mrv3000 | Sense & Sensibility

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Sense & Sensibility

I'm sorry, but am I supposed to hate just about every character? Really? I never read the book and only have the vaguest memories of the Emma Thompson version, but many a time there was a narrowing of the eyes and "I don't like you" said to the screen.

Okay, some maybe didn't quite get up to "hate." For example, Colonel Brandon only managed to creep me out thoroughly. *shudders*

Oh! Mark Gatiss was in this! Let me tell you, there's nothing quite like watching Jane Austin with the irrational fear that John Dashwood will suddenly, and inexplicably, turn up starkers. Damn you, Doctor Who!

So, in closing, I'm not sure if it was this version or if it's that I don't care for the story itself, but...wasn't a fan.

I might need to go watch North & South to cleanse the palate.

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See, I like the Emma Thompson version. I have issues with Hugh Grant (who I could never actually manage to see as anyone but himself), but other than that, I liked everyone. So I'm thinking that your dislike of all the characters is possibly not a good sign for this version. I haven't read the book, though, so I'm not sure how faithful an adaptation it is.

Oh! Mark Gatiss was in this! Let me tell you, there's nothing quite like watching Jane Austin with the irrational fear that John Dashwood will suddenly, and inexplicably, turn up starkers. Damn you, Doctor Who!

... or turn into a monster. *shudder*

I really liked ET's version as well, and I didn't even realize there was a more recent version... but I don't see myself rushing out to see it, because I know how I felt about the remake of Pride & Prejudice. (In a word: bleh.)

READ THE BOOK!

Edited 2008-05-05 03:51 (UTC)

Yeah, I love the Colin Firth version of P&P. I tried to watch the Keira Knightly version but couldn't make it through. I think I'm just going to leave this new version of S&S alone.

Here's the weird thing... I know I watched the KK version, but I don't actually remember anything about it other than I hated it. It's like I have movie amnesia. Sweeet.

::randomly jumps into the conversation::

I preferred the Firth version, but I loved the Knightly version's Mr. Darcy. He's just so delicious.

I have issues with Hugh Grant (who I could never actually manage to see as anyone but himself),

I think that could be said for a lot of his roles. :D

So I'm thinking that your dislike of all the characters is possibly not a good sign for this version.

They were all just...UGH. (I am so articulate.)

... or turn into a monster. *shudder*

Yeah, I'd rather have the monster than a skin shot.

I haven't seen the new S&S, but I must come and express my deep agreement on how great Emma Thompson's version is. The sisters, especially, feel so real and very close to each other.

*cough*

I maybe -- might have -- cried at one point.

NORTH & SOUTH!

...Right. Sorry. I get super, super excited at the mere mention of it. It's been a few weeks, so I may have to indulge sometime soon.

As for S&S, I actually quite liked it. I think it's easy to hate Marianne, she's sort of a self-serving, short-sighted bitch most of the time. The uncle and his mother-in-law are purposefully annoying. Willoughby is meant to be a creep. But I actually rather love Edward and Eleanor (and Margaret).

And as for Col. Brandon...well, it's one of my weird fandom kinks. Older damaged man, younger light-hearted (for the most part) woman. So, you know, not creeped out. Although, I like this actor a LOT less than Alan Rickman in the same role.

I found Rickman-Brandon as possibly the most adorable thing ever.

True fact! True, true fact.

Although, at the same time, I can understand where people would be put off by the storyline. He is 17 years older than her, and she is only 17/18, I believe.

Yeah, but that was how long ago? It's not as creepy as it would be in a more contemporary setting. Girls DID get married young, and men DID re/marry when they were older.

Besides, he was ADORABLE.

Well, seeing as I am the person writing a modern day story in which the man is a widow 14 years older than his significant other, it's certainly not something that gives me a lot of pause. I like the dynamic and I think it's interesting. But I also know a lot of people (my mother, for one), who can't help but make a face.

And he was, undoubtedly, totally precious.

As for S&S, I actually quite liked it. I think it's easy to hate Marianne, she's sort of a self-serving, short-sighted bitch most of the time. The uncle and his mother-in-law are purposefully annoying. Willoughby is meant to be a creep. But I actually rather love Edward and Eleanor (and Margaret).

Eleanor was the one person I did like. Edward was okay, but sort of unmemorable to me. Maybe partly because he was barely in it.

And as for Col. Brandon...well, it's one of my weird fandom kinks. Older damaged man, younger light-hearted (for the most part) woman. So, you know, not creeped out. Although, I like this actor a LOT less than Alan Rickman in the same role.

I wouldn't say it's a kink of mine, but it wasn't exactly an issue for me here either. Where he's supposed to be dark and brooding (like a Darcy), he just came off to me as creepy. Like when watching her play the piano - it was a bit Silence of the Lambs or something. I'm thinking it was the acting more than the character in this case.

I think Edward love comes from the fact that Dan Stevens is precious, and well, as with all Austen men, it takes a bit of additive on your end of things to properly flesh them out (in my opinion, and I love Jane Austen as no other).

