Jane Austen Roundup

I have now read every Jane Austen novel and watched every Jane Austen screen adaptation I could find!

Here's a list of her books in order of my preference, and under each book, a list of all the screen adaptations I watched, in order of my preference. The links take you to my "reviews" - and I put that in quotes because I know I didn't actually review each movie/mini-series entirely on its own merits; how well it represented the book was a large factor in how much I liked it.

1. Pride and Prejudice ★★★★★
   
   1. 1995 BBC Mini-Series with Colin Firth ★★★★★
      
   2. 1980 BBC Mini-Series ★★★★½
      
   3. 1940 Film with Laurence Olivier ★★★★
      
   4. 2005 Film with Keira Knightley ★★★
      
   
   
2. Emma ★★★★★
   
   1. 1996 TV Movie with Kate Beckinsale ★★★★★
      
   2. 2020 Film ★★★★
      
   3. 1996 Film with Gwenyth Paltrow ★★★★
      
   4. 2009 BBC Mini-Series ★★★½
      
   5. 1972 BBC Mini-Series ★★★½
      
   
   
3. Mansfield Park ★★★★½
   
   1. 1983 BBC Mini-Series ★★★★
      
   2. 2007 TV Movie ★★★
      
   3. 1999 Film ★★★
      
   
   
4. Sense & Sensibility ★★★★
   
   1. 1995 Film with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet ★★★★★
      
   2. 1981 BBC Mini-Series ★★★★
      
   3. 2008 BBC Mini-Series ★★★
      
   4. 1971 BBC Mini-Series ★★★
      
   
   
5. Northanger Abbey ★★★★
   
   1. 2007 TV Movie ★★★★
      
   2. 1987 TV Movie ★★½
   
   
6. Persuasion ★★★★
   
   1. 1971 BBC Mini-Series ★★★★★
      
   2. 1995 TV Movie ★★★★
      
   3. 2007 TV Movie ★★★
      
   4. 2022 Netflix Movie with Dakota Johnson ★★★
      
      
7. Lady Susan, The Watsons, Sanditon ★★★
   

The book Emma was a very close second behind Pride and Prejudice. I found Emma overall more entertaining, but Pride and Prejudice did have more wit, though less humor. And the fact that Emma was a bit of a snob - a charming and endearing snob, but a snob nonetheless - was a little off-putting sometimes.

I also really enjoyed Mansfield Park, and I don't know if it's really fair to dock it half a star just because it wasn't quite as entertaining. I thought its characters were the most complex of all Jane Austen novels.

And even though Persuasion is listed last, and given the place of "least favored Jane Austen novel", that's not to say that I didn't enjoy it. It is, after all, still rated four stars!

Emma. (2020)

★★★★

I happened to stumble upon this adaptation and now I wonder how many others I may have missed in the years since my Jane Austen fixation!

At this point, I'm afraid I can't remember many details from the book anymore, so I can't do my usual book-to-screen comparison.

I'll just say, I very much enjoyed this movie's humor and light-heartedness, as well as the elaborate costuming and gorgeous, beautifully-colored sets - and pastries! It was a lot of fun to watch. The servants especially were surprisingly comical.

Emma was well-cast, but Mr. Knightley being light-haired threw me off, I just always imagine him to be dark-haired. I really liked the casting of Harriet; she was simpler and lower class than Emma but not made out to be frumpy. Meanwhile, Frank Churchill came across kind of sleazy, I wasn't too fond of him, and the Jane Fairfax character was not fleshed out enough (which I know is harder to do in movie adaptations than in mini-series).

Persuasion (2022 Netflix Movie)

★★★

It's been a long time since I've read the book, so I can't remember many of the details anymore. I am pretty sure that scenes and dialogue were added to help move things along, which I know is not unreasonable, since condensing the book into one two-hour movie is a tall order.

The race-blind casting was fun and in line with modern race-conscious sensibilities. The Anne character broke the 4th wall to address the audience directly, a method of explaining things that I really didn't mind. But the dialogue itself being modernized felt weird, and the entire movie had a playful mood that did not match what I remember of the book, which I think of as having more gravitas (except, perhaps, for sister Mary's antics).

I think Dakota Johnson acted well, but she was too pretty to be the Anne of the book, who is supposed to be not very physically attractive. Also, I did not find Wentworth well-cast. Finally, the swoon-worthy love letter near the end is the highlight of this book for me, but the most meaningful lines were read aloud in Anne's voice, and I really wish they were read in Wentworth's.

