‘Emma’ Review: Back on the Manor, but Still Clueless

"Perfect cast"? What a ridiculous opinion. I suggest you go check out Mark Strong in the role of Knightley before you write much else. And everybody else was well cast but most certainly Strong and Beckinsale (doesn't everyone think the description of Emma perfectly describes Ms Beckinsale?) were fantastic.

I wish it well, but after "Love and Friendship", I think that Whit Stillman should get first shot at all future Austen adaptations. And find a role for Tom Bennett.

Not a mention of the fab Miranda Hart? She really did a great job I thought!

Up until now, at the of 61, I've avoided all Austen movies along the way, and have never felt the slightest inclination to read them either, but I recently I started reading 'Middlemarch' by George Elliot (mainly as a retreat from all the moronic stupidity that makes up for modern life) and I'm truly in love with it ! What an amazingly talented lady... It's hard slog but my goodness so enjoyable and intelligent, so despite not having much clue as to what it was about I watched EMMA yesterday as its set about the same period and I thought it was a delightful movie...as an independent filmmaker I adored the camera work and the palette design, all the cast was exquisite, it was just wonderful, I left the Cinema with skip in my stride. Adorable as she (EMMA) is the star for me though was Flynn as Mr. Knightly...he was terrific as a real true gentleman that I'd like my two mid teen sons to aspire to. Hats off to Anya for a nice tight direction, not a wasted scene at any time, and very much a movie I'll look forward to watching again with loved ones. Highly recommend...

As far as previous film versions go, I’ve always wished that Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam could have been plugged into the more fleshed-out screenplay that starred Romola Garai. I also enjoyed Kate Beckinsale’s performance, and of course Clueless is a delightful update. I’ll reserve judgement on this until I see it, but as a longtime lover of the book I am intrigued.

Nobody needs another version of Emma (or Pride & Prejudice) for that matter. Let us skip a generation so we can come back to them with fresh eyes. Filmmakers should return to Persuasion. Long overlooked--far better story than either--mature woman reconnects with former lover she rejected. Sharp social comedy but much more affecting emotionally. So much more than dizzy girls having the scales fall from their eyes. As delightful as they are, give Emma and P&P a rest, please.

For those of you who pooh-pooh the "Clueless" adaptation, I can only say, "Way harsh, Tai."

I have liked many of the "Emma" movies and series, but so far none have caught the essential sadness of Emma, of how her father has such a tight grip on her that she can scarcely breathe. Emma is absolutely controlled by him, albeit in a "loving" way. Is it any wonder she wants to control others?

Clueless remains a favorite, although not visibly an Austen novel. My family will watch it and not cringe when I tell them it is based on an 'old' novel! I still have hopes that my grandchildren will watch period dramas with me and not fall asleep...we'll start with P & P and Wuthering Heights...then move on to Emma with Kate B., still a favorite.

Looks like a wonderfully cartoonish comedic Emma from the trailer and I love Bill Nighy.

Having seen the trailer several times at the cinema, this looks like a cross between Midsommar and Jane Austen. Hard pass.

I enjoy reading the debate about which films readers prefer. But we should all take a step back and marvel at how well served these wonderful novels are by film. There are at least six Pride and Prejudices that are worth watching--one with a script by Aldous Huxley, of all people! Now there are at least four fine Emmas. What riches for us all, and especially for those who have the good fortune to teach the novels to students. When will there be as many fine film versions--not to mention a Bollywood version-- of good American novels? Moby Dick, Beloved, or Scarlet Letter?

Other reviews say that the satire that Jane Austen intended is much more apparent in this version than in previous ones that took the story at face value. Perhaps what this reviewer thinks of as "Wes Anderson" style is in fact Jane Austen's satire coming to the fore? Maybe the "emphatic embellish[ment]" is the director tipping off the audience that this is a romp, not a hushed, sober recounting of a totally serious story? Now I'll have to see this for myself, to see which reviewers to trust in the future.

The only Mr. Knightly for me is Jeremy Northam. Johnny Flynn is weak tea by comparison and not even remotely good looking. Gwyneth Paltrow was a very good Emma, mainly because she is insufferably pleased with herself as is Emma, my least favorite of Austen’s heroines.

Emma is never my favorite Austin heroine, of course, but I did like Romola Garai in the TV version with Michael Gambon as her father. I confess it may have been because the home was so beautiful. This review, though, makes me curious about this movie.

It's always great to see an Austin adaptation. Emma in particular, a trifle and a good comedic turn for the language if not each element of a particular film, so I don't have too difficult a time overlooking smaller shortcomings. I will check this out if only to muse a little longer on how it is Ms. Taylor-Joy has the look of a human gecko. That picture!

“[T]he scene economically summons up a world and an attitude of careless, unconscious privilege.” In Jane Austen’s world, the privilege was far from careless or unconscious. Everyone was acutely conscious of their own privilege or lack thereof, and considered it natural and right that some were rich and privileged, and others were poor and lacking in social power and standing. Indeed, a key theme of Austen’s novel Emma is the mistakes the title character makes regarding privilege. She at first considers her friend Harriet to be higher in social standing than she really is; she nearly ruins Harriet’s chance for a good marriage by trying to bring about a marriage to a man who is “higher” than Harriet. In doing so, Emma accidentally encourages that same man to aspire to marry herself — but she is “above” him, and actually insulted by his addresses. Finally, she misuses her own privilege by mocking Miss Bates to her face. Mr. Knightly reprimands her for insulting a neighbor whose inferior socioeconomic position should secure her compassion, not her ridicule (I paraphrase his words). At no point is there any indication that Austen or her characters disapprove of the socioeconomic system in which they live. On the contrary, the system is explicitly accepted as right and good. The process of discovering her own mistakes and correcting her understanding and use of privilege is the central plot of the novel Emma.

Johnny Flynn is this black girl's favorite blonde. I want to feel as if he's my own private discovery but he is "very good" in everything he does: theater, film and music, so can't keep him to myself! He has a wide range as an actor, plays a multitude of instruments, writes songs and sings, is a family man, and good-looking on top of it all! It would be great to see his star rise. Hoping he is offered more projects that suit his vast talents: perhaps the David Bowie biopic will make him the star he should be.

Once I saw that Miranda Hart has a small part in this version, I knew I had to see it. Hart is a talented comedic actor, and well suited to a period piece such as this. She's known mostly for her British TV show, and I'm glad to see she's branching out into films.

I was surprised no mention is made of the 1996 version on Emma with Kate Beckinsale, Mark Strong, and Samantha Morton which is much better than the Gwyneth Paltrow remake, in my opinion. Beckinsale's Emma is played superbly as a young, naive, arrogant, interfering manipulator who grows to realize her faults and mend them - and fine true love, of course. The new Emma appears to be a bright shiny object Hollywooded up for those who prefer spectacle to splendor.

Oh, let’s not be so hard on any Emma adaptation, nor, for the matter on the ditsy title character. I used to look down upon such women, but I grew up and, at 75, I finally realize they can be interesting, talented and clever in their own ways, and any adaptation that goes along that combination of froth and humanity is fine by me. Kudos, as usual, to Jane Austen for not having her heroin mansplained in an objectionable way by her love interest. With our politics and elections looking more an more like a tragic farce, let’s enjoy the eye candy and the levity.

for those intrigued to explore further, the "TV version" Emma starring kate beckinsale (with mark strong as Mr. Knightley) is well worth watching. beckinsale catches the character of emma perfectly, and the whole cast is up to her standard.