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Emma – TV Mini-Series 2009

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Wouldn’t you know it, I watched another version of Emma? This one stars Romola Garai as Emma, and Jonny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley.

Garai was a superb Emma! She was self-assured, lively, full of wit, charming, and knew how to get her way, as only Emma could. Miller was a very good Knightley. He was mature, thoughtful, warm, and genuinely concerned for the welfare of Emma and her father. In relation to Emma, Miller acts like a concerned older brother for much of the movie.

This movie had some very strong supporting characters. Mr. Woodhouse’s character was developed more than even the book does. We are shown the reason for his overwhelming concerns for the health of his family and friends. I also like how they added depth to Miss Bates’ character. Though she prattles, she is delicate and thoughtful. The suffering of both herself and her mother are shown, though subtly. Jane Fairfax is very likable in this adaptation, in my opinion. She is more warm and open, and enjoys a healthier relationship with Emma than in other versions (though opposed to the book itself). Mr. Elton is humorous in his affected gallantry. Miss Taylor/Mrs. Weston is wonderful in her ease and familiarity. Okay, I’ll stop now. I don’t really need to comment on every character, do I?

The overall look of the movie was fantastic–really nice scenery, furnishings, and costuming! There were some dialogue changes, but I think they were meant to update the story a bit for modern audiences. I noticed that in this version there is much more interaction between Emma and Mr. Knightley than in other versions. I’m sure this is made easier because of the extended length of it. The dance scene was nice and lively–much more spirited than generally seen in movies depicting this time period. The final thing I’d like to comment on is the believability of the relationships between the different characters. It is easy to imagine their relationships and attachments to be real. I love that in a good movie!

In case you couldn’t tell, this is my favorite version of Emma. I would suggest it to all Jane Austen fans and those who enjoy a good romantic story. Happy viewing!

Rated: NR

Rating: 5 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

Jane Eyre – Movie 1970

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I watched yet another adaptation of Jane Eyre last night. I promise I’m getting close to the end of them! This one stars Susannah York as Jane, and George C. Scott as Mr. Rochester.

Strangely, I thought that both York and Scott were a smidgen too old to be cast as Jane and Rochester. She looks like she might be in her late 20’s or early 30’s. He looks like he’s approaching his senior years. At least it wasn’t a nineteen-year-old cast with a senior citizen. That would have been even more unbelievable. York was an okay Jane. She was definitely reserved and seemed to operate on a different plane from other people. There wasn’t much warmth or attachment that came through in her performance, though. Scott was very abrupt and at times startling as Rochester (i.e. when he sends the glass flying off the table). I appreciate his alternative take on Rochester’s character, even if it’s not how I would prefer it be played. Overall, I didn’t emotionally connect much with Jane and Rochester.

Mrs. Fairfax was quite friendly and cheerful. Adele wasn’t very remarkable. Blanche was also too old and was not pretty (as is specifically stated in the book). One pleasant surprise was that Ian Bannen played St. John Rivers (Waking Ned Devine).

Thornfield was old-fashioned, but not period. The same can be said for the costuming.

There were dialogue changes, but I’m really getting used to that by now. Also, the copy that I watched was missing clips of film in certain places. I’m not sure what the deal was there, but it was too bad.

As far as the story itself goes, Lowood got a fairly long treatment. It was a sinister place and really made you feel sorry for the girls there. They did make up the part about Burns standing outside in the rain as punishment. I noticed that there were several plot changes and things that were completely left out this adaptation. Considering the length of the movie, however, I think they did an admirable job of telling a complicated story in a shortened timeframe, while staying true to the spirit of the book. The ending was very sweet, though a little lacking in authentic emotion.

This was another version of Jane Eyre that I’m glad I watched once, but will not need to revisit again. Check it out if you’re an Eyre aficionado!

Rated: NR

Rating: 3 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

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January 20, 2016December 13, 2016 by bookbuffoonery Categories: Movies from Books - Classic LiteratureTags: adaptation, book, classic, english, gothic, literature, movie, review, romance, romantic Leave a comment

Emma – Movie 1996

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I watched another adaptation of Emma last night. This one stars Kate Beckinsale as Emma, and Mark Strong as Mr. Knightley.

Emma comes across as conniving and underhand in her dealings with others. She’s also thoughtless and unfeeling in how she treats Harriet. Mr. Knightley is a correct gentleman, but a little lacking in friendliness and warmth. He seems to be more of a taciturn and stormy character. I’m not crazy about how these two characters were portrayed in this movie, but this may have been the director’s vision for them.

