On The Journey of Jane Austen:
Films based on Novels
When a person’s ear hears the melodious sound of the name, Jane Austen, one identifies her with classic novels, and an ingenious style of writing. But when I hear the sound of the classic and famous name, Jane Austen, I hear “timeless”. She was born in 1775, and yet to this day, 235 years later, her name is still resonating in the ears of her fans.
Jane Austen is considered one of the most memorable and famous writers of her time. Her satirical, romantic, and elegantly written novels have transported Austen’s works into our present era.
At the age of 14, Austen had written her first novel, Love and Friendship, and then A History of England by a partial, prejudiced and ignorant Historian.
Overall, Jane Austen wrote Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Emma, and Mansfield Park among others. Three of which she wrote in her early twenties. Gosh! I’m in my early twenties, and I’m just trying to graduate from college.
At the age of 41, Austen passed away from a kidney disease. But her memory, her works, and her notion of love, still penetrate the heart of today’s society. Jane Austen’s novels have not only touched the hearts of the older generation, or of the baby boomers, but also of the younger generation.
Films and TV shows dedicated to the remaking of Austen’s novels, have brought her back to life. She now lives with the young girl who dreams of love, with the broken-hearted, with the man who has lost faith in ‘forever’, with the unrequited lovers, and with those who just need a laugh.
I have seen multiple versions and types of films and TV shows dedicated to Jane Austen. The Jane Austen Book Club, for instance, was a film about four women and one man in search of love and happiness. They started a book club and decided to read one Austen novel every month. The lives of these film characters were chaotic, complex, and confusing. But in the end, all they had to do was ask, “What would Jane do?”
Follow me on my journey as I adventure on watching as many movies and TV shows that are related to Jane Austen’s novels.
The first movie I have started is Pride and Prejudice 1995 (TV mini-series) and 2005 (film). 10 years separate these two versions. Comment on which one is your favorite.
I have to confess that from watching both versions, my favorite has to lie with 2005 directed by Joe Wright, starring Keira Knightley and Matthey Macfadyen. It may have to do with the 2005 musical soundtrack performed by pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet. I especially love the scene when Elizabeth “Lizzy” Bennett is overlooking the cliff. The music is so powerful that it climbs to awe-inspiring.
The 1995 mini-series starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle was a beautiful version of Austen’s novel, but it lacked the essence of passion and intimacy. The kiss at the end of the series left me feeling “that’s it!” After all those hours of watching, one small kiss at the end. Not to mention, the kiss took place in a carriage where it’s bumpy and leaving a huge crowd. I don’t know about you, but if a man fought for my love as ardently as Mr. Darcy did for Elizabeth, I would not want to share our first kiss in front of a crowd, especially not one that included my family.
Furthermore, Joe Wright’s version of Pride and Prejudice was like watching poetry in motion. The film set the scene for love and passion, not for the polite society the characters lived in. For example, the moment in the rain between Darcy and Elizabeth was poetic, graceful, musical, dramatic, and elegant. This was evident in their “almost kiss”.
Fans, including myself, cannot seem to get enough of Jane Austen.
But wait! There is still many more series and films to cover. Join me as I take my next challenge into Lost in Austen. Meet Amanda Price as she screws up everything we came to love about Elizabeth ad Darcy.
Jane Austen TV shows and Films: http://www.janeausten.org/jane-austen-movies.asp.
See the reviews: http://www.metacritic.com/movie/pride-prejudice
Which Austen Character are you? Take the Quiz: http://quizfarm.com/quizzes/jane-austen/Shellsabells/which-jane-austen-character-are-you-for-females-long-quiz/
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