My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9
Genre: Romance, classic
Primary actors: Charity Wakefield, Hattie Morahan, David Morrissey, Dan Stevens
Length: 3 hours
Based on: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Time period: 1800’s
Year it came out: 2008
My overall opinion: Okay, you’re getting a full run-down, straight from my journal the day after I watched it. J But first…I thought it was good. Really good. In fact, I think it’s close to being as good as the one I’m most familiar with, the 1995 Emma Thompson version. I know that at the beginning, there is an un-needed scene, but it’s less than two minutes (I think – so I’ve heard, but I didn’t watch it). Also, apparently there’s a kiss between Willoughby and Marianne that has more sensuality than needed, but that scene (in Willoughby’s house) can also be easily skipped. So, now that you know I like it…shall we continue?
Most of the characters were better than the 1995 one. Lucy Steele was one exception. The Lucy Steele in the 95 one is THE Lucy Steele – she’s perfect for the part. Mrs. Jennings may be another exception, as she’s an amazing person in the 95 version. However, Edward Ferrars and Colonel Brandon were much improved. And by much, I mean a ton. I thought Margaret Dashwood was also better here. Elinor, Marianne, Mrs. Dashwood, and John Dashwood – all about the same as in the old one. IMHO. Pros and cons of each balance each other. Willoughby – potentially too ugly. None of my sisters thought him at all handsome, and neither did I. The 95 one isn’t exceptionally handsome (looks about to sneeze some of the time :P) but he’s better looking. Sir Middleton and Mrs. Palmer, also about the same. I enjoyed seeing Anne Steele (Lucy’s sister) who’s in the book, but not the 95 movie. Also interesting to see Mrs. Ferrars, and Sir Middleton’s wife. Both of whom are in the book, and aren’t in the other movie. I thought the 95 Fanny Dashwood was better, but this one was a close second. In my journal, I later re-thought the statement that the Elinor’s were the same…I remembered that this one was the perfect personality, the right age (the other one, Emma Thompson, may be a bit old?), and also, this Elinor was clearly very close to Marianne, which isn’t so clear in the other film.
So! You now have a rundown on each (almost – did I miss anyone?) of the characters from Sense and Sensibility.