Frank Churchill does an excellent job of coming across as a playboy–charming and completely insincere. I really like how John Knightley was portrayed in this film. His dry wit and sarcasm come through loud and clear in the few scenes in which he takes part. Mr. Woodhouse was also played excellently.

There were a couple of unique things in this version that I appreciated. The beginning and ending of the movie are tied together by the machinations of poultry thieves! It was also kind of fun to see a series of Emma’s daydreams about various people marrying, with the characters frequently changing.

The one thing that weirded me out was when Mr. Knightley was talking about holding Emma as a baby. That’s just creepy when you think about it.

I enjoyed this movie, but it’s not my favorite adaptation of Emma. I had a hard time connecting with Emma, which makes it hard to really enter into the story. For me personally, her character wasn’t likable enough. Because she has some major character flaws, there has to be something redeeming in her character to make me care about her. That’s where I think the movie fell short.

Check it out if you are a Jane Austen fan or like a good romantic movie. It’s probably a one-time view for me.

Rated: NR

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

Emma – Movie 1996

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Taking a break from Jane Eyre last night, I watched Emma. This version stars Gwyneth Paltrow as Emma, and Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley.

I think Paltrow did a great job as Emma. She was sufficiently self-assured, snobby, impetuous, and conniving. At times her emotions seemed a little shallow, but it wasn’t awful. Although Northam wasn’t present as much as I would have liked to have seen him, he was an excellent Mr. Knightley. He is handsome, thoughtful and shows affection and concern for others. Basically, he’s a guy that any woman would want as her own. 😉

The supporting characters were also great, adding a richness to the story. Miss Bates, Harriet, Mrs. Weston, and Mr. and Mrs. Elton were all wonderful.

The movie follows the general storyline of the book, keeping all of the major events the same. I’d say it’s a very good representation of the book. They did, however, change a good bit of dialogue, making it seem more updated. For me personally, it wasn’t a big issue.

This adaptation has a very professional overall look. I’m not surprised by that, but after seeing some movies recently that looked less than professional, I appreciated the polish on this one. Another thing that I liked was that many of the shots were set up in unique ways, some adding humor to the situation, such as when Mr. Elton sits between Emma and Mr. Knightley to talk about Harriet’s sore throat.

The proposal scene between Emma and Mr. Knightley was very good. It started out awkward, then moved into an interview that was driven by care and friendship. I think that’s what is so satisfying about the relationship between Knightley and Emma–it is based on mutual affection and friendship which has spanned years. It’s lasting and based on a thorough knowledge of the other person.

I would highly suggest this movie to all the ladies out there!

Possible Objections:

In the gypsy scene the d-word is used a couple of times.

Rated: PG

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

Jane Eyre – Movie 1943

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This next film adaptation of Jane Eyre is from 1944. The movie is in black and white which gives it a sort of somber feel. Jane is played by Joan Fontaine, and Mr. Rochester by Orson Welles.

I would classify the overall look of the film as more old-fashioned than period. Jane’s hairstyle is unique and definitely reflects the time period when it was filmed. She is very demure and lacks the well-disguised vivacity that Jane possesses in the book. Mr. Rochester is big and burly. He is very stormy, almost too stormy.

This film portrays Jane’s childhood differently from other movies, with some portions of it being completely fabricated. I’m not sure why this was done, except maybe to establish more sympathy for Jane.

While the actors recited their lines well, they seemed to be lacking emotion or sounded fake. I also didn’t sense a great deal of chemistry between Jane and Rochester.

My other criticisms:

Miss Temple and Mrs. Reed’s daughters are completely missing. Adele’s French accent is awful. The excerpts read from the book are made up. There are plot devices that have been made up, such as Jane going to investigate the tower herself, and Rochester and Blanche talking about money. The garden scene between Jane and Rochester was disappointing. Instead of Jane ending up with St. John Rivers when she wanders off, she goes to Bessie. I don’t know why that was changed. Finally, Jane and Rochester’s kiss was almost frightening.

I didn’t care much for this adaptation and won’t ever need to see it again. Watch it if you’re a Jane Eyre fan, otherwise I’d say skip it.

