Sense and Sensibility --Masterpiece Theatre

Thursday, I finally watched the new Sense and Sensibility. It had been so long since the last new movies that I almost forgot it was coming on. I was excited to see it, but a little skeptical, too. The old S&S with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet is one of my favorite movies. It would be very hard to improve on. Still, I had heard a lot of good reviews, most saying this version was even better than the Emma/Kate version, so I couldn't wait to see if it really was.



The first fifteen minutes of the film felt like watching the exact same movie, only with different faces and voices -- and another unnecessary scene at the very beginning before the credits. The dialogue was the same almost word for word. I know they were based on the same book, but they should have changed it around a little. I like Mrs. Dashwood very much and Elinor, also. No one, however, will ever be Marianne for me but Kate Winslet.

Anyway, there were a lot of things that I really liked. I liked the new Colonel Brandon so much! I also liked Edward Ferrars. I was used to Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman in those roles, but never particularly liked either one of them. I didn't like the new Willoughby at all. He didn't strike me as anything like the romantic hero Willoughby is supposed to appear to be. In this version, you can't imagine why Marianne would prefer him to Colonol Brandon except that he's a little younger.



I think they have a good beginning for the movie. I missed the little scenes that show Elinor is still thinking of Edward and Willoughby's departure wasn't as dramatic. I'm looking forward to the second part next week.