I'm thinking it was the acting more than the character in this case.

I remember when I was first reading about them making it (I'm a member of some 19th Century Fandom message boards), when it came out who they'd cast as Brandon there were a LOT of people VERY worried, because the actor is (apparently) notorious for playing scary/gross/creepy people. So yes, it was most likely the acting in this case. Some actors are just not meant to play certain roles. I have no firsthand experience with this actor as anyone but Col. Brandon, and I guess having read the book and seen the Emma Thompson one a zillion times, I kind of know how he's SUPPOSED to come across, rather than how he's coming across to the outside world?

I've never seen the Brandon actor before (and have no idea who he is), so I know nothing swayed me in thinking he was creepy. But maybe I would have fared better if I knew the S&S story better?

Well, I was trying to say I think this may be a case of my just ignoring the creep factor in favour of how I pre-conceived him to be. It's entirely possible that he's a big ol' creep. ;)

But then, it's rather like Guy of Gisborne season 1. I'm still completely unaware of just HOW creepy he is, because I loved the character and the actor and the Marian-plotline to pay too much attention to the fact that, in reality, he was supposed to be a Gigantic Pervert. ;)

Oh, totally agree with the Guy thing. It was like, "I *know* he's supposed to be evil, but I don't want to know. " :D

Not to mention that I like to pretend that Richard Armitage is just good enough (and I'm enough of a fan) that I picked up on the fact that Guy was supposed to have a lot of depth to him. ;) Which is...probably not entirely true. But I'm sticking with it.

Where he's supposed to be dark and brooding (like a Darcy), he just came off to me as creepy. Like when watching her play the piano - it was a bit Silence of the Lambs or something. I'm thinking it was the acting more than the character in this case.

Yeah, I didn't find Alan Rickman as Col. Brandon in the Emma Thompson version creepy at all, so I think that's probably an actor thing. (Alan Rickman was actually my favorite part of that version, so. :-))

I might need to go watch North & South to cleanse the palate.

Or something else that involves Richard Armitage. Maybe Shirtless!Guy. That's always good for something. *goes to watch just that*

Shirtless!Guy does solve all ills. :D

I actually really liked this one. I haven't seen the ET version, but I need to. I enjoyed the book, but I don't adore it like I do Emma or P&P.

My only problem with this version was that Marianne was kind of awful. In the book she's much less jarring, I think (unlike Emma, who comes across as nicer in the film versions than book). But--I ended up not hating her because I loved Colonel Brandon so much. YES, it was a little creepy, but I got over it real quick because I was attracted to him, and I'm only 5 years older than Marianne was.

Marianne was really awful. So much so, I did not want her happy at the end. :D

I liked both the Emma Thompson version and this one. They each have their strenghts and weaknesses. I have to admit this Marianne was less likable than Kate Winslet's version, but then again I never really liked her in the book either. Edward is a bit of a wuss, but he's just written that way IMO. I do love Elinor and Colonel Brandon though.

Well, at least it sounds like Marianne was faithful to the book then. She put me completely off.

I loved colonel Brandon but he was the only one i even remotely liked. Elinor's sister (yes the name escapes me) is always annoying to me though. Even Kate Winslet couldn't make her likable.

oh and obligatory darcy icon. I have no firth but the movie version is hot too

Marianne was completely annoying. Bleh. She deserved that one horrible guy.

And I should watch that other P&P movie again. I can't really remember him.

I'm reading Sense and Sensibility right now. I'm not finding Marrianne particularly annoying just very very young and very very sure of herself. Which makes Colonel Brandon eyeing her quite creepy to me. However, I liked the Emma Thompson version and don't remember be creeped out by it. I'll have to watch it again and see what I think of now that I've read the book.

You can't go wrong by watching some North&South though.

Have you seen the BBC 2008 version? Just wondering what your take was on the Marrianne in this one compared to the others. I don't really remember the ET version that well, but I don't think I was annoyed by the character in that. This version though...

But I had a bit of that with more than a few characters in this version - they were sort of exaggerated caricatures. I know you can't exactly expect gritty realism in Jane Austin, but you can still have the characters come off as real.

No, I haven't seen the BBC version. I didn't even know there was one until you posted. I have the ET version, but I haven't watched it in while. I do know that I liked that one enough to buy it so the characters must not have been annoying or caricatures. And really, in the book, they're not, so there's no reason they'd have to be!

/adoredN&S

:D

Me too!

The Emma Thompson version is lovely. Winslet's Marianne manages to come across as an exuberant teenager, so full of the joy of life that it skews her world view a bit. Thompson was amazing. And did you know she ended up marrying the actor who played Willoughby?

I saw the preview of the new version and decided to avoid at all costs.

But for heavens sake, woman, READ THE BOOKS!

I didn't know she married the guy who played Willoughby. Huh!

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Sense & Sensibility

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I has no Darcy icon...so here's sexy!Tennant.

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