Rating: Summary: The best love letter you have never recieved Review: Of course we need to thank to JA for the letter, but we should also thank to Root&HInds and to the rest of the cast and the members of the production to bring us this great film. Ture it is not like American S&S and Emma that reflects humor and that are glorious/bright/colorfull... But the British(Europeans) have their own way of doing films and Persuasion from casting to directing reflects such distinct elements which you either love or hate. Gladlly I love all. Casting is perfect, maybe sister Elizabeth might have been little more attractive, but alas... After watching this you would definetly would like to see more of Root and Hinds. They may look older than what we thought of such ages in our century but remeber this is early 19th century and people especially in Navy would not look like our ordinary 30 somethings of 1990's. The director/screenwriter took a liberty with the text for sure, but I like it and saw it neccessary to do justice to the story on big screen. Many scenes/conversations reflects its time and ever-changing conditions of the falling aristocracy in 19th Century England. But mostly the cahnging attitude and appearance of the leading characters were most appealing. Anna's transformation from the start to the end of the film captured perfectly. It will be hard to understand at first: Read the book; Watch and listen the film closely; Use closed-caption... It will be worth it
Rating: Summary: A Wonderful Jane Austen Adaptation Review: I will be sweet and short to the point. I love this movie. I like all of the Jane Austen Adaptations, but this one is different from the rest. It's gritty, not as showy. The characters are well portrayed. Get this one. You will not be sorry.
Rating: Summary: A Great Movie Review: I've seen my fair share of period romances and I think this movie just about blows the rest out the water. It's certainly a great deal better than the over-hyped Sense and Sensibility (1995) and Pride and Prejudice (1996). Everything about this movie is a thumb up. I don't understand why people have problems with the cast, the story, or the music. The leads are definitely not the regular Hollywood types, but that only makes them that much more believable. I think this production is the finest showing of ensemble acting I've seen. The script is a rather faithful rendering of Austen's novel (e.g., 90% of the dialogue comes straight from the book) and so I don't understand why some people say that they like Persuasion, the novel, but find problems with this part or that part of the story of the movie. And the music is by the Romantic period composer, Chopin -- enough said.This is not a movie to watch just once. In this regard, it's like a book. I watched it several times before I was able to pick up on how effectively the relationship between Anne and Frederick is juxtaposed against the various other relationships in the movie. I read the novel subsequent to watching the movie, and I found no jarring differences in the stories of the two mediums, with the exception of Mr. Elliot and Mrs. Smith. The book presents Mr. Elliot far more critical light. And I think Austen's alternate ending was very well integrated into the movie. The brains behind the movie really did their homework in selecting the cast and condensing the novel to a script that still retains much of the nuances of the novel.
Rating: Summary: TGF Jane Austen Review: In this day and age, intellectually stimulating, emotionally satisfying movie fare is hard to find. Unless, of course, you look for the adaptations of classic books. As far as those go, the Amanda Root/Ciaran Hinds version of "Persuasion" is as good as it gets. True to Jane Austen's last novel, the movie builds slowly but surely towards it's inevitable conclusion of two people bound by inexorable love that has not waned over eight years of separation. As a devotee of Austen, I went directly to the theatre for this one and was not disappointed. It's at least as good as the BBC-Colin Firth "Pride and Prejudice". If the Regency era is your cup of tea, don't miss this sleeper.
Rating: Summary: I can't stop watching this movie... Review: ...and even when "Persuasion" first came out, I watched it three times in the movie theater. It is like reading any Jane Austen novel -- no matter how many times you read one, you can reread it and enjoy it all over again...and again. It is amazing to watch Amanda Root as Anne actually bloom -- you can even see the color come back to her cheeks when she gets to Lyme and gets a taste of the sea air. Even the problems I used to have with this adaptation have worn away: I didn't like the way they tried to incorporate both the unfinished 10th chapter and the final version of the novel with Capt. Wentworth's confronting Anne about her supposed engagement...but now I like seeing the opportunity to have the Captain and Lady Russell confront each other; I didn't like the way Anne rushes to Capt. Wentworth in front of the whole concert audience as they watch...but now I like seeing just how little she cared about others' opinions and how impulsive she becomes toward the end of the movie; I didn't like how they emphasize Mr. Elliot and Mrs. Clay's complicity...but now after thinking about it, this *is* implied strongly in the novel. One of the best parts of the movie, however, are the significant looks exchanged between Anne and Capt. Wentworth -- one of the best happening when Anne is discussing love and loss with Capt. Benwick. It is so subtle but so heavy with meaning. It is not so surprising to me to find out that both Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds have acted with the Royal Shakespeare Company as they both do superb jobs here.
