Sense And Sensibility (DVD)

Advantages: Excellent acting, wonderful storyline
Disadvantages: Children may be unable to follow

...one of all-time favorite films, Sense and Sensibility, off the shelf and turned on my trusty VCR. This has to be at least the fifth or sixth time that I watched this film since I purchased just a little over a year ago. I always enjoy it and find it particularly appealing when I'm in a bit of a serious or comtemplative mood. Sense and Sensibility boasts and excellent cast that includes Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Kate Winslet, and Alan Rickman. ...
...Elinor. She looks and acts every bit the part with her spinster appearance and shy manner. Younger and more carefree, Marianne, is played by Kate Winslet. Winslet can be likened to a ripening pear on a tree, waiting to be picked. She loves music, poetry, and literature. The family suddenly finds themselves in financial straits after the death of the father. Through property laws, the bulk of his estate is left to his eldest son (from a previous marriage). ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent characters, script, story and cinematography
Disadvantages: Not everyone's cup of tea

~ Note: Silly me put this review in the wrong section. Have asked for it to be moved. ~ Ang Lee's enchanting big-screen version of "Sense and Sensibility" does justice to Jane Austen's novel. The novel - first published in 1811 - was gracefully adapted for the big screen by first-time screenwriter Emma Thompson, who received an Oscar for her efforts - as well as a nomination for Best Actress for her starring role as Elinor Dashwood. Released in ...
...famous faces - notably Kate Winslet, Thompson and Hugh Grant - looking significantly younger than they do today. Mrs Henry Dashwood (Gemma Jones) and her three daughters, Elinor, Marianne and Margaret are left in financially straitened circumstances when her stepson John Dashwood (James Fleet) inherits the whole of his father's estate, Norland, since the law prevents his father Henry from leaving property to John's half-sisters. However, his father ... Read review

Advantages: Beautiful scenery, wonderful screenplay, superb performance
Disadvantages: None in my view

...According to the dictionary, Sense means "an ability to perceive and be motivated by moral or ethical principles" and Sensibility means "the capacity to respond emotionally or aesthetically." The movie "Sense and sensibility" is a combination of both the aspects defined above. Elinor Dashwood played by the Oscar winner Emma Thompson portrayed the "Sense" and Marianne Dashwood (Kate Winslet) has portrayed the "Sensibility" phase in the movie. It ...
...from her first published novel, Sense and Sensibility, which was published in 1811. Jane Austen (1775-1817) was an English author who is classified as one of the best woman authors of all times. Her novels possess the true essence of contemporary English country life. I have always enjoyed her books for the irony, humour, portrayal of inner feelings, ethical values and emphasis on family values. She managed to get published four of her novels in ... Read review

Advantages: Great Drama
Disadvantages: Not enough of it

Sense and Sensibility is one of those movies that you always hear people talking about and until you watch it you don't know what all the fuss is about. This adaption of Jane Austin's novel is written for the screen by Emma Thompson and nicely directed by Ang Lee. Emma Thompson also stars in the movie as Eliner Dashwood - Kate Winslet plays Marrianne Dashwood and the movie has an impressive cast including Hugh Grant, Emile Francois, Alan Rickman ...
...Marrienne who on their father's death are cruely denied any inheritence to his fortune. They have to leave the estate but soon find some hope when they are offered a home by a relative on a Devonshire Estate. A romance begins when Marrienne meets John Willoughby (Greg Wise) and Colenel Brandon (Alan Rickman). Eliner meets Edward (Hugh Grant) and starts her own quirky love story. Austin's characters are all brilliantly written for the screen and ... Read review

Advantages: What extras there are complement the film well
Disadvantages: Might only appeal to a specific audience, few extra features

I can't fault the technical quality of this DVD - the menus are straightforward and easy to operate, although the one confusion I always have is whether the audio commentary option is switched on or switched off. The menus look elegant and in keeping with the marketing material used by the film, but things like this could be clearer, in my opinion. The sound and picture quality is excellent - sometimes there is a mismatch (even on TV) between the ...
...that the volume level you thought you needed is suddenly deafening, but in this case that problem doesn't apply - and in spite of the five year gap between film production and DVD, the picture never looks washed-out (as is sometimes the case). I have rated the special effects in this case as average - although I have picked up from background research that some scenes required a rain machine, because it is a period film, there is little need for ... Read review

Advantages: romantic, good story, great cast, beautiful settings, good value for money
Disadvantages: none!

...I absolutely adore this 2008 BBC adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. I am a big fan of Period Dramas and this has to be one of my favourites alongside Pride and Prejudice. If you liked Pride and Prejudice (2005) then I promise you will love this! The same romantic tension runs throughout, keeping you hooked on the story. The mini-series is in three hour long parts, and I have watched them all in one go as though it is one film. The actors are superb, particularly David Morrissey who plays 'Colonel Brandon' - he performs the role to a very high standard and is very convincing. Other members of the cast include: Dominic Cooper Charity Wakefield Hattie Morahan Mark Gatiss I much prefer this adaptation to previous ones, I feel that the quality is of a higher standard and the cast and settings work much better with the story. If you... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: great film piece
Disadvantages: quite long winded

...I have not yet had the time to fully appreciate and explore all of the features on the DVD. I have however had enough time to watch the film in all its glory. I would not normally watch this genre of film and I am surprised that the film was as good as it was as I don't really like old fashioned films. That Emma Thompson is one of the greatest actresses working is no secret. But who would have expected such a miracle from her in the screenwriting department? Some of the most dramatic moments in 'Sense and Sensibility' come from her pen, not Jane Austen's, difficult as that may be to believe. For instance, the scene in which Col. Brandon (Alan Rickman) carries in the ill Marianne Dashwood (Kate Winslet), echoing the earlier scene where Willoughby (Greg Wise) brought the injured young woman home was Thompson's doing. Marianne's illness... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful