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From Amazon.co.uk
The work of Jane Austen is being confidently mined by filmmakers at the moment, and Persuasion is the latest to be visited. And while there are some fair issues raised about just how faithful the film is to the source material, it’s nonetheless a lavish and enjoyable take on Austen’s story, with much to admire.
Much of the reason as to why this version of Persuasion works well lies with its talented cast. Rupert Penry-Jones, for instance, tackles the role of Captain Wentworth with skill, and Sally Hawkins too gives a performance to be admired. Backed by a primarily good supporting cast, the romantic drama is both watchable and engaging.
Inevitably, parallels are going to be drawn with the similarly strong 1995 television adaptation, and the truth is that some will favour one, some will favour the other. For our money, the earlier version just about nudges it, but the two takes on Persuasion both have enough ideas of their own to make them suitable companion pieces.
Diligently directed and suitably lavish to look at, Persuasion then shows little sign of dampening the enthusiasm for bringing Austen to screens of all sizes. And on the basis of the charming 93 minutes on offer here, that’s no bad thing at all. --Jon Foster
Product Description
TV adaptation of Jane Austen's novel. Anne Elliott (Sally Hawkins) has spent years regretting her rejection of Captain Wentworth (Rupert Penry-Jones)'s proposal of marriage, her family having been against the match on grounds of class. When he returns from sea they meet but, instead of finding romance, are kept apart through a series of misunderstandings. Anne is being pursued by her cousin, Mr Elliott (Tobias Menzies), while Captain Wentworth is regarded as a very eligible bachelor and has a stream of young women with marriage in mind beating a path to his door.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
242 of 251 people found the following review helpful
By Meerkat
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
I agree with other reviewers on this version; it's not as faithful to the book (and therefore as 'good') as the Ciaran Hinds/Amanda Root version that was out a couple of years ago.
My gripes are:
1. The conversation Anne has with Captain Harville at the end of the book is the moment at which Captain Wentworth realises there is still hope. To have put that earlier in the play, addressed to Captain Benwick AND with no chance of Captain Wentworth overhearing was a pointless bit of interference with the storyline on the part of the writers and one that made no sense and made it harder for the characters to be reconciled at the end.
2. Some of the minor characters were, frankly, terrible. Mary was one of the worst - watch the Ciaran Hinds/Amanda Root version for the best way to play Mary. The actress in that was superb; this actress was very odd. Mr Elliot was wooden and that's about the best I can say for that actor - really terrible. He said his lines as though he had learned them by rote and had no idea what they meant.
3. What on earth did the script writers think they were doing having Anne rushing around Bath in pursuit of Captain Wentworth at the end and then brazenly telling him she accepted his proposal?!? Wrong, all wrong from the point of view of the storyline, characters and period of time the novel was set. No wonder he took so long to kiss her - he was probably repenting his decision to marry such a shameless hussy!
4. Then to crown it all; CAPTAIN WENTWORTH BOUGHT KELLYNCH HALL AT THE END!!!!!! What fairytale world was the writer living in??? He couldn't have done that as it was destined for the evil Mr Elliot and all tied up with legal entails...
Things that were right;
1. Rupert Penry-Jones. Phwoar!!... Read more ›
My gripes are:
1. The conversation Anne has with Captain Harville at the end of the book is the moment at which Captain Wentworth realises there is still hope. To have put that earlier in the play, addressed to Captain Benwick AND with no chance of Captain Wentworth overhearing was a pointless bit of interference with the storyline on the part of the writers and one that made no sense and made it harder for the characters to be reconciled at the end.
2. Some of the minor characters were, frankly, terrible. Mary was one of the worst - watch the Ciaran Hinds/Amanda Root version for the best way to play Mary. The actress in that was superb; this actress was very odd. Mr Elliot was wooden and that's about the best I can say for that actor - really terrible. He said his lines as though he had learned them by rote and had no idea what they meant.
3. What on earth did the script writers think they were doing having Anne rushing around Bath in pursuit of Captain Wentworth at the end and then brazenly telling him she accepted his proposal?!? Wrong, all wrong from the point of view of the storyline, characters and period of time the novel was set. No wonder he took so long to kiss her - he was probably repenting his decision to marry such a shameless hussy!
4. Then to crown it all; CAPTAIN WENTWORTH BOUGHT KELLYNCH HALL AT THE END!!!!!! What fairytale world was the writer living in??? He couldn't have done that as it was destined for the evil Mr Elliot and all tied up with legal entails...
Things that were right;
1. Rupert Penry-Jones. Phwoar!!... Read more ›
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
During the whole of this so-so adaptation, we spent our time saying "Close your mouth!". The drippy heroine goes around with her mouth half-open at all times, except when showing a formidable row of teeth. In fact most of the characters look just like rather uninteresting horses - presumably due to the camera angle.
For a comedy of manners there are far too many close-ups; the whole point of Austen is the interplay between people.
The Amanda Root version was so much better - because Ann put a brave face on things - whereas this Ann looks totaly browbeaten and dreary, with absolutely no backbone. She had caved in to family pressure when young, but that does not mean she was completely amorphous.
The ancillary characters were only sketched very roughly - also all the women looked very similar, so hard to follow the plot if you didn't know the story.
Curiously enough, it is only a few minutes shorter than the Root version, but much less detail is given about the events - probably because so much time is wasted on having Ann write in her diary, read the entries out loud and then look morose!
For a comedy of manners there are far too many close-ups; the whole point of Austen is the interplay between people.
The Amanda Root version was so much better - because Ann put a brave face on things - whereas this Ann looks totaly browbeaten and dreary, with absolutely no backbone. She had caved in to family pressure when young, but that does not mean she was completely amorphous.
