satalasers (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
satalasers) wrote2020-03-21 11:10 am
satalasers) wrote2020-03-21 11:10 am
Entry tags:
Emma, BBC miniseries
Since it was on Netflix, I couldn't help myself, I had to watch this miniseries again. It's SO CUTE! I'm going to be a bit more comparative this time around because the story never changes that much, but I have opinions, regardless. Honestly, I feel that a 4 hour miniseries works better than a 2 hour movie, because there is A LOT going on in Emma (with everyone's secret agenda's) and though the movie does a great job hinting at it regardless, it feels a lot more breathable in the miniseries because it has more time to flesh things out a bit.
- Mr Woodhouse -- I did really like Bill Nighy, but I think Michael Gambon is slightly better to me TBH? Both nail the hypochrondiac element really well, and I like the sprightliness of Bill Nighy, but I like the... sort of worried haplessness of Michael Gambon endears me so much more -- he cannot help but worry, but it's not melancholic like Bill Nighy quintessentially is.
- Emma is SO GOOD. Romola Garai is certainly a warmer character in the miniseries for me, she's very well-meaning and energetic; whereas movie!Emma is colder to me? While I did like that we get to see movie!Emma be snobby and cold, and maybe the point of the movie was to show that initially Emma did see Harriet as little more of one her dolls before genuinely get attached to her, but I kind of think that Emma has always kind of liked Harriet, wanted better for her, and not realized that in addition to this that she... kind of manipulated her unfairly.
- I also super love this version of Mr Knightley. While JLM doesn't quite do much of the death glares (I love them, I love them so much!!!) like Johnny Flynn does; JLM's facial expressions are divine. I also just really like the friendship of Emma/Knightley in this one -- they are just so endlessly sweet to each other, except for the parts that they fall out. I also just really like that JLM is genuinely angry at Emma and her mischief? Again, I think JLM is slightly younger than he's supposed to be, (and honestly I cannot reiterate enough, it's better TBH.)
- The downside of Emma/Knightley is that Knightley is like 13 years older than Emma; and it's never more awkward than when they're having a conversation with little baby Emma in Emma's arms; and is like "remember when I was a baby and you held me in your arms when you were my age". The movie was smarter to keep the scene (because it's an adorable moment, hinting at future parents) but change the text to them sort of mending their friendship once again -- the conversation felt very Austenian to me, but again: it's been ages since I read the book.
- I really love that the intro music is the dance scene music for Emma and Knightley. I had completely forgotten that, and it's still so sweet to see. I kinda prefer the movie version because of how charged it is, but this one was still lovely.
- MR ELTON CONTINUES TO BE SO GREAT. HE'S SUCH A TERRIBLE PERSON BUT I LOVE HIM DEARLY. He really does make me laugh so much. I actually don't know which version I prefer of this version, he's SO smarmy and conniving in both, so I love them both.
- Can I just say, that movie!Mrs Elton had FANTASTIC ridiculous bows, but the fact that bbc!Mrs Elton LOOKS THE EXACT SAME AS bbc!HARRIET is such an incredibly hilarious choice.
- I lovelovelove this Frank SO MUCH MORE. They cast such a good actor! He's SO CUTE! I just thought -- I love the bounciness of friendship of Frank and Emma, and how they bring out the worst of each other; and bbc!Frank is... you can sort of see him spinning out of control, but he means well? He genuinely likes Emma, but he cannot stop. His actor does such a good job of showing him unravel slightly, and show in bad temper; he's on the cusp of breaking sometimes, and that I think greatly endears me to him. Also the fact that he SPINS JANE FAIRFAX IN THE AIR AND HAPPILY PROCLAIMS "FINALLY WE CAN BE TOGETHER" I just... I want to root for them. He's just so likeable to me, regardless of the fact that he truly did behave badly.
- Movie!Frank, well, they certainly hint at the Frank/Jane, with some well placed shots, (and he does have a lovely smile) but he kind of... the Frank/Emma friendship leaves me cold because it doesn't seem genuine. He never truly tries, for me, to feel sincere? He's a little too calculating, and I just -- part of the movie is because I don't think there's not enough time for him TO feature in? Ugh, I can't word it right, I just -- I want some Frank/Emma getting along great moments, and I think the moments in the movie were kind of undercut a lot.
- I just really like Frank/Emma in the BBC miniseries, okay? I just. You get why Jane put up with him. You get why Frank is able to get away with acting like a scoundrel. He behaves badly, but man, I have such fun with him! (I still can never tell how much Jane is aware of Frank's plan, though. Did she know at all it was sincere, or was she in on it, and think: I've had enough. I can't watch this any more.) You get why they're friends.
- Tamsin Grieg as Miss Bates is great. I love her fragility and nervous energy. While Miranda Hart has amazing clumsiness, I just think they're both so wonderful to watch that I enjoy their different takes.
- I also like that we get to see more of Jane, TBH? I know she's usually more of a manifestation of Emma's insecurities -- what Emma could have been had she been dedicated; but I think there was more Jane in this miniseries all the same?
- They cast a very sweet Mr Weston. In general I liked how they built up Mr Weston, the many mentions of Frank, and being good friends with Emma was lovely.
- MR KNIGHTLEY AND EMMA'S HONEYMOON IS THE SEASIDE. HOW CUTE. HOW FUCKING CUTE IS THAT.
- I always never get round to talking about Harriet/Emma and Harriet/Robert Martin but I love them both, and they're just so good to watch.
Things the mini series did better than the movie:
- Holy shit, the Isabella/older Knightley brother marriage is better in this one. Movie!them did not have a happy marriage, I didn't think. This one they clearly did. They bickered a bit, but it was still very loving. I never doubted in their love.
- I loved Isabella/Mr Woodhouse having a "my doctor is better than yours" bickering; whereas I think the movie them, they both preferred Mr Woodhouse's doctor?
- BOX HILL. STILL SUPERIOR HERE. I wondered why the movie version didn't sit well with me, and it's definitely because: Emma instantly regrets it -- the actress's eyes definitely do an oh shit why did I say that; whereas in the mini series, Emma doesn't even realize she's said anything wrong until AFTER Miss Bates' reacts and is CLEARLY hurt by what she said.
- Super love the Emma&Mrs Weston friendship!!! It's there in the movie too, but it feels more prominent here, and it's just very cute.
- Emma's rage at Mrs Elton was FAB. "I've known Mr Knightley for far longer and I've never called him Knightley!!!"
Things the movie did better:
- Mr Elton, in a truly awful reading of the room, comments on the snow outside, AND MR WOODHOUSE AND ISABELLA PANICKING AND INSTANTLY HAVE TO GO HOME. Like the unbridled chaos was truly delightful. The thing is, I cannot remember which one is it in the book -- in the mini series, the older Knightley brother comments, and while there is some concern, it's quickly put to rest, because Mr Knightley is very quick to calm Mr Woodhouse's fears. BUT IN THE MOVIE, THERE'S SUCH A "OH GOD I HAVE TO GO" I CACKLED SO MUCH. He didn't expect his remark to have that effect at all.
- I didn't realize how kind of virtually nonexistent the servants feel in the mini series; whereas you can get glimpses of personality with them in the movie, them shutting doors, Mr Woodhouse talking to them about the draft he feels. It was just a really nice touch?
- I really liked the soundtrack!!
Things I'm curious about:
- The Dixon/Blunder clues. Did that happen in the book? Was there rumours of Jane being saved by Dixon off a cliff while his fiance was there happen?
I really am going to have to rewatch Emma Approved and the other Emma films now, aren't I?
- Mr Woodhouse -- I did really like Bill Nighy, but I think Michael Gambon is slightly better to me TBH? Both nail the hypochrondiac element really well, and I like the sprightliness of Bill Nighy, but I like the... sort of worried haplessness of Michael Gambon endears me so much more -- he cannot help but worry, but it's not melancholic like Bill Nighy quintessentially is.
- Emma is SO GOOD. Romola Garai is certainly a warmer character in the miniseries for me, she's very well-meaning and energetic; whereas movie!Emma is colder to me? While I did like that we get to see movie!Emma be snobby and cold, and maybe the point of the movie was to show that initially Emma did see Harriet as little more of one her dolls before genuinely get attached to her, but I kind of think that Emma has always kind of liked Harriet, wanted better for her, and not realized that in addition to this that she... kind of manipulated her unfairly.
- I also super love this version of Mr Knightley. While JLM doesn't quite do much of the death glares (I love them, I love them so much!!!) like Johnny Flynn does; JLM's facial expressions are divine. I also just really like the friendship of Emma/Knightley in this one -- they are just so endlessly sweet to each other, except for the parts that they fall out. I also just really like that JLM is genuinely angry at Emma and her mischief? Again, I think JLM is slightly younger than he's supposed to be, (and honestly I cannot reiterate enough, it's better TBH.)
- The downside of Emma/Knightley is that Knightley is like 13 years older than Emma; and it's never more awkward than when they're having a conversation with little baby Emma in Emma's arms; and is like "remember when I was a baby and you held me in your arms when you were my age". The movie was smarter to keep the scene (because it's an adorable moment, hinting at future parents) but change the text to them sort of mending their friendship once again -- the conversation felt very Austenian to me, but again: it's been ages since I read the book.
- I really love that the intro music is the dance scene music for Emma and Knightley. I had completely forgotten that, and it's still so sweet to see. I kinda prefer the movie version because of how charged it is, but this one was still lovely.
- MR ELTON CONTINUES TO BE SO GREAT. HE'S SUCH A TERRIBLE PERSON BUT I LOVE HIM DEARLY. He really does make me laugh so much. I actually don't know which version I prefer of this version, he's SO smarmy and conniving in both, so I love them both.
