BBC's Emma- Thoughts on Episode One

[dis_netis]

Emma episode 1 has just finished here in the UK. I've got to say I loved it.

My mini review of the episode is behind the spoiler cut in case anyone is sensitive.

Comments

[ibmiller]

Great review!

I've never actually had a problem with Emma in the book - and quite liked what most people think is the "hardest" Emma - Kate Beckinsale. With that said, I think Romola is a darling Emma - though I'm quite biased in her favor.

I'm unsure about Johnny Lee Miller's hand waving - it feels stilted - not modern or natural. Romola's quirky smiles, on the other hand, are just lovely.

I think the note about parallels is what they were trying for - but for me, the scene with Martin and Knightley is rather flat and insipid. Partly because they're using the trick of "oh, what are they talking about" to "increase tension," which I think it cliched writing, but partly because it's so absolutely uninterestingly written and played. However, the argument scene is sheer brilliance - the way they both make good arguments, and Emma doesn't come across as completely mistaken and spoiled. I loved that part very, very much.

Hmm, I think it's Johnny Lee Miller as well, but I'm not loving the narration. That's kind of a personal pet peeve of mine, using narration in film - I think it's better done with actors. But then the dialogue can get clunky - I know - tis kind of a Scylla of narration and Charybdis of exposition. But I also thought the way they're drawing a Frank/Jane/Emma "mystery" is rather odd. I mean, I know it's setup, but it doesn't feel right - especially with the quasi-mystical language being used.

I don't know about best Austen dramatization - for me, that's Sense and Sensibility 2008, which for all its weaknesses, drove me back to the book and actually raised my estimation of the original, as well as being powerful in its own right. Emma 2009, however, looks like it will be enjoyable, and possibly even moving, but won't really add anything new to the way I look at the book.

[ibmiller]

Oh, excellent! And do, do try the 2008 S&S - I love it very much.

[naika7]

I completely agree about the argument. I haven't read the book and their long confrontation really gave me a lot of prospective. It was intense too, for the first time btw them ot didn't feel like a childish quarrel. It actually established them as a potential couple really early on, while with the other adaptations I didn't feel IT almost up until the picnic scene.

[dis_netis]

Yep, totally agree. It had an interesting dynamic to it. Both are clever and they bounce off of each other really well and actually challenged each other. It wasn't just Knightley telling off Emma, it was a two way argument.

[naika7]

Do you know how often the episodes will air?

[dis_netis]

Its on every Sunday at 9pm in the UK. 4 hour-long episodes in all.