Comments | connielane: RomComs - the target of perfection at which we shoot in vain

connielane

RomComs - the target of perfection at which we shoot in vain

Oct 22, 2007 22:17

Or a movie version of it, at any rate. :P I wrote about probably my favorite adaptation of Emma (which is Clueless) a couple of years ago, in what was I think my first "movie of the day" series. But very close to that one in my affections is Douglas McGrath's wonderful period adaptation, with Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeremy Northam, Toni Collette, and ( Read more... )

movies, romantic comedies

Comments 20

ancarett October 23 2007, 03:41:49 UTC

I agree, this is quite one of my favourite Austen adaptations, mostly because of Paltrow's note-perfect performance, the undeniable allure of Jeremy Northam and so many other great moments from a wonderful cast.

lilac_bearry October 23 2007, 03:41:58 UTC

Oh, yes! Another movie I can and do watch over and over again.

calixa October 23 2007, 03:43:45 UTC

I've never seen this one, but your review of it is very convincing and it sounds lovely. I'll look for it next time I'm in blockbuster :)

wahlee_98 October 23 2007, 04:06:57 UTC

This is the movie that made me want to read Austen, and as such, will always have my undying gratitude. In some ways the Kate Beckinsale version, which was released the same year, captures more of the wit that is missing in this version, but it's missing the romance. Mainly because whatever his name is that played Knightley in that version is simply terrible for the part. If you combine the two movies, you have the book ( ... )

connielane October 23 2007, 12:09:21 UTC

This is the movie that made me want to read Austen

Okay, now I feel old. :P

There are few things more perfect than Sophie Thompson's nervous ditherings trying to serve cake to Gwyneth and Toni.

wahlee_98 October 23 2007, 14:26:23 UTC

Does it make you feel better, or worse, that I didn't actually see the movie until it had been on video for, like, a year? 'Cause I first read Austen when I was a senior in high school, which would have made me 17. I think it was even towards the end of my senior year, which would have made in 1998.

I actually saw Sense and Sensibility before I saw this one (a few weeks), but it was Jeremy Northam that made me want to actually read Austen. (And then I didn't like the book. Nor the S&S book. It took until almost the very end of P&P to turn me into a raging Austen fangirl.)

There are few things more perfect than Sophie Thompson's nervous ditherings trying to serve cake to Gwyneth and Toni.

Seriously, that's one of my very favorite scenes. "And I said . . . 'Upon my honour!' *giggles*" When susy_gwen and I get together, it's seriously NEVER a napkin. It's a Napkin, Sorry.

My other favorite scene is when Frank Churchill is singing with Jane Fairfax, and Frank totally goes flat. I just love that.

miss_eponine October 23 2007, 04:37:17 UTC

I love this movie. I actually just put it in today while I was doing some ironing, and I was quite disappointed that I didn't have time to finish it before I left for work.

One of my favorite parts (and my husband's too) is when Miss Bates just says "PORK!"

connielane October 23 2007, 12:11:48 UTC

I love how Miss Bates randomly shouts things in her mother's ear to keep her in the conversation - "Hair!" ... "Angels, mother." ... "TREAT."

wahlee_98 October 23 2007, 14:19:59 UTC

I love Miss Bates! Another line we quote is "HUNGRY, MOTHER!" Especially when dinner's late. ;)

miss_eponine October 23 2007, 14:39:06 UTC

We will both randomly yell things at each other. PORK! is definitely our favorite, though. Miss Bates is fantastic. I love it when she tells Mr. Elton that his sermon left them speechless, and they haven't stopped talking of it since.

I have to say that I am extremely lucky to have a husband who doesn't mind Austen. He really enjoys P&P (A&E), and he likes this version of Emma as well.

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