BBC1 Emma

[lizzisimmons]

So, what does everyone think of Part 1?

[stella]

OMG! it's on! I haven't seen it yet and have to look around on Youtube to see if anyone has posted episodes or try PBS. Glad you are back Lizzi! I will let you know when I have found it.

stella
;)

[Claudine]

Well… I wanted to like this. I really, really, really wanted to like this. But I just can’t. The music is lovely. The costumes are not bad. The settings are beautiful, if nothing extraordinary. On the other hand, the narrator is awful and unnecessary. The dialogue is worse, it probably is the thing that ultimately kills the whole thing for me; the language is all too modern, the rhythm of it is strangely off, the words and expressions wrong. And there are all sorts of little add-ons that don’t ring true – I hated the bit where Emma instructs Harriet on table manners, and I hated it, every time, when Emma said “the poor”. Why not just use Austen’s original dialogue, honestly?
I love Romola Garai, but she appears all too modern in this, and just way too mature for the role. Also, I think the relative ages are wrong – Mr Knightley, Mrs Weston and Harriet are all too young compared to Emma. Harriet is an idiot. Miss Bates is even battier than usually. Michael Gambon is just nothing like Mr Woodhouse of the book. And it won’t get better – Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill don’t look very promising…



BBC Emma – if you like Jane Austen tampered with you might enjoy this production, but so far there is not a lot which is recognisable as Jane’s in language, tone, wit or style.
The tiny parts which are Jane’s words are exquisite – of course – but they are very few and far between so far!


As I am waiting until the entire thing is finished and out on dvd I will hold my verdict until then. As I do comparison notes as well. These reviews are the less cutting ones! But I always say each to their own as people will either like it or not. I prefer the books or audio versions to most of the adaptations. You will never find an exact replica of the books as there will never be a budget in a film for it neither will the film producers acknowledge that changes to a book to suit a film almost never work.

Claudine
Moderator
Jane Austen Centre Online Forum

[stella]

I won't see it until it is released on DVD or on PBS next year but I am going to keep looking in Ytube in hopes I might get more than a clip. Below is what I am facing as I am not a UK resident and can't get the iplayer to work :mad:
But in any case a useful character description so I can at least feel ok about waiting.

Stella


http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n8s6x

[stella]

Well finally I have seen part one thanks to Ytube well they said they made changes they were right so far. A little bit too much information to swallow in one episode though I think that is the trouble with it. Tamsin is barely audible in this and don't see her enough, but the beginning is similar to 95' Gwyneth version.
I see they decided to include Mrs. Goddard also more featured in Catherine Hubback's book perhaps that is where they got the details from. I am trying to understand Emma from this first and not taken a shine to her yet. I am glad they focused a little on Isabella and John at least. I like the history and story behind it as we meet Emma's mother and see her childhood briefly. I think all of that might be too much for some. I didn't mind it as much though I prefer Alan Cumming to Blake Ritson though he is better looking I have yet to warm to him.
Michael Giambrone is lovely as Mr. Woodhouse as he too does not get enough time but I take to him more than the other one. Something to do with him being Dumbledore I guess amongst other great characters.
It is not as bad as some make out a little tweak here and there and it would be perfect. With so many loved predecessors I expect some would be tired but me I am a die hard fan of Jane Austen and could not tire of it now matter how many times I see adaptations or read the books.
I have Part 2 and 3 to get onto so I will come back again when I have viewed it. I recommend others to be as open minded as like I said it takes a bit getting used to.

Stella ;)

[stella]

Still rolling along with the story tonight, I can agree that Romola and company singing very unlike Gwyneth who was stellar this wasn't. Who is this guy playing Frank Churchill? Give me Ewan McGregor in long locks. But this Jane Fairfax was intriguing and her story more well flourished in this version we met more of people who knew her including her story and Mr. Dixon. Still not buying Ritson as Elliot but warming to him though just takes a bit getting used to. As well Miller as Knightley seeming more amorous of Jane Fairfax than Emma than the previous. I am still unsure about Miss May playing Mrs. Weston as she seems a lot younger than Weston and too close to Emma's age and Isabel looks older than Mrs. Weston.
This is what the consensus is amongst people I know, and if I could hear Mrs. Bates it would be great. But love and absolutely adore Giambone as Mr.Woodhouse! exactly as I imagined and what I would expect of Mr. Watson of The Watsons. Very similar father figures there.
Poor Harriet, as this Harriet is more of what I expected in terms of age and situation is a perfect fit as is John Martin.
I hope people will take it slower with this as I am to give it a chance as I am.

