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Emma (2009) |  | Actors: Romola Garai, Jonny Lee Miller, Michael Gambon, Tamsin Greig, Rupert Evans
Studio: BBC Warner
Category: DVD
List Price: $34.98
Buy New: $22.98
as of 3/20/2010 15:53 MDT details
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Seller: -importcds
Rating:  92 reviews
Sales Rank: 97
Format: Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 2
Running Time: 229 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.8
MPN: WARDE114948D
UPC: 883929096596
EAN: 0883929096596
ASIN: B002XTBE6K
Theatrical Release Date: 2009
Release Date: February 9, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 02/09/2010 Run time: 240 minutes Rating: Nr
Amazon.com
Although Jane Austen's Emma has been adapted for the screen many times before, including for an American version starring Gwyneth Paltrow, this four-part miniseries is the version to begin with. The story of Miss Woodhouse, a matchmaker and meddler whose wit and misdirection need to be carefully acted to match the novel's complex character, is perfectly expressed through Romola Garai's portrayal. Throughout the retelling of this comedic romantic drama, Garai not only conveys Emma's strong-willed sensibility but also manages to update Emma for modern audiences without relinquishing the traditional manners and tastes that Austen fans love in her 1815 historical tale. Each episode, here, opens with a seasonal shot of Hartfield, the estate Emma rules while caring for her loyal and kind but protective father (Michael Gambon). Having lost her mother early, Emma feels a bond with two other unfortunate children in Highbury, Frank Churchill (Rupert Evans) and Jane Fairfax (Laura Pyper), whom Emma befriends as they return home from boarding schools abroad. The dramas that ensue revolve around Emma's attempts to pair lovers, with varied degrees of success. Episode One establishes Emma's curious desire to marry everyone off except herself. John Knightley (Johnny Lee Miller), Emma's childhood friend, is constantly by her side, coaching, supporting, and chiding her as she matures into an intelligent, regal young lady. Miller's ability to portray Knightley as the respectable, patient man he is throughout the series also lends this Emma incredible strength. In Episode Two, after Emma's beloved governess, Anne Taylor (Jodhi May), moves out to marry, Emma bonds with new girlfriend Harriet Smith (Louise Dylan), and from here we begin to see some of Emma's plans backfiring. Part of this series' genius is in how it manages, in keeping with Austen's book, to express deeper love developing between Emma and her true mate while Highbury's daily gossip continues. Though in Episodes Three and Four one weathers some minor emotional upheaval with aging parents, losses of wealth, and illnesses, this story is not tragic and most side plots point toward Emma's final love realization, which does not arrive until the last 20 minutes of the last episode. Settings and costumes enhance the story greatly, and views of the village farmers' market contrast with lavish balls and dinner parties hosted by the Woodhouse family and others to underscore Austen's original emphasis on capturing the preoccupations of upper-class British society in her day. Some scenes, as in Episode One when Knightley and Emma squabble for much too long over whom Harriet should marry, drag on, allowing one to marvel at how much free time these people had to worry about other business besides their own. Still, the romance in Emma is quite powerful and humor throughout makes this series ultimately enchanting. --Trinie Dalton
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 92
 A DARLING CONTEMPORARY-LIKE EMMA IN A PERIOD SETTING March 19, 2010
Harold Wolf (Wells, IN United States)
The acting, music & dialogue are contemporary while sets, costumes, & props are period perfect. What a delectable NEW rendition of Emma (Jane Austen's classic, of course). It's tempting to review any new Emma adaptation by comparing it to the book or previous films. Instead, let me simply review how WONDERFUL my wife and I found this particular DVD. Almost 4 hours, divided into 4 episodes. How awful it must have been waiting between episodes when it was presented on BBC TV Masterpiece Theatre. It is barely warm from the 2009 television presentations and this DVD is available--worth every cent. As the famous line about Emma goes: 'Very little to vex and disturb her'; so too, true about this adaptation. Nothing to vex and disturb, much to laugh and be joyous over.
The portrayal of Emma by Ramola Garai is without flaw. Her 4-hours of animated facial expressions simply make the movie and the role. This actress can say more in a look, than most can with long lines of dialogue. Not to be outdone, the talkative character, Miss Bates (Tamsin Greig), is equally grand. She's written to be annoying to the story's other characters, but the presentation of Miss Bates by Greig is so realistic and so comic that she becomes a desire for longer lingering. Equally fun is the zany, very funny Emma adaptation by Garai. A happy Emma twist.
Of course, without a love interest, Mr. Knightly (Jonny Lee Miller) the story cannot end properly, and this role is done perfectly. He is Emma's man of the hour. However Emma, of course, is too employed in matchmaking for every other available lady that she forgets she might have feelings or a man might desire her. It's what makes Emma, Emma or Miss Woodhouse, and even Mr. Woodhouse is a stellar performance done by none other than, Sir Michael Gambon.
Much credit needs to go to the screenplay written by Sandy Welch. This is a contemporary-like comedy/drama but adapted from a classic novel. The best of both worlds. A priceless presentation as perfect as the thousands of "looks" by this film's Garai Emma.
Subtitles provided for the feature as well as 4 bonus segments. 3 segments are about the making of: locations, costumes, and music. The final extra is an interview with Emma's Mr. Woodhouse (Gambon), about his life, work, and tipping one off with clips of other presentations, many BBC, that I plan to buy.
Masterfully done, after all it is a Masterpiece Classic. This is my favorite "Emma".
Emma was amazin March 18, 2010
Angela F. Williams (Cave Creek, AZ)
As in all the spirit of all Jane Austin stories this was very well done. The actors did an excellent job and were well picked for their parts.
 As close as it gets... March 16, 2010
Tiffany N. Gimbel (Pensacola Florida)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
... to the original source material. If you're an Austen fan, you will love this adaptation.
Amazon reviewer apparently didn't watch the DVD March 16, 2010
J. Hansell (Sharon, CT USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Ignore the Amazon.com review if you want to know details of plot and character - the reviewer apparently didn't actually watch it and has certainly never read the book.
However, do buy the DVD - it's a wonderful and surprisingly faithful adaptation. Romola Garai is (apparently) not to everyone's taste but to me she's a wonderful Emma - she perfectly captures the willfulness, self-centeredness, but deeply good heart of Austen's most human and modern heroine. As Mr. Knightley, Jonny Lee Miller is subtle, deep, and, yes, I couldn't write about an Austen hero without adding 'dreamy.' I'd never heard of him before this but am quickly catching up on all his work - he is a superb actor, profoundly different in each role he plays and absolutely wonderful in this one. Almost all the secondary actors are pitch-perfect - particularly John Knightley (an oft-overlooked character played here marvelously), both Eltons, Miss Bates and of course Michael Gambon as an anxious, fussy Mr. Woodhouse. Gorgeous sets, mostly beautifully lit (I wish they'd used softer lighting for the ball at the Crown - the harshness detracted from an otherwise magical scene) -- all the accoutrements of grand country home, luxurious gardens, rich costumes and careful props you'd expect from a top-drawer BBC production.
Of course it doesn't literally follow the words in the book - it brings them to life, shows emotions and thoughts rather than tells them, and is perfectly faithful to Austen's spirit, her nuanced analysis of the class system, and of course to the evolution of the central love story.
Most enjoyable version of EMMA March 15, 2010
W. Tolley
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Truly the most enjoyable version of EMMA; perhaps not the most faithful recounting of the spirit of Jane Austen's work, it was most pleasant to watch. Ms. Garai is an excellent actor and this was her best work.
I look forward to seeing more performances by her.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 92
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