This movie was entertaining, but mostly it made me want to re-read the book, so I can better judge its faithfulness to the original material.

Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

★★★★★

Really eye-opening!

I LOVE Mary Poppins the movie, but I haven't read the books (yet). I had heard before that the movie was quite different, but I had no idea that the original characters were based on P.L. Travers's own family. No wonder she was so upset to see her family members re-cast in completely different ways. I truly felt for P.L. Travers, both when she was young and when she was grown.

A must-see for any fan of the movie or books. And now I really need to make time to read the books!

Tuck Everlasting (2002)

★★★★

I watched this movie only because I recently read the book, and straight from the beginning, I was pleasantly surprised.

I liked that Winnie Foster is older in the movie than in the book, and I liked that the Tucks were not caught completely off-guard by the strange man. I especially liked that Winnie spent an indeterminate amount of time with the Tucks, and so had the time to really get to know them. And I really loved how the sunlight streaming through the woods was beautifully captured on film.

I thought the sensual dancing in the woods was a bit much, though. And I didn't understand why the prison escape was changed. Why was it okay to reveal their secret to the prison guard?!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

★★★★

The opening scenes had a very Tim Burton feel, and I admit, I was wary. In the book, Willy Wonka's factory was mysterious, yes, but in the movie, there was also a kind of darkness about it, almost as if it was sinister in some way. Also, I expected Willy Wonka to be exuberant and jovial, but in the movie, he was mostly eccentric and wacky.

Still, Johnny Depp's portrayal grew on me. The visuals were impressive, and in many ways, the movie was delightful. I particularly appreciated Willy Wonka's various one-liners.

Interestingly, even while the movie adhered closely to the book, it also added to it in ways that I thought were meaningful. I liked the way the movie expanded on the faults of two of the children. Violet Beauregard didn't just chew gum, she was arrogant and cared only for winning. Mike Teavee didn't just watch a lot of TV, he was was disrespectful and violent.

Also, Willy Wonka was given a sad childhood with a strict and candy-forbidding father. I wasn't sure about it at first, but I loved the way it all came together in the end.

Big Hero 6 (2014)

★★★★

I really loved Baymax, and I would happily give him 5 stars!

But the movie on the whole I give 4 stars because of the sudden death scene and the truly evil-looking bad guy. Sebastien was very upset by both incidents, and we actually had to stop the movie so I could comfort him and help calm him down. He really cried full-blown tears! It's lucky we didn't see this movie in the theaters. I guess it WAS rated PG, so maybe I shouldn't fault the movie too much... But even for me, those two dark points were somewhat out of place for an otherwise charming movie about a boy and his huggable robot.

Lincoln (2012)

★★★★

On an educational and artistic level, I would give this movie 5 stars. All I knew about the Civil War I learned in high school, and I had no idea such politics were at play regarding the timing of the passage of the 13th Amendment and the ending of the Civil War. I also didn't know anything about Abraham Lincoln the person, and the movie's depiction of his wife and his interactions with his children and other people in general just really humanized him.

However, ultimately I'm giving this movie 4 stars because I just sometimes got so confused. Maybe that's more a statement about me than the movie - or how tired I was when I watched it - but I think I'm a fairly intelligent person, yet I still had trouble understanding what exactly convinced some Democrats to change their vote.

Also, for a movie titled "Lincoln", it seemed to have a relatively narrow focus. I think I expected a biopic, but this movie was more a snapshot of how Lincoln pushed through the 13th Amendment. We do get a glimpse of his personal life while he was in office, but we don't see or learn anything about Lincoln's childhood, or how he became the man that he was.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (#3) (2014)

★★★★★

Wow! A continuous adrenalin rush. Aptly named "The Battle of the Five Armies", as the entire movie pretty much consisted of one battle scene after another. I don't care what the critics say, I enjoyed the movie, and I'll take Legolas any time he wants to show up.

I liked the movie so much, I'm going to re-read the book again!

(I suppose I should include a small disclaimer acknowledging that this was the first movie Ken and I have seen in the theaters together in who knows how long. We had a great dinner out beforehand, and probably I was so giddy about being out of the house on a date night that I was primed to enjoy whatever movie we saw!)

Gone Girl (2014)

★★★

I saw this in the theaters, but forgot to review it at the time.

