Emma. (2020) Movie Review

[@nhmisnomer]

One modern element is that every frame of the film looks like Instagram. Or pinterest. Just luscious down to every perfectly placed detail. That may be why the nosebleed hit so hard. It's so imperfect, so messy and unexpected that is almost our opportunity relax. It also could symbolize Emma's arc. This is a girl finally ready to accept she can't control everything.

[@abhrajitabhattacharya5332]

This one is my one of those comfort movies which I can see whenever I feel a bit low. It fills me up with joy, love, tears and everything. Particularly love the chemistry between Emma and Knightley. In this adaptation they realised much earlier that they have feelings for eachother. In the dance scene. So when Knightley runs behind Emma upto her house and she runs down to him, they almost accept each other. But then the situation turns over. An unsaid misunderstanding runs through them. Knightley' s despair, Emma tries to understand what is wrong with him.... There are not much dialogue but you will understand it all. I love those part. Most of the adaptation show their feelings and the end of the movie. When Harriet speaks her feelings for Knightley. 2020 version is more realistic in my opinion. I love the human aspects of Knightley. Johnny Flynn done it fabulously. I'm a great fan of him. And the last kiss is the cutest thing !! Overall I LOVE the movie.

[@andreamiller3578]

I was surprised at how much I did enjoy this film, especially her father and his health shenanigans. I also enjoyed Emma and Knightly's relationship and how they seemed so comfortable with each other. Jeremy Northam will always be my favorite. That film is still my favorite, but I definitely find this one interesting and worthy of rewatching.

[@elenanovikova8131]

I’m so glad I came across your wonderful adaptation analyses. From now on -yours ever😊👍

[@Weiselberry]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

[@laneandrew6167]

I totally agree with you on your analysis. Especially the part about the visual appeal of the story. I was unaware that the director was also a photographer and music video maker---more directors with this background would be nice! Also, I think this being the director's 1st movie, there was a pride and care and love put into things---unlike so many current Hollywood corporate productions that no one director really cares about or puts any extra effort into.

[@MalcolmTurner-k2k]

I could not have said it better myself. I was induced into thinking that this version was too flippant. I watched it time and time again and could not determine what was deemed wrong with it. You have removed my confusion on so much of the dialogue, setting, garments and casting, all purposeful, thoughtful and knowing. This film is step forward from the Ramola Garai version. Comparison I do not want, haughtiness I do not want, but an entire cast in harmony is to be cherished. 😊

[@rosezingleman5007]

I’ve been holding back on seeing this for the same reasons you did. So, I’ll finally rent it. Also I like Mr. Knightly best too, especially as played by the sigh-worthy Jeremy Northam. I’m definitely put off by the prospect of being subjected to nudity because Knightly isn’t titled and it was also my impression that he wouldn’t have a “dresser” though he would have a manservant. But I’m a stickler. (I’m still fuming about Kelly Reilly’s ridiculous costume in the Maryton ball scene in P&P 2005 and it’s been over ten years since I saw it. I *loathe* that version.)

[@Weiselberry]

Sigh-worthy indeed--his is the Mr. Knightley of choice in this family. :) (I find all of them enjoyable, though. He's just a great character.)

[@MarkAS56]

Anya Taylor Joy is a real gem. Between this, Split and The Witch, she's probably my favorite young actress. I still have to watch Queen's Gambit. Her performance was so great I found myself accidentally rooting for her even when I shouldn't have, when I wouldn't in real life.. It was like She in H. Rider Haggard's novel of the same name in that way. I loved it.

[@luthval]

The real hero in the Austen's novel is Knightley, in my opinion... This adaptation is quite good in the spirit of Austen novels. Images are beautiful. I would have love a bit longer movie.

[@Wingedmagician]

I don’t know why I’m so surprised that you’re great at this. I love it that you’re doing a recent movie review.

[@Weiselberry]

Haha, thank you! Yes, this is a rare occurrence. :)

[@donkelley7407]

Hello J. Your review of the 1972 adaptation reminded me of this one and I finally buckled down to watch the film. So glad I did. I liked the even pace, the change of seasons and all the things you mentioned. I wish I hadn't seen the trailer beforehand; it really doesn't capture the movie and I found it misleading. Anyway. It was good to hear Maddy Prior's voice in the mix - reminded me of her early Steeleye Span work. I will have to check out the Carnival Band, which I've not heard of until now. Thanks for reviewing this deserving film.

