Persuasion

As someone who counts Persuasion as a favourite book I found this so far removed from Jane Austen's original. On the plus side I liked Dakota Johnson's Ann and quite enjoyed the way she talked to the audience.

I didn't enjoy her being turned into a lush. The actor who played Wentworth was awful- instead of an heroic, handsome character he came across as a real drip and looked scruffy all the way through. In fact there was far more chemistry between Ann and Mr Elliot and in this version they looked a better match. There were some good comic moments with Ann's dreadful family,

In an earlier film or tv version of Persuasion the drama built up so well that you really wanted Ann to catch him up at the end- in this version I couldn't have cared who she ended up with.

This was such a disappointment.

Netflix, please stop ruining our favourite books. Just stick with original screenplay and stories when creating new shows. I hated every minute of this version of Persuasion, I can't even start to list all the things wrong with that movie.

If you separate this adaptation from the book, it is a sufficient watch. However, considering what masterpiece it is based on, I'm sure Jane Austen is turning in her grave.

The story isn't anything like the Persuasion we know and love, it is trying too hard to be like Bridgerton, to be relevant and have modern touches. Some of the most beloved and iconic lines have been downgraded to weak decoctions. There is hardly any character development. In fact, the only character that I thought wasn't utterly flat was Mary. The cast is excellent but the script is beyond words... and not in the positive sense. For Anne to constantly be breaking the fourth wall was an excruciatingly bad decision. All in all, a painful adaptation that can surely only be enjoyed by viewers who aren't familiar with the work of Jane Austen.

Okay, I did it! I finished watching the whole Persuasion. And I'm trying - really trying - to say something nice about it, but... I can't. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't an adaptation of Persuasion. Because... really the only thing the movie and the book have in common is the NAMES of the characters. I wasn't expecting anything and yet I'm so very disappointed. Why is Anne acting like Lizzy? Why is she so sarcastic? And (for God's sake) an alcoholic? Why does she have her hair down for half the movie? Why is she just swimming around in clothes in the sea? And the clothes are supposed to be from what era?

How can anyone even call THAT a Persuasion? It's my favorite book. Melancholy, painful, romantic. The movie is cheesy, awkward and cring. I have no words.

I give it 3/10 (two for Mary, she was hilarious and one for Henry Golding).

If you loved the novel or are a purist, stop now and find another film.

This one has major changes and the main character has the tendency to tell you the story (literally, eyes into the camera) rather letting the performance show what the plot is about.

On the positive side, the camera work is beautiful. The score uplifting. And I'd say the cast did quite well, given the script they got.

However, no amount of Netflix money can cover the odd anachronisms and weak story telling that drop a classic to only slightly above average.

If you have good source material, why do this? Or at least if you want to experiment, do it right?