Persuasion

		Sense & Sensibility (Special Edition)
		Mansfield Park (1999)
		Emma (A&E, 1997)
		Emma
		Pride and Prejudice (Restored Edition)

Anne Elliot is persuaded to break off an engagement to Capt. Wentworth, but tensions are resumed when they meet again eight years later.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: PG
Release Date: 5-JUN-2007
Media Type: DVD

Movie adaptations of Jane Austen's classic novels were all the rage (relatively speaking) in the mid-1990s. Clueless updated Austen's Emma, which was more conventionally adapted in another version (Emma) starring Gwyneth Paltrow. Emma was produced yet again, this time for British television, as were a celebrated miniseries of Pride and Prejudice and this splendid film of Austen's Persuasion. Persuasion is the story of a love that survives eight years of dormancy and the frustrating obstacles of class prejudice in 19th century England. Anne (Amanda Root) is captivated when she meets the dignified naval officer Capt. Wentworth (Ciarán Hinds), but she is advised to discourage his romantic overtures because he has no fortune. They meet again eight years later, but now Capt. Wentworth has become wealthy while Anne's father is in reduced circumstances in the wake of reckless extravagance. A series of circumstances ensue which prevent Anne and Wentworth from expressing their mutual and inevitable love. The film's success depends entirely on the subtle, superb performances of Root and Hinds. The film builds slowly, occasionally leaving you wondering if anything at all is going to happen. When it does, you realize how carefully crafted a film this is, and the final result is grandly rewarding. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Review:A3143TMC0Z1KYA
Rating:
Summary: Persuasion...DVD

Video works fine - BUT arrived in busted box. Was in a padded brown mailing envelope. Please take not that for the future.

Customer Review:A2J1NZ2JOW4HUS
Rating:
Summary: Terrible adaptation

I was sorely disappointed in this adaptation of the novel. The action moved at a snail's pace. The actors, those portraying Anne and Wentworth in particular, exhibited little emotion or empathy for one another other than strange stares.
The dialogue was hard to follow because some of the actors swallowed their words. The actor portraying Anne's father is a case in point. Maybe if I were from England I would better understand him. I was tempted to use the close captioning at times.

I can't really classify this one as a romance because the actors left me cold. No romance there.I gave it one star, but it didn't even deserve that one. If this were my only experience with Jane Austen, I would be hard put to understand her reputation as a writer.She must be turning over in her grave.

Customer Review:ABF3QWEDXI90X
Rating:
Summary: The best version of Persuasion ever!

Simply put, this is the best version of Persuasion. The acting and the adaptation are head and shoulders above the recent PBS version. Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds are excellent as the thwarted lovers and the supporting cast gives the other characters real dimension. This version is not afraid to let Austen's humor and wit sparkle. This is the one you will want to watch over and over.The Smarter Home Office: 8 simple steps to increase your income, inspiration and comfort

Customer Review:A2DYONHB1VURK0
Rating:
Summary: There isn't enough balance here

I watched this movie and tried to stay open minded to the end of it. I tried to give this movie a chance to the end.. . Had I not been so distracted by trying to keep up with the constant rapid fire delivery of conversation between these characters, I would have looked at my watch several times. I think we can all just agree the notion of the story is a good idea, but this is a terrible way to get the notion.
1 the acting was unnatural and sometimes uncomfortably forced
2 the two leads had no chemistry at all.
3 the female lead was unfocused and unconvincing
4 its written down to the inth degree. I'm concerned for the writers wrists
5 There should be no need for me to mention the camera and sound issues, but I will to spare others.
Here's the scene for your evening.. while you are trying to follow all of this over chattered dialogue between characters under a second hand watch.. Director? weird things start happening out of no where. I'm asking myself at times throughout the movie `did the cameraman just trip?", "did this person just discover the zoom feature on the camera?" "oh yes thank you for turning on that actors mic after he had started speaking in the scene." "please don't show those two kissing again..."
6 the only thing that needed to be said for all of us to get the notion of this story is -paraphrasing here- I've built my whole life towards you. I've always loved you. ..... This declaration of his love for her despite her rejection years earlier.
It's a beautiful story but this movie isn't saved by that. It was poorly done. I think the brain power and resources involved in chopping this thing together might have been better used elsewhere?

Customer Review:A1BIG58SCVVN76
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful adaptation

I have seen both of the mainstream versions of Persuasion and while this version's male lead is less attractive than the other, the actress who plays Anne is marvelous. She perfectly exemplifies the transition that Anne undergoes through the course of the book. This movie is a very faithful adaptation of the novel, which makes it more worth purchasing than the alternative version.