[@zero0karaoke]

I watched it this morning just to be able to follow your review; this movie is well outside my normal interest zone but I enjoyed it tremendously. I'm about the same age, size & hair color as the lead actor, so I spent some time trying to identify with his motivations. I didn't think Emma was a bad person, she was just doing alpha female stuff. I did find myself wishing a bit that I lived in Regency times and I think a second watching is in order. When it came to the nosebleed scene I thought to myself, "I bet that wasn't in the book. How would you even write a scene like that in a book?", and I started wondering how they would induce a nosebleed in a movie on cue. Like you, when I was a kid, I seemed to get nosebleeds all the time for absolutely no reason, so I found myself thinking about it a lot. I'm really glad I watched Emma; I especially appreciated the dialogue, costumes, and sets, and just how damned complicated everyone was.

[@Weiselberry]

Good for you for giving it a watch, even though it's not typically your thing! I don't know if you saw the gag reel, but it showed them struggling to time the "blood drip" just right. Ugh, the nosebleeds were the worst! They usually struck in the middle of the night when I was sleeping, and I'd have to get up and gently plug my nose until it stopped. I became pretty good at that for a nine-year-old, but it was miserable. I was paranoid all the time and would wake myself up just to check, even when nothing was wrong. Awful. Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed the movie! Thanks for sharing your reaction to it. :)

[@Weiselberry]

If I can correct myself... According to a couple other commenters here, that was a real nosebleed in the movie! It was the director's idea, and the crew was prepared to fake it, but then Anya Taylor-Joy's nose actually started bleeding on set and they ran with it. I can't imagine how she was able to get her nose to bleed practically on command, but what's in the gag reel is her trying to control and time it just right. WOW.

[@zero0karaoke]

@@Weiselberry Impressive. I figured it was some kind of time release capsule she held inside her nasal cavity, but that's just absurd. It's possible that if I damaged the skin inside my nose enough I might be able to (with practice) postpone a nosebleed for perhaps a minute into the future. I'm not sure I'm prepared to sacrifice for my craft to that extent. Or think about this for another second. Ick

[@davidbrubaker5146]

I very much appreciate your sharing of thoughts, feelings and assessments. Always remember that a movie is a match between an audience member and a producer and not all matches work out as well for some as for others. Nothing pleases everyone all of the time. Thank you again for sharing and I look forward to seeing yours each week.

[@betinaceciliafeld9854]

I've only seen the adaptation from the 90s and, what can I say, I love Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley. I don't know if want to see another actor in that role 😬. But I loved your review so I may try this movie sometime. Last year I reread Emma after many years and I loved it, I wasn't expecting that. Also, I'd love to see a book-movie comparison of Austen adaptations as you did with Jane Eyre 🤩

[@geocarlisle]

The funny thing is that I had the most enjoyable time watching this movie, and your review of it. Funny, because period romances aren’t generally my cup of tea. So perhaps no one was more surprised than me (except perhaps my wife) how thoroughly I enjoyed it. You’ve articulated well all the reasons I did, so I have nothing to add that could possibly be more insightful than you have been, already. I hope I’m not repeating information you already know, or that some other commentator has pointed out, but I was also quite intrigued, and incongruously delighted, by the nosebleed scene myself; so was moved to do a little research on it. (Surely it is the most romantic, charming, and touching nosebleed scene in the history of cinema.) This minor departure from the novel was entirely the inspiration of director Autumn de Wilde, based on her own experience with awkwardly timed nosebleeds. Most remarkably, Anya Taylor-Joy is such a talented actress, her nose actually bled during the scene! While plans had been made to interrupt shooting and allow makeup to do its thing to implement the nasal “special effect”, in fact Taylor-Joy spontaneously began all on her own, without need for technical assistance. At her insistence, shooting continued through the end of the scene. Kudos to Mark for the shout out to Starcrawler, whose lead singer (Arrow de Wilde) gives quite stunning performances herself. Jagger has nothing on her!

[@Weiselberry]

Thanks, George! I'm glad you enjoyed the movie so much. Sometimes the most unexpected things can be a source of delight. I had no idea the nosebleed was real! That's shocking, about as shocking as it was when it happened in the movie!

