The conclusion of the Sense and Sensibility Comparison by Miss Elizabeth Bennet from Elegance of Fashion and Melody from Regency Delight ~ Jane Austen, etc.
Scenery
Scenery
Miss Bennet: Georgous scenery! Both the outdoor and indoor scenes were wonderful to look at. There were a lot of colors used and everything looked great!
Melody: I like scenery, but I don’t notice it as much as other people do. It was very pretty, and there were big hills to climb, slip on, and sprain one’s ankle so some dashing fellow can carry you back… Oh yes, the cottage. I liked the cottage.
2008 Scenery
Melody: I really didn’t notice much about the scenery except that Barton Cottage is right next to a cliff with an ocean. And the house that was Barton Park was the same as Donwell Abbey in Emma from 2009.
Miss Bennet: The scenery was still nice and when there was nice weather the colors were really nice, but some of the time, there were really dreary colors. I could understand why they would do that if Sense and Sensibility had a very serious tone to it, but it doesn't. Granted, Sense and Sensibility is a more serious book than Pride and Prejudice and Emma (both of which I loved), but I wouldn't say that it had the same tone as a book such as Wuthering Heights (which I didn't care for). It would have helped illustrate the tone of the book more if less drearly colors were used.
Overall
Miss Bennet: 1995, definately. The scenery and sets really captured the tone that was present in the book.
Melody: I think I like 1995’s scenery better. I liked all the houses better, too.
1995 Costumes
Miss Bennet: Pretty much typical Regency era fashions are used in this Sense and Sensibility. From the looks of it, it looks like early Regeny Fashions are used: the pelisse/robe that Elinor and Marianne wear often (particularly during the picnic scene) were popular around 1795, which would be the beginning of Regency fashion (the Regency Era didn't really start until 1811, but what is known as Regency Fashion started in 1795). Although, in one scene, you can see that Marianne is wearing drawers, which would date the movie to at least 1806.
1995
Miss Bennet: Okay, a lot was taken out of the movie that was in the book. Characters such as Anne Steele and the Middleton children were excluded entirely; Lady Middleton was deceased, and Mrs. Ferrars was only mentioned and never seen. Some short scenes were invented to develop Edward, Margaret, and Colonel Brandon. Some scenes were also changed, such as Marianne walking five miles from Cleveland to Combe Magna in the rain, she passes out, and Colonel Brandon carries her back to Cleveland.
Costumes
Miss Bennet: Pretty much typical Regency era fashions are used in this Sense and Sensibility. From the looks of it, it looks like early Regeny Fashions are used: the pelisse/robe that Elinor and Marianne wear often (particularly during the picnic scene) were popular around 1795, which would be the beginning of Regency fashion (the Regency Era didn't really start until 1811, but what is known as Regency Fashion started in 1795). Although, in one scene, you can see that Marianne is wearing drawers, which would date the movie to at least 1806.
Melody: I liked most of the costumes on here; I wish the dinner dresses would have had a higher neckline, and I didn’t particularly like all the hats, but that’s about it.
2008 Presentation
Melody: There were a few I liked; but some of them had too low of a waistline to be the proper Regency style. It was like they were 10 or 15 years old. And then Mrs. Jennings’ dress and hair looked quite 1700s. Really, I was not satisfied with the costuming in this movie. Though most of the time, the necklines were not as low as they sometimes are on Jane Austen movies; except at the end where Marianne is wearing a very ‘low’ dress (which they had to choose for the front cover…)
Miss Bennet: A tad confusing. Some gowns are very obviously Regency (in fact, Elinor wears a robe/pelisse that looks like the same pattern from the 1995 robes/pelisses, but in dark purple). Other times, a lot of Georgian fashion is used. I could understand Georgian fashion on Mrs. Jennings and Mrs. Ferrars since they're older (although they are both rich, so you would think they could afford/want the latest fashions), but older styled clothes on Elinor and Marianne? Not that their gowns were Georgian, but for a couple of their gowns, it looked like the waist lines were really low (as opposed to Regency waist lines which were really high). I did like some of the fabrics that were used on the dresses, though.
