It may be some time before we get another Austen adaptation so what is everybody's favourite? I'll start with my three.
1. Sense & Sensibility (Emma Thompson)
2. Persuasion (Amanda Root)
3. Emma (Romola Garai)
On reflection, I prefer this to both P&P's, the other Emma's and all the other recent projects, from which only Felicity Jones and Carey Mulligan in Northanger Abbey stood out in a pretty mediocre crowd.
I'll give my top 5 :
1.Emma (2009)
2.Pride and Prejudice (1995) - It was number one before watching Emma
3.Persuassion (1995)
4.Mansfield Park (1999) - I know, I know, but cannot help it.
5.Emma (1996 - Paltraw/Northam) / Sense and Sensibility (2008)
I love Keira Knightley but her Pride and Prejudice was awfull. As for Sense and Sensibility (1996) - I liked it, but somehow like the new one better. I don't even know why exactly.
Make it 5 then
4. P&P (Jennifer Ehle)
5. Northanger Abbey (Felicity Jones)
Oooh, a list! Not good with these. I'm always changing my mind.
1. P&P (Jennifer Ehle). Still my favourite, I'm afraid.
2. Emma (THIS one)
3. Persuasion (Amanda Root)
Joint 4 and 5. Sense & Sensibility - I like the Emma Thompson version and the more recent one equally.
"She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me"
In no real order because I love them all so much:
1 - P&P (1995)
2 - Persuasion (2007)
3 - Emma (2009)
4 - Sense and Sensibility (1995)
5 - Persuasion (1995)
6 - Mansfield Park (1999)
Oh that will do for now, I could go on and on because I go through different moods!
1. Pride & Prejudice 1995. Might just have something to do with that I've had this huge crush on Colin Firth since I was like 12 (I'm 19 now)
2. Emma (this one). Funny and sweet.
3. Sense & Sensibility 2008. It was beautifully made.
4. Persuasion 2007. Probably one of my most controversial choises, I'm aware. But I thought Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones were great toghether.
5. Pride & Prejudice 1980. I didn't mind the wooden and it included many of Austen's original, witty and lovely lines.
= 1 This Emma and P&P (1995)
3 S & S (Emma Thompson version)
4 Persuasion (both versions, but latest only due to Rupert Penry-Jones)
5 Mansfield Park (1999)
1. Pride & Prejudice (2005&1995) - I love them BOTH for different reasons. Don't make me choose! The newer one has the fresh, youthful vitality of the characters of the book. The miniseries IS the book.
2. Persuasion (Ciaran Hinds) - Faithful adaptation of my favorite book. The newer RPJ version might have found itself on this list if it hadn't been for all the running and that awful kiss.
3. Northanger Abbey (JJ Feilds/Felicity Jones) - My go-to movie when I have a little time on my hands; never fails to bring a smile to my face.
4. Emma (Romola Garai/JLM) - Knightley is breathed into life by JLM in such a convincing manner that it took me off guard. Not usually a fan of Romola Garai, but she IS the Emma that I read in the book. Wonderful!
5. Sense & Sensibility (2008) - Better than the EmmaT version, IMO... Especially fond of Elinor and Edward *sigh*
1. Emma (2009) - before this, I didn't really have a clear favourite
Rest in no particular order:
Sense & Sensibility (2008)
Emma (1996 film)
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Northanger Abbey (2007)
"I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul."
Ok, here are mine
1. Mansfield Park 1983 and only 1983 - I know its not to everyones' taste but I ADORE this version and cannot stand the other versions, particularly the 1999 version. Interestingly I saw the other two versions first and am only just now reading the book. The 1983 version inspired me to read it. (After about the fifth viewing).
2. Sense and Sensibility - both the 1995 version and the newer version. Each has its strengths and weaknesses and if the newer version had the first minute chopped off, I think I would lean closer to that version. Although ask me in a week and I may prefer the 1995. I am getting the 1971 version for Christmas and am longing to see that version's Mrs Jennings.
3. Pride and Prejudice 1995 version.
4. Emma - I have just seen this version and cannot decide whether I like it as much as the Kate B. version. Little things in this version annoy me, such as when Frank put his head on Emma's lap in the picnic - I thought this was too much. I think I like the Kate B version best, followed by this version. Not that keen on the GP version due to the lack of time given to the Frank Churchill/Jane Fairfax story.
5. Persuasion - I enjoyed the Amanda Root version. Have only just recently seen it and have only watched it once so have not yet really formed an opinion on it. (I tend to watch things a few times).