Rated: NR

Rating: 1 1/2 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

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January 15, 2016December 13, 2016 by bookbuffoonery Categories: Movies from Books - Classic LiteratureTags: adaptation, book, bronte, gothic, love, movie, review, romance, romantic, story Leave a comment

Jane Eyre – Movie 1997

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Here’s yet another Jane Eyre movie that I watched. Can you believe it? When I started this, I had no idea there were so many Jane Eyre movie adaptations.

In this version Jane is played by Samantha Morton, and Mr. Rochester by Ciaran Hinds. Morton does look quite plain in the movie, but I think she’s almost a little too pretty to play Jane. Hinds has a physique and appearance that could easily be Rochester’s.

Something unique about this adaptation is how they portray Rochester’s relationship with Adele. In this one he is affectionate towards her instead of being surly and gruff. I also like how Rochester has a wry sense of humor. It adds an interesting facet to his personality.

I noticed that Jane is much more besot with Mr. Rochester than in other versions. This doesn’t seem to be quite true to the book, in which Rochester is the one who is initially love struck and pining for Jane.

There were only a few things that I didn’t care for in this adaptation. The dialogue was changed quite a bit. To me, that’s a no-no. I see no reason to change the conversation between Rochester and Jane because that is what adds sparkle to the classic story. Also, some plot elements of the story were changed a bit. Rochester’s rant when Jane decides to leave is a little over the top. I also thought the part with St. John Rivers was rather weak.

So…while this isn’t the worst adaptation I’ve seen, it isn’t the best either. It’s just sort of meh. If you’re a Jane Eyre fan watch it once, but that will probably be enough.

Rated: NR

Rating: 3 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

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January 15, 2016December 13, 2016 by bookbuffoonery Categories: Movies from Books - Classic LiteratureTags: adaptation, book, classic, english, literature, love, movie, review, romance, romantic, story Leave a comment

The Glass Virgin – Movie 1995

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Our local library had a copy of The Glass Virgin on DVD which I watched recently. I wanted to compare it to the book while it was still fresh in my mind. I enjoyed the movie quite a lot. As with the novel, I would recommend it for adults because of the suggestive themes throughout.

The story follows the book very well, only making some minor changes. The initial scene with Annabella’s father and the other woman doesn’t go as far as in the book, which I think was done in good taste. I also had a little bit of an issue with who they cast as Manuel, though I think Brendan Coyle did an excellent job. Manuel is supposed to be tall, dark and lean. Coyle doesn’t fit that picture very well.

The one thing that I think they shouldn’t have changed is when Annabella’s bum was pinched and she sent the platter of potatoes flying in the air. That was rather a humorous part of the book, but the movie doesn’t do it justice. The movie also changed the way that Annabella tried to take her own life. I don’t think it materially detracted from the story. Overall I’d say that the movie adaptation was very well done.

Possible Objections:

Annabella’s father punches a female servant in the stomach. He is also shown carousing with other women, though nothing explicit is shown.
Some mild epithets and offensive language.
A bloody boxing match in which the fighters look pretty beat up.
A couple of times, a man tries to take advantage of Annabella.

Rated: NR

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

The Glass Virgin by Catherine Cookson

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The Glass Virgin is a story about a young lady named Annabella who was raised to be a lady, but finds out that her parents are not who she thinks they are. Believing herself to be unwanted by her adoptive parents, she flees and ends up on the road with her family’s groom. He has been her faithful companion and friend since she was ten years old, so he looks out for her when she is alone. Annabella must adapt to life as a common worker and toughen up so that she can survive in her new role. As Manuel, the groom, and Annabella find themselves in various places, their unusual relationship causes some problems. There are also some issues with other people that cause them to seek new employment. Though Manuel has loved Annabella all along, her romantic attachment to him develops gradually. There are many twists to the story that I haven’t told you about, because I don’t want to give it all away.

This was a very interesting read. It kept me hooked and I finished it fairly quickly. The characters were interesting, the writing good, the plot complex, and the author’s understanding of human nature masterful. Because of the sexual themes in this book, though by no means explicit or distasteful, I’d say this book is for adults. I would also say that it would appeal more to the ladies.

Possible Objections:

There is some bad language–not a ton, but enough.
There is mention of some anatomy, but only a handful of times.
Though there are no explicit sex scenes, it is inferred in a few places.
Several times prostitution is talked about.