[@geocarlisle]

@@Weiselberry Thank you, Jerome! You may enjoy this brief interview segment with Taylor-Joy and her costar, Johnny Flynn, in which they discuss the scene. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6CtY6Fnhd-cj9E

[@maryhamric]

I love Emma. It's my favorite Austen novel. I really didn't like 2020 Emma much. It is a beautiful looking film. I think it's hard to develop the relationship between her and Knightley in a theater film's running time. So I felt that it came out of nowhere. I didn't really feel emotionally drawn into this version mainly because this Emma does go overboard in being mean. It stood in the way of me caring about Emma. I think the 2009 version got the right balance between her controlling nature and her caring nature. I agree... I LOVE MR. KNIGHTLEY. He is my favorite. Johnny Lee Miller is my favorite Mr. Knightley.

[@niallboyle5211]

Miss Weiselberry, the transcript below reads like a Klingon translation of your very enjoyable review. If that's an example of AI in action, I think that it's safe to say that we're still a long way from Skynet. Anyway, you have your own uniquely fresh, humane approach that no AI could ever replicate or replace.Excelsior!

[@barbarabrown7974]

I saw the Paltrow three times in the theaters in the mid 1990s. I was hoping to do the same with this version, but Covid got in the way. I do have a version of this and the Paltrow version on DVD. I've also seen three different BBC miniseries versions. Kate Beckinsale's Emma is closest to what I imagine her to look like -- I always imagined her as a brunette. The Dorwin Godwin version is rather dated. A lot of people really like the Romola version. Let's not forget Clueless, a modern version of Emma. Yes. I haunt Jane Austen Facebook groups.

[@themischeifguide]

Adaptations can be really tough especially if the people adapting it don't have a good understanding of the society where the source material was created; they can get the wrong take aways. That being said Jane Austen's characters are usually very relatable and timeless, so that helps a great deal.

[@vanyadolly]

Mr Knightley is my favourite Austen love interest as well. They're the only couple I can see as really being good *friends* above all, and having the kind of equality that comes from really knowing each other. There's less formality than with most of the other couples, which maybe makes them feel more contemporary.

[@island007100]

Hi there. Thanks for the great review of this latest version of “Emma”, which I have not yet seen though I am very familiar with the story. Someday I would LOVE for you to do a video of your top five or top ten favorite novels. I can guess from your videos that “Jane Eyre” would probably be on the list and I would love to know what other books are among your very favorites. Thank you as always.

[@Weiselberry]

Hello! That's a very good suggestion. I'm not sure I'd be able to settle on five, or even ten. I do think you're right that Jane Eyre is on the list. I think The Book Thief and Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH are also guaranteed spots, but after that I start to get wishy-washy. I'll keep thinking about it, though. :)

[@TheWisestWizards]

I liked this one as well. Across the board the performances were great. I'm a big fan of the whole cast! I have not read the book, but I do own it. One of these days I'll get around to it.

[@caomhan84]

New bookshelf owls! Regarding the film, I too am wary when people go modernizing stories set in the past (especially the further back you go) But you have me intrigued with this. I'll give this one a shot. I especially enjoyed the production design evident in your photos. It looks like they did a good job. So if nothing else, I'll enjoy that.

[@Weiselberry]

It certainly was a pleasure to compile the images from such a visually beautiful film!

[@caomhan84]

@@Weiselberry I just watched this. It is indeed a beautiful film, and I just loved it. :) I haven't seen anything Jane Austen for a while, at least since Sanditon, and before that, the 2005 version of pride and prejudice. And I haven't read the novel that this is based on. But even so, I just loved it. The stylistic choices, the fact that Anya Taylor Joy was pretty much in a new outfit in each scene, how they decorated every set, how some of the outdoor shots were framed like paintings. The emphasis on natural light in the indoor scenes. How everything had a pop of color, even if someone was wearing a gray suit. Thank you for reviewing this, because I wouldn't have seen it otherwise. :)

[@earthcreature5824]

I saw Emma early last year in the cinema with my mother.We like the costume period drama,s and horror movies.This type of film usually brings in a large audience of distinguished elders.When Mr Knightly exposed his naked backside.Well,I heard a loud gasp of pleasure followed by an echo of appreciative chirping in the auditorium.(My mother did not do this.It takes more than a shot of raw rump to get her excited.)My first thought.The more uncharitable,sanctimonious side of me."How dare that elderly lady objectify Johnny Flynn like that!"Then the better more caring side of me took over."I hope that that lovely lady's ticker can take it."Anyway I thought that it was entertaining,gorgeous looking and well acted.I hope the pleased lady enjoyed it and did not find the lack of nudity in the rest of the movie a letdown.I liked your observations on how it compared to the book.I hope this comment wasn,t too cheeky.If so.I apologise profusely.

