Emma

Great movie

This is a delightful romp through one of Jane Austen's classic tales. It is true to the book, for the most part, and any variations from the original manuscript do not in any way detract from the story and its premise. The cast is delightful, particularly Gwyneth Paltrow and Toni Collette as Emma and Miss Smith, respectively. In contrast to the version with Kate Beckinsale, this portrayal of the title character is so sweet and amiable that you have compassion for her even when she makes blunders and misconstrues the motives/feelings of others. The pairing of the actors chosen for Mr. Churchill and Miss Fairfax seemed a poor choice, and their characters did not convey any real feelings for each other. Miss Bates was portrayed brilliantly by Sophie Thompson, who was also wonderful in another Jane Austen's classics: Persuasion. Overall, this is a very enjoyable version of a wonderful book.

I loved this movie It is beautifully filmed, the costumes and scenery are lovely to look at and make it believable coming from it's time period. I am a huge Jane Austen fan and am trying to watch every version of all of her books. This is the only version of Emma that I've seen so far. The movie is very funny and generally quite light as opposed to Sense and Sensibility or Mansfield Park - however that doesn't take away from the character development or the teaching of good morals and the satisfaction of a beautiful ending to the story which only occurs after Emma has learned the lessons she desperately needs to learn. I loved the humor - it is a wonderful "girl" movie with laughs and tears and of course beautiful language with nothing objectionable...It is the kind of movie that gives you the escape that you need into a world that is believable on some level but not real enough to be depressing. My only objection is that the DVD has no bonus materials - I would've loved to hear director and actor comments during the film as is often done and or a section on how the movie was made. After seeing several of these in other movies - it brings the movie alive in another way. Well worth watching.

I had always hesitated in watching this movie. As an avid Jane Austen fan, I was somewhat distracted by the DVD cover depicting Emma as Cupid. Once you get to the movie you have a much different experience. I enjoyed the settings, the interpretation of the story. Gwyneth Paltrow did a marvelous Emma, socially intelligent but at times humanly ignorant. Mr. Knightly was my favorite as always. I enjoyed this look at him and found it comparable to the movie with Kate Beckinsale as Emma. Each movie has its own look and charms. I think it is wise to govern your feelings about any of the movies as they are products of the director's mind. The best Emma "movie" is to grab a cup of coffee and curl up with the book and let your imagination take the lead. We should not expect that another's interpretation should match the intention and work of Jane Austen as much as our own or our own viewpoints. She had many messages in all of her work but Emma really is delightful in every view. If you just compare the movies of Emma with each other you only have a small slice of Jane Austen's world. You compare the characters the way it ought to be....with the others. As Maryann said in "Sense and Sensibility", " I compare my conduct with yours (Elinor), the way it ought to be." And for me, the comments will be thus. Emma in any way is delightful, entertaining and makes you smile. Indeed...a wonderful surprise.

Emma is a wealthy and bored young woman in Regency England. She lives the good life in her rural manse, where she lives with her hypochondriac father, and she has just successfully seen a match she's made lead to the altar. Flushed with success, she is determined to continue her role as Cupid, which leads to disaster and comedy at every turn. Director McGrath proves to have a good eye for exterior shots and comedic elements. The script is delightful, the cast superb, and Rachel Portman's score is faultless. The real problem with this adaptation is dear Gwyneth. Paltrow is absolutely lovely and charming as the heroine here, but she is not Emma as written by Jane Austen, and the discrepancy changes the story entirely. To see this character played to perfection, you must see her played by Kate Beckinsale. Before you click the "No" button, hear me out: watch both films' version of the pivotal scene of the picnic on Boxer Hill, where Emma insults poor chatty Miss Bates. Austen's Emma is intelligent but thoughtless, generous but as yet unkind, in the way that young people can sometimes be. The essential drama of Austen's story lies in Emma's realization that she has been mistaken about oh! so many things, in her growth as she internalizes that realization, and in her discovering love when she becomes worthy of it. By contrast, Gwyneth Paltrow is perfect from the first scene. She exudes sophistication; she cannot help it. You never feel that she does not know what's what and who's who, and therefore she cannot develop as Austen means her to. And that precludes her from playing Emma to perfection. That said, if you are a Paltrow fan, you will love her in this charming film. She is effervescent. If, however, you are an Austen purist, then you MUST see the Beckinsale version instead. Regardless of your opinion of the film, you WILL be disappointed in this DVD. Apparently Miramax's Harvey Weinstein has heard of neither bells nor whistles. Special features listed are: a theatrical trailer, subtitles in English and chapter selection. And that accurately sums it up. There's really no excuse for such a trifling package. Now I've had my say and you, dear reader, may click away.

Best quality performance for the main character of Emma by Gwyneth Paltrow. The interpretation of the character of Harriet Smith is also the absolute best for any version. Well directed. George Knightly was well expressed also. The other characters were well done, especially the wife of the minister.