Rating: 4 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

Jane Eyre – TV Mini-Series 1983

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This adaptation of Jane Eyre came out when I was a baby. Strange thought. Anyhow, I was going along at a good pace in reviewing Jane Eyre adaptations, when I came to this TV mini-series. This one stopped me cold in my tracks for several days. I started watching it with an inclination to like it, but I just couldn’t. I finally worked up the gumption to finish it tonight.

Timothy Dalton was alright as Rochester, though he was overly dramatic at times. And he is a bit too handsome to be cast as Rochester. Whatever–I could forgive those things. At least his performance was interesting and conveyed feeling.

I could not get over Jane, however, who was played by Zelah Clarke. I don’t want to sound mean or anything, but I was bored by her performance. There was so little variation in her facial expression, tone of voice, and movement that it was painful to watch. In the rare cases when she does show anger or excitement, her loud exclamations are startling and seem out of character. Also, there was precious little to make me care about her character or see anything that would attract Mr. Rochester in the first place. The romantic chemistry was distinctly lacking.

I suppose I can’t blame my dislike of this video entirely on Clarke. The lighting and shots were funny; most scenes seemed totally contrived and unnatural; it didn’t have a period look to it; the music was cheesy. I felt like I was watching a soap opera that was trying to tell a classical story. Not the best combination.

If you’re a Jane Eyre fanatic, you may want to watch this, otherwise I’d say steer clear. As a funny side note, I checked out other people’s reviews after I had formed my own opinion and found that many people actually like this version. I can’t understand it, but to each his own!

Rated: NR

Rating: 1 Star

Until next time…

Lori

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January 5, 2016December 13, 2016 by bookbuffoonery Categories: Movies from Books - Classic LiteratureTags: adaptation, classic, classical, literature, movie, novel, review, romance, romantic Leave a comment

Jane Eyre – TV Mini-Series 2006

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Here is the most recent film adaptation of Jane Eyre that I have watched. This one is quite long, as it was originally a TV mini-series. It’s kind of a plus that it’s so long though, because it gives more time for the story to be fully developed.

Toby Stephens stars as Mr. Rochester and Ruth Wilson as Jane Eyre. I think they are perfect for their parts–Rochester a bit weathered and surly but still magnetic; Jane young and plain, but attractive nonetheless.

There are two aspects to this rendition that will be glaringly obvious to Jane Eyre fans. They took a lot of free license with the dialogue, and they capitalized on the gothic aspects of the story. In regards to dialogue, there are countless lines (sometimes almost entire conversations) which have been changed from the book. I think that the changed conversations still helped establish the spark and connection between Jane and Rochester, but I believe the original dialogue did that also. I’m not sure why they changed it, unless it was to try to modernize the conversation a bit.

I was quite impressed with how well they brought gothic elements into the movie. There were plenty of spooky scenes, almost shocking images (Rochester’s bed on fire, for one), a sometimes cruel and dominating male love interest, and the young (seemingly) helpless heroine. It’s a strong element in this version that I haven’t seen in others. For that reason alone, you should check it out.

As far as acting, I think that Rochester and Jane were very good. He was sufficiently gruff and moody, and followed the book a bit better in showing his unfeeling torment of her. (I have to confess though, I think they went a bit overboard in this version with how despicable he acted towards her.)

Jane was quite interesting–both young and innocent, and wise beyond her years. She showed the proper amount of reserve, but was willing to share her mind when asked. I also enjoyed how she stood up for Adele.

Jane and Rochester have some really great chemistry in this movie. Unlike some other versions, this one does a great job of showing Jane falling in love with Rochester. It’s good to see the attachment grow on both sides. Two of my favorite scenes between them are when she asks him for leave to go visit Mrs. Reed (such fun and affection), and when Rochester tries to convince Jane to stay (the bed scene). That last scene is very intense. Finally, once they reunite at Jane’s return, this movie gives that whole episode a much more satisfying treatment than any others I’ve seen.

Possible Objections:

Mr. Rochester says a couple of rude epithets. Nothing major, just not appropriate for kids.
Bertha says the b-word in Spanish.
There is a scene with Rochester’s wife Bertha that is very inappropriate. Not for young people, even though you technically can’t see anything.

Rated: NR

Rating: 5 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

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December 31, 2015December 13, 2016 by bookbuffoonery Categories: Movies from Books - Classic LiteratureTags: adaptation, book, bronte, classic, gothic, literature, movie, novel, review, romance, romantic Leave a comment

Jane Eyre – Movie 1996

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Here we go again! I watched another Jane Eyre movie adaptation last night. This one stars William Hurt as Mr. Rochester and Charlotte Gainsbourg as Jane. It can be difficult to compare the different movie adaptations to one another. Where one is weak in a particular area, another is strong and vice versa. I’ll start off by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed this rendition.

