Jane Eyre (2011)

Compared to the dozen adaptations I've seen, this went slow, mainly because I was watching it online and it kept crapping out on me. Had to keep waiting for it to reload. Anyways, several scenes were taken out, but didn't ruin it for me.

Choice of Jane Eyre was excellent. Rochester was at his best at the scene after being woken up from the fire in his bedroom. Choice for St. John was not. Been a fan of Jamie Bell since his debut film. Instead of being uneasy about St. John, I got hot and bothered, especially in a fit of jealously, he started shouting at Jane. Rawr. In this case, I would have rather picked St. John.

Overall. 7.

The Golden Bowl (2000)

Stunning, but I didn't like The Golden Bowl. There's bias of course. I don't care for Henry James, but the film does portray what I dislike about Henry James as a writer. James doesn't know what short an sweet means.

Kate Beckinsale has an amazing turn-of-the-century American accent. Yet, if she was an American aristocrat, her character, Maggie, would more likely have had a Mid-Atlantic accent. I'm getting good at this.

Curse of the Golden Flower

Empress is being slowly poisoned by the Emperor. Empress is having an affair with her step-son, the Crown Prince.  Crown Prince is having an affair with the daughter of the doctor who creates and gives the Empress her poison. Empress is plotting something and wants her son to be emperor. Doctor's wife has a dark past which drives her daughter insane. Then the youngest prince is totally ignored. Talk about dysfunction junction.

Did nothing for me. I mean, it wasn't bad, but I did fast forward all the long silences. If I had the choice, probably would have watched something else. I am a fan of Gong Li. There are billions of Chinese, but she seems to be in all the big production Chinese films. Lucky her. It was psychedelic and over the top.

Film did remind me of cultural differences. I'm use to American movies, where big production films always, and I mean always, ends with a big fat happy ending. It's interesting. Maybe it's a good thing to be shown the reality of life. I mean, Harry Potter has got someone dying in every later books.

Curse of the Golden Flower They should renamed it. More like Curse of the Golden Cleavage. Then again, it isn't the only Chinese film I've seen that got cleavage.

Part I liked - clearly the ignored youngest prince who goes bat-crazy violent. To think, he played the so innocent young boy for most of the film.

The Rag Nymph (1997)

(photo:GenevieveValentine)

Millie's prostitute mother gets taken in by an evil pimp, resulting in mother committing suicide. She's left in the care of a woman who sells rags for a living named Aggie. Also living with Aggie is a teenage hunchback Ben. Even as a little girl, evil pimp can see potential in Millie, and so the ever lurking danger of getting kidnapped leads Aggie to sends her away to be educated. After her schooling, she has a stint being a governess. She gets invited to a servant's party, where she meets a young gentlemen, Bern, played by the man famous for playing Mr. Bingley.

I didn't like this. I cheated and watched the last four minutes or so and didn't like the ending, and decided not to watch the rest. Millie ends up with Ben, which is disgusting. They grew up together. They're practically like brothers and sisters. I found this even more disturbing than the kissing cousins of Mansfield Park, even though the cousins where blood-related. I was more repulsed about Ben's mullet in the second half of the story than the fact he was a hunchback.

I read more about the parts I no longer wanted to watch, and understood why Millie didn't end up with Mr. Bingley, but omfg it's Mr. Bingley. I blame the 1995 Pride & Prejudice  for ruining my cinematic enjoyment.  Considering the harsh gender inequality and general shithole existence of that time, I would have rather been a gentleman's mistress than be his wife. Dignity is overrated.

Favorite part is Aggie screaming after jealous Ben, "No amount of education will straighten that crooked back!" I like it, because that's something my mother would say ... with a straight face.

The Cazalets - Part I (2001)

(photo:PBS)

A large British clan from the upper-class comes to live in their ancestral home during WWII. I've seen the estate in the film used in another show The Black Books. My family doesn't have an ancestral home in the country. I've heard my grandfather sold it. We sort of had one in the city, but a gambling aunt sold it for chum change.

Liked it enough, I might watch the second episode. Liked the character of Clary Cazalets. I wish I was her when I was younger. Zoe Cazalet seems the most complex and developed character and her story was the most engaging. Some of the stories sicken me, but hey, that's life.  I got loads of family that sickens me.

The Secret Diary of Miss Anne Lister (2010)

(photo:BBC)

Her predatory manner not really shone in its full light when it came to her interest with Miss Walker. If made her a more likable character.

Isabella's character largely made up.

Could had more impact by showing the truth, like the documentary was better at portraying Lister as way ahead of her time, or maybe showing Lister and Walker having their private ceremony in an actual church was too much even in today's standards.

Should have shown how their social rank made it impossible for them to be censured.

The Shooting Party 1985

Aristocrats gather at the country estate of Sir Randolph Nettleby for leisure and shooting.

