seen the other version of this movie.

When motivated to read through the novel again after watching this movie, I came to the conclusion that the movie is BETTER than the novel, in the sense that it eliminates a lot of Austen's excessive verbiage about all the fine details of interpersonal relationships. In other words, while this movie has some great dialogue (and yes, many of the best lines are taken verbatim from the novel), it is not overwhelmed by dialogue. This is a visual film, not too intellectual.

The actors who play Emma and Mr. Knightly are wonderful, great chemistry tother. I think that the buxom woman who plays Harriet gives a believeably youthful & bashful performance. The hypochondriac father is not overdrawn, and Jane Fairfax is played by a dark-eyebrowed woman with a slight resemblance to Liz Taylor.

The photography in this movie is OUTSTANDING. Some of the scenes I had to rewind to watch over again because they were so exquisitely lovely to look at. The various scenes are expertly transitioned, sometimes humorously, and this fluid movement from scene to scene in many ways reminds me of the filmmaking in the hit movie _Titanic_.

I fervently disagree with those who dislike this movie. This is an *excellent film* for Jane Austen fans. The romantic scenes at the end were a little sappy and stererotypical, but I cried and cried. It drew such emotional response. It is such a moment of enlightenment when Emma figures out that Mr. Knightly is her husband of choice. He is so subtle and English, and they are a perfectly matched couple. Watch this movie!!!