- Can I just say, that movie!Mrs Elton had FANTASTIC ridiculous bows, but the fact that bbc!Mrs Elton LOOKS THE EXACT SAME AS bbc!HARRIET is such an incredibly hilarious choice.
- I lovelovelove this Frank SO MUCH MORE. They cast such a good actor! He's SO CUTE! I just thought -- I love the bounciness of friendship of Frank and Emma, and how they bring out the worst of each other; and bbc!Frank is... you can sort of see him spinning out of control, but he means well? He genuinely likes Emma, but he cannot stop. His actor does such a good job of showing him unravel slightly, and show in bad temper; he's on the cusp of breaking sometimes, and that I think greatly endears me to him. Also the fact that he SPINS JANE FAIRFAX IN THE AIR AND HAPPILY PROCLAIMS "FINALLY WE CAN BE TOGETHER" I just... I want to root for them. He's just so likeable to me, regardless of the fact that he truly did behave badly.
- Movie!Frank, well, they certainly hint at the Frank/Jane, with some well placed shots, (and he does have a lovely smile) but he kind of... the Frank/Emma friendship leaves me cold because it doesn't seem genuine. He never truly tries, for me, to feel sincere? He's a little too calculating, and I just -- part of the movie is because I don't think there's not enough time for him TO feature in? Ugh, I can't word it right, I just -- I want some Frank/Emma getting along great moments, and I think the moments in the movie were kind of undercut a lot.
- I just really like Frank/Emma in the BBC miniseries, okay? I just. You get why Jane put up with him. You get why Frank is able to get away with acting like a scoundrel. He behaves badly, but man, I have such fun with him! (I still can never tell how much Jane is aware of Frank's plan, though. Did she know at all it was sincere, or was she in on it, and think: I've had enough. I can't watch this any more.) You get why they're friends.
- Tamsin Grieg as Miss Bates is great. I love her fragility and nervous energy. While Miranda Hart has amazing clumsiness, I just think they're both so wonderful to watch that I enjoy their different takes.
- I also like that we get to see more of Jane, TBH? I know she's usually more of a manifestation of Emma's insecurities -- what Emma could have been had she been dedicated; but I think there was more Jane in this miniseries all the same?
- They cast a very sweet Mr Weston. In general I liked how they built up Mr Weston, the many mentions of Frank, and being good friends with Emma was lovely.
- MR KNIGHTLEY AND EMMA'S HONEYMOON IS THE SEASIDE. HOW CUTE. HOW FUCKING CUTE IS THAT.
- I always never get round to talking about Harriet/Emma and Harriet/Robert Martin but I love them both, and they're just so good to watch.
Things the mini series did better than the movie:
- Holy shit, the Isabella/older Knightley brother marriage is better in this one. Movie!them did not have a happy marriage, I didn't think. This one they clearly did. They bickered a bit, but it was still very loving. I never doubted in their love.
- I loved Isabella/Mr Woodhouse having a "my doctor is better than yours" bickering; whereas I think the movie them, they both preferred Mr Woodhouse's doctor?
- BOX HILL. STILL SUPERIOR HERE. I wondered why the movie version didn't sit well with me, and it's definitely because: Emma instantly regrets it -- the actress's eyes definitely do an oh shit why did I say that; whereas in the mini series, Emma doesn't even realize she's said anything wrong until AFTER Miss Bates' reacts and is CLEARLY hurt by what she said.
- Super love the Emma&Mrs Weston friendship!!! It's there in the movie too, but it feels more prominent here, and it's just very cute.
- Emma's rage at Mrs Elton was FAB. "I've known Mr Knightley for far longer and I've never called him Knightley!!!"
Things the movie did better:
- Mr Elton, in a truly awful reading of the room, comments on the snow outside, AND MR WOODHOUSE AND ISABELLA PANICKING AND INSTANTLY HAVE TO GO HOME. Like the unbridled chaos was truly delightful. The thing is, I cannot remember which one is it in the book -- in the mini series, the older Knightley brother comments, and while there is some concern, it's quickly put to rest, because Mr Knightley is very quick to calm Mr Woodhouse's fears. BUT IN THE MOVIE, THERE'S SUCH A "OH GOD I HAVE TO GO" I CACKLED SO MUCH. He didn't expect his remark to have that effect at all.
- I didn't realize how kind of virtually nonexistent the servants feel in the mini series; whereas you can get glimpses of personality with them in the movie, them shutting doors, Mr Woodhouse talking to them about the draft he feels. It was just a really nice touch?
- I really liked the soundtrack!!
Things I'm curious about:
- The Dixon/Blunder clues. Did that happen in the book? Was there rumours of Jane being saved by Dixon off a cliff while his fiance was there happen?
I really am going to have to rewatch Emma Approved and the other Emma films now, aren't I?