Rating: Summary: Beautiful adaptation of great book... Review: Persuasion is possibly Austen's most grown-up romance, the best work of a great writer. And this fluid adaptation completely charms. Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root captured my heart as Frederick Wentworth and Anne Elliot, the star crossed lovers who meet up again after years of separation and must cope with their society's not so subtle but unspoken strictures. The settings, on the beach, at Lime, or in Bath are particularly interesting. And Corin Redgrave gives a highlight performance as Anne's narcissistic father, Sir Walter.
Rating: Summary: This is too much praise! Review: Oh lordy do I love this movie! Don't be fooled by it's length- the novel isn't very long either. This is one of the best Austen adaptations I have ever seen. I was particularly taken with Ciaran Hinds's performance. Amanda Root was marvelous as well. You could see her character, Anne, change through subtle actions and expressions. My only concern was that I had to crank the volume a bit to hear everything. If you aren't an avid Austen reader/ fan, then you may not catch onto everything all at once. Other than that, I was incredibly pleased with this movie, and DVD. It's a favorite!
Rating: Summary: Heartwarming and totally Jane Austen! Review: I loved this film. Two people who were once in love but youth and the insulting ways of society kept the two from each other. Now, older they are reunited. The heroine is still in love but the hero will not give her the time of day, focusing instead on the sisters of her brother-in-law. But as the movie progresses they continually meet up with each other. When it is announced that she is to marry another she is outraged at the rumors and soon the characters rediscover what love and confusion are all about. My favorite scene is when they are in the drawing room and he presents her with a letter. Oh! If you are a Jane Austen fan this is the movie for you. Also recommended is Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Mansfield Park.
Rating: Summary: True of Spirit Review: I cannot but watch this film over and over and be forever entertained. The true spirit of Jane Austen's novel has been captured in this wonderful period piece. One has to but laugh at some the foibles of the human character, as well as shake one's head at the class structure and resulting prejudice that creates such stress, misunderstanding. causing the separation of two soulmates. But gladly, in this film, true love wins all.
Rating: Summary: Lovely to see, difficult to understand Review: Don't let my rating of 3 stars mislead anyone...this is a good movie. There is no fault to be found with the story line. The movie sticks fairly close the the original Jane Austen novel, while taking a few, acceptable, creative liscences with the plot. It is wonderfully cast (almost perfectly cast to be precise) and it is shot beutifully. The scenery is inspiring and the costumes are elegant without being overdone. However, I have some complaints about the quality of this production...needless to say, this story deserved better then what was done to it. First of all, the story starts so slow that I could barely keep my interest (I find this a screenplay error, the original novel doesn't start out so dully and slowly). Luckily, the plot picks up after about half an hour and the rest of the story was wonderful, romatic, and interesting. Secondly, the sound on the entire procuction is terrible. In almost every key point in the plot I had to turn the volume to the maximum just to try and hear what the characters were saying, and even then I could barely understand them. During the climax of the movie, which involves one of the most moving and romantic love letters ever written, two voices read it at the same time, making the letter incomprehensible. I had to rewind the video and watch it at least three times before I understood what the letter even said...poorly done. For a movie where dialogue is the driving force for the movie more attention should have been given to sound quality. The good news is that I was at least interested enough in the movie to be drawn into reading the book, which was a million times better and a lot more interesting so I must give that credit where credit is due. My basic opinion of this movie is that it was a good idea and well done from the standpoint of the story, but more time should have been given to certain production details. The lack of such attention only frustrated me as a viewer when it was clear the movie was a good one.
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