This movie devotes a much larger part to Jane’s childhood and really establishes her character before she enters adulthood. We can see from the beginning that Jane has spunk and thinks for herself. You’ll find yourself rooting for her and hopeful for a better future as she embarks on a new chapter in life when she leaves Lowood School.

I believe that Hurt’s portrayal of Mr. Rochester is my absolute favorite of all those I’ve seen. His acting is superb–there’s nothing forced or awkward about it. His Mr. Rochester is moody, teasing, tortured, quite likable, and totally mesmerized by Jane. It is easy to believe that he has finally found a woman whom he respects, admires, and recognizes for the superior character that she is.

Gainsbourg does a great job of finding that careful balance between the quiet and reserved Jane, and the plainspoken and independent Jane. There are scenes where she is quite reserved, and others where her affection and other emotions shine through. It’s a tough character to play and I think she did well.

As far as Jane and Rochester go, I think the actors had the necessary chemistry to make the love interest believable. The garden scene was very good, with both showing the proper emotions to convince viewers.

This version of the movie struck me as having very strong supporting characters. The young Jane (Anna Paquin), Aunt Reed (Fiona Shaw), Mr. Brocklehurst (John Wood), Mrs. Fairfax (Joan Plowright), and even Adele were all played very well. They added a bit of extra sparkle to the movie with their great acting.

The only real criticism I have for this version is that they took a lot of free license with the part of the story that concerns Jane’s removal from Thornfield Hall. Jane doesn’t experience quite the privations that she does in the book. Also, St. John’s character is altered quite a lot, and he only has one sister in this version. I’m sure they wanted to simplify this part of the story because they focused more on her childhood, but I miss it.

I think you’ll enjoy this movie a lot if you’re a fan of Jane Eyre. It is a very compelling love story, which is really what the book is all about. They got that part right!

Rated: PG

Rating: 5 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

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December 29, 2015December 13, 2016 by bookbuffoonery Categories: Movies from Books - Classic LiteratureTags: book, gothic, movie, novel, review, romance, romantic, story Leave a comment

Jane Eyre – Movie 2011

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I have decided that in addition to reviewing books, I’d also like to use this blog to review movie adaptations of books. To that end, Jane Eyre is my first movie review. I believe this is the second time that I’ve watched the version that features Michael Fassbender and Mia Wasikowska. I’m not going to give an extremely detailed breakdown of the movie and all the pros and cons. I prefer to talk lightly on whether or not I liked it, if there were any glaring errors, etc. I’d rather you come away with your own ideas from the movie, than be overly influenced by mine.

First, I like the look of the actors they chose to portray Mr. Rochester and Jane in this version. I know that sounds silly, but if I don’t think “Jane” and “Rochester” when I look at the actors, I’m not going to enter into the story as readily. I really enjoyed Fassbender’s portrayal of Rochester, though he wasn’t quite as dark and brooding as in some other adaptations or the book. He didn’t seem to be quite as tortured as he should have been. Wasikowska’s portrayal, I’m not quite as sure about. I did enjoy her performance, but it seemed to be lacking something. There seemed to be a flatness to her character at times, and a general lack of emotion. I also thought that the chemistry was a little lacking between Jane and Rochester, which is of course one of the main ingredients that makes the whole plot believable.

There were a few bits that I noticed had been changed from the book, but I’ve come to expect that in screen adaptations. It doesn’t bother me too much. Unfortunately, there were some scenes left out that I think would have added to the story, but there may have been time constraints. One thing I thought was quite clever in this adaptation, was that Jane’s story alternated between present day (once she had left Thornfield), and her past (beginning with her childhood). I think that was an interesting way to tell the story.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie and would recommend it to Jane Eyre fans and those who enjoy a good love story. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, as long as you go into it allowing it to be its own version of Jane Eyre. 🙂

Rated: PG-13

Rating: 4 Stars

Until next time…

Lori

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December 29, 2015December 13, 2016 by bookbuffoonery Categories: Movies from Books - Classic LiteratureTags: book, bronte, drama, english, gothic, movie, novel, period, review, romance, romantic, story, thornfield, video Leave a comment