Sense & Sensibility [Blu-ray]

One of my favorite films with a superb cast. Clever, funny, and touching in equal measure.

I love this kinda of movie. I must of waatched it 15 times since i bought itt wwoorrth evvery penny. Very good movie. I hav bought the newer version, but didn't tell the whole story. This onne starts from the beginning , the newer version makes makes you guess what is going on at the beginning it. This one doesn't make you wonder how it started. It is also some longer then the newer version and that is ok cause i get the whole story. Great movie an actors r fantastic... will not be disappointed!!

Great film

This adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic is beautifully done. The acting is superb — Hugh Grant brings charm to his role, and Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet are outstanding. The story flows well, balancing romance, humor, and heartfelt moments, and the period costumes and scenery make the setting feel real and immersive. The pacing is smooth, though some scenes are a bit long, but it never takes away from the enjoyment.

Great Cast. Great Performances. Great Story. Great Period Piece.

Great movie

I suppose it makes perfect sense that if you want to make a 19th-century English romance novel into a superb film you hire an actress almost twice the age of the main character to not only play the role but also adapt the screenplay into a book and then hire a Taiwanese director to direct the film. You might say, yes, such things happen in Hollywood, but the success of "Sense and Sensibility" is due to what transpired in England, not Southern California. Having read the novel and the original screenplay, the largest share of credit goes to Emma Thompson, who deservedly received the Oscar for Best Screenplay Adaptation. Thompson began by dramatizing every scene in the novel, which resulted in 300 hand written pages to be followed by 14 drafts as the 1811 novel was crafted into the final script. The result was a script that manages to be not only romantic and funny, but also romantic and funny in the best Austen sense of both. After watching the film again I focus on three particular points, which I think best reveal the strength of Thompson's script. First, the entire introductory sequence, which induces us to like the Dashwood sisters because we are introduced first to their step-brother and his shrewish wife (credit for this particular sequence also goes to Film Editor Tim Squyres, who recut the scene so that we get all of one side and then the other instead of alternating back and forth as in the original script). Our sympathies cannot help but be with the plight of Elinor and Marianne. Second, the use of Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 ("Let me not the marriage of true minds"), which Marianne and Willoughby share to their great mutual delight (except he gets a word wrong, in an elegant little bit of foreshadowing) and which Marianne repeats standing in the rain looking at Willoughby's new estate. Third, Austen has Elinor bolt from the room to cry outside during the happy ending but Thompson creates a wonderful moment by having her stay in the room and having the rest of her family flee. There are not too many scenes where you are crying and laughing at the same time, but Thompson certainly created one (and has the added virtue of relying on herself as an actress to nail the performance as well). All of these are marvelous examples of playing to the strength of the cinema to bring Austen's novel to the screen. The performances are first-rate, especially Kate Winslet as the passionate Marianne, Gemma Jones as Mrs. Dashwood and Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon (the look on his face when Marianne thanks him for rescuing her is so wondrously touching). Hugh Grant does find a way of slowing the delivery of his dialogue more than usual, but it does fit the overall pace of the film. The supporting cast is exactly what you come to expect from a British production with Elizabeth Spriggs stealing every scene she is in as Mrs. Jennings, Robert Hardy as Sir John Middleton, Hugh Laurie as Mr. Palmer, Oliver Ford Davies as Doctor Harris, and the enchanting young Emilie Francois as Margaret Dashwood ("They always kneel down"). On the darker side of the ledger we have Greg Wise as the less than honorable John Willoughby, and Imogene Stubbs as Lucy Steele and Harriet Walter as Fanny Dashwood vying for the main villainess role in the proceedings. No wonder Emma Thompson's performance as Elinor is almost lost in the proceedings, but she is the center around which everything resolves who has to keep it together when everybody around her is losing it (even when she first confesses her broken heart, she ends up consoling Marianne instead of the other way around). Ang Lee had already proven he could handle a tale of sisters in love when he directed "Eat Drink Man Woman." In "Sense and Sensibility" he has the script, the actors and the set design all working in his favor to create a sense of 19th century England. But there are a few moments when he uses the camera to great advantage; in particular the overhead shot of Marianne on her sick bed achieves a painting like quality and the tracking shot of Mrs. Jennings running down the street bearing the latest gossip. I first saw this film when visiting England and I was so caught up in the story that I had no idea who was going to end up with who. Actually, I was sort of rooting for Elinor to end up with Colonel Brandon since they were obviously the two finest members of their respective sexes in the proceedings. So the ending was as much of a surprise to me as it was to the Dashwoods, which is certainly something to be cherished. Obviously if you love this film it will lead you to other Austen adaptations (the film versions of "Emma" and "Persuasion" along with the BBC mini-series "Pride & Prejudice" immediately leap to mind), but hopefully it will also lead you to the original novels as well. Finally, Thompson published "The Sense and Sensibility: Screenplay & Diaries," which I would highly recommend after you have done both the film and the novel.

