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Sense and Sensibility Customer Reviews (76 - 78 of 85 Reviews)

English Romance At Its Finest
Jane Austen is a fine writer, but her wordiness tends to drain the life from many of her characters. Thankfully, Emma Thompson recognized the limitations of the novel and adapted her screenplay accordingly, enhancing the humor of the original story and adding more drama to make the film more enchanting. A cast was then chosen, made up of very talented thespians, including Miss Thompson herself. Add to that splendid English landscapes, excellent directing, and superb cinematography, and what emerges is a modern masterpiece.

This is not a movie for action fans; it is far too cerebral and requires a serious attention span. For those who enjoy a good love story well told, this is it. The characters are three-dimensional and their dilemmas full of human drama, bound as they are by the morals and manners of the times. Three sisters and their mother are left virtually penniless by the stricture against females inheriting property then in place in English law. The half-brother to the Dashwood women receives it all, but his selfish wife talks him out of helping his stepmother and half-sisters. It is up to the two older girls---sensible Eleanor and passionate Marianne---to seek their fortunes in romance while lacking a dowry to help them.

Eleanor finds her soulmate in shy, retiring Edward Ferrars, brother of the selfish sister-in-law. Her budding romance is shelved when his sister makes it clear that Eleanor is "unsuitable" for Edward. The sisters and their mother then go to stay in a cottage owned by a kindly relative, Sir John, and his mother-in-law, the irrepressible Mrs. Jennings. The old woman is a confirmed gossip and matchmaker, bound to see one of the two sisters hitched up to Colonel Brandon, the most eligible bachelor in the area.

Brandon first sees Marianne singing a melancholy song and is incurably smitten. She in turn loses her heart to a dashing young man named Willoughby, who is her ideal of a Victorian-era gentleman, complete with a pocket book of sonnets. Brandon, who loves her more than his own happiness, steps aside and even encourages their relationship, despite his dislike for the handsome rogue.

Things take an unexpected turn for the worse for both sisters---Willoughby drops Marianne and flees to London with no explanation and Eleanor discovers that Edward is engaged to a shallow young woman named Lucy Steele. The ensuing twists and turns in the plot make this film both agonizing and entertaining to watch. Mercifully, everyone winds up happy at the end with the right person as a spouse.

The whole film is solidly done, but it is the acting that really shines. Thompson is perfect for the role of the calmer sister, while Winslett is brilliant as the mercurial Marianne. Grant is endearing as the gentle Edward; Rickman finally gets to display his considerable ability to act the part of a very good and unselfish man. The rest of the cast keeps pace with the leads, and Hugh Laurie is indescribably funny as the sarcastic Mr. Palmer. One very beautiful aspect of this movie, along with the tendency to get drawn into the story, is the haunting and evocative musical score.

All in all, this is a wonderful example of a film genre that is so often overlooked in today's world---period romance. More movies like this one desperately need to be produced. Buy this one today because it's a gem.

Looses me in another world where "good girls finish first"
Historical detail magnificient and wonderfully adapted. Jane Austin is one of my favorite authors and Emma Thompson did a great job of writing the screenplay. There is suble humor and the actors are so well cast. Not just for women. Great for anyone who enjoys this historical period. Costuming, and sets take you back and the actors place you side by side with them as you live it, rooting for the good girls to win!

A perfect adaptation of a novel to the screen
This is the story of three sisters (two of marriageable age) and their mother who find themselves suffering a reversal of fortune. At the death of their father, their half-brother and his wife turn them out (in the most polite way, of course!) to make their own way on a paltry saving. The sisters proceed to fall in love and the story is of the trials and tribulations of those relationships, set in late 18th century England.

Sense and Sensibility is normally regarded as one of Austin's weaker efforts, but it's still highly entertaining. This film is entirely faithful to the original story, yet rearranged and adapted in a fresh and fun way. Emma Thompson does double-duty as the screenwriter and as the main character, Elinor (the sister with "sense"). The cast is impeccably chosen, from Kate Winslet as the "sensibility" sister Marianne (no one does spoiled impetuousity better) and Hugh Grant as Elinor's suitor (no one does shy romantic better) to the lesser known actors. Those who only know Alan Rickman as hammy bad-guys in Die Hard and Robin Hood will be pleasantly surprised by his range of talents.

Ang Lee lends a sure hand in direction, similar to his work in Eat Drink Man Woman. The movie looks good. Thompson's screenplay is entirely faithful to the book in spirit, while introducing a great many changes. Elinor, as played by Thompson, is obviously not 19 years old, Hugh Grant is not "plain," and several characters are dropped completely, such as Lucy Steele's sister. In addition, the dialogue is heavily rearranged and edited, scenes are added that don't appear in the book, etc. In spite of this, the film is probably the truest adaptation I have ever seen in a 2-hour studio film. The new scenes and additional dialogue are generally adapted from Austin's editorial comments, and so are "true" to the original story, even if they aren't explicitly in the novel as filmed.

The DVD has a few extras, including an audio commentary and deleted scenes. Oddly, there are only two deleted scenes included, although many more are mentioned in the commentary as being filmed and then being cut. I, for one, would like to see the duel between Col. Brandon and Willoughby, but alas, it is not included. Thus, the DVD is pretty humdrum, except for the fact that it looks very good. I think Lee's films should always be seen in widescreen, as the setting is important to many of his shots.

Therefore, this disc gets 5/5 on the strength of the film itself, with little value added from the DVD extras.

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