Ich muss gleich im Vorfeld sagen, dass dies die einzige "Emma"-Verfilmung ist, die ich bislang gesehen habe, daher kann ich keine Vergleiche ziehen. Positiv überrascht hat mich das British English von Gwyneth Paltrow. Auch sonst ist sie, wie ich finde, eine gute Wahl für die Rolle der Emma Woodhouse, einer hübschen, klugen aber verwöhnten Vertreterin des Landadels. Jane Austen soll mal in Bezug auf Emma gesagt haben :"Ich werde eine Heldin schaffen, die ausser mir niemand mag." Weit gefehlt, Miss Austen, ich mag sie mindestens genauso gerne. Sie ist nicht vollkommen, verhält sich oft daneben (die Picknick-Szene; autsch!!), spielt Schicksal und mischt sich in die Angelegenheiten anderer ein, in der festen Überzeugung, Gutes zu tun, stiftet jedoch nur Unglück. Dies lässt sie sehr menschlich erscheinen, Emma ist keine Superheldin, was ihr fehlt ist die Selbsterkenntnis. Lobenswert an dieser Austen-Verfilmung fand ich ausserdem, dass die feine Ironie und zum Teil auch Sarkasmus durchkommt, die ja in allen ihren Büchern präsent sind. Oft sind es nur kurze Bemerkungen, Nebensätze, beiläufig geäussert, die einen zum Schmunzeln bringen, und man muss schon richtig zuhören, damit einem nichts entgeht. Kritik: wenn ich etwas kritisieren müsste, dann vielleicht die Wahl der Harriet-Darstellerin, die im Buch weder reich, noch intelligent, sondern einfach nur hübsch ist, und im Film leider nicht (bitte nicht falsch verstehen, ich schätze Toni Collette sehr, nur eben nicht in dieser Rolle) Diese Adaption ist empfehlenswert für all jene, die gerne für eine Weile den heilen Mikrokosmos der Jane Austen betreten möchten, wo es keinen Krieg oder richtige Tragödien gibt und wo man schon am Anfang weiss, dass man am Ende mit einem "and they lived happily ever after" belohnt wird. In diesem Sinne, viel Spass beim Gucken, nicht so viel kritisieren, lieber mitleiden und mitlieben.

For once a period drama that does not try to make it into a 21st C movie- women should have been.....then. But they weren't. I love period drama or comedies as so much attention is given- ( I have ADD and notice the details & continuity lol) and these are splendid. The trees are splendid! Emma is acted as a young women who acts as if she were older at any age than we are as their length of life was often much shorter, especially for women in pregnancy, laboyr. It was contractual- title for money and family continuity. Our Emma is well educated which was a luxury in the early 1800's , and if not as much of a reader as other heroines in Austin's books, well read. Reading for self was as important as exercise or music, and entertaining . At least here we can see how their life was, and how it could've different as it was for Jane Austin herself, who was very observant, well spoken and an avid reader and thinker. No doubt she paid attention to societal differences, and news as well. She could foresee more, clearly. The opening is delightful with a lovely but simple twirling decoration, and the story of village lives begins. It is remarkable how close they all were. I believe especially if you visit Upper Canada Village (near Iroquois, ON- eastern Ontario) you can see how this would be, yet so hard for us to imagine. It's hard to believe that it was so, when in an apartment building where one hardly sees anyone, nor is greeted by anyone.ever. Gwyneth Paltrow is perfect if too thin for that era, out-going, generous, a bit snobbish, thoughtful of her actions and so loved that she can recover from her own thoughtlessness with deeper thought, quite quickly. Toni Collette is energetic, enthusiastic but unsure and is the friend who's life Emma directs, with varying results until her friend shines as herself , after experiencing much sorrow and uncertainty. Emma does try to make amends which is still hard to do even if her status should make it easier. It is good that she bothers given her status, and that is part of the human connection between two totally divergent times, hers and ours. Points are made about true love and acceptance of the other being the point of a happy marriage, unlike the rector who married for money, basically, and has a social climbing, poorly mannered, wealthy wife. There is no question that one will be married, have lots of children, and learn the consequences of actions without thought. Charity she gave but not kindness. How valuable for us to consider ourselves. The movie has lush pastoral photography, scenery, clothing, furnishings and wonderful styles of carriages and horses. They are magnificent. Never any dirt on them from travelling! Even with her warm circle of friends, her very high thinking of herself, Emma can consider her activities, actions and consequences, even if a bit late, as a self-styled village matchmaker. As Austin's other books add, life can be very hard especially on reputation and like Dickens, we become aware of society's poverty, the neglected, perceptions, harshness, the need for courage, kindness, forgiveness and true charity regardless of social class. Emma at times is funny and all of of the performances fantastic. At the time people were away for far longer given horses, bad roads, freezing bumpy carriages, poor communication and social demands that were very strict. I love this movie; I love the gargantuan trees that we just don't have, why I don't know. The buildings are lovely, and it is so much for the eyes and senses. A beautifully constructed movie both light, fun and serious all interwoven amo gst gorgeous roses and spring scenes. I watch this to lift me up, lighten the world, which it always does! I love Jeremy Northam!

Film sorprendente, per me una piacevolissima scoperta. La star è la brava Gwyneth Paltrow, ma eccellenti anche le interpretazioni di un cast veramente ai massimi livelli. Un mondo aristocratico, di cui si apprezza lo stile, l'eleganza e la forbitezza di linguaggio. Premio Oscar per la miglior colonna sonora. Memorabili le armonie dei balli. Trama originale e pure ridanciana, incentrato sulla maldestra attività di una sensale di matrimoni, che rimane impigliata lei stessa nella rete dell'amore. Consigliato vivamente.

オースティンの長い小説を手際よく映画化されていて楽しみました、 原作では心の動きが多いのでこの映画だけでは描き切れなかったと思いますが これはこれで楽しくきれいな「エマ」になりました。

Adorer la série. Moi qui adore jane austen est apprécier de le voir