Certainly entertaining, with quite a few unexpected twists and turns. Makes you realize how important it is to really get to know someone before marrying them! Of course, we all put our best foot forward when meeting people, so how long would it take, and how much delving would you have to do, to find out who someone really is? And what would it take to keep you in a marriage you actually despise? Is there any real, viable solution to Ben Affleck's character's situation at the end of the movie?!

Anyway, it fell a bit short with some undeveloped characters and unanswered questions, but my friend with whom I saw the movie said the book did address most of my concerns. Not sure if I'll read the book, as psychological thrillers aren't usually my thing.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (#2) (2013)

★★★½

I forgot to review this movie right after watching it, and now I can't remember much. I guess that's a bad sign. Actually, my rating is probably skewed because we watched this on video late at night after the kids went to bed, and I kept falling asleep! I remember being kind of confused about the man character - I had almost forgotten about him from the book - and it was kind of weird to see Legolas thrown in there, too.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

★★★★

Entertaining and suspenseful. I even teared up a few times in the beginning.

It's been a while since I've read the book, but I think I like the movie better. I remember being not entirely comfortable with all the explicit violence in the book, but the violence depicted in the movie was not over-the-top or especially disturbing.

Epic (2013)

★★★★

Super kid-friendly! A fun and entertaining movie.

There's not much to scare a little one. Characters do die, but not in very scary ways. Bad guys do look ugly, but they are more "yucky" than frightening. The only weapons - other than magical powers - are swords and bows and arrows.

There is a bit of romance, but the story doesn't revolve around love like a Disney princess movie.

Occasionally, I laughed out loud. There are some pretty hilarious bits of humor ("I hurt my elbow!"), and the comic reliefs Mub and Grub - a slug and a snail - were my favorite characters.

Boyhood (2014)

★★★

*** WARNING: This review contains SPOILERS!!! ***

I had such high hopes for this film, and I know it's getting rave reviews all around. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect from Richard Linklater, but I expected to be impressed. Of course, I was intrigued by the idea of main characters aging 12 actual years during the course of the movie, but that is pretty much where my fascination with the film ended.

First of all, I think the title is misleading. I expected the film to focus primarily on the boy. Mason probably did get the most screen time, but the movie could have just as easily been called Parenthood or Siblinghood. In fact, I thought Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke played the most compelling characters, and I was much more interested in them than in their two stereotypically reticent, angst-ridden, monotoned children. Moreover, I associate "boyhood" with childhood, perhaps up to age 12 or 13; I knew that this movie spanned 12 years, but I was surprised that the majority of the focus was on adolescence.

While it's true that in real life, people tend to have patterned behavior, I couldn't help but feel that Patricia Arquette's bad luck with husbands seemed forced. As a psychology student, and then as a psychology professor, shouldn't she have seen some red flags before marrying the men who turned out to be drunken jerks? We in the audience only saw snapshots, but I admit I assumed that both weddings occurred after a reasonable amount of dating time. Also, I found it odd that both marriages started as student-teacher relationships.

Also in real life, people tend to come and go. But when Patricia Arquette escaped from an abusive marriage with her two children, we didn't see the fall-out. After the family had bonded for several years, surely both the mom and her two children would have felt some sense of obligation to ensure the safety of the ex-husband's biological children! Apparently, one phone call to the biological mother and one phone call to social services was all that they felt was necessary. Whatever happened to those step-siblings? Didn't they care?! Even in real life, I think extensive follow-up would have occurred.

The one time we did see what happened to a supporting character was when the immigrant worker approached the family in a restaurant. I loved that - but the timing of the encounter seemed contrived.

Still, continuing with the assumption that the point of the movie was supposed to be its honest depiction of real life, I actually left the movie feeling depressed. This is what becomes of families? The sweet, curious, active little boy turned into a brooding, slow-moving, greasy-haired teenager who dabbled in recreational drug use. The vibrant, out-spoken young girl became a brooding young woman of few words and little personality, and she had an air of being perpetually stoned. Yes, they were, generally speaking, good kids, and Mason had a talent with photography, but they were not entirely inspiring as the face of America's youth.

The parents fared no better. Ethan Hawke was a free soul with an anti-establishment bent who couldn't pull it together to be a responsible family man, yet he was clearly a good father who loved his children. Even he ended up wearing khakis and settling down with a woman from a Bible-thumping, gun-toting family while his good friend Jimmy lived the dream of making music. And Patricia Arquette - she was the most depressing character. Towards the end of the movie, in a state of despair, she rattled off a list of her milestone accomplishments, and the last time we see her, she has her heads in her hands and she is crying, "I just thought there would be more!" Seriously. I suppose that rings true, but how totally depressing.