[@Paladin12572]

"Awkward and unfortunate" moments do happen, don't they? :-) Splendid review, as always. This is on my list of possible birthday/Christmas gifts for some of my female friends. Thanks for another great video!

[@e.l.324]

I haven't seen this version of Emma but I loved the review and I dislike the way directors a lot of the time will add nudity or sexual things to be more "modern." It is usually more than a little forced and there is an odd thing where people think it's always modernizing those kinds of aspects, reminds me of the early 90's with some family sitcoms doing that in the guise of making it more "modern" and it doesn't work and makes it so out of place.

[@andyzambrano2423]

I thoroughly enjoyed that film, more than I expected I would.

[@tonydeluna8095]

Hello Jerome! Looking sharp! Hope you’re doing well and hope your family is doing good! This is awesome that you are reviewing Emma! Have a wonderful Saturday

[@bartolomeuomacduibheamhnad6855]

I also really enjoyed this version and it surprised me, I'd watched some episodes of the series Dickinson around the time of Emma's release and the series put me off watching this film for ages, I judged it unfairly and assumed it would be similar in how it would try to update its story and visual style for a TikTok audience lol, the audience who believe Bridgerton leaves all costume dramas in the dust lol, to be fair I haven't seen Bridgerton and it might be good and to be fair to Bridgerton fans if they watched BBC Pride and Prejudice or any other costume drama they might like them too lol. I don't know if I disliked Dickinson I believe it was pretty well received but for me it a felt a bit inauthentic to the period and I thought Emma would also feel that way but I was wrong and it was very well done, minor differences were tasteful and it was beautifully shot. The Ghost of Emily Dickinson : " Oof, quit dragging Boomer!, shows a real one, it's lit, i's lit, no cap, periodt!!" lol. Another terrific review. ~ Thank you Ms Weiselberry ~

[@Weiselberry]

Ha, my concerns were in line with yours. I don't know if it's just disapproval of how the material is handled or if I'm getting too old to get things geared toward a teenage audience, but when I saw the ads for Dickinson I thought it looked awful. No idea what other people thought of that show. (I saw a preview for some other period drama show (I don't know if it was Bridgerton or something else) and I didn't like that either. It somehow seemed both artificial and like it was trying too hard, if that makes any sense. But hey, to each their own.) I figured Emma. was going to be like that too, but when I checked out some fanedits I started to think I might be wrong. Good thing we have a site like this where we can check out clips of things we're curious about. :)

[@jedionboard1233]

Hello, how are you. You so nailed the review of Emma. It was one of the last films i managed to see at the cinema. It was so luxurious , the sets, costumes the acting. Anna Taylor Joy was really good at playing Emma. Your right , the scene at the picnic was so emotional to watch, Emma here was really awful, but,, as the film went on she learnt how to be a better person. As for Bill nighy,, what an actor. I love how he portrayed the father,, and those screens,, so funny. If you or any body reading this is a Jane Austin admirer , please look for " LOST IN AUSTIN ", It was on ITV ( an english television channel in 2008,), its actually on youtube ( kzbin.info?search_query=lost+in+austen+cap+1 ). A fantasy about a Jane austin fan who, falls into the world of Jane Austin,,, its only 4 episodes, but its very good, and funny. Enjoy if you get the chance. Love your reviews, keep them coming. D.

[@gskineke]

Thanks for the great review, and I agree that I was glad to have seen it. I was dreading it, but it worked on many levels. What I can’t get past, though, is the level of ostentation. She was gentry, yes, but certainly not titled. Her lifestyle in this film seems to be that of a duchess (consider the Pallisers; though different era it was equivalent to their house, staff, and sophistication) and not a local, ordinary manor. The clothes, the decorations, the size and scope of everything was just too much! This element distracted me throughout-even the shop was ridiculous for a rural setting at that time. If we consider the excitement of the sisters in ‘Sense and Sensibility’ over their chance to go to London, that would indicate how different the countryside was from a big city, and even London wasn’t as polished as this film. Also, no matter the real age of the actor playing Mr Knightly, there was little sense that he was 12 years older and watched her grow up. They seemed very much to be contemporaries, so that dimension of the story was simply lost.

