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Emma 2009 Poll: What did you think of Part One?

October 4, 2009 by Vic

poll Reading Twitter, some people are turned off by the modern approach to Emma 2009. Curious minds want to know what you thought of the first installment of this new Jane Austen novel adaptation with Romola Garai, Jonny Lee Miller and Michael Gambon. These are your choices: a yawner, meh, loved it, and will have to wait and see. If you would like to share your thoughts, please leave a comment. Do you love the new film? Do you like it? Or are you sitting on the fence, waiting to see how the series will develop? Here’s my review of the film.

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Posted in Emma, jane austen, Jane Austen Novels, Jane Austen's World, Movie review, Popular culture | Tagged Emma 2009, Emma 2009 poll, Jane Austen Movie Adaptations, Jane Austen Movies, Jonny Lee Miller, Michael Gambon, Romola Garai | 27 Comments

27 Responses

on October 4, 2009 at 22:38 Aila

Disappointed so far and bored. Too early to tell.
on October 4, 2009 at 22:47 Mary G

Emma’s new Knightley quarrels as much with Emma as Mark Strong did with Kate Beckinsale’s character. It’s slow going so far. Let’s hope the pace picks up soon. Beautiful settings.
on October 4, 2009 at 23:01 chris

Very disappointing.
I can’t find anything good to say about it,except the absolutely marvellous portrayal of Miss Bates. which was both heartbreaking
and intriguing.
on October 5, 2009 at 03:55 ibmiller

I think there should be a “liked it” – I didn’t quite love it, but did like it. Which is more to me that “wait and see,” but less than Loved it.
- on October 5, 2009 at 10:00 Vic
  
  Next week I shall include a like it category. Good point.
on October 5, 2009 at 06:55 Cat

I really enjoyed it – it was light, entertaining and incredibly sad in places, particularly Tamsin Greig’s portrayal of Miss Bates.

Previous adaptations of Emma, particularly Emma herself, have left me feeling quite cold…but I’m loving Romola Garai’s interpretation so far.

Johnny Lee Miller’s Knightley seems a little too young so far but I’m willing to wait and see on that front…I think he’ll grow on me!
on October 5, 2009 at 11:14 Twitter Trackbacks for Emma 2009 Poll: What did you think of Part One? « Jane Austen’s World [janeaustensworld.wordpress.com] on Topsy.com

[...] Emma 2009 Poll: What did you think of Part One? « Jane Austen’s World janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/emma-2009-poll-what-did-you-think-of-part-one – view page – cached Reading Twitter, some folks are turned off by the modern approach to Emma. Curious minds want to know what you thought of the first installment of Emma 2009 with Romola Garai, Jonny Lee Miller and… (Read more)Reading Twitter, some folks are turned off by the modern approach to Emma. Curious minds want to know what you thought of the first installment of Emma 2009 with Romola Garai, Jonny Lee Miller and Michael Gambon. These are your choices: a yawner, meh, loved it, and will have to wait and see. If you would like to share your thoughts, please leave a comment. (Read less) — From the page [...]
on October 5, 2009 at 11:15 Helen

I thought it gathered pace during the course of the episode, and will hopefully continue to do so in part 2. Personally I love JLM as Knightley – and I think he’s the right age isn’t he? Jonny is 37 and I always understood George Knightley to be a similar age.
- on October 5, 2009 at 12:10 Vic
  
  Yes, he is the right age. If Romola is 26 or 27, she is a little old for the part. I think people are blaming Jonny for being too young, when in fact Romola is older than 20-year-old Emma.
on October 5, 2009 at 13:50 Jane Odiwe

I don’t have any objection to modern interpretations – but this production (so far) has so little to do with the Austen I love that I felt very disappointed. The costumes, settings and cast are not really at fault – it’s the interpretation – not modern, just missing the genius of Austen’s subtle wit and humour.
on October 5, 2009 at 16:45 M-G Day

Disappointing – it doesn’t reflect Austen’s genius and has turned “Emma” into a modern, vapid Regency romance.
on October 6, 2009 at 00:10 Joanna Go

I must say my expectations were high considering this is a Sandy Welch adaptation. I will hold off my final verdict, though, until I’ve seen all the episodes.

My first question is: Is the voiceover being read by Johnny Lee Miller? If so, is he reading this as Mr Knightley then, looking back on the past? Or is it just as an impartial narrator? It’s just so disconcerting for me because everytime I read Jane Austen’s novels, the third person narrator in my head is always Jane Austen’s ‘voice’ (or what I imagine her voice to be) of wit and astute observations. And when it is Knightley’s voice speaking about Emma’s thoughts… I don’t know what to make of that.

I am enjoying Romola Garai’s portrayal of Emma. Very refreshing and infinitely more palatable than Gwyneth Paltrow’s. Her eyes and face are very expressive and nuanced and she has an irrepressible energy about her that suits Emma so well. I also like that they’ve given this Emma more moments of introspection… makes this irritating Austen heroine more likeable, IMO. ;D

I’m not quite sold on JLM as Mr Knightley. Somehow, I feel he’s too young for this role, and the disparity in age with RG is not big enough, which I think is crucial in their relationship and the trials they go through. The age difference was more believable between Paltrow/Northam and Beckinsale/Strong. (But after checking IMDB, the age differences are very similar after all!) So, I think this impression is coming from JLM’s agitated gestures and unguarded facial expression. My idea of Mr. Knightley is someone who’s older, and therefore a bit wiser, who has learned to check his outbursts and be more schooled with his expressions. I guess I am very partial to Northam’s Knightley.

