POSITIVES…
In general, visually this film looks great, from the period accurate clothes, authentic looking locations, and how the camera captures the characters on screen.
Cast is great here, and they all add something to the movie. From Johnny Flynn, Mia Goth, Josh O’Connor, etc…
The movie is filled with fun little moments like Bill Nighy as Mr. Woodhouse obsessing over drafts, intense dramatic dialogue between certain characters, to elaborate sequences like a certain dance number.
Whether you are or aren’t an Jane Austen devotee, I think you can easily acknowledge how amazing Anya Taylor-Joy is in this film as Emma Woodhouse.
Speaking of devotees, as far as the story is concerned, I’ll leave how good of an adaptation it is to you Janeites, because I thought it was simply interesting and entertaining for what it is. It gave me more of an appreciation as to why this story is well loved.
NEGATIVES…
I don’t know how much I can criticize this movie as I am not a huge devotee of Jane Austen’s work, nor have I read the book that this is an adaptation of. I’m sure the fans can nitpick some things about it.
Considering how the book was written so long ago, it’s probably unfair for me to say that the story and the themes felt too familiar and cliche, with predictable character arcs and resolutions. It is unfair for me to say that, but that’s how I felt.
This didn’t try to go for a more creative modern direction (like with “Little Women”) that might benefit modern viewers like me. Which is also unfair for me to compare, because that’s just not what this movie tried to go for. Fans of the original source material will simply get more out of this film than those of us who are uninitiated.
P.S….
loveditenjoyedit LIKED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible
