Rating: 
Summary: It's Kate Beckinsale's Emma, not Gwyneth Paltrow's!
Review: Kate Beckinsale is a charming actress, doing a wonderful job in this file. Ms. Paltrow's version was okay, but nowhere near the quality and life of this version.
Rating:
Summary: Two different Emma Video's available
Review: There are two versions of Austen's Emma available one with Kate Beckinsale and one with Gwyneth Paltrow. They are both very good, however the Beckinsale video is different in both script and cinematography. It was likely produced for the BBC and if you like their style of show I recommend the tape. Paltrow's Emma is excellently done and well acted and is video is my favorite because of the wry comedy and wonderful cinematography. If you like either of these video's or Austen's stories I recommend Emma Thompson's Sense and Sensibility as well as the BBC/A&E production of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth.
Rating: 
Summary: A decent adaptation...
Review: ...which is, unfortunately, not so true to the spirit of the novel. Most of the integral plot elements are there, but some characters and situations are twisted to support problemmatic filmmaker/screenwriter perceptions. Lacks much of the novel's original humor.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful adaptation with classic Kate!
Review: This adaptation was FAR superior to the Hollywood version by Gwyneth Paltrow. For one thing, Kate Beckinsale truly "was" Emma. Intelligent, yet misguided, wanting to do the right thing, yet blinded by her own prejudices. This woman can act, unlike the "other" Emma, plus she looked like my ideal version of Emma. The writing was much closer to the book, particularly in the prominence of the Jane Fairfax/Frank Churchill story, which was virtually ignored in the other movie (maybe because the lovely Polly Walker who played Jane in the Hollywood version was too much competition for Gwyneth Paltrow). The village and the sets also seemed much less fake-looking than in the Hollywood film. If you want to see a great adaptation of a beloved novel, this is the one to pick.
Rating:
Summary: Period Pomp But No Panache
Review: If you long for period costumes, genteel conversation and delightful scenery alone, this is your movie. If you long for wit, whim and wonder, this adaptation might disappoint you. Heroine Emma lacks the esential Austen charme and comes off spoiled and even mean with hardly ever a counter-balance which youthful grace, playfulness and whimsical folly might bestow. Mr. Knightly appears as the suprise lover (if you don't know the story line) because there is so little sensual fizz between him and Emma (a lack which I place again at the heroine's feet).
If the comparison with A&E's "Pride And Prejudice" be allowed, Lizzy and Mr Darcy are beguiling and loveable whereas this Emma and Mr Kightly are genteely vexing and never more than that.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent adaptation of Austen's work!
Review: This movie is far superior to the one starring Gwyneth Paltrow. Kate Beckinsdale gives the part of Emma a greater depth of character than Ms. Paltrow does...and a great deal more fire and attitude - as Emma should have. Character development in this version is much better than in the Miramax version. Ms. Beckinsdale's Emma is much more lovable and understandable than Ms. Paltrow's. In the end, this makes the audience symphathetic to Emma - she deserves this. Remember, she is only a child, still finding her place in society. The scene on Box Hill is played quite brilliantly in this version - Emma, you must remember, is very naive and is not really aware of what she is doing. You get a better sense of her blunder and of her remorse in this version than in the Miramax version, in which she seems to be nasty on purpose. The casting (and acting) in this version is superb - Jane in the Miramax version is saucier than one would expect; her expressions were much harsher than author Jane Austen may have wanted. A nice nod to the Pride and Prejudice version - the inclusion of Ms. Lucy Robinson (Mrs. Hurst in P&P) in Emma as Mrs. Elton was a great choice. She makes a wonderful, loud, brassy wife. If you must insist on watching the Emma starring Gwyneth Paltrow, watch that version first, and then watch this version. Otherwise, you will be very disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Emma As You Wish
Review: Finally having watched all 3 "Emma", I am quite sure that all 3 versions have had qualities that one might hope to find in movies in differnet time and mind setting:
Gwyneth Paltrow's Emma is more humoruos/comical quite excellent for a good laugh--Jeremy Northam and Gwyneth Paltrow make a perfect charming couple--. NOw for JA's Emma, it is much more a drama than a comedy and I found intense and strong chemistery between Mark Strong and Kate Beckinsale. Both couples in both "Emma" carry the show perfectly well. All other characters in JA's Emma show more deep of emotions, if you wish.