Although I did like the chemistry between RG and JLM in the final scene, sans JLM’s arm gesticulation. I thought the beat and timing of their exchange was really good and camera movement was quite dynamic. And I loved the final look that RG gave to the departing JLM.

I do like the introduction wherein the losses of Emma, Frank, and Jane were juxtaposed. I’m curious as to how this thread will pan out and run throughout the narrative.

I am also enjoying Louise Dylan’s Harriet as much as Toni Colette’s portrayal! She carries off this witless character with so much charm, especially that dinner scene wherein Elton comes in late. The light bulb moment just comes way too late, but I forgive her anyway.

I loved the costumes, especially Emma’s dresses, but I am disappointed with the music. In the Paltrow/Northam version, the music was almost another witty character in the dialogues. The music here does nothing to enhance to drama, IMO.

Well, I still am looking forward to the next episode. :)
on October 6, 2009 at 01:05 Vic

I’m not sure who narrated the opening sequences, which are decidedly not in Jane’s novel and which I found a bit annoying. All that backstory took 15 minutes before Jane’s tale truly began. What a lazy way to incorporate the back story into a script.

Thank you for your insights. I am withholding judgment until I see the second episode. :) Vic
on October 6, 2009 at 02:27 Janeen

Oh I this suspense is terrible for us in the USA!
on October 6, 2009 at 11:28 Maria

Where is the real location of Mr.Knightley’s house? Can’t find any details, but it looks at lot like Loseley House in Surrey?
- on October 7, 2009 at 09:28 Vic
  
  It does resemble that house, doesn’t it? Nothing I can find thus far mentions that the shot we saw is of Loseley House, which is curious, but then, very little has been written about this Emma thus far.
on October 10, 2009 at 20:11 Fun Friday: Fall 2009 TV Season « KayeDacus.com

[...] novel since the late 1970s—has been airing in the UK for the past few weeks . . . to very mixed reactions by viewers. The second Cranford movie will be airing in Britain as a Christmas special, and [...]
on October 16, 2009 at 12:14 Mary

I loved it and I love the cast! I think Romola is absolutely fascinating! i haven’t read the novel, therefore I don’t know well how much it differs from the novel, but I am familiar with the story, and I love their interpretation of it!
on October 17, 2009 at 19:33 Stuart Hall

I’m not quite sure they captured the complexity of the novel. But it looks beautiful and the music is superb.
on October 19, 2009 at 07:08 Cora Harrison

The thing I dislike most about the latest ‘Emma’ production is Michael Gambon’s portrayal of Mr Woodhouse. I think he is too dour, too aggressive. the 1971 production had a great Mr Woodhouse – gentle, affectionate – a hypochondriac, obviously, but at the same time concerned for others. I have an uneasy feeling of a man on the edge of a nervous breakdown with Michael Gambon.
- on October 19, 2009 at 13:38 Vic
  
  I so agree. I can’t tell you how disappointed I was with his performance. Mr. Woodhouse is a clinging man, a hypochondriac. Michael Gambon plays the part too vigorously. To give him his due, he is hardly given any scenes in which he speaks.
on October 22, 2009 at 04:09 Martin Kerr

I love it so far. Can’t wait for the final instalment. I’m finding it much more enjoyable than the Gwyneth Paltrow version. As someone who has not read the book, I think it’s a brilliant piece of comic drama, finely acted and produced. And a darn sight better than the tediously slow version of Sense and Sensibility that came out last year.
on January 25, 2010 at 12:35 Lois M.

I’m in the US but saw it online last month (ah, well, never mind how)… anyway, I saw the comments before, and expected the worst and all. But the thing is, I just couldn’t hate it. Yes, it’s not Jane’s words, but what we expect from the book is in it, and I thought the actors were great. So no, not perfect, but still, really liked it.

Lois
on January 25, 2010 at 13:57 Ruchama

I think there is always a problem comparing artists’ versions. Of course we’ll all have our preferences, but I feel it better to view the work on its own. I’ve been doing a lot of research on period customs, costumes, furnishings etc. for a project of my own and I was quite impressed with the detail and correctness (for example the same dress worn in the morning with an underlying dickey that covered Emma to her neck and then later own with the neck and upper chest bare. Also the candles placed strategically making the lighting seem realistic and demonstrating the wealth and comfort of Emma’s situation. This makes it realistic that she has no need to marry.
So often in period pieces one or two candles are supposed to light up huge spaces and the economic situations and their relationship to the romantic inclinations of the characters are not explained. This version does a very good job of portraying the class and economic issues while treating us to beautiful sets, scenery and costumes.
on January 25, 2010 at 21:18 uberVU - social comments

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This post was mentioned on Twitter by janeaustenworld: Watched Emma 2009? Tell others in this poll what you think. http://bit.ly/xqMcr…
on January 26, 2010 at 12:54 Emma 2010 on PBS Masterpiece Classic: A Review « Jane Austen's World

[...] BBC in Great Britain last fall and airing on PBS Masterpiece Classic over the next three Sundays. Take a poll here and tell us what you think of Episode One. A young Emma plays with her sister Isabella in [...]
on February 16, 2010 at 16:24 Michele

Thought it was just okay. I love, love, love Jonny Lee, but he isn’t exactly my idea of Knightly. Sets were fantastic and costumes were okay. Gwyenth Paltrow to me was the best Emma. So it was definitely watchable but a lot of the remakes they have been showing on PBS haven’t been all that great. Emma was better than Northanger Abby by far.

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