And what was with Mason's boss popping in for his graduation party!? How random was that.

Overall, I did not feel the connection to my own experiences or the sense of nostalgia that I was told I would feel from all the positive reviews. The most familiar scene to me was in the very beginning, when Patricia Arquette was driving while trying to keep her kids from fighting by telling them to put a barrier between them. That scene hooked me in, but then I never felt as invested again.

I can't help but wonder: Did this movie not speak to me because my childhood was actually non-standard compared to a "typical" American childhood?

Gravity (2013)

★★★½

*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***

With its dramatic soundtrack, Gravity was certainly suspenseful, but mostly, it was a visual film.

Big words come to mind in describing this movie. Existential... Metaphorical... Sandra Bullock's character died a metaphorical death when her daughter died, but still she managed to cheat actual death. Given a second chance, she had a re-birth (complete with in utero imagery) in overcoming her daughter's death. Given new life - literally and figuratively - she physically takes her first steps on earth as a new person.

The images of people actually being "lost in space" - in more ways than one - was pretty unsettling.

The Lego Movie (2014)

★★★★

Fun characters in a cute and clever story. I must be getting old, though, because some of the action sequences seemed so fast-paced, with so many LEGO pieces flying every which way, that I sometimes felt like I couldn't even process all the images in a scene.

I didn't know a thing about the plot going in, and I was pleasantly surprised at how everything came together at the end.

Sebastien seemed to get bored about 3/4 of the way through the movie, and I think a lot of the jokes went over his head. But there was a LEGO Star Wars appearance, and he said he liked it.

Argo (2012)

★★★★

Wow! This movie fascinated me. I was only 3 when the Iran hostage crisis occurred. My high school U.S. History class only got up to WWII, so I only had a vague understanding that Americans were held hostage in Iran during Carter's presidency, that they were not released under his administration, and that the crisis contributed to why Carter wasn't re-elected. I had no idea that there were 6 Americans who had escaped being taken hostage and who had to remain in hiding until they could somehow get out of Iran.

For most of the movie, I thought I would give it 5 stars, but the final sequence of the escape was so over-the-top - obviously intended for dramatic effect - that it seemed unbelievable.

Any time a movie is based on a true story, I want to know how much the movie deviated from the actual events. In this case, I definitely recommend reading up on the historical inaccuracies. Mostly, it seems that too much credit was given to the CIA, and not enough credit to Canada, England, and New Zealand.

Lee Daniels' The Butler

★★★★★

Loosely based on the life of Eugene Allen, who served in the White House for 34 years.

Stylistically, Ken said this movie reminded him of Forrest Gump. The main character meets numerous U.S. presidents, and we see how American fashion, music, and culture changed over many decades.

Content-wise, this movie was a lot heavier. A boy raised on a cotton plantation uses his "house nigger" skills to land a job in a hotel, then in a fancier hotel, and finally at the White House. He spent his life trying to protect his sons from the violent racism he experienced in the south, but his older son chooses to move to the south and devote his life to the civil rights movement.

An inspirational story with a feel-good ending. Every American should see it.

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

★★★★

Really interesting movie, and of course, afterwards, I had to Google which parts of the movie were true. I appreciated that it was sensitive about not including explicit images of neither 9/11 nor Osama bin Laden.

Man of Steel (2013)

★★★

To be fair, I should admit that I watched this movie very late at night, after the kids finally got to sleep. I kept nodding off during the first portion that took place on Krypton, I managed to get a second wind once we got to Earth, but then I started to nod off again towards the end.

Mostly, I was pleasantly surprised by the cast full of characters from many of my favorite TV shows! Elliot from "Law & Order: SVU", Toby from "The West Wing", and even Doug Stamper from "House of Cards". That was fun.

I'm not a huge Superman fan or anything, though I remember enjoying the Christopher Reeve movies many times as a kid. I found myself trying to make sense of this movie by wondering if the details fit in with what I previous knew about Superman. I wasn't exactly sure how Superman's parents were able to conceive and deliver him, when their species hadn't conceived or delivered babies in "centuries". With their civilization so far removed from natural birth, and babies being engineering for specific roles in society, wouldn't they have engineered natural reproduction right out of their species?

I was certainly entertained throughout, though all the destruction seemed kind of excessive, even in the context of an alien invasion.