Secular Charlotte Mason

Howdy Neighbors,

I've been sick this past week and been enjoying going through my Jane Austen collection of movies.  I have 3 favorites.

1.  Pride and Prejudice.  Keira Knightley version.  I love the sets, the actors, the costumes, the writing, EVERYTHING, except for the last 3 minutes where some numb-skull got the bright idea to write a stupid lovey-cooey scene out on the veranda of Mr. Darcy's big house after they are married.  Stupid stupid stupid.  I try not to watch that part lest it ruin the enjoyment I've felt in the previous 2 hours. 

2.  Emma -- In this one I'm mostly just in love with the guy who plays Mr. Knightley.  Love him.  And of course, I have to dream I'm as thin as Gweneth Paltrow. 

3.  Sense and Sensibility.  I think this might be the only time where I love the movie more than I love the book.  I love Emma Thompsons screenplay and I love the pauses in the dialog.  The scene where she's telling Hugh Grant about the parsonage is so fabulous!  I just reread it in the book and it just doesn't flow as well.  And, of course, I love Colonel Brandon, sigh....

So, yes, I'm a hopeless romantic.  What I don't understand and can't comprehend is why people like the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice so much?  I tried watching it recently and couldn't get past 30 minutes in.  I hate the woman playing Elizabeth (though I've seen her in other things and she's fine), and the woman who plays Jane is so PLAIN, so I have issues with her playing the prettiest girl in the county and then how the mom is played is just annoying.  Can anyone help me understand it's appeal?

I haven't seen the Persuasion that came out a few years ago.  The trailer looked all 'sexed up' and I have serious issues with adding sex to Austen.  Would you recommend it?  That's also why I couldn't get past the first 15 minutes of "Becoming Jane". 

I'd love to hear people's favorite Austen movies!

Krystal

I'll have to rent some...I've only read a couple of her books.  I *loved* Pride and Prejudice and recently tried to read Mansfield Park for a book club. I didn't finish and didn't like the book as much as P&P. Not as complex, I think. 

This weekend might be a good time to rent some movies. I'll post back if I do.

I must confess that I really enjoy movies based on Jane Austin's books but I rarely enjoy reading the book until after I've seen a movie of it. I have no idea which versions I've seen since I only watch the ones on Masterpiece Theater (it's my one stop shopping for good movies based on books lol). I have to admit that I am like this with the Bronte sisters, Daniel DeFoe and Dickens as well. It is most annoying when the movies aren't well cast though. I do agree with Krystal about that!