[@Weiselberry]

Mm, yes, that is a very good point. The houses are extremely opulent; even the Bates' dwelling wasn't so humble as I'd expect, and when Emma goes to visit Harriet sick in bed, I thought she must have been put in Mrs. Goddard's own room temporarily until it was revealed her portrait was on display in there. I confess I'm inclined to overlook these issues because, well, it's all just so aesthetically pleasing. The visuals are all so colorful, airy, and bright, and the huge paintings and tapestries and things add to the drama in such an interesting way. But I agree: I don't think Austen intended for Emma and co. to be *quite* so rich... Isn't he supposed to be 16 years older? An even bigger gap, and he certainly doesn't look that much older. They kept any mentions of this information subtle, I'm sure because they figured many of their viewers wouldn't go for it.

[@jedionboard1233]

Forgot to say, love the owls and,,, have you seen the latest Little Women film,, LOVE IT.

[@kirksworks]

Although Emma isn’t one of my favorites, there are good things in all the versions I’ve seen, including the 2020 version. I found the 1996 version more emotional somehow, but Anya Taylor-Joy I thought was an improvement over Gwyneth Paltrow. However, you may be shocked that I find Clueless, the teen version with Alicia Silverstone, which follows Austin’s plot pretty well, the most entertaining while still managing to pack a lot of emotion in this “as if” teen romp, a film very much of its time. I think it shows Austin’s story has a lot of flexibility.

[@sedumplant]

yay!!!! Glad you reviewed this newest version. While I enjoyed it, I think I too liked the 1996 Kate Beckinsall version best. Here is a question for you- I hesitate to even ask, because I can guess that you would not approve of it- have you watched Sanditon, the first season? I hear that the second season is being produced. I know there are some parts I do not approve of at all- Jane Austen would be horrified- but the heroine and hero are so perfect for each other, - well I have said enough. Thank you for your insights, always!!

[@Weiselberry]

Oh, it's the other 1996 version I like the best. :) But the Beckinsale version is superior in certain ways--the "which version of Emma do you like best?" discussion is always a complicated one! I've read some articles about Sanditon and watched some clips from it. I couldn't get into it, plus I have some issues with the fact that such a small percentage of it is based on what Austen actually wrote. It's fun to speculate on how she might have continued the story (which I haven't read yet) had she lived, but beyond that it's just Andrew Davies putting words in her characters' mouths and developing a drama that she likely wouldn't have approved of. Anyway, those are my two cents. :)

[@winterburden]

We are in luck! Thank you for reviewing it 🙆‍♀️

[@thomastheeck5519]

My day for suggested movie reviews. The Big Red One Sam Fuller,s autobiographical ode to the First Infantry Division. As an aside Sam Fuller and Charles Durning were together on Omaha Beach on June Sixth 1944.

[@ramsien]

I see you there in the title period, I see you.

[@MarkAS56]

The Director's daughter is lead singer in a Punk Rock band called Starcrawler. The sound quality of youtube videos of them do not do their albums justice. I recently bought both the albums and really liked them. Full of energy and pretty darn rockin'. Best played with the sound turned UP.

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

It was an okay adaptation. My favourite is still the 1996 TV version with Kate Beckinsale is my favourite.

[@djchinatown]

I still haven't seen it yet, but am interested in this review.

[@sumo0172]

Thank you for this review. There are few things better than being pleasantly surprised by a movie. I'm glad yall enjoyed this version of Emma. Haven't seen it myself, ever since I found out Clueless was a modern retelling of Emma I find it hard to watch any version without picturing Alicia Silverstone. Still I always want to try and your review bolsters the argument for it

[@Weiselberry]

Hope you'll check it out sometime! I know what you mean, though, about not being able to envision someone else in a role you associate so much with one person.

[@knightleyemma]

Yay- finally! I was hoping I would review this- it was the last one I saw in theaters before the lockdown! I was mostly disappointed ☹️ - it was NOT my style & the acting wasn’t impressive.

[@uknown1100]

Oh, thanks for reviewing this movie!

[@Weiselberry]

You're welcome!

[@22moonpie]

Finally someone who loves Mr Knightly like I do. The nudity added nothing to the story IMO ! Thanks for the review ! 😀

[@thomastheeck5519]

Movie review suggestions. There are two classic movies about presidential assassinations. Manchurian Candidate and Suddenly. Both star Frank Sinatra. Candidate is a personal favorite with Sinatra as a soldier suffering from Battle Fatigue (PTSD) who is rescued by Janet Leigh.

