Monday, April 7, 2008

Sense and Sensibility 2008 round-up


Last night the final part of the BBC's 2008 version of Sense and Sensibility aired on Masterpiece Classic.

S&S TV 2008 v. S&S film 1995 (Ang Lee):

--2008 has a younger cast all round which I thought was an improvement, except for the 2008 Mrs. Dashwood, who is too tall and generally too noticeable (she is better looking than the female leads which is distracting.


--Less funny - The 1995 version uses Sir John (Robert Hardy) and Mrs. Jennings (Elizabeth Spriggs) to fine comic effect - they collapse in gales of Regency laughter while teasing (teazing) Elinor about "Mr. F." I like the Thompson/Grant atlas scene ["The Volga, which starts in ... In Vladivostok. and ends in ...
- Wimbledon."] in Thompson's version.



--Lacks Regency era's version of a mosh pit.

--Better (less noticeable) costuming and hair - the only noticeably low cut gown that I recall was Marianne's post-illness red number which signaled her increased maturity.

--Sound-alike Elinors: Hattie Morahan's voice is eerily similar to Emma Thompson's.

--No casting cross over with Harry Potter cast as there was with the 1995 S&S cast - Hardy, Rickman, Staunton, Thompson)

--Fewer sheep, more surf.

Many blogged reviews compare the made-for-TV version to the Ang Lee/Emma Thompson film of 1995.

To wit:
http://janitesonthejames.blogspot.com/2008/04/sense-sensibility-head-to-head.html
http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2008/04/05/sense-and-sensibility-1995-2008-marianne%e2%80%99s-illness/
http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2008/03/30/sense-and-sensibility-2008-makes-wonderful-sense-for-the-most-part/
http://austenprose.wordpress.com/2008/03/30/withstanding-sense-or-sensibility-episode-one/
http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2008/03/29/latest_sense_and_sensibility_is_captivating_addition_to_canon/
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/arts/television/29aust.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

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