Northanger Abbey

The other reviews have judged this production quite harshly. I disagree. It's from 1987, and was produced as part of a BBC television series, so it's unfair to compare it with much bigger budget features. I found it charming, and faithful to the novel. This novel is different from the usual Austen. It was written as a homage to the Gothic novels of the day and so it's more dramatic and less nuanced. It's a fun, short novel rather than a serious novel. This production captures the wonder and excitement of a naive girl making her first foray into society. The movie characters that are black and white villains are also villainous in the novel. Don't be put off by the low rating. It's worth a view.

I've read this book probably 4 times, and loved it every single time. I'm afraid this movie has missed the mark. Well, no, it hasn't missed the mark - it doesn't even know where the mark is in the first place! First of all, these actors are nothing like I pictured the characters as I read. I may have pictured them somewhat differently from how Austen described them, but nevertheless I find it very hard to accept them as the characters in the book. They just don't fit. Second of all, why are there so many scenes cut out and new ones put in? It felt like I'd missed so much when the movie was over, and that it was rushed and incomplete. And all of her visions! Some of the scenes in this movie are very similar to those in John Gielgud's "Prospero's Books," which I know is lauded as brilliant filmmaking. However, here it just distracts from the story and creates an uncomfortable situation for the viewer. If you love Jane Austen, I would suggest not seeing this movie. Wait for someone like Emma Thompson or even Kenneth Branagh to do justice to it (although I hope he doesn't cast himself as Tilney!!).

The filmmakers were clearly on drugs. That's the only explanation I have. How else do you explain this travesty of a Jane Austen adaptation? Northanger Abbey is a parody of a Gothic novel. But this film was made as if it WERE a Gothic novel. The bizarre music and dream sequences to me suggest drug-induced hallucinations rather than a naive, innocent girl with an overactive imagination, as Catherine of the novel is...

The actress who played Catherine just stands around bug-eyed all the time. Peter Firth looks at least 10 years too old to play Henry and he actually seemed a bit on the gay side to me. I don't see the attraction between him and Catherine. John Thorpe's portrayal was rather odd but Isabella actually wasn't that bad. But nothing could save this PIECE OF CRAP movie! One more thing- This film invents a character not in the book, a French friend of General Tilney's, "The Marchioness." Why exactly they added her is beyond me. Must have been the drugs. She is scary-looking beyond belief, with white foundation, red lips and black lines randomly painted on her face (dimples?).

You'd think this would at least be entertaining in a "so bad it's good" quality but unfortunately, it's not. It's just BAD.

Being a big Jane Austen fan, I had great hopes of seeing the timeless story of her "Northanger Abbey" come to life on video. Needless to say, that didn't happen. Did the writers ever read the actual book? It was not consistent in any likeness, in spirit or theme. The characters had no depth, the music was irritating and distracting, and the plot was twisted and weird. Jane Austen, I'm sure would be thouroughly offended, as will the veiwer of this B-style, twilight zone version of the classic.

Over all the movie was "ok." It ruined the story from the book and made it seems like the director was making fun of the whole story. I love Jane Austen and i've just about read all of her books. Northanger abbey is one of my favorites and I wanted so much to see it one film. So I bought the movie thinking I was going to love it but when I watched it I hated it. The movie turned the relationships upside down and gave her these stupid day dreams that just left you confused and tired of the movie. The end left you wondering if she was dreaming or if it was real. Over all if you love Jane Austen I would definitely tell you NOT to watch it. It's not worth it.