Description
Beautiful, clever, and rich Emma Woodhouse is convinced she is good at matchmaking after her older sister and her governess both marry suitable husbands. No matter that as Mr Knightley drily observes, in reality, she had nothing to do with these relationships. Yet Emma, certain of her talents, plays a dangerous game as she persuades her new friend, the young, pretty and socially inferior Harriet to reject an advantageous marriage proposal to a local farmer in favour of dash… More >>

Emma

5 Responses to “Emma”

1. Grisel T. Martinez says:

   January 30, 2010 at 8:09 pm

   Hello fellow Austenites! This is a review of the reviews of the new Emma with Romola Garai, which I just ordered. I loved the reviews and I can’t wait to watch it myself. I now all the actors from previous works and the casting was brilliantly done, to say the least. There is one comment about Gwyneth Paltrow’s “fake British accent” which does not ring true. Gwyneth Paltrow’s British accent is not fake in any shape or form. Gwyneth was raised by her mother,Blythe Danner,an excellent British actor in her own right. Gwyneth’s British accent is flawless, to say the least. You will read more from me after I watch the new Emma!
   Rating: 5 / 5
2. Arianna Hoffman says:

   January 30, 2010 at 10:26 pm

   I watch all of Emma TV adaptations and my favorite still remains the one with Kate Beckinsale and Mark Strong.

   I did not like the cast. The movie is good and has lots of details.

   The story line was very good and accurate to the book, but I was not impress with Romola Garai acting and her look. She is not very pretty without make up. Her hair was not accurate to the period most of the times , she had no grace in her manners, overall she was a bad choice.
   
   Also I don’t understand why the three lead male characters where very short actors (in real life) Jonny Lee Miller- as Mr Knightly; Rupert Evans- as Frank Churchill; and Blake Ritson- as Mr. Elton. The tallest one, Rupert Evans, is only 5.7ft. They are very good actors, but….very short. I wonder if the producer had some sort of atraction for ….short men.
   
   Ruper Evans(Frank Churchill) I think is OK but not a heart breaker.

   All the other characters where a good choice.

   I would of give it a 5 STAR if it wasn’t for this four main characters.
   
   They just did not do it for me. I like to see faces that go with the story, specially when you have a man that is supposed to be gorgeous, and another that has a more dominant and powerful personality.

   However, this is a very personal opinion!
   
   When I watch a movie I want to laugh, I want to cry, I want to fall in love, even when the story is very good if the actors don’t inspire this emotions it’s hard for me to rate the movie high, and that’s the ONLY reason why I rate it so low. But that’s just me.

   I definitely recommend this movie to any of Jane Austen fans, as a very good adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma”.
   Rating: 2 / 5
3. classicflicks says:

   January 30, 2010 at 11:57 pm

   Like the English, I am an avid fan of period movies. Over the years, I’ve seen every version of every Jane Austen story ever made into a movie. This version of Emma – wow! Normally, when writers try to *get clever* and give a backstory before they attempt to retell the actual story, it irritates the heck out of me – its usually why *creative license* has a bad name. However (first I’ll give kudos to the writers), the backstory they wrote for the start is all true, from facts taken from the actual novel, and instantly creates a *relatability* for those not *into* period films generally. The actors – another wow! Personality is the keyword – even Mr. Woodhouse has one, again, nothing is changed from the original story to give him one, he simply exudes it AND plays the character well. I HAVE to give kudos to the director…as adorable, charming – perfect – that Romola Garai is for the role of Emma, she obviously worked for a director who knew his stuff; every facial expression timed just right for the scenes – my 23 year old son watched the movie with me…he is neither a period movie fan, nor a particularly expressive person…he laughed out loud regularly throughout. The whole cast, writing, directing, oh my gosh, and cinematography, costumes and sets – I believe Jane Austen herself would heartily approve.
   Rating: 5 / 5
4. D. S. Thurlow says:

   January 31, 2010 at 2:01 am

   It says something for the enduring qualities of Jane Austen’s justly famous romantic comedy “Emma” that it gets redone every few years for television or the movies. The latest (2009) BBC version reproduces, more or less faithfully, Jane Austen’s novel at a length of four hours, framed by excellent production values, featuring superb period sets, costumes, and carriages.

   As the story has it, the rich, handsome, and clever Emma Woodhouse imagines herself to be the able matchmaker of the village of Highbury, a role she takes on against the advice of her older and wiser good friend Mr. Knightley. Unfortunately, Emma succeeds mostly in entangling several lives, including her own. Along with some excellent comedy, this story is a coming-of-age experience for the young Emma, in classic Jane Austen style.

   Romola Garai is a good fit as Emma, if rather more expressive than some of her film predecessors. Michael Gambon is a superb Mr. Woodhouse, with all the quirks of the original. Johnny Lee Miller at first glance is a bit young for the 16 year age difference with Emma, but he and Romola Garai work around to some genuine chemistry on screen. The supportig cast is good to excellent, especially Blake Ritson as the Reverend Elton and Rupert Evans as Frank Churchill.

   “Emma” is very highly recommended to fans of Jane Austen and of PBS Masterpiece Classics.
   Rating: 5 / 5
5. Adealia Blythe says:

   January 31, 2010 at 2:41 am

   I will admit it. I’ve never really liked Emma as story. It’s the truth. I always felt she was arrogant and a little ridiculous. While I, of course, appreciate the humor and comedic moments, I just never fell in love with the characters. . . until I watched this little gem. In this film Johnny Lee Miller is an absolute dream as the practical, patient, opinionated Mr. Knightley–wonderfully full of angst, a bit of jealousy, and good, noble intentions. Emma was likeable, even loveable. You see why she does what she does, and how she develops and learns. You see how her worldview has been colored by her doting, but very overprotective father, who never let her out of his sight. You see why Mr. Knightley lectures her and what behaviors she exhibits around Mr. Frank Churchill that he abhors. And they argue. a lot. Delicious, frustration-tinged argue. It’s wonderful. I also love that you are given more access to Jane Fairfax and Harriet Smith and especially Miss Bates. You see her perpetually optimistic chatter as a means of warding off the insufferable loneliness and hopeliness of her situation, making Emma’s mockery all the more potent and hurtful. Her preoccupation with Jane’s accomplishments are a way to comfort and to assure her that she and her mother did the right thing in sending her away, giving her wonderful opportunities (and that those opportunities might one day be a way out of penury for herself and her mother). As Miss Bates chatters, Mrs. Bates falls more and more silent–the one trying to balance out the other. All characters evolves; you see it. Harriet is sweet and innocent. Mrs. Elton is snobbish and bossy. It is a wonderful, wonderful adaptation, both comedic and dramatic and especially romantic.
   Rating: 5 / 5