Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #350 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-06-15
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 116 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Most people didn't mind Gwyneth Paltrow's English accent in this charming, 1996 adaptation of Jane Austen's novel (which also inspired Clueless). But even if it doesn't sound quite right to you, there are plenty of authentic and wonderful Brit thespians in this film by screenwriter-turned-director Douglas McGrath (co-author of Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway), including Juliet Stevenson (Truly Madly Deeply), Alan Cumming (Buddy), Phyllida Law (Much Ado About Nothing), Ewan McGregor (the Scots star of Trainspotting), and Sophie Thompson, outstanding and finally heartbreaking as the chattering Miss Bates. Paltrow plays Austen's benign busybody, Emma Woodhouse--so busy trying to arrange the lives of others that she is sidestepping her own. McGrath brings a kind of pretty and light touch to the production, his best move the wise delegation of creative authority to the actors themselves. --Tom Keogh

Amazon.co.uk Review
Most people didn't mind Gwyneth Paltrow's English accent in this charming 1996 adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Emma. There are also plenty of authentic and wonderful Brit thespians in this film by screenwriter-turned-director Douglas McGrath (co-author of Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway), including Juliet Stevenson (Truly Madly Deeply), Phyllida Law (Much Ado About Nothing), Ewan McGregor and Sophie Thompson who offers an outstanding and finally heartbreaking turn as the chattering Miss Bates. Paltrow plays Austen's benign busybody, Emma Woodhouse--so busy trying to arrange the lives of others that she is sidestepping her own. McGrath brings a kind of pretty and light touch to the production; his best move the wise delegation of creative authority to the actors themselves.--Tom Keogh, Amazon.com

Emma Thompson scores a double bull's-eye with this marvellous adaptation of Jane Austen's novel. Not only does Thompson turn in a strong (and gently humorous) performance as Elinor Dashwood--the one with "sense"--she also wrote the witty screenplay. Austen's tale of 19th-century manners and morals provides a large cast with a feast of possibilities, notably Kate Winslet, in her pre-Titanic flowering, as Thompson's deeply romantic sister, Marianne (the one with "sensibility"). Winslet attracts the wooing of shy Alan Rickman (a nice change of pace from his bad-guy roles) and dashing Greg Wise, while Thompson must endure an incredibly roundabout courtship with Hugh Grant, here in fine and funny form. All of this is doled out with the usual eye-filling English countryside and handsome costumes, yet the film always seems to be about the careful interior lives of its characters. The director, an inspired choice, is Taiwan-born Ang Lee, who brings the same exquisite taste and discreet touch he displayed in his previous films. Thompson's script won an Oscar.--Robert Horton, Amazon.com

Special Features
1.85 Wide Screen
English
Region 2
Dolby Surround English
Dolby Surround

Customer Reviews

Enjoyable but could have been better ...
What makes this version of Emma enjoyable is the exquisite costumes, locations and colour. I love the portrayals of Miss Bates, Mr & Mrs Elton & Mrs Weston (or poor Miss Taylor). Gwyneth Paltrow makes a pleasant Emma, but although I love her as an actress, I don't think she has really identified with the character of Emma. I am not convinced of Harriet Smith or Frank Churchill either, they are just not authentic to the characters. Mr Knightley is just about passable. The main problem with this is that the story has been severely condensed and I feel alot of the important scenes in the book have been dropped, which has greatly reduced the effect of the story. The TV version starring Kate Beckinsale & Mark Strong have much stronger character portrayals and a much more faithful storyline. This version is ok for a bit of fluff but if you really want to delight in wonderful story telling of Jane Austen, I would recommend the Kate Beckinsale version.

Lovely, romantic, yet disappointing
Because of its high Amazon rating, I first purchased the ITV production of Emma with Kate Beckinsale. Although that production is laudible in many ways, I felt it was lacking in a few crucial areas, so I thought I would give the Hollywood version a try. After all, I think the Keira Knightly Pride and Prejudice is absolutely beautiful even with its variances from the book and the styles of the period .

Well, the good news is that Gwyneth Paltrow creates a wonderfully sympathetic Emma, which is no small task. Unlike Miss Beckinsale's portrayal, one really understands why a man like Mr. Knightley loves her so well. Furthermore, (unlike the ITV verstion) the scenes of Emma's distress at losing Mr. Knightley and Mr. Knightley's delclaration of love are wonderfully and romantically done. One really pities Emma in her distress and rejoices with her in her happiness.

More good news is that Ewan McGregor plays a fine Mr. Knightley. His portrayal is very genteel and amiable, and winning in its own right. I also liked Mark Strong's more outspoken portrayal in the ITV version, but I did not miss it.

I am affraid however that that is where the good news ends. I won't even bother to look up the name of the actress who played Harriet. The director did her no favors by casting her (a supposedly teen-age Harriet who looks like she's had a face lift) and protraying her as such a dumpy simpleton. Other characterisations among the smaller characters bothered me, too, but that was the worst.

In short, I own 2 Emma productions and I am happy with neither. If you must purchase an Emma, the ITV production is better for over-all artistry, and this one is better in tems of sympathy and romance. I personally am still waiting for the next production, whenever that comes, and in the meanwhile I'll re-read the book.

This movie bored me
I have to say that I expected more out of this movie. Paltrow is a great actress but not even here could see lift the movie. It was nicely filmed and had good actors... Well I don't know... maybe the storyline was thin or the fact that you couldn't feel the emotions in the people. All in all, the movie bored me.