Sense and Sensibility (DVD)

This set comes with three movies: Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, and Miss Austen Regrets. I'll begin with Sense and Sensibility. May contain spoilers if you've never seen any version of these movies. I am a big fan of the Sense and Sensibility movie with Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant. However, after watching this version, I may never watch the old one again. For one, the Dashwood sisters are more the age in the movie that they were in the book (16 and 19). The casting for the entire movie (I felt) was pretty spot on. Marianne was so full of life and gorgeous besides. Elinor was composed, but you could still see her love for Edward. The mother was more dramatic (like in the book) and Edward (played the same man who was Matthew in Downton Abbey) was more manly. And little Margaret was so natural she almost stole the show. The Steel sisters were exactly what they needed to be. I disliked Lucy Steel from the moment I set eyes on her and she did a great job of flaunting Edward in front of Elinor without being mean (after all, she didn't know Elinor's feelings). Willoughby was played by Dominic Cooper and was so worm-like. It was much easier to picture him as the seducer that he is than it was the old Willoughby. It's also easier to believe how much in love with Marianne he truly was. The end of the movie also shows a little snippet of what happened after they were all married, which was kind of fun. All in all this movie far and away exceeded my expectations. The length (174 minutes) allowed them to tell the story as the book tells it. This movie is equal to the BBC Pride and Prejudice. I'm so glad to have found a version that is. The only thing to discredit it is the seduction scene at the very beginning. But it's easy to skip. Now for Persuasion. I've seen this version about 5 times and I really enjoy it. Persuasion isn't as dramatic as Austen's other novels, but it is a good one to know. Again the cast is very well portrayed and Captain Wentworth is one of the most attractive men I've ever seen. This version is not as true to the book as the older version, but all the characters are more enjoyable to watch, so I prefer it. Anne is a little breathy, but I think it's meant to show how depressed she is that she's missed her chance at happiness. The comic relief in this movie definitely comes from Anne's sister Mary. All in all I'd give this movie 4/5 stars. It is not equal to Sense & Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice, but if you need a quick Jane Austen fix, it's definitely worth the watch. Miss Austen Regrets also came with this set, but I have not watched it yet.

Though I did really like the 1995 version of Sense and Sensibility with Emma Watson and Kate Winslet, I was a bit disappointed that it could only be two hours long and had to stray a bit from the book in order to save time. I was excited when I heard about this production because Andrew Davies always writes very strong screenplays and I always like and admire his work. This was another fantastic screenplay and production. The story follows the lives of one family the Dashwoods. Mrs. Dashwood's husband dies and all of his property and possessions goes to his only son from a previous marriage. This leaves his three daughters and wife with really nothing. The son wants to help his step-mother and sisters but his pernicious wife Fanny Dashwood quickly is able to talk him out of helping them. From here the family is able to find a small cottage with a distant relative of Mrs. Dashwood. At the heart of the story is Elinor Dashwood, the oldest and most responsible and level-headed character in the story. She takes on most of the responsibility of seeing to the family's needs, she is very practical and is able to manage the family well. When she meets Fanny Dashwood's eldest brother Edward Ferrars, they develop a deep attachment towards each other that Fanny tries and prevent. Unfortunately, Edward never promises Elinor marriage or really speaks of his feelings for her because he is secretly engaged to another woman. In contrast to Elinor, her sister Marianne is very impulsive, romantic and lets everyone see her real feelings. Marianne and her family meet a friend of their cousin Colonel Brandon, who falls in love with Marianne despite the age difference. Marianne does not love him but eventually falls in deep love with the dashing Willoughby. All of the important characters that were missing in the first version were in this one. Hattie Morahan is absolutely perfect as Elinor. I always felt that Elinor was the center of the story and Hattie Morahan really hits the part well. When I read the book I imagined someone exactly like her in this role. I also really liked Dan Stevens as Edward Ferrars and I thought he portrayed the part well. I especially liked Charity Wakefield as Marianne, I thought she captured the spirit and romantic nature of the character. Her innocence sparkles. Another great feature of this one is the scenery and locations picked in this production, they are wonderful. I especially love the Dashwood's cottage, it really is a romantic wild place with the waves crushing onto the steep hills. This movie is worth watching just for Adrew Davies screenplay. He is a genus! Also included in the DVD is a short film about the later years of Jane Austen's life called Miss Austen Regrets, it is interesting and well worth watching.

This is my favorite of all the new Jane Austen adaptations! Dedicating almost 3 hours really does justice to the story line and of course having Andrew Davies writing the screen play certainly helps! In my opinion the actresses were really well chosen especially Eleanor & Marianne. Eleanor (Hattie Morahan) is great, her thickly veiled unhappiness, is barely there, very subtle, but a scene of her alone by the sea manages to convey her distress in being separated from Edward. I feel that the Eleanor played by Emma Thompson (in the 1996 movie version) was a bit too cold, distant and as many before me have commented , too old. This Eleanor is youthful, shows a bit more feeling, emotion, and therefore comes across as more human. She is more likable and even though there is a space of 200 years, modern audiences can still relate to her. Marianne's enthusiasm and passion is well captured by Charity Wakefield's performance. Also, Col. Brandon is much younger in this version and more gallant! The duel was an exciting touch! The romance between Col. Brandon and Marianne is properly developed, where as in the movie version all happened too suddenly. A lot that was left out in the movie version, is finally shown (Willoughby's confrontation w/Eleanor, lots of characters in the book were included in this version) Fanny Dashwood is so thoroughly evil, the perfect snob! The rented cottage and it's surrounding landscapes are breathtaking, as is the various other locations. All in all, a top notch production. Definitely a must see!

A fantastic adaptation, aell written,acted, and beautiful costumes. Very true to the book.

Although the more recent film with Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman and Kate Winslet is well produced and acted (and entertaining), it only really provides the skeleton of the story. This series takes the time to cover the story more comprehensively and, although there are some variations that may grate for the true Janeite, this is a definite must see both for lovers of Jane Austen’s work and for those who enjoyed the more recent version.

There have been very many film productions of this novel, but this one is a cut above them all, matching even Emma Thompson's Oscar-winning cinema version. Here we have, from the very first scene, a potent, dramatic and fresh take on the novel. Director John Alexander, seems to have never made it to the big screen, but his vision and ability illuminates every frame of this mini-series. I have read the novel many times, and know it well, but Alexander manages to inject something new and startling into this all-too-familiar tale of the Dashwoods, their fall from wealthy society, and the ensuing plight of the elder two of the three daughters. The production values are worthy, and the BBC has furnished the series with what appears to be a suitable budget to do it justice. The score is wonderfully evocative of the mood, conjuring drama and romance aplenty throughout. The photography is also tremendous, and seems to takes it influence from Lord Leighton paintings, One moment in episode two is certainly taken straight from Leighton's painting "Invocation". If the series has a weakness, it is in its similarity to Thompson's version. Barton Cottage has an almost identical floor plan, as does the structure of some of the scenes. That said, the plot stays very close to the novel, and throws in plenty elsewhere that is original but entirely in keeping. The casting is excellent, as is the acting. Hattie Morahan (Elinor Dashwood) and the startlingly photogenic Charity Wakefield (Marianne Dashwood) do fine work here. I am perplexed at why Wakefield, for whom this was her first screen role, never capitalized on this performance to go beyond doing stints in "Casualty" and the like, as she commands every scene in which she appears. There are some decent extras. We have a commentary by Elinor Dashwood, Edward Ferris, the director and producer, though they sometimes seem at a loss to know what to say. There's also an interview with producer and script writer, in which much needless comparison is made with Thompson's movie version, as if the two were in competition, which they were not. That said, when the series was first broadcast, the BBC introduced it by mentioning the movie, which was a silly thing to do as the series is every bit as good as the movie in every respect. Overall, this adaptation really is a must-have in any costume drama fan's collection. It is the BBC doing what it does so very well - producing a masterclass of acting and production, fabulous on-location shooting (in this case with all the drama of the windswept Devon coastline), and wonderful scripting, which makes the series entertaining and surprisingly original. It is such a good series, I wonder why on earth the BBC produces such gems, and then steadfastly refuses to give them a repeat showing. Goodness know, plenty of drivel seems to merit endless repeats.

La imagen al reproducirse es muy, muy mala. Devolvería el DVD pero me cuesta el envío el 50% de lo que me costó comprarlo.