It stars James Mason in one of his last films. He's suppose to be famous. Don't know much about him. It also stars this women, Judi Bowker, who I remember from Clash of the Titans. I first remember watching the Titans in my 7th grade English class. Bowker is striking, especially in this film, but her soft-spoken voice, as well as her character, started to annoy me.

I liked it. Also, the story centering around the shooting parties is very Gosford Park. I read other facts and observation about this film, and it does have this sense of a kind of world dying out or soon to end, the end of the world, the calm before the storm. After watching this film, I thought about how it must have felt then, when everything seemed to have turned upside down. Within a few years, people one knew and cherished are dead and gone. The safety of civilization, can quickly be turned out.

The last scene when one of the beaters die, what was the significance of him praising the British Empire? Perhaps, part of the foreshadowing of its demise.

Sense & Sensiblity (1971)

I just found out, that there's a 1971 version of this Jane Austen classic. Now how to get a hold of it ...

Hannah (1980)

Middle-aged spinster, Hannah Mole, looks for a new start in life, by moving to the city. She rents out a room in a house, where an uptight bank employee also rents. The banker employee finds her too nosy and blunt. She becomes a housekeeper for a family led by a strict religious man. She begins to have a positive effect with those around her. Meanwhile, her pass threatens to ruin everything.

Liked it. I did. I'm appreciative that I live in the present day, where I can lead a "sordid" lifestyle.

Favorite part - The eldest daughter of the family she works for is a wet blanket, it's funny.

Another favorite - Scenes of Hannah's little house in the countryside, even though that bastard of a man, who was once her lover, didn't want to leave it. Why I like the house - it reminds me of my childhood. My godparents use to take me to the countryside. They liked me, because I was a girl, and they only had sons. Their house was just like Hannah's, right next to a road, no stop signs. I remember this upper ledge above me, that held these clay pots. Quite rustic Behind the house was miles of country fields. I love that memory.

Part I dislike - Hannah's new love's facial hair. Also, while I was searching for film stills for this obscure film series, I kept getting images of Hannah Montana. That bitch.

A Room With A View (2007)

Adaptation of E.M. Forster's classic. A young girl goes to Italy with her chaperon, and soon finds herself attracted to a young man from a lower class. This version changed it up, compared to the Merchant Ivory version from over twenty five years ago. It shows Lucy Honeychuch, the main character, having flashbacks of the past.

I enjoyed it, but of course, not as much as the Merchant Ivory version. The earlier version, had Helena Bonham Carter and Julian Sands, and they were so young then, and their relationship had a magnetism. Ugh, it kills me. It's going to be hard to surpass the first. In this version, Lucy's flashbacks made it rather more poignant?

The part I liked was George Emerson, the love interest, commenting on Lucy's then fiance, Cecil Vyse. My bet is on Emerson alluding to Cecil maybe being gay. Not sure, if Cecily's homosexuality is in the book. Haven't read it.

Lucy - "I love Cecil Vyse. You must know I'm engaged to him."
George - "You may be engaged to him, but you don't love him."
Lucy - "How dare you presume what my feelings are."
George - "I just do. You don't love Cecil Vyse. No one could. Not in that way, maybe he's mother does. I don't know. I'm not interested in him. I'm interested in you ..."

Emma (2009)

Adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. Emma is fond of playing matchmaker. Her next matchmaking scheme goes wrong, as the man she tries to set up, turns out fancying her. Twists and turns, and then a happy Jane Austen ending.

I'm a fan of Romola Garai, so I liked it. Mr. Knightly is played by that man, Jonny Lee Miller, who use to be married to Angelina Jolie, and was also in Trainspotting. He and Garai work well together. I've watched snippets of the 1972 Emma, and I like this one better, although I'm sure the earlier version was much truer to the novel. The character of Mr. Woodhouse, Mrs. Elton, and Ms. Bates were well played. The woman playing Mr. Bates is also in Black Books, so this is all win. She's the reason I'm waiting to see Tamara Drewe.

I've taken a liking to Mr. Martin. He's a farmer. I'd marry him on the spot, so I can start my permaculture garden without seeming to go against propriety. That's right.

Favorite scenes are of Mr. Woodhouse being the hypochonriac that he is, making sure baby Emma's body gets blanketed from the English cold, as much as possible. Also, scenes of Mr. Martin.

Northanger Abbey (1986)

The 1986 adaptation of Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. Catherine Morland, with hairstyle that would fit well for a 1980s hair band groupie, is invited to Bath, where love and mayhem ensues.

I liked it. I had stopped watching this, because the whole 1980s rock-band look felt wacky. I started on it again after taking to the 2007 version. I can't decide, which one I like better. Life is tough.  Now that I know more about the novel itself, the 1980s styling was entertaining and ties in with the Gothic feel, which colours Catherine's imagination. Any moment now, I expect Meatloaf to appear and start singing -  he'll do anything for love, anything, but he won't do that.

