Jeremy Northam Chat
[ Message Archive | Jeremy Northam Chat ]

    Emma vs Emma Archived Message

    Posted by Joan aka HazelP on August 2, 2011, 8:07 am

    To be very honest....watching Emma for 5 - 6 hours...the movie version is perfect for me.

    http://blog.clearplay.com/2011/07/emma-vs-emma.html
    The Long vs. The Short - Knightly vs. Knightley
    BBC vs. Miramax - Paltrow vs. Garai - Austen vs. Austen

    Taking on the challenge to find the best of two versions of a story is quite simply put, delightful! At least in the case of Jane Austen's Emma it was.


    BBC's 2009, TV mini-series stars Romola Garai as Emma and Johnny Lee Millar as the ever gentlemanly Mr. Knightley. Romola played the role perfectly and really put that 'spoiled rich girl' flair into the Emma's character with smashing success. Millar was good as Mr. Knightley and his 'professing love' scene is heart meltingly sweet. This one is super long since it's a TV mini-series but that is usually a great way to really get into a story and I love it.

    Gywenth Paltrow's version of Emma is equally as lovable although she doesn't play into so much of the spoiled girl that her character typically requires. She's adorable though and innocently plays match maker with child like zest. Jeremy Northam is the best Mr. Knightley of the two Knightleys though. Although Millar's profession of love scene is superior Northam is all around more captivating. So it's a tie!

    How wonderful. If you're in the mood to dig deep into a story and live with the characters for a couple nights in a row then BBC is your flavor. If you want the short, light version then go with Gwyneth's Emma.

    Motherly Advice: Really I don't have any. There is a filter for the 1996 Emma but only a handful of blasphemies need cutting and maybe some revealing period style clothing. With these time period movies you've typically got some scenes with serious cleavage involved due to those low cut formal dress styles. With that particular issue in mind I think these lovely movies could be enjoyed by kids maybe 10 and older.

    Danielle'- Movie Match Maker

    " Men of sense, whatever you may say, do not want silly wives!" -Mr. Knightley

    Posted by Nella
    6 comments:
    Dr3wby said...
    It's hard to say how old a kid should be before seeing movies with revealing costumes like Emma because the younger the are the less likely they are to notice it, and the older they are the more likely. Plus it's so pervasive it's not really something you can filter.

    I would say that the outfits in these two films aren't terribly over-the-top. There are films of this type that our family just won't watch because the costumes are so bad and these two are not on that list.

    The Scarlet Pimpernel (with Jane Seymour) is a prime example of a film with no real graphic sexual content or language that contains near constant boudacious females on display that as a family we decided we just couldn't watch.

    I recommend the Gwyneth Paltrow version much over the recent BBC film, because it is more accurate to the book and doesn't try to "update" the dialogue the way the BBC film does.

    July 29, 2011 9:49 AM
    Becky said...
    I must say that I couldn't get passed the first half hour the tv mini series Emma. I was so. bored. But perhaps I should give it another go sometime, considering it does go more into detail. And I think I just really like Paltrow's portrayal of the character and couldn't get it out of my mind. And then there's Northam... need I say more?

    July 29, 2011 8:19 PM

    Nik said...
    I totally agree with your review! I would say the longer BBC version slightly edges out the shorter Miramax version, but I own and love both!

    July 29, 2011 8:39 PM
    Charity said...
    I enjoy the miniseries but the other Emma was my favorite film for ten years straight -- I can quote it from memory from start to finish. Even though the secondary characters are far too old for their roles, Paltrow and Northam are magnificent, particularly sparking off one another in the second half. Garai was good as Emma in the remake, but her Mr. Knightley was, I thought, altogether too "youngish" and lacked the commanding presence that would have convinced me he was a decent Mr. Knightley. The big screen version wins for me, hands down, every time.

    "Perhaps it is our imperfections that make us so perfect for one another." - Mr. Knightley

    July 30, 2011 6:02 AM
    Jen said...
    I love Emma! I've only seen the movie version with Gwyneth Paltrow, but I will definitely check out the BBC mini series now.

    July 30, 2011 11:52 AM
    Anonymous said...
    I cant believe that someone was bored watching the new BBC Emma.(Watch it for 1 hour and you'll bee hooked) The costumes dont show too much cleavage and there is not any language at all(at least from what I remember). I love this version even though it is about 5-6 hours long. My 9-17 girls love watching this! I think Mr.Knightly is great in this particular version of Emma.


    ~ Really Emma nobody should have wits if they apply them just as you do! -Mr.Knightly ~

    July 31, 2011 7:02 PM

    Message Thread: