Persuasion

I finally found a version of Persuasion that I like! Anne doesn't look like a scullery maid in this version, just a very thin, aging, pretty woman, quite like she's described in the book. Captain Wentworth doesn't look like he's 50, nor does he look perpetually angry but rather, as he's described in the book, he hasn't aged as much as Anne and is quite handsome. And they play their parts with such conviction and realism...that's what acting is all about. They were believable. They created real characters, and it was like the characters in the book came to life. If you haven't seen this version, I urge you to find it, order it or request it from either a bookstore, or a library if you must. It's worth the price and worth the wait.

I watched the 1995 version, and the 2007 version and this one towers over the other two. Why it isn't rated higher is beyond my comprehension. The book conveys the tenderness of their relationship and this movie makes the book come to life.

As a big Jane Austen fan, I found this Persuasion very interesting. I still consider the 1995 version the best version mainly because I find the character development richer, but this version is much better than the dull and passionless 2007 ITV version. It is not perfect, the hairstyles and costumes and both un-authentic and distracting, unflattering even in some cases. However, it is handsomely filmed, even with some stiffness and the scenery is absolutely beautiful. The music is nice and simple, not over-bearing. The story and atmosphere are not as rich as 1995, and I'd say the same with the characters, but for anybody fussy about faithfulness to the book this version is slightly truer. I didn't mind the length or the pacing, the story isn't as lengthy as Mansfield Park for instance but needs a fair length and a leisurely pace to do justice to the story and characters as well as the class distinctions, which this version mostly did, especially in regard to Lady Russell and Elizabeth, both of whom are the closest-written to their novelistic counterparts than the other versions. The acting is good, Ann Firbank is I agree too old, but she more than makes up for it for her expressive face and her suitably introverted acting. Bryan Marshall is excellent as Wentworth, humorous, teasing yet also handsome and subtly bitter. The chemistry between Anne and Wentworth didn't admittedly move me as much as the 1995 version, but I did still feel there was one, unlike the 2007 version. The supporting cast are just as good, Valerie Gearon and Marion Spencer make the most of their characters, Rowland Davies is suitably buoyant and Richard Vernon and Michael Culver are also solid. All in all, a very interesting adaptation if not my favourite version. 8/10 Bethany Cox

When it comes to most movies made about classic novels, most people complain that it wasn't true to the novel. You can't say that about this. That's the one (and only) good point about this movie. I couldn't stand the woman who played Anne. I know she was supposed to be older, but not THAT old! She looked like she was 40! Anne's only supposed to be 27 or something like that. And I could NOT stand how she did her hair. Captain Wentworth was ok, but no where near as dashing as you imagine him when you read the book, and Captain Benwick was just plain frightening. I thought the girl who played Louisa Musgrove was really good, the same with the woman who played Mary. I don't remember having any specific complaints with any of the other characters, so I suppose they did well enough. The script was very close, sometimes word for word, with the book. However, this did make the movie rather boring. I thoroughly enjoyed the book...every time i read it. I never was bored at all throughout the entire novel, so I'm blaming my boredom on the movie's direction and acting. The character of Anne was supposed to be calm, not completely dull...which is what this actress was. Overall I must say i was disappointed with this movie. Compared to the newer version I preferred the newer one, mainly because of the actress who played Anne. This movies wasn't completely terrible, but it wasn't any good either.

I read the book, prefer the '95, but I enjoyed this. This is a stagy , reverent, classically 70s BBC version. Video tape interiors, washed out exteriors, stilted acting but still affecting.

Okay, if you discount the production value, the ugly outfits, and the big hair, this adaptation is still far inferior to the 90's version. First Ann Firbank (playing Anne Elliot), is literally ten years too old to play this role and her acting leaves much to be desired. Amanda Root (playing the same role in the 90's version) can express more in her big, brown eyes than Firbank can with her entire face in a four hour production. Anne is turned into a peevish, whining, boring character (and what was with the scene during the `long walk' where she stops to spout off poetry?). Henrietta and Louisa looked so much alike that the only time I could tell them apart was when they stood next to each other (Henrietta was taller). And Louisa! Never was there a more obnoxious character! It was ridiculous to think that Wentworth was supposed to be interested in her. She is supposed to be high spirited and pretty and charming, not stupid and silly with her ridiculous laugh that's like nails on a chalkboard. When she starts to chant, `to Lyme, to Lyme, to Lyme,' I started yelling, `shut up, shut up, shut up!' The best part of the movie was when Louisa falls those three feet at the cobb because I knew I wouldn't have to see her anymore in the movie. Speaking of the fall at the cobb scene; it was the mose poorly acted, badly directed and edited scene of the entire film. How does a person fall three feet down, land on her feet, and still be knocked unconscious?

On the plus size, the character of Elizabeth was much closer to the book than in the 90's version. They also put in many more scenes with Anne and Frederick at the end.

I'll admit, I have bought this movie, even though I knew how sub par it was, but I'm a huge Austen fan, so I'll buy any movie adapted from one of her novels. Watch this move if you're morbidly curious, or to appreciate the 90's version even more.

The bottom line is, this version may follow the letter of the novel, but the 90's version follows the spirit.