Emma.

Emma adaptations have never been wasted much, so a new film every quarter century really doesn't hurt. This version is a bit of a parody, and Miranda Hart is once again playing her solo part instead of playing a character from the novel (which has ruined more than one show for me)... but everything else more or less works in a different way than one would expect from an adaptation of an 1815 Austen novel. I'll be sure to watch the series as well. (29/06/2020)

For me personally, the new Emma. falls way behind the original. While the original protagonist managed to seem nice despite her self-centeredness and thoughtlessness, the new one just annoyed me all the time. The biggest disappointment for me, though, was the cast with the exception of Bill Nighy (who got awfully little screen time). Anya Taylor-Joy was okay, but the rest just didn’t do it for me. Probably the biggest shock was casting Mia Goth in the role of Harriet Smith. When I compare her to Toni Collette… I would also like to know why Mr. Elton kept looking like a vampire approaching his victim's artery in a way that would put Dracula to shame. It was nice to see an alternative to the 1996 film, but I doubt I’ll ever want to watch it again. (21/11/2020)

Having seen Amy Heckerling's Clueless (one of my guilty pleasures) many times before, which loosely adapts Jane Austen's “Emma”,I was somewhat familiar with the plot and had a good idea about how it would turn out. But this wasn’t bad, because in this case it is, after all, a direct adaptation. I really enjoyed the playful style of storytelling and the colorful sets and costumes. I liked the cast overall, Emma offers a multitude of different characters: the emancipated Emma, her hypochondriac father, the shy Harriet, the "Darcy-like" Knightley, the chatty Mrs Bates and the laughing priest Elton. The story flows along nicely, and even though it smacks of romance at the end, it still doesn't offend thanks to the pervasive feel-good atmosphere. A weaker four stars! P.S. Those men's collars were crazy! (22/05/2020)

I haven't seen the original film, but this version was as over-the-top as it gets. Then again, what else would you expect from a Jane Austen adaptation? She’s the queen of dramatics. I mostly watched it for Anya Taylor-Joy and Bill Nighy, and they didn't disappoint. Though, I’d prefer to see Bill in a different role. (08/08/2023)