And also Kate Winslet.
It’s about Sense and Sensibility.
For sure, the Emma Thompson/Kate Winslet/Hugh Grant version ranks among my top 5 favorite movies EVER. Ang Lee’s directorness is stunning (even though nobody goes Crouching Tiger in any scene – not that they shouldn’t, because wouldn’t we love to see that in the Willoughby Confrontation scene?) and the deliveries are all seriously perfect.
But, guys, there is another version that I have to love, too. BBC did a version for 2009 and I just watched it last week and I have not stopped thinking about how very, very much I adored it.
Especially Edward. I almost didn’t put this picture in, because it does not do my new Dear Edward justice. He looks a little snarky. A little cocky. But in the film, he just looks completely Edward. Now, let me say again that I love Hugh Grant. And that his cute, bumbling performances are totally endearing to me. His Edward is adorable. But this guy, Dan Stevens (who has no photo at IMDB, whatever) is so charming and completely, fantastically perfect as Edward that I went all Elinor and got a little giddy myself. From his first screen shot. The one where he appears while Elinor is beating a rug (how embarrassing, I know) and smiles right directly into her/my face.
I was smitten. In Smit. Deep Smit.
The movie is long. 3 hours. It was a miniseries. (Yes. They still do that. I checked.) But the extra hour let the filmmakers add in all the parts of the novel that are missing from the Ang Lee version, including Sir John’s insipid wife, John and Fanny’s horrible son (not to mention Fanny’s horrible, horrible hair which I love), and Lucy Steele’s appalling sister Ann. Also the scene where Willoughby comes back. Which I always hated in the novel, because, eeewww. Stay home with your wretched rich wife, will you? Also, Margaret, who gets the shaft in the novel, shines in this version. She’s adorable and far less whiny than the Margaret in the 1995. Whew.
I didn’t think that Marianne’s illness was quite as emotionally devastating in this version, but that may be because of Emma T’s stunning scene where Elinor begs the unconscious Marianne not to leave her, which is MY FAVORITE MOVIE SCENE OF ALL TIME. I may or may not cry with every watching. Oh, and also, the opening scene is the Willoughby’s Seduction of Colonel Brandon’s Ward moment, which might be stylistically lovely, but I would have preferred for it to remain unstated. Just saying.
And so, though I will always love Emma as Elinor, I have to make room for the new S&S in my heart. And on my DVD pile.
(16) Comments for this blog
Thanks for sharing. I’ll have to see it. I just saw the recent remake of Jane Eyre with high expectations and was somewhat disappointed. Have you seen it?
Thanks for sharing. I’ll have to see it. I just saw the recent remake of Jane Eyre with high expectations and was somewhat disappointed. Have you seen it?
I completely agree with you. I was hesitant to watch it at first, but I loved it!
I completely agree with you. I was hesitant to watch it at first, but I loved it!
I want to watch both of those again now. I’ve got 5 hours til the kids are home from school. I bet I could get at least one in.
I want to watch both of those again now. I’ve got 5 hours til the kids are home from school. I bet I could get at least one in.
Hey! I coined the phrase Deep Smit! I did! And I love this BBC version too.
Hey! I coined the phrase Deep Smit! I did! And I love this BBC version too.
OOH! I didn’t know about this version and I’m excited to see it! I too, am unfailing devoted to Emma and Hugh but I think I can give this one a shot 🙂 Thank you for talking me past that picture of Edward. I was looking at it and thinking that I did not like him at all.
I still have not seen the new Jane Eyre, I’m nervous that I won’t like it. Isn’t that silly??
And thank goodness for So I Married an Axe Murderer and deep smit 😉
OOH! I didn’t know about this version and I’m excited to see it! I too, am unfailing devoted to Emma and Hugh but I think I can give this one a shot 🙂 Thank you for talking me past that picture of Edward. I was looking at it and thinking that I did not like him at all.
I still have not seen the new Jane Eyre, I’m nervous that I won’t like it. Isn’t that silly??
And thank goodness for So I Married an Axe Murderer and deep smit 😉
I adore Emma Thompson but oh. My. I MUST see this.
Alas, Netflix.ca has failed me yet again! Phooey!
I adore Emma Thompson but oh. My. I MUST see this.
Alas, Netflix.ca has failed me yet again! Phooey!
Ohhh, I haven’t seen the mini series! I’m going to have to see it now!
Ohhh, I haven’t seen the mini series! I’m going to have to see it now!
Wow, thanks for posting this! I had no idea there was a BBC version of Sense and Sensibility. BBC’s version of Pride and Prejudice is, and always will be, my all time favorite movie, so I’m guessing they did a great job on S&S, too. I LOVE Emma Thompson as Elinor (where she sobs at the end is MY favorite scene of the movie)and I, too, feel Hugh Grant is endearing. But my husband does not. And he has PLENTY to say about it, therefore ruining it for me. I think I am ready to fall in love with a new Edward. I just hope I can find the movie now (I live in a very remote area).
Wow, thanks for posting this! I had no idea there was a BBC version of Sense and Sensibility. BBC’s version of Pride and Prejudice is, and always will be, my all time favorite movie, so I’m guessing they did a great job on S&S, too. I LOVE Emma Thompson as Elinor (where she sobs at the end is MY favorite scene of the movie)and I, too, feel Hugh Grant is endearing. But my husband does not. And he has PLENTY to say about it, therefore ruining it for me. I think I am ready to fall in love with a new Edward. I just hope I can find the movie now (I live in a very remote area).