Rating: 
Summary: As memorable as the book
Review: As a lifelong fan of the works of Austen I am always leary of film adaptations, for fear they are glorified costume pieces. This film was so remarkably well done, the characterizations complete and fleshed out, it was as "clinging" as the book. It truly stays with you. Cirian Hinds and Amanda Root are wonderful of course, but the rest of the cast is just as ideal. I would recommend it to all but the most cynical non romantics.
Rating:
Summary: Another BBC Winner
Review: Amanda Root plays Anne Elliot wonderfully, though I think Ciaran Hinds was a bit over the top in his portrayal of Wentworth. I don't think Jane Austen had such a forceful Wentworth in mind when she wrote Persuasion. All the same, the BBC has come fairly close to rendering as faithful a rendition of the book as can be done in a 2 hour film. They do a lovely job of bringing a sad, worn woman back to youthful bloom as she is more in the sphere of her old love. The actors who played Anne's sisters were terrific, but her father wasn't near the "fop" in the book as portrayed in the movie. The story is a terrific one, about love lost and re-won, and what can befall you if you do not trust your own judgment even when it is superior to those around you. This is one of Jane's rare novels where she takes you to different areas of England...from the countryside to Bath, to Lyme Regis. It makes for lovely photography and creates visual interest. This is one of those movies you'll be drawn to watch again and again.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful!
Review: For my money, this is absolutely the best Jane Austen adaptation ever done. Unlike some other recent adaptations ("Emma") where the aim seems to be to show beautiful people in lovely costumes surrounded by lovely things, this movie actually wants to portray real people with real emotions, whose clothes get dirty and hair gets windblown when they go for long walks.I loved that the director didn't cast "Hollywood" types. Amanda Root is perfect as Anne Elliot -- at the beginning faded, tired and resigned to her fate as a spinster aunt who is everyone's confidante, but who cannot confess her own feelings to anyone. There is such a wealth of expressions in her eyes and her subtle gestures. And Ciaran Hinds makes a dashing and handsome Captain Wentworth -- no wonder all the ladies are in love with him! The minor characters too are priceless -- especially Sophie Thompson as Anne's hypochondriac sister, Mary, and Corin Redgrave as the monstrously snobbish Sir Walter Elliott, who has some of the funniest lines in the movie. Highly recommended to all true Jane Austen fans!
Rating: 
Summary: A Worthy Adaptation of a Favorite Book
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this adaptation of Jane Austen's "Persuasion." Unlike some other reviewers on this site, I found Amanda Root to be a perfect choice for the role of Anne Elliott, who had "lost her bloom" at age 27. At the beginning of the movie, Root's Anne is timid, often self-effacing, and her physical appearance is, frankly, plain. Thoroughout the course of the film, as she rediscovers her feelings for Captain Wentworth (Ciaran Hinds)she becomes more animated and self-assured, and by the end of the movie, sure of the captain's love, she positively blooms again. I liked the cast in general, although I thought that Hinds may have been an older Captain Wentworth than Austen envisioned. Corin Redgrave gave his usual excellent performance as the vain and foppish father of Anne and Elizabeth. I did not care for Phoebe Nicholls interpretation of Elizabeth Elliott, however. Ms Nicholls, who was so brilliant in "Brideshead Revisited," played Elizabeth (who is in her late 20s) as a spoiled teenager who would have been more at home in the Los Angeles of the 1990s than early 19th century England. Sophie Thompson (sister of Emma) and Fiona Shaw were outstanding as Mary Musgrove and Mrs. Croft, respectively. The film makers did take some liberties with the story....it has been commented on several times by critics that Anne and the Captain never kissed in Austen's novel. While this is true, most of the film adaptations of Austen's works that I have seen include scenes of kissing between men and women who have come to an understanding of their love for each other. "Persuasion" is certainly a more faithful adaptation of Austen than is "Mansfield Park," which was released about the same time, probably because it does not have a political ax to grind.