Miss Bennet: A tad confusing. Some gowns are very obviously Regency (in fact, Elinor wears a robe/pelisse that looks like the same pattern from the 1995 robes/pelisses, but in dark purple). Other times, a lot of Georgian fashion is used. I could understand Georgian fashion on Mrs. Jennings and Mrs. Ferrars since they're older (although they are both rich, so you would think they could afford/want the latest fashions), but older styled clothes on Elinor and Marianne? Not that their gowns were Georgian, but for a couple of their gowns, it looked like the waist lines were really low (as opposed to Regency waist lines which were really high). I did like some of the fabrics that were used on the dresses, though.
Overall
Miss Bennet: The 1995 costuming was probably the best: accurate, pretty, and wonderful to look at! I did like the 2008's costumes, but it brought up a lot of questions.
Melody: I definitely like 1995 better.
Melody: I definitely like 1995 better.
Accuracy to Book
Miss Bennet: Okay, a lot was taken out of the movie that was in the book. Characters such as Anne Steele and the Middleton children were excluded entirely; Lady Middleton was deceased, and Mrs. Ferrars was only mentioned and never seen. Some short scenes were invented to develop Edward, Margaret, and Colonel Brandon. Some scenes were also changed, such as Marianne walking five miles from Cleveland to Combe Magna in the rain, she passes out, and Colonel Brandon carries her back to Cleveland.
Melody: I think that the general feel/mood of this movie is accurate to the book; most of the characters were portrayed well, but their problem was that too many characters were left out. There was no Miss Steele (Lucy’s sister), there was no Lady Middleton and children (Sir John Middleton was a widower in this movie), there was not Mrs. Farrars…and an interesting character she is, too. (Humph.) John and Fanny Dashwood had no son. Willoughby did not come talk to Elinor as he did in the book, while Marianne was recovering, to apologize – or, as close to an apology as such a selfish creature will do. But without all that, they still stayed faithful to the book and didn’t do anything strange.
2008
Melody: Much closer to the book in many respects; all the things I mentioned above were included in this version. However, there is the infamous first scene (which I always skip) to consider. Jane Austen would never approve of such a thing; and what is mentioned in the book is done so discreetly that I may not have understood it if I hadn’t seen the movie(s) first. There is, opposite to the 1995 version, a darker feeling which I did not like, and some of the characters weren’t represented quite as I think they should be.
Melody: Much closer to the book in many respects; all the things I mentioned above were included in this version. However, there is the infamous first scene (which I always skip) to consider. Jane Austen would never approve of such a thing; and what is mentioned in the book is done so discreetly that I may not have understood it if I hadn’t seen the movie(s) first. There is, opposite to the 1995 version, a darker feeling which I did not like, and some of the characters weren’t represented quite as I think they should be.
Miss Bennet: The 2008 miniseries included the characters that were left out of the 1995 version, though the Middleton children were not as crazy as they were in the book. The problem with the 2008 version was that they added a lot of scenes: Edward's wood-chopping scene, Colonel Brandon at the ball in London (and glaring at Willoughby), among others. Intrestingly enough, they nearly replicated the 1995 movie scene with Marianne walking to Combe Magna (except this time she was just walking around and not to Combe Magna). On a side note, the first scene of the miniseries is one of the added scenes and, due to content, it may be best to skip it over.
Overall
Miss Bennet: The 2008 version was more accurate to the plot line: though they did add a lot of scenes, they took out less than the 1995 movie.
Melody: Well, the 2008 version, all in all, is more accurate to the book, I suppose. I just don’t recommend watching the first scene; you won’t be missing anything, the credits don’t even come up until afterwards.
Melody: Well, the 2008 version, all in all, is more accurate to the book, I suppose. I just don’t recommend watching the first scene; you won’t be missing anything, the credits don’t even come up until afterwards.