[@Weiselberry]

I've seen both of them. I find Suddenly a particularly good lesser-known film and have recommended it to people in the past.

[@barbarabrown7974]

I have fondness for the music of the Paltrow version by Rachel Porter, which won an Academy Award. I enjoyed the music in this one too. I thought the Paltrow version a little more faithful, but this one more witty. But Austen had no archery in her novels, so Paltrow's was not completely faithful either. I thought Romola was a little too nice to be Emma. I think this version strikes the right balance with the character.

[@Weiselberry]

My sister had the soundtrack and would play it quite a bit. There are some cues I still mentally associate with certain scenes, which creates kind of a strange overlapping effect when I'm watching a different version with its own music. Haha, the archery. Hard to be critical of that when it's one of the best scenes. :)

[@barbarabrown7974]

I do admit I like the archery scene too. It's not in the book, but it uses dialogue from the book. As Emma's aim gets worse and worse, it symbolizes the farther her perceptions are from reality. As the bow and arrow are associated with Cupid, and Emma is an ineffective Cupid. The 1940s Pride and Prejudice uses archery too, but not as effectively.

[@THEPETERC1]

Miranda is wonderfully funny in early episodes of 'Not Going Out'.

[@russellpotter7294]

I love the 'JUST DON'T DO IT' plea that clearly came from the heart . Must admit I laughed at that as much as some of the blooper outtakes you do. As for 'Emma'. It falls between two stools. I know I am not the prime audience. But clearly the female parts were so well acted and put across while the males were so easily forgettable compared to previous adaptations.

[@denny7403]

Great Review 👏

[@tezzag818]

My favourite version stars Romola Garni.

[@Fribee83]

It's always going to be a hard job to adapt a novel to a movie, especially one from over two centuries ago; having to make it relatable to modern senses without removing the core aspects that fans love. You either have to focus on the the period-drama like this or lean into the modernization like She's All That/10 Things I hate about you. When I saw this one, I was worried they would change too much but luckily they managed to adapt it simliarly to how the recent Little Women movie did; that perfect balance. Random video idea but it'd be interesting to have you rank adaptations of the classics to give recommendations over "this is the most faithful" and "this is the most enjoyable".

[@barbarabrown7974]

I saw it just before the lock down in March 2020.

[@stellen11]

I didn't like the bare bums and i didn't like the songs. It was beautifully shot and the Emma actress is a brilliant actress. But overall i was longing to turn it off and watch Romola Garai's Emma again.

[@kaylanash3588]

I haven't seen the movie, but I recognized Josh O'Connor from The Crown. I haven't seen The Crown either, but I have seen dozens of clips and cast interviews on KZbin and have toyed around with the idea of watching the series in full. Have you ever seen it?

[@Weiselberry]

No, I haven't. I've heard mostly good things about it, of course.

[@moonrun2]

Listen their is a big-eyed owl to the left on this video. Be careful and great review.

[@sph_3281]

My favorite austen hero is also mr. Knightley! The 2020 is enjoyable for the costumes and backgrounds but i don't like the story portrayals. They make it too obvious from the start that mr. Knightley is the love interest and all other characters seem silly. Frank Churchill is not charming enough to make everyone love him. My favorite Frank is in beckinsale and garai version. Spoiler alert. What i hate the most is the ending. Why would Emma went to persuade Robert Smith?! The time has passed and she couldn't know harriet and robert feelings. It shows that she hasn't learn her lesson. And they kiss in "front" of mr. Woodhouse is just outrageous.

[@djchinatown]

will you review Clueless (1995)?

[@Weiselberry]

I don't know, maybe!

[@djchinatown]

@@Weiselberry It is losely based on Emma, but you did make me interested in watching the 2020 Emma movie. Thanks for the review.

[@steve-852]

The one downvote came from Mr Wickham

[@kathleencraine7335]

I can't re-watch this, no matter how beautiful it is, because every time I see this Emma I can see the blood coming out of her nose in every scene. Yuk.

[@viviennehayes2856]

I didn't like it. At all! I'm old fashioned and older. My favourite Emma is the Kate Beckinsale version which is the first one I ever saw; there might be something in that.

[@vgovger4373]

I had trouble understanding the thick accents in this movie, especially in key moments and when people were crying.

[@brooke_reiverrose2949]

I loathed it. Didn’t have the tone or feel of Jane Austen at all. All the humor lacked warmth, and felt like a farce with no subtlety. The costumes are exquisite, though.

