Film watch: Emma
Jan. 23rd, 2022 10:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
callmemadamYesterday evening, I watched this latest version (2020) of Emma on Netflix. I was rather surprised to see a ‘nudity’ warning at the beginning. Who on earth would be naked? It was: Mr Knightley! No! Almost the first shot, too. This was a horrible start and I couldn’t believe that a man like Mr Knightley would allow himself to be dressed by a servant; He’s just the sort to be impatient about such things and to see to his own toilette. I wrote here last year about why Emma is my favourite of Jane Austen’s novels. I should have added, as I’ve said elsewhere, that no adaptation of the book has ever pleased me. Sadly, this version was no exception.
Just a few points. Mr Knightley is supposed to be older than Emma but didn’t look it. Harriet Smith is a very pretty girl; it is the whole point of her. Sadly, she wasn’t. Bill Nighy looks wonderful whatever part he plays but as Mr Woodhouse he was far too nimble getting down the stairs and not at all like an invalid, apart from his peevishness. The houses, as always, were too grand. When the party visited Donwell Abbey (Mr Knightley’s home), I thought, ‘Surely that’s Wilton House?’ I looked it up afterwards and it was. Mr Knightley is rich but I don’t think he’d have van Dycks on his walls.
I won’t go on but oh dear, yet another disappointment, although they did use some of Jane Austen’s good lines, while mangling others.
Just a few points. Mr Knightley is supposed to be older than Emma but didn’t look it. Harriet Smith is a very pretty girl; it is the whole point of her. Sadly, she wasn’t. Bill Nighy looks wonderful whatever part he plays but as Mr Woodhouse he was far too nimble getting down the stairs and not at all like an invalid, apart from his peevishness. The houses, as always, were too grand. When the party visited Donwell Abbey (Mr Knightley’s home), I thought, ‘Surely that’s Wilton House?’ I looked it up afterwards and it was. Mr Knightley is rich but I don’t think he’d have van Dycks on his walls.
I won’t go on but oh dear, yet another disappointment, although they did use some of Jane Austen’s good lines, while mangling others.
