A Plain Good Story
This is one of my favourite movies, but I find I must review it in comparison to the 1995 version, with Emma Thompson's screenplay because I've seen that at least 40 times (it's true).
Comparing it to the book, though, I find it is much truer to the story, hence the 3 hour length, and has Sir John Middleton's wife and children, and more depth to Willoughby's deceit, so you can understand it better, even if you don't agree with his actions.
As for the casting, I feel all of the characters were better in the earlier movie, with the exception of the two leading male characters, Edward Ferrars and Colonel Brandon. That's my personal preference. I find Hugh Grant to be the same bumbling, stuttering character in every movie he plays in. This movie had no big name actors, but that did not detract from the movie. It had some very interesting cinematic touches that made it very enjoyable to watch.
There was also a better relationship between the sisters, with less of an age gap between them, as in the earlier movie. The change in Marianne's character is less drastic and more believable in this version. This movie is much longer, but you don't feel it, because it is so engaging.
There are some scenes in the older movie that are far superior, though, in portraying the depth of Elinor's feelings, and the apparently devious nature of Lucy Steele when she tells Elinor of her engagement to Edward and is testing the level of Elinor's affection toward him.
The soundtrack for the first movie is better as well (yep, I have that, too).
Which one do I like better? Ask me after I've seen this one as many times as the other.