Music
1995 Music
Miss Bennet: There are a lot of songs and a lot of lovely songs! The music can vary greatly between tones: some of the music is more happier and sweeter than some of the others, while others are more serious and sadder. All the music is very lovely! It is a little disappointing that on the CD, they don't include the songs that Kate Winslet sung (and she sung them beautifully!).
Miss Bennet: There are a lot of songs and a lot of lovely songs! The music can vary greatly between tones: some of the music is more happier and sweeter than some of the others, while others are more serious and sadder. All the music is very lovely! It is a little disappointing that on the CD, they don't include the songs that Kate Winslet sung (and she sung them beautifully!).
Melody: One of my favorite CDs is the soundtrack for this movie. It’s so lovely! I like all the songs (well, in most cases I skip the mournful songs from when Marianne is suffering/sick) and in particular (3) “My Father’s Favourite”, (5) “Devonshire”, (9) “Patience” and the dance songs (12, 13, and 14).
2008
Melody: I thought the music from this one was sort of hit and miss. I liked a few of the songs; the song Col. Brandon gave to Marianne to play on the piano (which I can play!) and the sort of slow, sentimental song (that plays when Margaret hangs seashells, if that triggers your memory, and other scenes at the cottage). Some of the other music, though, was rather irritating to me.
Melody: I thought the music from this one was sort of hit and miss. I liked a few of the songs; the song Col. Brandon gave to Marianne to play on the piano (which I can play!) and the sort of slow, sentimental song (that plays when Margaret hangs seashells, if that triggers your memory, and other scenes at the cottage). Some of the other music, though, was rather irritating to me.
Miss Bennet: A smaller set of songs. They're a good set of songs, but they're much more serious then the 1995 version. It kind of matches up to the scenery for this version.
Overall
Miss Bennet: I love the 1995 sound track the best! There are a lot of songs that can be played over and over again!
Melody: Can you guess? I much prefer the music from the 1995 movie. I thought it sounded a lot more old-fashioned, too.
Videos done by Miss Laurie from Old-Fashioned Charm
Melody: Can you guess? I much prefer the music from the 1995 movie. I thought it sounded a lot more old-fashioned, too.
Videos done by Miss Laurie from Old-Fashioned Charm
Overall
Miss Bennet: I like both versions very much, but I like each version for different reasons. The 1995 version got the tone of the novel right even though there were some differences between the book and the movie, and the 2008 version got most of the plot in the miniseries, but they added a lot of scenes, some of which were unnecessary. Taking everything into consideration, I'm still partial to the 1995 movie: even though there were things they could have included but didn't, they got the overall tone of Sense and Sensibility right.
Melody: It’s a hard decision to try and make out which one I like best. I like them both in different ways. However, I do believe I draw the most enjoyment from the 1995 Columbia Film. I like the feel (music, lighting, etc.) of it better than the other one. And is has so many delightful quotes! =)
This marks the end of our comparison. Thank you for reading! But don't take our word for it: watch these adaptations for yourself! Here are some trailers and clips!
1995 Trailer
2008 Trailer
This marks the end of our comparison. Thank you for reading! But don't take our word for it: watch these adaptations for yourself! Here are some trailers and clips!
1995 Trailer
2008 Trailer
1995 Clip (Contains Spoilers!)
2008 Clip
3 comments:
It was very enjoyable putting this together with you, Miss Bennet. =) It was fun to find out how many of our interests and opinions go in the same directions...
I've been following this comparison closely, though I haven't commented. But just wanted to tell you both that I enjoyed reading your thoughts.
For me, the 2008 S&S will always be a favorite. When you broke it down like that, I saw reasons to like one or the other, but as a whole, I prefer the '08. Emma Thompson ruined that S&S with the proposal scene between Elinor and Edward. I couldn't watch that scene, I was way to embarrassed at the way Elinor cried. lol! :-) But, that's just my thoughts.
Again, thanks for doing this, I really enjoyed it! Really cool!!
~ Katy
That was wonderful, Melody, Miss Elizabeth! Awesome job. Thank you SO much for doing these! I enjoyed them so much. :)
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