I just finished watching part one of Andrew Davies’ adaptation of Sense & Sensibility and I’m not quite sure what to think, yet. I can say that I didn’t particularly care for the opening scene between Willoughby and Eliza with all of the steamy “ooh” noises and overt skin shots. Frankly, I was embarrassed by how hard they were trying to make it “sexy” in a modern-day sense. I watch period pieces for a reason. If I want a skanky modern scene, I can turn to any channel on my TV. Perhaps Andrew Davies hasn’t figured out that women don’t necessarily need or like explicit scenes. Unlike a dude, I don’t get turned on by visual stimulus.
The entire production dragged painfully and the acting was disappointingly mediocre. I also found Dominic Cooper to be too smarmy as Willoughby. “Willoughby! Willoughby!” The name can’t help but conjure an image of the gorgeous Greg Wise. (See inset picture of gorgeous, brooding man.) Unfortunately, I also could not help but compare this production to Ang Lee’s 1995 S&S, which was adapted by Emma Thompson, and one of my top twenty faves.
Thus far, this is my least favorite current adaptation of an Austen work… We’ll have to see if part two redeems the production. To Be Continued.
Jane-ites, Austenites, whatever you may call yourselves, set your TIVO/DVR/VCR for the next two Sundays as PBS’ Masterpiece Theatre airs the latest adaptation of Sense & Sensibility. I’m curious to see what sultry scenes have been added by Andrew Davies, the same screenwriter who gave us the Colin Firth “shirt” scene in his A&E adaptation of P&P.
And in case you haven’t checked it out yet, click here to to see the “Men of Austen.” It’s going to be a great weekend!
While I’ve been posting, I’ve been listening to MI-5 on the BBC America TV channel. I love Matthew Macfadyen. In case you don’t remember him, he played Mr. Darcy in the Joe Wright adaptation of P&P with Keira Knightley. Even though Macfadyen’s Darcy was different from the smoldering haughtiness (or should I say “hottiness”) of Colin Firth, I thoroughly enjoyed him. His voice has such a great texture and richness to it. Music to a blogger’s ears.
Update: I played back and watched what I was listening to and imagine my delight to see Rupert Penry-Jones on MI-5 with Tom Macfadyen! Captain Wentworth AND Mr. Darcy. It’s too much for this girl.
Imagine my trembling excitement as I put in my copy of the new adaptation of Mansfield Park last night, only to find out, after watching it, that it was an edited version from the original UK version. Grrrr! My disappointment, I assure you, was severe. Last fall, my friend MK toted back from London all the new Austen adaptations that are now airing on Masterpiece Theatre. She loaned me the goodies and a region-free DVD player for a week and I watched with delicious delight every DVD at least five times. (I know, I’m pathetic.) And I am sad to say these are not small scenes cut (like sheep or houses,) but fairly significant ones. Mansfield Park from amazon.com/uk runs 120 minutes and the U.S. version has a run time of 90 minutes. Thirty full minutes have been shaved off. EGADS!
So what’s a girl to do? I suppose I will need to invest in a region-free player and purchase my flicks from amazon.com/uk instead of from the U.S. I wonder why the powers that be decide to edit the U.S. versions. Do they think we’re not quite bright enough to enjoy the same scenes as the Brits? Or do they associate Americans with ADD and are easily bored by too many manor houses and horse drawn carriages? I think they need to reconsider such horrible practices. It’s really quite devastating to an Austenite.
As I mentioned previously, PBS’ Masterpiece Theatre is showcasing adaptations of Jane Austen’s canon of work from January through April with new adaptations of Persuasion, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey and Sense & Sensibility. (Already purchased and on the way. S&S is only available for pre-order at this time.) While I was perusing their website, I came across this link: “The Men of Austen,” which any Austenite will enjoy.
Darcy & Wentworth are delish. Who’s your favorite?
Trendiness is a definite pet peeve of mine. Nothing irks me more right now than people professing their love of Jane Austen, “I love anything Jane Austen,” and they’ve maybe read one book in her canon of work for a high school English class or they’ve seen a film adaptation of Pride & Prejudice or Sense & Sensibility. And they think Jane Austen is all about romance between Elizabeth Bennet & Mr. Darcy (but who wouldn’t? Mr. Darcy is delicious.) But they miss the wit and wisdom in Austen’s writing about social commentary in terms of class and gender and choices. It seems that there’s an Austen renaissance every ten years or so with new adaptations in film or TV. Well, I suppose I should be grateful that they’re even interested in my beloved Jane. I suppose I’m a bit of an obnoxious purist, like Prudie from The Jane Austen Book Club, but I don’t break out in French.