[@garyhart6421]

I find it hard to relate to Regency period drama's --- they talk so much and in such a stilted manner. But I'm glad the Heroine had an arc --- so many these days do not.

[@tymanung6382]

This is due to their economic social.class. At times, landed gentry origin.novelists show workers, artisans, etc. dialogue which is very different--- fewer no. of words, local.dialect + slang vocabulary. etc. In.England. 1st major novel written by a real English worker, The Ragged Trousers Philanthropists, in early.1900s.

[@vgovger4373]

I don't know about the high collars worn by the men here?...if you have sideburns, your not wearing high collars, trust me.

[@fyodor371]

ARE THE SHADES OF WEISELBERRY TO BE THUS POLLUTED? You are too generous, Miss J. Please forgive me for the following rant. This adaptation was eye-roll-inducing nonsense. I think it's the worst example of recent Austen adaptations favouring form over substance. Yes, it's shot prettily, there's much care and thought put into design, costuming and other visual details, but they simply get the story wrong. I'm not slavish about adaptational fidelity [I think Clueless is an outstanding adaptation, for instance] but changes have to make sense within the movie itself. It was a little interesting to see Emma and Knightley attended by servants in their dress, but what does it add? At least with Flynn's nudity I can kindasorta understand the female-gaze-y contrived sexing-up for a female audience - as you say, that goes back to Firth's aquatic adventures - but why does Emma bare her arse to the fire? MOST IMPROPER. Same with the nosebleed - it's a bizarre distraction at a critical moment. I laughed out loud in the cinema at the sheer daftness of it before retrieving my eyeballs, which had rolled quite out of their sockets. How did they get the story wrong? Emma in this movie is fundamentally unlikeable, which is a fatal flaw in adapting the story. "Borderline horrible" is an apt description, because AT-J's Emma is cold and mean. Yes, Emma Woodhouse is flawed; she is snobby, conceited, selfish and naive. However, she is also good-natured at heart, kind, lively and witty. Little of that is shown in the movie, so we are left with an unfeeling mean-girl. It's thus hard to engage with her story, hard to understand why Knightley loves her and hard to accept the change in her character by the end. AT-J is a talented actress but the interpretation here was way off. Speaking of Knightley, Flynn is horribly miscast. He looks like the stable-boy has been strategically shaved and dressed in his master's clothes. Knightley is supposed to a middle-aged gentleman - the ideal gentleman, if such a thing exists - with authority, gravitas and subtle good humour. In contrast, Flynn looks awkwardly bewildered and uncomfortable in his own skin. More of a scruffy man-child than a self-assured gentleman. And what's with the hair? We're supposed to believe that he's dressed head to toe by a valet who nevertheless allows Knightley to leave the house without brushing his damned hair? Most of the casting decisions and portrayals were odd. Bill Nighy is always watchable, but should an aged hypochondriac be spryly leaping from staircases? Frank Churchill was loutishly charmless, Jane Fairfax insipid, Harriet Smith anaemically depressed [and what happened to her eyebrows? Yet another weird distraction] and Mrs. Elton merely annoying rather than comical. Only a few characters hit the mark for me: I love Miranda Hart and I agree that she was terrific as Miss Bates [nobody comes close to Sophie Thompson, however] and Josh O'Connor was enjoyably unctuous. Badly done Emma. Badly done. P.S. and they left out the gypsy scene. Shocking lack of gypsies; I can't believe you let that one go.

[@lizzy-wx4rx]

I just reread Emma, inspired to do so by another one of Jerome's wonderful reviews, and I have to agree. Her kind-heartedness is emphasized throughout, as is her essential sweetness. She is just very young, and, to use Austen's own word, "spoiled." Also, as Mr. Knightly points out, the fact that she was by far the cleverest one of her family, although the youngest, did her character no favors, as it meant that there was no one in a position to correct or guide her--a role he tried to fulfill. I feel like I understood her character more on this reread, and you're right--she's full of herself, but she's no mean girl.

[@tymanung6382]

"Gypsies"? Real.name---Romani or Roma. Question---- why.dud Jane Austen.use Romani + not English.robbers? She + her family were.actively. even physically, vs. African slavery, but at times, people can be limited + contradictory.

[@kirknelson235]

Audumn de Wilde did a great job!

[@alessandrarocco1037]

This Emma is too modern

[@corriedebeer799]

this movie is very realistic except for the lack of lesbians in it.