Some people have comfort food to help them through dull, drizzly evenings. I have comfort films, and Ang Lee's, (and Emma Thompson's), "Sense And Sensibility" is one of my favorites. I have watched this movie several times since I first saw it, and it never fails to lift my spirits. This glorious romance of mores and manners, set during England's Regency Period, is very faithful to Jane Austen's brilliant novel. The film vividly brings the novel, with all its characters, to life. The plot focuses on two of the three Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, and their extremely different temperaments. Emma Thompson wrote this wonderful screenplay and earned an Academy Award for her efforts. She added pizzazz to the film, with an extra dash of drama, some humor, splendid panoramic views and a fabulous ball scene. A lovely, young Kate Winslet plays Marianne Dashwood to perfection. Marianne is a passionate young woman, with a definite inclination toward the humanities: art, music and literature. Her heart rules her head, more often than not, and she has a very spontaneous nature. Emma Thompson gives a strong performance as Elinor Dashwood, the older of the two sisters. She has a more practical, sensible temperament. While Elinor appreciates the music and literature that her sibling so passionately loves, she definitely thinks things through before making decisions, or taking action, and keeps her personal feelings to herself. She feels tremendous responsibility for her family's well-being. Ms. Thompson gives Elinor a wicked, dry sense of humor, and her character adds much wit to the dialogue. Marianne believes that Elinor, whom she dearly loves, is too cold, and restrained - more concerned with propriety than with feelings. Elinor, on the other hand, is concerned about Marianne's open and guileless behavior. She fears her sister will be hurt by indulging in her strong emotions, and that conventional society will condemn her for this attribute. The movie opens dramatically, with Mr. Dashwood, the girls' father, on his deathbed, begging his son and heir, (by his first marriage), to please take care of his wife and three daughters after he dies. The spineless John Dashwood sincerely promises his father to do so, and then is persuaded not to by his greedy wife, Fanny, in a wonderful satire-filled scene. Before Elinor, Marianne, their adorable younger sister Margaret, and their mother are forced to leave their home, the Norwood estate, they meet Fanny's brother, the shy and kind Edward Ferrars, (Hugh Grant). Over a period of a few weeks, while the women are packing their belongings, Elinor and Edward grow obviously fond of each other. Their attachment is interrupted by Fanny, who senses the bond forming between her sister-in-law and her brother, and urges the four Dashwood women to leave immediately for their new home. Upon arriving at their new residence, Barton Cottage, near the estate of Mrs. Dashwood's cousin John, the women meet their relatives and some new neighbors. Colonel Brandon, played by the charismatic Alan Rickman, is included in the welcome party. Brandon is drawn at once to the beautiful, musical Marianne, who does not reciprocate his affection. Instead she falls madly in love with the dashing Willoughby, and Greg Wise is extremely dashing in his persuasive performance as the reckless, feckless young suitor. The family settles in and explores their surroundings. Elinor waits in vain for Edward to visit her at Barton Cottage. Willoughby's expected marriage proposal to Marianne is unexpectedly interrupted. Two unhappy sisters travel to London for the season, hoping to settle their romantic affairs, and instead, find their dreams thwarted. I won't give the story away, but it is a tale told wonderfully well, dramatized to perfection by extraordinary actors, and directed by the incomparable Ang Lee. Too many superlatives? You won't think so after you have seen "Sense And Sensibility."

Una versió molt bona de la novel·la de Jane Austen. M'ha sorprès la capacitat de l'actriu Emma Thompson com a guionista. No és debades que va guanyar l'oscar al millor guió adaptat. La direcció d'Ang Lee i les actuacions fan de Sentit i sensibilitat un film preciós, intel·ligent i entranyable.

