Emma

Rating:
Summary: A second best Emma.
Review: The only way in which this film is better than the TV version is in the casting of Gwyneth Paltrow as Emma. Emma is an exceptional character and an exceptional actress was needed to play her. But, apart from her, the film suffers from a whole series of deplorable miscastings and whoever was responsible for the casting can surely not have read the novel. Mark Strong as Mr Knightley in the TV version is infinitely to be preferred to Jeremy Northam. Mr Knightley is a responsible, serious-minded, authoritative figure and is described by Jane Austen as having a "downright, decided, commanding sort of manner.", a world away from the light-weight charmer as portrayed by Jeremy Northam, who, good actor though he is, had not the height or physical presence the role calls for. Ewan MacGregor is also badly miscast in the role of Frank Churchill, who is supposed to be suave and sophisticated. Ewan MacGregor is anything but that.

However, the worst piece of miscasting by far is that of Toni Collette in the role of Harriet; she is too physically large for the role. Jane Austen refers to the character as "little Harriet" and describes her as a "humble, grateful little girl". And I must say Samantha Morton, who took the role in the TV adaption, was absolutely perfect in the part.

But the film as a whole was too romanticised and idealised. I am not willing to believe that people ever lived like that. Whereas the authenticity of the TV adaption was remarkable. It was like looking through a window into the 19th century. I felt - this is the way it must have been.

Rating:
Summary: hopeless romantic
Review: If you are a hopeless romantic like me then you will love Emma. I have deemed it my favorite movie. Gwenyth Paltow is incredible and Jeremy Northam never looked better. It is a great movie with a great ending. No one could do it better. You have to watch it!

Rating:
Summary: Gwyneth Paltrow=Emma Woodhouse
Review: No film could have done Ms. Austen's enchanting tale more justice. The atmosphere is exactly the charming, romantic dream I was admitted to, when I read the novel. Gwyneth is Emma in every way. The sparkle of the eyes, the sweet smile, and the sense that Emma is at once eloquently perfect and hopelessly flawed. A film that beams with elegance, grace, and beauty. Ms. Paltrow's reveals that she has this miraculous sparkle. Her portrayal of Emma gave me an extra chamber in my heart to store joy in.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT!
Review: This has long since been one of my favorite movies! I loved it! Get over the Gwenyth accent thing, she was superb. I think her manner accurately portrayed the Emma that Austen invented so many years ago> Great job! I loved Jeremy Northam, he had a good balance of elderly wisdom and boyish charm. Even Miss Bates' character was played well. This movie is funny, it should not be missed!

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites!
Review: From its opening in 1996, I have simply loved "Emma", not only for the story line (which, by the way, is not altered too drastically from the original Austen novel), but also for the actor portrayals. Although I have heard gripes about Paltrow's "false accent", I felt that it in no way detracted from the film. Jeremy Northam gives one of the best performances I've seen in the period films, greatly rivaling the character of Mr. Darcy (played by Colin Firth in the 1995 mini-series "Pride and Prejudice"). His boyish smile and gentlemanly behavior are believable and well played. As you watch this film, watch Mr. Knightley's eyes, as well as the eyes of Mr. Elton. You will find that these small details added greatly to the film itself, although they aren't clearly detected. This is one of my favorite movies of all time, trust me, rent it, it is worth it!

Rating:
Summary: Great story
Review: Ok, I haven't read the book, but I loved this movie. Gweneth Paltrow shines as Emma. I think anyone who loves old fashioned romance and movies based on historical settings will love this movie. It has both in a great combination.

Rating:
Summary: Charming - Jane Austen would approve
Review: Gwyneth Paltrow is a perfect Emma- snobby and interefering yet a completely adorable character. As Mr Knightly, Jeremy Northam is also very good - just how I imagined him too be. The only character I think is really miscast is Toni Collete as Harriet Smith. She's an okay actress but this is just not the part for her. Harriet should be small and frail and much more of a country girl - I couldn't see her matching with Robert Martin at all. This is a good overall film and Jane Austen's world comes across very well. The Frank Churchill episode of the book is skipped over a bit quickly but apart from that it is fairly accurate. I imagine it would encourage younger people to try reading some Austen. I think Jane Austen herself would love this film - Emma is as mischievious but adorable as she intended her to be.

Rating:
Summary: If You Are NOT a Jane Austen Fan . . .
Review: If you're not a Jane Austen fan, but enjoy a contemporary romance-comedy flick, this movie is a must.

Granted, the first few minutes are tedious: there is much information to cover to get you up to speed, and if you look at the directing, it looks as if only one camera was used to film the opening (there are no close ups or different angles). But hang tight. The fun is just beginning!

Paltrow plays a delightful Emma, endearing and at the same time madening. Northam plays a wonderfully reserved but passionate Mr. Nightly. Play close attention to the scenes when they're together, catch his phrasing, subtle eye movements, his body language around her. He is in pain and you can feel it! Oh, Wonderful! Just what a romance should be.

As others have mentioned, Miss Bates is wonderful, as are Mr. and Mrs. E.- I, also, found the Harriet Smith character dull, and Jane Fairfax seemed to have stepped into the wrong movie. But all in all, for those of you who are non-Jane-Austen-Purists, you will find yourself delightfully surprised.

By the way, my brother recommended this movie to me back when it was still in the theater. He really liked it (went with the wife). And his favorite movie last year was The Matrix.

Rating:
Summary: Glorious adaptation
Review: Ah, this is a fun movie!

A relatively faithful adaptation of the Jane Austen novel is a bigscreen treat (the recent "Mansfield Park" was a disaster). Even looking at the cover is nice.

An unusually good Gwyneth Paltrow plays the well-intentioned but inept Emma, a pretty, witty aristocrat who believes that "the most beautiful thing in the world is a match well made!" Having married off her ex-governess to a family friend, she decides to take a poor friend of hers under her wing and find Harriet Smith a husband, but royally botches it in the process. Amid the tangle of loves, infatuations, and deceptions, Emma discovers that her own true love has been standing off to the side...

Paltrow is genuinely enjoyable-she practically glows. Ewan McGregor is totally convincing as the two-faced charmer Frank Churchill (despite his own claims, he does a good job). The actors playing Mr. Knightly, Harriet Smith, and the usual smarmy pastor and his creep of a wife are jewels.

It doesn't have quite the emotional resonance of "Sense and Sensibility", the BBC "Mansfield Park," or "Pride and Prejudice," but "Emma" is something of a lightweight story--there isn't much in the way of scandals. It's a nice bit of G-rated fun and comedy, enjoyable but not too heavy.

Rating:
Summary: Get off Gwenyth, she was excellent!
Review: Why does everyone seem to be hounding on Miss Paltrow's talents? She is a very beautiful actress and proved to us there's more to just beauty in her performance. Paltrow executed her lines with stunning realism taking on the meddling, quirky traits of Emma Woodhouse. Jane Austen would be ecstatic at the flawless portrayal of her most controversial heroine. And the other actors were superb too. Mr. Knightly was just that: a knight in shining armor. And Mr. Elton was the scoundrel you love to hate. And the rest of the cast, oh, I could write volumes on their performances as well. So, if you haven't at least seen this movie, rent it!