6. Northanger Abby - I wasn't overly impressed with the newest version due to the scene with Isabella and Tilney. It spoilt it for me. (Did like seeing Mansfield Park actress Selvestra as Mrs Allen though). The 1986 version wasn't too bad
1. Persuasion - 95 - for me, the best Austen adaption hands down
2. P & P - 95
3 & 4 Sense and Sensibility - I love both versions
5. P & P - '80
least favorite - Persuasion - 2007 - I can barely manage to watch this one
I've liked many of the Jane Austen adaptations, so I'll say which adaptation I like the best of each of her books:
1) Emma (this one; the Paltrow and Beckinsale versions still were good though)
2) Sense and Sensibility (Emma Thompson adaptation; though I did like the new one).
3) Mansfield Park (1999); I don't care if it doesn't quite follow the book. That movie is awesome and the 2007 adaptation was horrid in my opinion.
4) Northanger Abbey: the new one
5) Persuasion: (tie with the 1995 version and the new one. The 95 version is a better film, but I enjoy the casting more in the new one. I just wish the director hadn't made the film so modern with the frantic camera work, and the uncomfortable looks into the camera.
6) Pride and Prejudice (again, another tie; I love both the Ehle/Firth and the Knightley/Macfadyen adaptations for different reasons.
Emma: 2009 version! i have not read the book but i love how this emma is sort of like alicia silverstone in clueless! i like the paltrow version, but this one is better
Sense and Sensibility: i have only seen the emma thompson version and i did not like it.
Mansfield Park: 1999, i have seen parts of the newer one, but it does not interest me.
Persuasion: the newer version, the main guy actor is what i love about it!
nothanger abbey: i love the newer version!!
pride and prejudice: the keira knightley version or bride and prejudice!!
BALEHEAD SINCE 2005
So that's what they call a family...
1) Pride and Prejudice (BBC 1995) The best version of it. It includes all the letter writings scenes which really add to the story. Plus all of the cast arte great in it!!!
2) Sense and Sensibility(1995) Emma Thompson version was superb. A good cast as well, and well directed by Ang Lee.
3) Emma (1996 ITV)With Kate Beckinsale and Olivia Williams . The best version I've ever seen of it. The right length and captures the characters personalities well.
4) Persuasion (1995 BBC) Amanda Root. The best version of it.
5 Northanger Abbey (1986 BBC) Peter Firth. A difficult book to adapt this one, this is the best version of it.
I think Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park could possibly have better adaptations of them. Emma, P & P, and S & S have near enough perfect adaptations of them(particularly the 1995 version of P & P).
oh gosh this was hard. I just realize making the list that they really need to come out with a good Mansfield Park. I like the 1999 version, but it doesn't really fit with the book and I thought the newer one is horrid! I've seen the 70's ( or was it 80's) version and that was pretty bad too!
1.Sense and Sensibility (Emma Thompson one)
2.Pride and Prejudice 1995
3.Sense and Sensibility newer version 2007 I think?
4.Persuasion (I like both of them)
5.Emma (Paltrow one, I haven't seen the newer one since I'm waiting for PBS to air it.)
1. Pride & Prejudice (Firth/Ehle) - always will be the gold standard for me
2. Sense & Sensibility (Thompson/Winslet) - Ang Lee made a masterpiece
3. Persuasion (Root)
4. Emma (Paltrow/Northam)
5. Emma (2009) because I love Michael Gambon as Mr. Woodhouse
P95 - Root/Hinds
P&P80 - Garvie/Rintoul
S&S08 - Morahan/Stevens/Wakefield/Morrissey
P&P40 - Garson/Olivier (despise me if you dare!)
MP83 - Le Touzel/Farrell
I haven't seen this Emma in its entirety yet and so cannot comment on it. I like it better than I thought I would, but I don't love the Emma and Harriet characters. There's just something lacking for me.
P&P40 - Garson/Olivier (despise me if you dare!)I love the carriage race and how Lady Catherine turns out to have the interests of the young people at heart after all. share
Greer Garson is way too old to play Elizabeth, but she really gets the character -- she's a wonderful combination of "arch" and "sweet." Vastly better than Jennifer Ehle's smugness.
shareP&P40 - Garson/Olivier (despise me if you dare!)
It's a very charming old-school Hollywood adaptation. I was watching Pride & Prejudice (1995) a couple years ago when my mom suddenly joined me. Imagine my surprise when she said she had seen this story before and knew it very well, she had seen P&P40 many times when she was a teenager in China!