Persuasion

[tempestsarekind]

Huh.

Well.

...You know, aside from "Haha, Larry Nightingale is Captain Benwick!" I really don't have anything to say about the ITV Persuasion. I can't really pick out anything major that was horribly wrong with it...but it never felt right, either. I mean, I can disagree with some things in particular that they did with regard to Wentworth's

Comments

[saestina]

Ooh, I've seen that Northanger Abbey. I can't really comment on it in any meaningful way since I've never read the book and it's the only movie adaptation of it I've ever seen, but I liked it. And JJ Field is precious. Here's hoping it lives up to your standards. :)

[tempestsarekind]

Hee. Thanks.

And, oh, Northanger Abbey is a hilarious novel! I highly recommend it (not that I'd ever not recommend an Austen novel, I guess). I love the way Austen plays with the conventions of the novel in it.

I saw JJ Feild in The Ruby in the Smoke with Billie Piper, and I was smitten. Then I saw him in something else on PBS about Isabella Beeton, and remained so. So I'm very optimistic. :)

[stoplookingup]

I ran across part of Persuasion just flipping channels. Hadn't read the novel in years and couldn't place it right away. But I'm so glad you've given me warning about Northanger Abbey, because now I'll Tivo the program and reread before watching. What a great excuse to reread...

[tempestsarekind]

It really is a great excuse to reread--I hope more people are doing the same!

I don't know if you know this, but PBS is currently doing a "Complete Jane Austen" season, comprising the ITV adaptations (Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park--starring Billie Piper as Fanny Price!), the Jennifer Ehle/Colin Firth P&P, the Kate Beckinsale Emma, Andrew Davies' new S&S adaptation, and some sort of biopic called Miss Austen Regrets. So there's a lot more Austen to look forward to--check your local listings, as they say.

[stoplookingup]

I had no idea! YAY! Thanks for the tip.

[lareinenoire]

I quite enjoyed Northanger Abbey (as I think I told you at some point), mostly because you didn't get the impression the film took itself seriously at all. And the girl playing Catherine was adorable, as was J.J. Feild. And I believe the 'It's just as I imagined' was some throwaway line about Bath, but I don't remember offhand. Advertising is weird.

I have had Persuasion on my computer since last year but I have not yet watched it. All the reviews I've read have been lukewarm, so I don't think I'm in any hurry.

[tempestsarekind]

Yes, I do remember your saying that about NA, which has made me more hopeful. And since I've been forewarned about the fantasy scenes, I won't be too surprised by them (I hope!).

And I'm glad to hear that about the actress playing Catherine--I really like Catherine Morland, her goodwill and her naivete, even if she isn't as clever as an Elizabeth or an Emma--so I hope the adaptation treats her well. I really *am* looking forward to it, though I don't always sound like it!

[lareinenoire]

It does treat her well, on the whole. There was one line of dialogue that bugged me (you'll probably recognise it when you get to it), but considering that's the only complaint that I can remember...

[tempestsarekind]

Oh, good. I'm sure I can deal with one line of dialogue!

[imajrim]

I saw Northanger Abbey last spring and fell completely in love with it. As did many others. It's a fun adaptation which certainly doesn't take itself too seriously. The cast is great, especially Felicity Jones as Catherine and JJ Feild as Henry Tilney, who is Da Man for me now. :)

I am only sorry that the film won't be shown in its entirety in the U.S. A few minutes have apparently been cut, and I cannot see where they could possibly have taken anything out since it's already short enough.

[tempestsarekind]

Thanks for the information. That's so odd that they've cut a few minutes out--after all, there are no commercials on PBS, and I can't imagine they'd need to edit for content!

And I love the icon, by the way. :) Aww.