| Emma |  | Actors: Romola Garai, Michael Gambon, Jonny Lee Miller, Jodhi May, Robert Bathurst
Studio: Warner
Category: DVD
List Price: CDN$ 43.98
Buy New: CDN$ 34.99
as of 9/3/2010 03:12 CDT details
You Save: CDN$ 8.99 (20%)
New (7) from CDN$ 34.99
Seller: Amazon.ca
Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 246
Format: Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English (Unknown)
Rating: Unrated
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Region: 1
Discs: 2
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 240 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.8
MPN: 883929096596
UPC: 883929096596
EAN: 0883929096596
ASIN: B002XTBE6K
Release Date: February 9, 2010
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.ca
Although Jane Austen's Emma has been adapted for the screen many times before, including for an American version starring Gwyneth Paltrow, this four-part miniseries is the version to begin with. The story of Miss Woodhouse, a matchmaker and meddler whose wit and misdirection need to be carefully acted to match the novel's complex character, is perfectly expressed through Romola Garai's portrayal. Throughout the retelling of this comedic romantic drama, Garai not only conveys Emma's strong-willed sensibility but also manages to update Emma for modern audiences without relinquishing the traditional manners and tastes that Austen fans love in her 1815 historical tale. Each episode, here, opens with a seasonal shot of Hartfield, the estate Emma rules while caring for her loyal and kind but protective father (Michael Gambon). Having lost her mother early, Emma feels a bond with two other unfortunate children in Highbury, Frank Churchill (Rupert Evans) and Jane Fairfax (Laura Pyper), whom Emma befriends as they return home from boarding schools abroad. The dramas that ensue revolve around Emma's attempts to pair lovers, with varied degrees of success. Episode One establishes Emma's curious desire to marry everyone off except herself. John Knightley (Johnny Lee Miller), Emma's childhood friend, is constantly by her side, coaching, supporting, and chiding her as she matures into an intelligent, regal young lady. Miller's ability to portray Knightley as the respectable, patient man he is throughout the series also lends this Emma incredible strength. In Episode Two, after Emma's beloved governess, Anne Taylor (Jodhi May), moves out to marry, Emma bonds with new girlfriend Harriet Smith (Louise Dylan), and from here we begin to see some of Emma's plans backfiring. Part of this series' genius is in how it manages, in keeping with Austen's book, to express deeper love developing between Emma and her true mate while Highbury's daily gossip continues. Though in Episodes Three and Four one weathers some minor emotional upheaval with aging parents, losses of wealth, and illnesses, this story is not tragic and most side plots point toward Emma's final love realization, which does not arrive until the last 20 minutes of the last episode. Settings and costumes enhance the story greatly, and views of the village farmers' market contrast with lavish balls and dinner parties hosted by the Woodhouse family and others to underscore Austen's original emphasis on capturing the preoccupations of upper-class British society in her day. Some scenes, as in Episode One when Knightley and Emma squabble for much too long over whom Harriet should marry, drag on, allowing one to marvel at how much free time these people had to worry about other business besides their own. Still, the romance in Emma is quite powerful and humor throughout makes this series ultimately enchanting. --Trinie Dalton
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 16
 A Stunning Movie August 29, 2010
Patricia A. Mclellan (Norman, OK, US)
I have watched this movie at least 5 times! It is truly stunning with a marvelous cast.
Wonderful mini-series! August 14, 2010
Barbara Purdy (Canada)
I bought this for my daughter and we watched it together. We both enjoyed it very much. The acting is quite good and the plot is very interesting.
 If you like Ditzy Blondes ... August 7, 2010
unichild
I HATED this version of Emma. Only the Gwenyth Paltrow version was worse. I cannot believe and do not believe that a genius like Jane Austen would have a ditzy blonde as a heroine. I cannot comment on the rest of the film, as this one aspect ruined it for me.
The version with Kate Beninsale was brilliant, the characters were very true to what I expected. Each of the ridiculous characters were portrayed perfectly and Mr. Knightley was the picture of a gentleman.
