I spent all last night and morning watching Pride & Prejudice. I have always had a thing for Jane Austen's stories so it's no great surprise to tell that I liked it very much. I though three of the episodes might have gone too slowly, but I could live with it
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Hugh Grant was weird in S&S was what made me slightly iffy on to movie. I liked Alan Rickman quite a lot, his character was just too adorable. Kate Winslet played Marianne very well, she was very bubbly (I think that's the appropriate word). The chemistry between Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson wasn't that great, so I think Thompson's performance suffered greatly because of this. Storywise the movie was excellent. I do enjoy movies that portray that time immensely. I will probably even watch the new P&P coming out next month only for this reason (Keira Knightley is in too many movies, I fear).
I do know, all the female writers of that time did write about the same things, generally. There's a Finnish female author of the same era, perhaps a bit later (late 19th, early 20th century), that did the same. Minna Canth is known to be one of the very early feminists in Finland - her novels and short stories don't always end in the fluffy way some of Austen's do.
I read all books that I can in their original unabridged version. So, english speaking authors I'm able to read in english. I do prefer to read most classics that are written in other languages also as english translations instead of swedish or finnish.
I don't know why, but I like the early english translations better, they seem more genuine as the time's style is often reflected well in the english translations. Some of the finnish and swedish translations aren't that good because the language seems too modern for the time of the story.
I'm not sure if I'm good at explaining this, but I hope you get my meaning.
I'm going to look up Howard's End, but I suspect I won't find it easily since it's already a few years since it was released. The rental won't probably have it, and I'll probably have to search high and low to find it in a store. Must see if it has a translated name in Finland, I might find it ebtter with the Finnish title.
Side note: I simply love the Bonham Carters. Helena's cousin was absolutely adorable in P&P, you should see it really. :)
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I think you're right about all what you said concerning movies and translations. I know some people who can't get the subtilities of 19th Century language so it's probably why movies are made so simple. It's a shame, I think. The stories lose 'strenght' with this. I don't think I'll ever see Emma because of Gwyneth Paltrow. And I think Ewan McGregor is in it too so... I'll stay stuck to the book. ^^
The thing that annoyed me the most in S&S was the age difference between Emma and Hugh. Elinor was younger than her love so that's kinda, er, weird ? When you think Emma then married the guy who played Willoughby... Kate Winslet was perfect because she not only has a physic that goes with that period but also because you can see she totally understood and 'digested' this kind of literature. That's why she always fits so perfectly in this kind of movies. And I think the chemistry between Alan and her was great.
UU I dunno Minna Canth. It's not easy to find Finnish writers translated into French. Same with Norvegian, Dannish... That's bad. I recently read Suloinen myrkynkeittäjä by Arto Paasilinna and I really enjoyed it. I also got Jäniksen vuosi by the same writer. I just hope the French translation kept the spirit of the original texts.
Being a fan of English and American Literature (19th Century especially), I try to read in English as much as I can. I get the French translations only when the English books are not available or too hard to get. When reading translations, I also like the first versions as they are closer to the book language as they usually have been made at the same time. I read a modern translation of Hamlet and I didn't really like it. Too modern for the spirit of the play. Blah... Same with Harry Potter. The description of young Sirius in OotP is totally different in French and that can give you another image of the chara. >.<
There's a new P&P movie with Keira coming out ? I didn't know that. And you're right. I found Keira kinda disappointing lately.
I hope you'll find it !
Really ? Maybe I'll try to get my hands on it then. I think Helena would be perfect to play Merope. ^^
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