Anfang des 19 Jhdt. stirbt Mr. Dashwood. Sein Landhaus sowie das dazugehörige Vermögen gehen, wie zur damaligen Zeit üblich, an seinen Sohn. Seine Witwe und seine drei Töchter erben nur ein kleines Einkommen. So ist es für die älteren Dashwood Schwestern notwendig möglichst schnell einen Ehemann zu finden, die einzige Option zur Armut die Frauen aus dieser Gesellschaftsschicht damals blieb! Elinor sagt dazu treffend im Film zu Mr Farras:"....sie werden ihr Auskommen einmal erben, wir können unseres nicht einmal Verdienen! Elenor verliebt sich in ihren Schwager Edward Farras, der wie man leicht erkennen kann, sich auch zu ihr stark hingezogen fühlt. Seine boshafte Schwester lässt, gegenüber Elinors Mutter jedoch sofort durchblicken das er enterbt werden würde wenn er eine arme Kirchenmaus ohne Geld und Verbindungen heiraten würde. Edward reist mit dem Versprechen ab die Dashwood Damen in ihrem neuen zu Hause, einem Cottage in Devonshire das einem Cousin Mrs Dashwoods, Sir John, gehört bald zu besuchen. Sir John und seine Schwiegermutter Mrs. Jennings versuchen nun die beiden Dashwoodschwestern zu verkuppeln. Col. Brandon und Mr. Willoughby werben um Marianne's Gunst und Elinor die immer noch auf Edward hofft erfährt unter dem Siegel der Verschwiegenheit, das dieser bereits mit Miss Steel verlobt ist. Was weiter passiert ansehen!!!! Es gibt nicht oft Filme die so gut gemacht sind wie Sinn und Sinnlichkeit vom Ambiente, dem Drehbuch und dem Zusammenspiel und der Qualität der Schauspieler! Die Verfilmung des Buches von Jane Austin ist wirklich gelungen auch wenn der Film Naturgemäß von der Handlung des Buches etwas abweicht. So sind im Film die Dashwoods am Beginn etwas reicher dargestellt. Die Frau von Sir John lebt im Buch noch, etc,etc. Das tut jedoch dem Film keinen Abbruch und es ist kein Wunder das dieser Film für 7 Oscars nominiert war und Emma Thompson für das Drehbuch den Oscar erhielt! Besonders zu Emfpehlen sind auch die Extras. Mindestens einmal sollten man sich den Audiokommentar von Emma Thompson und der Produzentin Lindsey Doran anhören, der sehr sehr lustig aber auch informativ ist! Eindeutige Kaufemfpehlung!

J'adore le film. L'univers de Jane Austen y est superbement représenté. Et les acteurs sont tous excellents. Je l'avais déjà en DVD et j'ai voulu l'avoir en blu-ray. La qualité est au rendez-vous car les images ont été bien retravaillées, même si bien sûr on n'atteindra jamais la qualité d'un blu-ray actuel, surtout au niveau des fonds. Mais franchement ça vaut le coup !

Ang Lee's superb movie based on an equally marvelous screenplay by Emma Thompson exudes the sort of timeless propriety, decorum, good sense...and yes, sensibility that Jane Austen herself might have desired from a movie - if only movies had been around in Austen's time. The cast is extraordinary and Patrick Doyle's sublime score elevates the whole affair to an exemplar of the costume drama/comedy. This disc looks fairly good, albeit there are some crushed blacks in the darker scenes. Otherwise, colors are rich, fine detail pleasing and everything looks as it should in 1080p. Enjoy.

Acheté ce DVD parce que Kate Winnslet y interprète Marianne, c’est là l‘erreur. Ébé quand on a vu d’abord la série BBC avec Hattie Morahan et Charity Wakefield, dans les principaux rôles, on trouve ce film poussif voire fatiguant, on attend la fin avec impatience. Les acteurs ont le double de l’âge des personnages, une Elinor de 40 ans alors que dans le récit de Jane Austen elle en a à peine 20 ou presque, Charlotte Palmer primipare à 40 ans, un colonel Brandon qui, à chaque apparition, semble se relever d’une pénible sieste, une Mrs Jennings idiote au possible, le Willoughby inexistant, pas la peine de nommer les autres acteurs ils sont aussi nuls que le film l’est. Ne parlons pas des costumes qui ne vont pas du tout avec l’époque du récit. Bref choisir la série BBC que ce navet, un DVD que l’on ne visionne qu’une fois et qu’on jette. Préférer le DVD de la série de la BBC meilleur et moins cher. Combslavillais