Excellent July 4, 2010
Renee Chandler (Canada)
This is my favorite version of Emma thus far. Well acted, well covered, well done. Your heart goes out to the aged father instead of feeling him a cranky old nuisance. Emma is likeable while at the same time deserving a good telling off. I had not seen Romola Garai before and found her portrayal of Emma to be best suited to the role as I have seen yet. I sentimentally loved the sweet ending.
Very badly done, Emma! May 16, 2010
E. A Solinas (MD USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've seen the various adaptations of Jane Austen's "Emma," but no movie (or actress) really seemed to capture the lighthearted brightness, romance and sweetness of that book. Fortunately, such is not the case with the BBC's latest adaptation -- it's a sunlit, enchanting little story that dances along at a leisurely pace, and has a brilliant cast headed by the astonishingly good Romola Garai.
After matchmaking her sister and her governess Miss Taylor (Jodhi May), Emma Woodhouse (Garai) fancies herself an expert on human nature, and on "nudging" couples into matrimony. The acerbic Mr. Knightley (Jonny Lee Miller) isn't impressed.
And after Miss Taylor becomes Mrs. Weston, Emma ends up becoming best buddies with Harriet, (Louise Dylan) a sweet (if not very bright) young woman who is the illegimate daughter of "somebody." Emma becomes determined to pair Harriet with someone deserving of her, and focuses her efforts on matching Harriet to the rather smarmy but charming Mr. Elton. When Emma's latest matchmaking attempt falls apart, she vows not to mess with people's lives again -- but she can't help but be interested by Harriet's potential suitors.
At around the same time, two people that Emma has heard of her entire life have arrived -- the charming Frank Churchill (Rupert Evans), and the reserved and "perfect" Miss Jane Fairfax (Laura Pyper). Emma begins a flirtatious friendship with Frank, but for some reason is unable to get close to Miss Fairfax -- and ends up alienating her further on a disastrous day out. And as she navigates the secrets and rumors of other people's romantic lives, she begins to realize who she has been in love with all along.
Out of all Jane Austen's books, "Emma" is the frothiest and lightest, and this adaptation reflects that well -- it's bright and sunny most of the time, full of "fairyland" balls, lush green fields and forests, and the a quaint little village. There's some moments of seriousness (such as the somber, rainy examination of the similarities between Jane, Emma and Frank), but nothing that keeps Emma Woodhouse's sunny charmed life from proceeding as usual.
Fortunately, the story also explores Emma's maturation over the course of a year or two, and the writers also expand on the feelings and lives of Frank, Jane and Mr. Woodhouse. Ir's laced with plenty of clever dialogue ("That man is so full of himself, I'm surprised he can stay on his horse!"), gently barbed humor and beautifully orchestrated moments of subtle romance, such as Emma and Knightley's dance together or Emma's simple declaration of "I began to examine my own heart, and there YOU were."
And Romola Garai makes the perfect Emma: young, bright, well-meaning and assured of her own knowledge of the human heart, but also naive and a little snobbish. She flits around like a clumsy butterfly, and Garai makes her lovable and endearing even when she screws up. Jonny Lee Miller is similarly brilliant as the restrained, stern Mr. Knightley with his sharp wit and unconventional habits (such as when he tells Emma why he rode a horse to a dinner party).
The supporting cast is also brilliant: Michael Gambon is of particular delight as Emma's dismal hypochondriac dad, who still tried his best for his daughters, and Jodhi May is amazing as Emma's ex-governess. Dylan was adorable as the naive Harriet, and Evans and Pyper are excellent as Frank and Jane. Tamsin Greig, Blake Ritson and Robert Bathurst all do good jobs as well -- and Christina Cole is wonderfully horrible as the snobby, domineering Mrs. Elton.
The newest adaptation of "Emma" is enchanting from beginning to end -- beautiful direction, solid writing, and an amazing cast. Definitely a must-see for Austen aficionados.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 16
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