A great dvd of a classic Jane Austen book adapted in movie form A excellent version of thus story Well acted entertaining Dvd performed wonderfully and picture on dvd clear crisp A must for any fan of this story Highly recommend

Bei dieser dreiteiligen Mini-Serie der BBC aus dem Jahr 2008 führte der US-Amerikaner John Alexander Regie. Einer der profiliertesten Autoren Englands, Andrew Davies, schrieb das Drehbuch und adaptierte Jane Austens Roman „Sense and Sensibility“, zu Deutsch „Verstand und Gefühl“ oder auch „Sinn und Sinnlichkeit“. Jane Austen (1775-1817) hatte den Roman mit dem Arbeitstitel: „Elinor and Marianne“ 1796 im Alter von 21 Jahren begonnen und 1809 mit 34 Jahren bearbeitet, bevor er schließlich 1811 unter dem Titel „Sense and Sensibility“ und dem Pseudonym „by a lady“ als ihr Erstlingswerk veröffentlicht wurde. Im Mittelpunkt stehen die Schwestern Elinor, 19 Jahre alt, gespielt von Hattie Morahan, und Marianne Dashwood, 17 Jahre alt, gespielt von Charity Wakefield, und ihre sehr unterschiedlichen Temperamente. Nach dem Tod des Familienoberhauptes werden Mrs. Dashwood und ihre drei Töchter Elinor, Marianne und Margaret, 13 Jahre alt, vom neuen Erben, dem einzigen Sohn des Vaters aus erster Ehe, John Dashwood (Mark Gattis), aus ihrem Haus in Norland Park vertrieben. Insbesondere dessen hartherzige Frau Fanny Dashwood, geborene Ferrars, beansprucht es als ihr neues Zuhause. Bevor sie im weit entfernten Devonshire ein kleines Cottage beziehen, das ihnen ein entfernter Verwandter angeboten hat, lernt Elinor Fannys älteren Bruder Edward Ferrars (Dan Stevens) kennen und ist sofort sehr von dem freundlichen und bescheidenen jungen Mann angetan. Bald allerdings wird ihr zu verstehen gegeben, dass sie sich keine Hoffnungen machen solle, da von ihm erwartet werde, eine vermögende Frau zu ehelichen. In Devonshire trifft Marianne John Willoughby (Dominic Cooper), der ihre träumerische, überschwängliche Art zu teilen scheint, und sie verliebt sich Hals über Kopf in ihn. Unterdessen hat auch der schweigsame und ehrenwerte 35-jährige Colonel Brandon (David Morrissey) ein Auge auf die lebhafte und offene Marianne geworfen. Er hält nicht viel von Willoughby und bezweifelt dessen ehrliche Absichten. Und tatsächlich kehrt Willoughby Devonshire eines Tages den Rücken und reist nach London ab. Als Elinor zugetragen wird, dass Edward verlobt sei, versucht sie, sich nicht länger der Illusion hinzugeben und sich wie immer von der Vernunft und dem Pragmatismus leiten zu lassen. Werden die Schwestern dennoch ihr Glück finden? Durch die zwei weiblichen, recht gegensätzlichen Hauptpersonen erhält Jane Austens Roman „Sense and Sensibility“ einen komplexen Aufbau und bevölkern ihn viele Personen. Daher bietet er besonders viel Stoff für Verwicklungen und Wendungen. Elinor verkörpert mit Blick auf den Titel die Vernunft („sense“), Marianne das Gefühl („sensibility“). Außerdem können auch die jeweiligen Verehrer den Attributen „Vernunft“ oder „Gefühl“ zugeordnet werden. Dieser titelgebende Konflikt ist gut spürbar und nachvollziehbar umgesetzt, denn alle Beteiligten stecken bei vorgegebenen gesellschaftlichen Konventionen und Gepflogenheiten in dem Spannungsverhältnis zwischen Vernunft, Verstand einerseits und Gefühl, Emotionalität andererseits fest und ihr Handeln wird davon bestimmt. Die filmische Umsetzung bietet gute Charakterstudien und psychologische Betrachtungen dazu, wie anders Menschen verschiedener Temperamente auf vergleichbare Situationen reagieren und mit ihnen umgehen. Besonders schön ist dabei Austens Sinn für Ironie verarbeitet. Die Inszenierung ist klassisch, kurzweilig, gefühlvoll mit viel Muße und Zeit, dabei mitreißend und auf zwei emotionale Höhepunkte und Schlüsselszenen für Marianne (Tanzveranstaltung) und Elinor (Einladung zum Essen) zulaufend gelungen und wird durch herrliche Landschaftsaufnahmen vom brandenden Meer und malerischen Landgütern sowie schmachtender Musik ergänzt. Die Schauspieler agieren eher zurückhaltend und ganz der Rolle verschrieben als rundes Ensemble. Ich finde, „Sense & Sensibility“ ist dramatische, verwickelte, wechselvolle, romantische ca.175 Minuten dauernde erstklassige Unterhaltung zum Mitfühlen und Mitleiden.