9 Comments
Jul 26Liked by Kelsie Hartley, Jessica Risma

It is not surprising that the Hollywood mind just cannot celebrate as a heroine a modest, humble and discreet woman. These characteristics in my opinion, demonstrate a much more complex personality, a mature and stronger woman than shown in most recent adaptations of Austen’s stories. This is true of depictions of Fanny Price in the Mansfield Park movies also, except for the adaptation from the 1980’s.

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Yes! Fanny Price is probably an even harder movie portrayal than Anne Eliot! I haven’t watch any Mansfield adaptations yet, but I hadn’t heard the 1980 one was good. I will check that out!

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Not everything in that version is great (such as, Fanny has an irritating hand motion too often), but I do think the Fanny of “Mansfield Park, the book” is represented well. She is so principled and true to herself!

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I'm one of the few who loved this version of Persuasion! But I hadn't read the book in years & then only once. So I went into it with completely different expectations & was able to enjoy it for what it was. I laughed so much! And watching the movie made me want to read the book again & now it's one of my favorite Austen novels, whereas before it was near the bottom of the list! I think the movie just really made the characters "come alive" for me. But then I love retellings & "spin-offs" of her novels for the same reason! I guess I'm not an Austen purist, but I am a huge fan!😉

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It is funny and a lot of the characters are drawn well. But as an Austen adaptation it fails. If they had fully modernized it, it could work. If they had made it a straight comedy or satire it could have worked. But it was so ridiculous while also asking to be taken seriously and completely changing Austen’s story to be so modern as to mean almost nothing.

I really went into it hoping to love it for the quirkiness, but I couldn’t get there!

I will definitely watch it for laughs, but I can’t take it on the terms the writers wanted!

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Then again, if it made you reread Persuasion then that’s great!

I also love some of the spin offs and adaptations. For example: Clueless and The Lizzie Bennett diaries are awesome!

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Well, you asked for opinions but I'm sure you'll get others that line up more with yours

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Have you watched it again since your reread? Wondering if it strikes the same note after a reread.

I felt similarly about the new Emma about characters "coming alive" and the humor really being brought to the forefront. Have you watched that one? It is SUPER goofy but still felt like Austen.

Am I being too purist? Possibly...

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I love these conversations! I’m glad to hear it was fun for you!

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