Best part of it was what I disliked about it before; over the top rock guitar. Also, the Tilney siblings singing. People should sing more in movies.

Northanger Abbey (2007)

2007 adaptation of Northanger Abbey written by Jane Austen. Catherine Morland sets out for Bath with her aunt, Mrs. Allen. she meets two different sets of siblings, the Thropes and the Tilneys. Both Mr. Thrope and Mr. Tilney are in pursuit of her; while her active imagination, spiked by Gothic novels she reads, runs away with her.

I liked it. I liked looking at the era costumes. Choice of Catherine Morland was excellent. She is just the type, I would imagine to play Catherine. Has that innocence aura about her.

Favorite is the choice of Mrs. Allen, who had once played Fanny Price in Mansfield Park about twenty five or so more years. She's so spacey and shallow.

Also, the writing implementation thing from the film still above; I want one of those.

Fanny Hill (2007)

(photo:Guardian)

A young girl, Fanny Hill, has to make her way in the world, after she's left an orphan. Another girl from her village leads her to London. Fanny makes her way to an employee bureau, where a madame trolls for unsuspecting new employees. Fanny is being groomed for her first client, which fetches a high price, since it will take her "maiden head," when a young gentlemen falls in love with her on first sight. They runaway, live together, she gets pregnant, then he suddenly disappears. Fanny miscarriages and becomes the mistress of an older gentlemen who had seen her before in the brothel house. The gentlemen and her have a fight, and she leaves to work for the same upper-class whore house that the girl from her village also works. There's conflict between her and the girl from her village, the older gentlemen starts trouble, and her first love is still no where in sight.

I like it for its hilarity, made even more hilarious for including the women who played Mrs. Bennet from the 1995 Pride & Prejudice as a salacious madame.

Favorite scene is probably everyone else's favorite scene from this film: the now experienced Fanny taking the virginity of a young man, or as they say, to help him complete his education.

F to P - "Hold me tight Percy."
F - "Will you give me a kiss Percy?"
P - "Is it time to climb on your back now Fanny?"
F - "I think we may do it face to face."
P - "How shall we do that?
F - "Like this. Suppose I lift my leg like this, then put my other one ... " She starts to moan.
P's father watching through a peep whole, shouts - "Come on my son!"
P shouting - "It's in! It's in!"
P's father: "Well done! Well done!"

Return to Cranford

Several stories intertwining in the small village of Cranford. More like a Christmas special. Several characters are gone, and new ones have arrived. The young doctor is gone, along with his wife, and the wife's family isn't in the story that much anymore. Again, lots of death, especially since there's no longer a damn doctor in the area. Miss Matty Jenkins's servant dies from childbirth. Lady Ludlow, played by Francesa Annis, kicks the bucket as well as her land agent or financial assistant. The land agent leaves his fortune, or most of it, to the poor young boy, Harry, who is a young man now. Harry doesn't like the new school he had been sent to and runs away. Then main new love story is between William Buxton, who is from the upper class, with a young woman, Peggy Bell, who is below his station. Mr. Buxon dislikes the match his son William has formed with Peggy. Judi Dench plays Matty, and she becomes the main character here that ties everyone together. Oh and the trains come.

I liked it. It's like watching Golden Girls, the mid-19th century version.

I like the part when someone or other, I forget, invites the Peggy and the William to a small gathering, so they can see each other, without the William's father knowing. They're drinking tea and eating cake. Some of the cake crump falls on the girls' dress and the boy goes down and rubs it off her dress. Oh how very scandalous they are.

Another favorite scene: when the older women are inside the abandoned building, that they plan on reopenning, start reminiscing about the old days when they were much younger and the building held balls. There's an old large mirror and they all see their reflections and find an old dance ticket once owned by Matty, and they reflect on how old they have gotten. How heart-breaking.

North & South (2004)

A gentlewoman, Margaret Hale, moves to the industrializing north with her family. She and Mr. Thornton, a mill plant owner have a bad first impression of each other. She spends time getting to know the lower working class in the area, and there's sick people all over the place, because of all the pollution. Mr. Thornton begins to be attracted to her, and she to him, while there's fermenting dissent among the workers.

Deals heavily with class differences, the effect of industrializing Britain and other things political. The woman looks like Rachel Weiss. Does have note of Pride & Prejudice in it, with the bad first impression and all that. Girl is outspoken. Man appears cold and heartless. Then again, plenty of story has this plot. If Mr. Thornton was a character set in the modern day, he'd totally be a Republican, and working or owning a company financed, or some how related to Dick Chaney.

It's okay. Wouldn't watch it again, unless I fast forward all the parts about how life was shit back then if you were a wage worker and didn't have money. If I lived in England back then, I would stay away from the industrializing center. I'd stay in the countryside like Darwin, and make a name for myself in the science.

Favorite scenes - when it didn't look grimy, which was hardly ever.