My Thoughts on Emma

I mentioned in an earlier post that I had watched the 2009 version of Emma, which I loved.

So I thought that I should go and watch the 1996 version with Gwyneth Paltrow, since it was available to me via Netflix, but mostly because I am a hopeless romantic and needed my romance fix.

So I went and watched it...

You would have thought me a movie critic! I had a piece of paper in front of me and I was writing notes about what I liked and how they compared with the other version.

And these are my findings (please note that these are of my own opinion) :

SPOILERS!!!! Do not go further if you have not seen the two versions of Emma and wish to do so at some time in your life.

 

In regards to characters, I liked the 2009 version better. I loved the costumes and the hairstyles more. There was nothing wrong with the 1996 version, but Paltrow did not seem to have enough hair on her head at times.

                 

 

Overall, the casting was great and they each had great actors!

 

What I did like was the difference in certain scenes. But my favorite scene was the dance!

 

In many of the period dramas that I have seen, it is usually at a dance were we see a character realize that they love the other person, are interested in the other person, or allow the viewer to realize that maybe it is those two characters that will end up together. I liked the 1996 version, but not for its dance. I liked the conversation between Emma and Mr. Knightley. She said that if he would ask her to dance then she would and it would be okay, since they were not brother and sister, and Mr. Knightley replies after she has left that "Indeed we are not." This gives you the notion that he likes her. The 2009 version is the version I liked more. The talk before was nice because Emma says, "Your secret is out.", and Mr. Knightley has a deer in the headlights look. Sweet! But I loved the dance! It was beautiful!

Deer in the headlights! Of course, until she says that his secret about being an excellent dancer is out. Oh that...

 

 

The dance was beautiful and I could keep on watching it. Plus, I loved how after Emma confronts Mr. Knightley about marrying Jane Fairfax and he has returned to his house he remembers the dance, it is that moment that the viewer realizes that he likes her. So they both have their sweet moments.

 

So all in all, I have realized that everyone else can have Mr. Darcy, I want Mr. Knightley! Someone who will continue to stand by me even after I make a mistake and will correct me if needed, but most importantly, he will be my friend.