It is just up to your mood and what you are looking for any particular time while you are watching Emma: So; take your pick accordingly(I myself planning to get both Emma, they both are really charming and interesting in their own way; no need to say I ma a fanatic of JA's work on TV and big screen)
But I have one strong recommendation for "Emma" lovers: go and rent(if you haven't done yet) "Emma" of 1972 BBC version on Video.
Doran Goodwin is the best and most charming Emma I have watched by now. Together with John Carson who brought an excellent Mr. Knightley on TV, Ms. Goodwin's Emma is more succesfull than others IMO; I wish we could have 1972 Emma on DVD too, any chance?
Rating:
Summary: a tale of two Emma's....
Review: let me preface this by saying I haven't read the novel yet. This version of Emma is a darker (in comparison) version when reviewed next to the Gwneth Paltrow version. Both versions are enjoyable, and have their own set of good and bad points. This version's main sticking point with me is the lighting, which gives most of the movie a dreary dark outlook. But on the plus side, there are scenes in this version that are great additions-I especially like the final scene where Knightley invites his tenants to his wedding-much to the vicar's wife's dismay-which is very enjoyable as they are two stick in the mud's. Mark's Strong's portrayal of Knightley is different than Jeremy Northern's, but not worse, just different.
I would recommend this movie to any period movie buff. I like different versions of the same movie-kind of like different versions of the same recipe. Different, but still tasty! 4 stars!
Rating:
Summary: Emma
Review: Love this movie and the actors in it! The best version I have ever seen.
Rating:
Summary: Beckinsale is a delightful Emma
Review: First I would like to start with the positive aspects of this version of "Jane Austen's Emma". Beckinsale portrayed the misguided confidence turning to confusion of the Emma character beautifully. She's absolutely sure she is right, and then cannot understand why events are not unfolding as she expected. Wonderful portrayal! Beckinsale did a wonderful job of putting Emma at "our" level. By that, I mean that Emma is fallible, very fallible, but loveable all the same, much like each of us are from time to time. I could identify with her and for that, I really, really liked her.
Samantha Morton was perfect as Harriet Smith. She was pretty-faced, empty-headed without an ounce of malice in her. And really, it's what makes her likeable. Men fall in love with a pretty face every day. No wonder, Emma could imagine her with Elton, Churchill and finally even Mr. Knightley. Well done!
Olivia Williams did a fine portrayal of Jane Fairfax. Jane is a reserved person in extremely difficult circumstances, living in cramped conditions, facing an uncertain future, in love with man not her equal. Williams played her just that way. She's beautiful, cultured and has feelings and is actually a romantic at heart. Jane is frustrated and for that suffers ill health, like we all do when faced with prolonged stress.
Lucy Robinson was so wickedly malicious in her adaption of Mrs. Elton, that I was entranced. Watching her was thoroughly entertaining! Dominic Rowan and Lucy Robinson both did such a great teamwork as the "Elton Terrible Twosome" that I can only give praise. (Chuckle, Chuckle...)
Prunella Scales is a marvelous character actress. She played the oblivious though thoroughly well-intentioned spinster to a tee. It was just the right mix of loveable irritation. I am only sorry that it was not possible to fit in John Cleese somehow!
Now for what I didn't agree with in the movie. Mark Strong is a wonderful actor but he came down like thunder in his portrayal of Knightley. He seems to like everybody, but Emma! Yes, he is her mentor; that is true; but how could he ever love someone he respected so little. If I could have seen moments when he liked Emma, or forgave her her errors, I could have believed the final love scene. I had the impression that he only proposed because he was forced to by the script. A shame, because as I said, he's a fine actor and capable of making that scene heavenly, just like it is in the book.
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