Rating:
Summary: A Worthy Adaptation of a Favorite Book
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this adaptation of Jane Austen's "Persuasion." Unlike some other reviewers on this site, I found Amanda Root to be a perfect choice for the role of Anne Elliott, who had "lost her bloom" at age 27. At the beginning of the movie, Root's Anne is timid, often self-effacing, and her physical appearance is, frankly, plain. Thoroughout the course of the film, as she rediscovers her feelings for Captain Wentworth (Ciaran Hinds)she becomes more animated and self-assured, and by the end of the movie, sure of the captain's love, she positively blooms again. I liked the cast in general, although I thought that Hinds may have been an older Captain Wentworth than Austen envisioned. Corin Redgrave gave his usual excellent performance as the vain and foppish father of Anne and Elizabeth. I did not care for Phoebe Nicholls interpretation of Elizabeth Elliott, however. Ms Nicholls, who was so brilliant in "Brideshead Revisited," played Elizabeth (who is in her late 20s) as a spoiled teenager who would have been more at home in the Los Angeles of the 1990s than early 19th century England. Sophie Thompson (sister of Emma) and Fiona Shaw were outstanding as Mary Musgrove and Mrs. Croft, respectively. The film makers did take some liberties with the story....it has been commented on several times by critics that Anne and the Captain never kissed in Austen's novel. While this is true, most of the film adaptations of Austen's works that I have seen include scenes of kissing between men and women who have come to an understanding of their love for each other. "Persuasion" is certainly a more faithful adaptation of Austen than is "Mansfield Park," which was released about the same time, probably because it does not have a political ax to grind.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful!
Review: For my money, this is absolutely the best Jane Austen adaptation ever done. Unlike some other recent adaptations ("Emma") where the aim seems to be to show beautiful people in lovely costumes surrounded by lovely things, this movie actually wants to portray real people with real emotions, whose clothes get dirty and hair gets windblown when they go for long walks. I loved that the director didn't cast "Hollywood" types. Amanda Root is perfect as Anne Elliot -- at the beginning faded, tired and resigned to her fate as a spinster aunt who is everyone's confidante, but who cannot confess her own feelings to anyone. There is such a wealth of expressions in her eyes and her subtle gestures. And Ciaran Hinds makes a dashing and handsome Captain Wentworth -- no wonder all the ladies are in love with him! The minor characters too are priceless -- especially Sophie Thompson as Anne's hypochondriac sister, Mary, and Corin Redgrave as the monstrously snobbish Sir Walter Elliott, who has some of the funniest lines in the movie. Highly recommended to all true Jane Austen fans!
Rating: 
Summary: wrong portrayal of Anne
Review: Everyone was cast well, except for Anne. Yes, she's supposed to be tired, plain, worn out, lost her "bloom". But she was once a pretty girl and she's also supposed to have a sense of humour, and have enough manners to hide her own feelings in a social setting. Amanda Root's Anne in this movie is seriously plain/unattractive, and one can't imagine how she could ever be considered pretty 8 years ago with her long nose, plain eyes, and indeterminate jawline. But that's not the problem. The problem is that in every scene in which Captain Wentworth's name is mentioned, her eyes go all big, her jaw drops, and she goes all pale and frozen and can't function in a social setting. She becomes a total dumbwit. When Wentworth's name is mentioned, Anne is supposed to be stricken, barely functioning mentally, yet also hiding it beneath her manners and continuing to attend to others in conversation. Furthermore, Amanda Root's Anne doesn't show any conversational ability until she's talking with Mr. Elliot in Bath. A little late in the movie, isn't it? The Anne portrayed by Ms. Firbanks in the 1971 version of Persuason is at least 10 years too old, but I preferred that Anne's social adeptness. Even when stricken, she tried to hide it and spare the people around her from being worried about her, and acted graciously. And you could see her past beauty, and her conversational/social graces. The rest of the movie is good, the costumes, classical music, Captain Wentworth is particularly well cast, etc. Although Bentwick is dreadfully unattractive and the conversation often too quiet to understand.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT music, GREAT story... who wrote the music??
Review: I loved this movie. I saw it 4 years ago and decided to order it recently. It's so subtle and lovely. Even more lovely is the music and soundtrack that plays during the whole movie. Does ANYone know the name of the two operas sung during the music hall scene? If you're boarderline on deciding -- get this movie! The performances are superb -- they really make you feel like you're a part of the times and story.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite movies
Review: This is a very subtle movie and gets better each time it is viewed as Jane Austins books become so as they are reread. The actors are incredible. Emma Thompson's sister plays Mary. She is a wonder.All the acting is engaging and I recommend this movie be watched at least twice to catch all the levels and details.
Rating:
Summary: So Wonderful...
Review: The beauty and innocence of the romance of Anne and Wentworth is captured so wonderfully. The acting is absolutely superb- the subtleties are delightful- and best of all, so faithful to Jane Austen's novel. The music interspersed throughout is so fitting, and the cinemetography breathtaking. Interesting camera work as well. All in all, a completely lovely, witty and enveloping film. I highly recommend it!!
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