On to Part 3 next time

Stella

[stella]

Part 3

We meet Mrs. Elton affronted with more snobbery than before, constant control freakishness is unattractive in her. Since Elton is much younger in this one the "Old married man" excuse doesn't work here. They cut my favourite line as the ball point where Emma and Knightley dance. I was a bit confused by the Emma/Harriet scene as it were her fantasy of a situation whereas she had nothing to do with the rescue.
Not liking this Churchill at all and poor Jane Fairfax I never thought I would hear myself say that. At this point they are secretly engaged, doesn't sound like it and has an even meaner cruel streak and she wants to marry him?
It is a very different Emma that is for sure, and struggle to stay on with the story line at this point. But I do like the change it just takes getting used to, I can't remember in the previous version whether Mrs. Weston was with child or not.
They seem to more take the tone of teenage feelings than those of an adult which they haven't made Emma snobby but have made her an airhead. Strange talking to herself in public in the town square didn't help things. I liked Mrs. Goddards appearance at the ball but still unclear who they cut from this version.
I hope we will see more of Miss Bates in the next and perhaps now we will hear her speak. :rolleyes:
I am sure once I have seen it more times this rendition of the story will come more clearer.
Now on to Part 4

Stella
:)

[stella]

Well interesting twists and different version of Emma that I have seen yet. The picnic scene was exactly as I expected but found myself slightly confused as the conversation continued after the maming of Miss Bates character by Emma.
Mrs. Elton kept treating poor Jane Fairfax like she was her dog, and so was Frank Churchill. No shed tears over Mr. Knightly by Harriet, a delayed reaction to Knightley's proposal to Emma. The ending was very nice as Emma got to travel beyond her garden and Box Hill.
I didn't mind this version there were a few scenes that made it confusing, but some characters true to form in feeling and some close to the book. I warmed to Elton and Knightley in this one though they were quieter characters than previous versions.
It delved more into the lives of the characters which made it more interesting in some respects. Although the version I viewed was shown in parts so I may have missed a few things. I won't get it on DVD until next year or so but I can say despite the panned reviews it certainly was ten times better than the P&P of Keira Knightley :p

Stella :)

[stella]

The DVD of Emma (region 1) will be available for purchase on February 9th, 2010 and will include 3 bonus featurettes: Emma’s Locations, Emma’s Costumes, Emma’s Music and Emma’s Mr. Woodhouse interview with Michael Gambon. This 2-disc set runs 240 minutes, which I am assuming includes the running time of the special features. The UK edition of the DVD (region 2) will be available for purchase on November 30th, 2009 in the UK. The running time for the UK edition is 228 minutes.


http://giftshop.janeausten.co.uk/acatalog/DVDs.html

[Pemberly19]

I loved it!

[mgcrules]

I loved it! I just finished it, and I must say I reckon Johnny Lee Miller is very gorgeous and makes a great Mr Knightley. I don't know how it compares with the 96 version. I liked both, but I think I preferred the movie version. I liked this version's Mr Churchill however because the other's hair was too long. The 96 version had a better Jane Fairfax, who was much more how she should be in my opinion. This one was too confident and outspoken at times. And as much as I like Tamsin, the 96 Miss Bates was in my opinion unbeatable. She was just perfect as that role. I also think the Mr Elton in this version was too attractive for his character. I think Michael Gambon did a terrific job too.
Overall, a great watch :D

[stella]

I loved it! I just finished it, and I must say I reckon Johnny Lee Miller is very gorgeous and makes a great Mr Knightley. I don't know how it compares with the 96 version. I liked both, but I think I preferred the movie version. I liked this version's Mr Churchill however because the other's hair was too long. The 96 version had a better Jane Fairfax, who was much more how she should be in my opinion. This one was too confident and outspoken at times. And as much as I like Tamsin, the 96 Miss Bates was in my opinion unbeatable. She was just perfect as that role. I also think the Mr Elton in this version was too attractive for his character. I think Michael Gambon did a terrific job too.
Overall, a great watch :D

Myself I am undecided about Miller for Knightley as to me he is still Edmund. LOL I am glad someone noticed and thinking about Ewan McGregor now I laugh. That terrible wig he was wearing :o Polly Walker did make a better Jane at least more believable. Sophie Thompson who was also Mary Musgrove did brilliantly at both. I prefer Alan Cumming as Elton because the new one wasn't creepy enough or Collins like enough too cute. But loved Gambon more than 96 actor wasn't really there enough to be believable.