The ancillary characters were only sketched very roughly - also all the women looked very similar, so hard to follow the plot if you didn't know the story.
Curiously enough, it is only a few minutes shorter than the Root version, but much less detail is given about the events - probably because so much time is wasted on having Ann write in her diary, read the entries out loud and then look morose!
84 of 89 people found the following review helpful
By Shady Tree
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
Firstly let me say that it has just occurred to me to wonder whether I'm biased against this version of Persuasion in favour of the 1995 Amanda Root/Ciaran Hinds version simply because I saw that one first and have loved it ever since; similarly I much prefer the BBC's version of Pride and Prejudice to the more recent film, so maybe that which we see first, we love best? That aside, I tried to watch this production of Persuasion with an open mind, particularly looking forward to Rupert Penry-Jones' portrayal of the very attractive Captain Wentworth.
In that respect, I was not disappointed; you could not hope for a more handsome leading man; what a beauty. I could even forgive Anne Elliot's uncharacteristic chase scene as she ran full pelt around Bath looking for Captain Wentworth; if my lost love looked like Rupert Penry-Jones I think I'd be persuaded to leg it around Bath in hot pursuit. But even so, it is uncharacteristic of Anne's restrained and resigned character which was portrayed so much more accurately by Amanda Root in the 1995 BBC version. A previous reviewer said that they felt Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds too old but let's not forget that in Jane Austen's time 27 was almost heading towards middle age, and Anne would have been considered very much "on the shelf" by that age.
I thought that the casting of Sally Hawkins was very good but in a way there was not enough contrast between the pale, plain Anne at the beginning of the book and the radiant blooming Anne at the end; she was just reasonably pretty throughout.
The ITV have also fallen for the old chestnut of dumbing down the script when there is really no need and from that perspective the BBC have always been streets ahead in their scriptwriting skills.... Read more ›
In that respect, I was not disappointed; you could not hope for a more handsome leading man; what a beauty. I could even forgive Anne Elliot's uncharacteristic chase scene as she ran full pelt around Bath looking for Captain Wentworth; if my lost love looked like Rupert Penry-Jones I think I'd be persuaded to leg it around Bath in hot pursuit. But even so, it is uncharacteristic of Anne's restrained and resigned character which was portrayed so much more accurately by Amanda Root in the 1995 BBC version. A previous reviewer said that they felt Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds too old but let's not forget that in Jane Austen's time 27 was almost heading towards middle age, and Anne would have been considered very much "on the shelf" by that age.
I thought that the casting of Sally Hawkins was very good but in a way there was not enough contrast between the pale, plain Anne at the beginning of the book and the radiant blooming Anne at the end; she was just reasonably pretty throughout.
The ITV have also fallen for the old chestnut of dumbing down the script when there is really no need and from that perspective the BBC have always been streets ahead in their scriptwriting skills.... Read more ›
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Lizzi S
Format:DVD
Yes, it's not the most accurate, and Anne running about Bath at the end, is very annoying, but this adaptation seems to capture the tension between Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliot excellently. You can't help but be moved by it. Anthony Head is magnificent and Rupert Penry Jones, well, it is worth watching for him alone! He definitely gives Colin Firth's Mr Darcy a run for his money.
I gave it 4 stars as it left me sobbing at the end, so obviously captured the essence of the book, however I am continually baffled why programme makers feel they have to mess around with Jane Austen's stories so much. Some changes I can understand but others just leave me scratching my head.
We love Jane Austen's stories as they are ... if it aint broke, don't fix it!!!!!!!!
I gave it 4 stars as it left me sobbing at the end, so obviously captured the essence of the book, however I am continually baffled why programme makers feel they have to mess around with Jane Austen's stories so much. Some changes I can understand but others just leave me scratching my head.
We love Jane Austen's stories as they are ... if it aint broke, don't fix it!!!!!!!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
To persuade you or not
This product is very good, but not excellent. I feel we have been left a little short of an amazing tale, some of it fells rushed, had this been a series I would have given this... Read more
Published 9 hours ago by Neasa Ronayne
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must
This is the best adaptation of jane austens persuasion, and i think i've watched them all. Sally Hawkins is a believable "Anne". Highly recommended.
Published 10 days ago by ANUBIS
4.0 out of 5 stars
Only watch for Rupert Penry-Jones!
Like other reviewers, we have the other version of Pursuasion, and I have to say I do prefer the other version for pretty much the same reasons as the other reviewers. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ellie Crisp
5.0 out of 5 stars
fantastic
Love this so much watched it a few times and im hooked great value for money well worth it i reckon
Published 1 month ago by melanie dormsr
5.0 out of 5 stars
Swoon
How could any woman resist Captain Wentworth? This adaptation was great, thoroughly happy with this purchase, but may need to buy another when I wear this one out.
Published 1 month ago by j a crandon
5.0 out of 5 stars
My heart beats too hard!
Oh! Swoon!! It's too much to have Rupert (is that his name?) in this role. He is just perfect and gorgeous. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Amazonian Al
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb
A great adaptation of one of Austen's lesser popular works. Superbly acted. Penury-Jones makes it easy to fall in love with the heavenly Captain Wentworth!
Published 1 month ago by J A Whittles
5.0 out of 5 stars
Be still my beating heart...
I first read Persuasion 23 yrs ago when I was a 17yr old A-level student, young and unjaded by the disappointments of mundane heterosexuality. Read more
Published 2 months ago by twowanda
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely movie
Period dramas are my one weakness. Love most of them, from the fashions, the speech, the story lines. Can watch them over and over. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Caroline Wilson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very romantic
Good acting, in particular Rue Penry-Jones. A good adaptation of the story. It shows that a quality piece of writing always makes for a fantastic story.
Published 3 months ago by Arwen
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