Movie Night: **Northanger Abbey 1987

I found this movie in our home VCR collection.  It is a BBC collection.  This movie is so full of showing the dreams and fantasies of Miss Catherine Morland that it forgets to do a good job of telling the story. The story is very convoluted, but you do gt that someone wants to court her, but is not very gentlemanly.  However the son of General Tilney is a gentleman.  General Tilney invites her to his home, thinking she is a woman of wealth, which she is not.  When the general discovers her true wealth, he kicks her out of the house, but too late, for his son is in love.  I wish this movie had focused less on the fantasy stuff.  It seemed every other frame there was a dream or a fantasy or something.

Moview Night: **** Emma

This is the Jane Austen A&E movie, 1996, starring Kate Beckinsale and Mark Strong.  In Jane Austen's way, it is a romantic comedy involving the British upper society.  It has Emma arranging marriages, and doing rather poorly except with regards to her governess.  She next sets up a young woman of questionable background with the vicar, and this turns our badly; although the vicar does propose to her.  It isn't until after her for her good neighbor confronts her bad behavior at a party, that she starts to realize she loves him, and when another suitor appears, she finds herself even more in love.  This movie has the Austen charm and is well done.  This version is better received than the feature version produced about the same time.   Kate Beckinsale is lovely in her role, and we all hate the vicar's wife, someone from outside to community who happens to have an inheritance but also has airs.

MovienIGHT: ****^Sense and Sensibility

Last night I had an enjoyable time watching the Columbia pictures Sense and Sensibility (1995) via instant Netflix.  This last week I also watched the newer Masterpiece Theater version (2009) from home delivery Netflix.  Miranda pointed out that the original version has five actors from the Harry Potter movies--Snape, Professor Trelawney, Madame Pomfrey, Dolores Umbridge and Cornelius Fudge.  On the other hand the new version only has Mr. Weasley.  On that score alone, I recommend the 1995 version.  The characters are fun, and the acting is superb.  The new version, although entertaining, just lacks the same character.  It tries to add sensuality, especially in the first scene, but it really doesn't fit.

So for the 1995 version, which had me in stitches.  Remember, this movie was made at the start of many of these careers.  Turns out Dolores Umbridge is married to Dr. House, who has the attitude you would expect Dr. House to have.  His sarcasm and wit is just as biting as in his future work.  I found it pleasing that Dolores was getting her pay back, after all she put Harry through.  It was fun to view this way.  In addition, Professor Trelawney loves Hugh Grant, And Snape loves Kate Winslett.  What could be funner than that?  The highlight of this movie is when Elinor (Emma Thompson) discovers that Edward (Hugh Grant) is not married.  She breaks into tears in front of  him.  It is a moving scene, and the humor of her collapse adds to it greatly.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself.   This moving kept me entertained from start to finish.   Mrs. Jennings and Sir John do an excellent job of teasing and needling the girls, and they make the movie fun while not taking itself too seriously.

So I heartily recommend the 1995 version, and don't recommend quite so much the 2009 version.

Movie Night: *****Pride and Prejudice

This is not  review in the traditional sense, but a comparison of four different versions of Pride and Prejudice.  These four include the first one I saw, which is the 1995 six tape series with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth in the lead roles.  I then saw the new movie, 2005, with Keira Knightley and Mathew Macfadyen in the lead roles.  I have recently been introduced to two new versions via Netflix.  One is 1980 BBC with Elizabeth Garvie and David Rintoul in the lead roles which is available through Instant Netflix. The other was a Netflix DVD, 1940 with Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier.

First generally reviewing of these movies.  They are all classics, and the story is classic. The first version actually takes the most liberties with the story.  Lady DuBourg is in league with Mr. Darcy, rather than actually upset.  The 1980 BBC version is actually the most modest.  However the version I first saw was the Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth.  This one highlights the figures of the women in a very pleasing manner.  And the Keira Knightley has a more rural feel to it, with pigs on the screen, and Keira Knightley is always beautiful, but no miracle bra is going to do wonders, so this version is more modest as well.

Eliza  I love Jennifer Ehle in this role, and her walking every place.  However the character in the 1940 version, captures much more passion for me.  So I must vote for Greer Garson as my favorite Eliza.

Mr. Darcy  In similar fashion I must say Laurence Olivier captures the romance of the film in the most placing manner.  I was introduced to this role form Colin Firth, who is a great actor, and one of my favorite.  However the way this role is played by Laurence Olivier is classic.  

Mr. Bennet is a wonderful character, who actually grows and matures from the experiences with regards to Lydia.  I must admit I prefer the character from the 2005 movie best from Donald Sutherland, just based on the way he presents one of my favorite lines, "If any other men come to marry any my daughters, send them in; I am quite at my leisure." Classic!  His smile is just perfect.

Mr Bingley  I like the Mr. Bingley from the six tape series.  He is just a happy young man, no one can help but like him. Lydia is such a clueless wonder in this version I have to love her. Mrs Bennet with her loud laughing and talking takes the day in this version as well as well.  Mr Collins, the cousin who is set to entail the estate, is such a nerd and brown noser in this version he is fun.  And his wife, Charlotte, is played in just the perfect fashion. Lydia is so good lamenting at her father's rebuke in this version.  Her cry is just perfect. 

Mr Darcy's cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliams is most enjoyable in the 1849 version as the actor is in a kilt.  Fun.  Miss Jane Bennet is the most beautiful in the 1949 version.  The last seen where Mr. Bingley proposes, and she cries through it.  That is fun.

Mr. Bingley's sister is the most sinister in the 1940 version.  Mary is at her worse in such a  truly delightful way in the version as well.

The bottom line is I love this story, and each of these version is a pleasure to watch.

Movie Review: ***Northanger Abbey

This is the 2007 made for TV movie starring Felicity Jones and JJ Feilds.  The story is based on a young woman, Catherine Morland, from middle class society, visiting Bath with a wealthy couple, and there being thrust into higher society.  She has two friends, the unscrupulous  John Thorpe, who is devious in his pursuit, and the handsome Henry Tilney.  Catherine Morland is taken by gothic novels, and imagines the worse in most situations.  She is invited to visit Northanger Abbey, the home of the Tilneys,  as Mr. Tilney believes her to be wealthy.  She unwittingly expresses her theory that there may have been foul play in the death of Mrs Tilney some years previous.  This angers Henry.  Shortly after she is unexpectedly sent home, and she figures Henry is mad at her for her thoughts.  However she discovers this is not the case, he loves her, and she was sent out cruelly by Henry's father because of her economic status.

This movie is fine, but the declaration of love happens so quickly it made my head spin.  It didn't seem as well developed as I expect from a Jane Austen program.

Movie Night: *****^Pride and Prejudice

My most favorite movie of all time is the Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, 1995, Pride and Prejudice British Television Drama.  This is a six part portrayal of the Jane Austen classic.  I finished viewing it for the upteenth time this past weekend.  I must admit I prefer it to all other versions of Pride and Prejudice, including the Mormon version, the Keira Knightly version, or older versions I have seen.

As I watched, I tried to figure out why I like this presentation so much.   I think it is the feisty nature of Miss Elizabeth Bennett.  However I must admit, the mother of the family intrigues me as well.  Her attitude I find humorous, and human.  The father also is humorous, but in a different way. 

I am thrilled with the reaction of Elizabeth Bennet to the first marriage proposal from Mr Darcy.  When she reacts to him with a flat refusal and says that nothing would tempt her, even if he had "behaved in a more gentlemanly manner."  And then to watch people change thrills me.  Bot Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy change, and the most beautiful love blossoms in the end.

I think the real reason I like this so much, is because it always leaves me feeling good in the end.  After watching this movie, that happy buzz stays wit me for a few days.

Movie Night: **^Persuasion, 1995

This is a BBC version of the classic Jane Austin story.  It stars Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root.  As I watched this movie, it made we wonder how British aristocracy ever married.  First you had to find someone you loved, and then you had to get the approval of your family, which was not always easy.

This story presents the re-meeting of Captain Frederick Wentworth and Anne Elliot, who had fallen in love several years before, but she turned him down as a suitor because of the insistence of her mother that he was not suitable.  Several years later he is more financially suitable, while her own family has hit on hard times, and had to rent out some of their property.  They rented their home who turns out to be the brother-in-law of Mr. Wentworth, and thus the circumstance of their coming into contact again.


The story presents the formality of courtship, and the intrigue of other relationships, and because of these they almost miss each other.

Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

My first introduction to Jane Austen was the 1995 BBC "Pride and Prejudice" with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. I don't know why I like this story so much, but I do.  At least once a year, over a weekend, I go through the entire series.  We have it in VHS.

More recently, 2005, the Keira Knightly version came out.  I enjoy this one as well, but not as well as the longer version. 

I think I have all the Jane Austen movies (not each version, but at least each story.)  I have also read all the books now.  I like the way Jane Austen writes, and I enjoy her stories.  I am intrigued by her characters, and the changes they make in their lives.

All of Jane Austen's novels have received great acclaim. "Sense and Sensibility" "Emma" "Northanger Abby" "Mansfield Park" and "Persuasion."  I enjoy these works, but still "Pride and Prejudice" is my favorite.  I love the character of Miss Eliza Bennett, her whit, her strength, and her walking miles and miles to calm her mind.