Jane Austen films

[Isa]

A friend sent me the link to an article on the "Jane Austen in Hollywood" phenomenon, which I thought was excellent. It pretty much sums up what I think of all the Jane Austen movies so far, and it's quite well written!

www.cbc.ca/arts/film/austenfilms.html

[taylor]

That's really cool, Jefie! I'm anxious to see "Becoming Jane" because, as it is a mostly fictional portrayal of her life, I'm worried that Ms. Austen's life will be modernized in the film.
My favorite adaption is the BBC Pride and Prejudice, because I think it stays truest to the novel.

[Michelle]

That was a really interesting article. Thanks for posting it, Jefie. I'm totally tivo-ing the masterpiece theatre marathon.

[Isa]

;D I know, I'm gonna spend 4 months watching PBS every night!

[neh]

IMO, Northanger Abbey is the best of the ITV trio (which i'm assuming is the Masterpeice Theatre set you guys are referring to) It's a very cute watch indeed - quite loyal to the book for the most part and well-played.
I'm waiting for Becoming Jane to hurry up and get on dvd here coz i need my James McAvoy in a vest fix again!! Oh, and thanks muchly for the link Jefie! ;D

[Lu]

Thanks for posting the link Jefie that's a really interesting article!

[bluejay765]

thanks for the link! i liked the description of mary crawford towards the bottom-so true!

it's really interesting to step back and realize that in the past twelve years, there have been many adaptations of austen's novels. the recent ones, i think, are done very beautifully, even if they have made some errors

[caffeinequeen]

Has anyone seen Becoming Jane yet? I'm anxious to see what you guys think, so I know if it's worth seeing or not.

[neh]

I saw it twice back in April - it's so odd to for once have a film before you guys - and i felt it was a lovely little film in it's own right. There certainly are things you could criticise if you so choose... Anne Hathaway as Jane plays the part much more than she becomes the actual person, and there are some artistic liscences taken that make you think "well... no..." but i guess that's what happens when you step into the realms of guesswork (i really want to quote Dumbledore here but sadly i can't recall his words exactly) On the upside James McAvoy as Tom Lefroy is gorgeous, Joe Anderson as Henry Austen is HOT, hehe and suitably rather naughty, Anna Maxwell Martin is lovely as Cassandra Austen and Laurance Fox as Mr Wisley - the sort of Mr Collins figure - is suprisingly sympathetic and even likable in the end, which is a nice change from the more charicatured (sp?) visions of unwanted suitors (IMO)

[Dominique]

neh said:

On the upside James McAvoy as Tom Lefroy is gorgeous, Joe Anderson as Henry Austen is HOT

I think James McAvoy should have gotten the HOT label , as for Henry Austen; who? lol

[Kristie]

I don't really like James McAvoy very much. Not for any reason, I just don't...

[Brunella]

I don't like him very much either... (I'm sorry if this is a bit off topic) Have you ever seen him in the new version of Macbeth?, it's the most horrendous book into movie translation I've ever seen...

[Isa]

I just found out that Keira Knightley is dating Rupert Friend, who played Wickham in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. No wonder she was such a bad Elizabeth, at least Jennifer Ehle went for Colin Firth back in 1995 ;D

[Lu]

lol ;D what a bad Elizabeth!

[Kristie]

Well, I've been watching some different movie adaptations of JA books. Recently I watched the BBC Persuasion and S&S and the PBS Masterpiece Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park. I really love all of them except Mansfield Park--I like the 1999 MP with Hannah Taylor-Gordon more. I've put the other 3 on my Christmas list The S&S is long--3 hours!--but it is the best movie adaptation I've ever seen of the book