Jane Austen, god love her...

[graculus]

Does the world really need yet another adaptation of Pride and Prejudice? Weren't the first twenty-seven enough? And honestly, who could hold a candle to the BBC version considering the fact that grown women's eyes still tend to glaze over when Colin Firth in a wet shirt is mentioned?

You know, I love Jane Austen. I've read all her books many times and own a number of adaptations of said books on dvd. My absolute favourite, in both versions, has to be Persuasion...

Every time I watch Sense and Sensibility (as I did this week again) I do so with a sense of hope that maybe this time around the hot dish of the day (Colonel Brandon, as played by Alan Rickman in the only non-Snape role I could ever fancy him in) won't end up with the simpering ninny (aka Marianne Dashwood, played by Kate Winslet throwing herself down hills and courting pneumonia at every turn) while the more sensible Elinor (Emma Thompson) gets landed with the biggest dullard ever to walk the face of the earth (Edward Ferrars, as played by Hugh Grant with tongue firmly in cheek). Brandon could do so much better but yet simpering ninnyhood is apparently the major trait of his ideal woman. Pffft. Love Hugh Laurie's cameo role as the put-upon Mr. Palmer who turns out to be a Good Sort.

And then there's Persuasion. Mmmm. It doesn't hurt that the role of the Cad Of The Hour (and in Austen there's always one) is taken by the delectable Sam West. It also really doesn't hurt that Ciaran Hinds scowls and smoulders his way round the story as Captain Wentworth. I guess it has more of a feel of rightness about it than Sense and Sensibility, particularly as in this story ninnyness is not rewarded by shacking up with the hot guy. ;)

Comments

[temaris.livejournal.com]

I watched the trailer to the Kiera Knightley version last night, and was unimpressed. I'm with you that the Jennifer Ehle/Colin Firth version was pretty much definitive; and I'd almost forgotten Ciaran Hinds in Persuasion. That adaptation actually made me like the book (which I'd read at school and consequently loathed :-( ). I must go find a copy of that one.

[graculus.livejournal.com]

I was lucky enough to pick up a copy of Persuasion on sale. It's always been my favourite Austen novel (though I also love Northanger Abbey) so it's a pleasure when you enjoy the adaptation as much as you liked the original.

Of course, if I'd had it inflicted on me at school it might well be another matter - iirc, we had Brave New World as one of our books and even now just the thought of it brings me out in a cold sweat. ;)