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Sense and Sensibility

32 replies

damemaggiescurledupperlip · 24/09/2026 08:26

Not sure about this one. Ravishingly shot, but …

Elinor and Edward were true to the book, but Marianne appeared to have morphed into Cathy from Wuthering Heights, Sir John Middleton into Sir John Falstaff, Lady Middleton into Mary Bennett, and the Colonel into Professor Bhaer

The never brushed hair was very distracting

OP posts:
HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 24/09/2026 08:31

Americans/Netflix can’t do period drama well unless it involves sex. So I’d say enjoy it for a fun movie rather than a true adaptation.

modern audiences sadly. My fave will always be bbc
and and the Emma Thompson movie. Tho I found her too old to be credible but amazing acting. X

HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 24/09/2026 08:32

The adaptation of war and peace was fabulous. Did have some sex but felt appropriate also bbc

PrincessOfPreschool · 24/09/2026 08:36

Is it on Netflix or in cinema?

PrincessOfPreschool · 24/09/2026 08:38

The sex is aspect is so disappointing. My DD loves these things but watching sex with your mum.... At least we can fast forward Bridgerton dodgy scenes. But absolutely loved The Other Bennett Sister, partly because of the lack of unnecessary sex.

LittleMonks11 · 24/09/2026 08:40

Oh no. They haven’t spoiled it with gratuitous sex scenes have they? I promised to take my dear old mum.

damemaggiescurledupperlip · 24/09/2026 08:46

Sex was implied at one point - there was a slight hint that Marianne’s desperation at Willoughby’s desertion might have a more prosaic cause than True Love alone

OP posts:
damemaggiescurledupperlip · 24/09/2026 08:50

The casting of Mr Palmer did not work in my view - Sting’s very beautiful non-binary child not convincing at all as a male, let alone a gruff and irritable one.

OP posts:
FuzzyFetlocks · 24/09/2026 21:41

Mr Palmer has a wife and child in the book, are they cut out of this adaptation?

HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 25/09/2026 08:23

I dont know it it’s sexed up but my experience wig Netflix is that it will be. They seem to think that’s what the audience wants. Even in classic literature.

the bbc generally sticks to the book or original content. Other bennet sister was wonderful.

us Netflix never get the costumes right.

hated “withering””
heights film version. Dreadful in so many ways. Only good thing was the landscape.

disgracefullyyours · 25/09/2026 13:21

As soon as I read this was filming last year, I thought 'Why?' when 1) the 1995 film is so good and 2) there was no attempt to give the story some kind of change in terms of what Emerald Fennell did with Wuthering Heights.

Some of the actors in this I've always found bland and Frank Dillane is no Willoughby. I was going to wait to see this when it's streaming early next year, but having just read that Eliot Sumner is in this, I think I'll give it a miss as that person ruined the TV show Ripley.

cartagenagina · 25/09/2026 13:25

Marianne is such an irritating character. JA intended for her to be really annoying but I just can’t stand her. So twee and childish.

FuzzyFetlocks · 25/09/2026 14:10

disgracefullyyours · 25/09/2026 13:21

As soon as I read this was filming last year, I thought 'Why?' when 1) the 1995 film is so good and 2) there was no attempt to give the story some kind of change in terms of what Emerald Fennell did with Wuthering Heights.

Some of the actors in this I've always found bland and Frank Dillane is no Willoughby. I was going to wait to see this when it's streaming early next year, but having just read that Eliot Sumner is in this, I think I'll give it a miss as that person ruined the TV show Ripley.

I didn't see Ripley. Oh dear, it's bad to read that Eliot ruined that series for you. Was she cast as a male character in that one, or is it a case of bad acting?

disgracefullyyours · 25/09/2026 14:13

FuzzyFetlocks · 25/09/2026 14:10

I didn't see Ripley. Oh dear, it's bad to read that Eliot ruined that series for you. Was she cast as a male character in that one, or is it a case of bad acting?

Eliot Sumner was cast as a male character - Freddy - and it didn't work because Eliot was clearly non-binary and Freddie wasn't. Also, shit acting. So E.S was majorly miscast, as I suspect one or two others in this film have been too.

Pastimperfection · 25/09/2026 14:30

I am going to see it on Tuesday. This will be my first trip to the cinema in 10 years. I am also going to visit Rainham House where some of it was filmed. They are exhibiting some of the costumes.

Slumgullion · 25/09/2026 14:43

I haven't seen it yet, but the Guardian review gave it a three out of five, and described it as 'thoughtful' and cooler in tone (in the sense of chillier, rather than fashionable) than the Ang Lee/Emma T 1995 one, but did also say there were some weird casting decisions, especially Colonel Brandon.

Though I wonder whether some of this isn't just because we've got so used to how the Ang Lee version got around some of the 'less appealing to a modern audience blooded on the BBC Pride and Prejudice/ the Amanda Root/Ciaran Hinds Persuasion' things by good casting and essentially a re-orienting of the Dashwood girls' suitors.

Like the very careful casting of broody, sexy Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon, who, in the novel, is depicted as a respectable, thoroughly honourable but stolid father-figure with flannel waistcoats and a touch of rheumatism, and who is presented very much as a consolation prize rather than a romantic match for a sadder-but-wiser post-Willoughby Marianne.

Also the casting of Hugh Grant doing his likeable bumbling, self-deprecating thing and play-fighting with tomboyish Margaret transformed the role of Edward Ferrars, who in the novel is another dullard -- nice, but shy, quiet and not good-looking.

And of course making Margaret much younger, and an enterprising tomboy is also appealing, and gives both Brandon and Edward Ferrars someone to play against.

Whereas in the novel Margaret is 13, and like Marianne in her romantic temperament, but without Marianne's brains.

Maybe interesting to have the beautiful mid-40s Caitriona Balfe as Mrs Dashwood, though? Gemma Jones was 53, but playing 'older' -- probably because she had to, because her 'daughter' Emma Thompson was 36 playing a character who was 19 in the novel.

ExOptimist · 25/09/2026 16:11

FuzzyFetlocks · 25/09/2026 14:10

I didn't see Ripley. Oh dear, it's bad to read that Eliot ruined that series for you. Was she cast as a male character in that one, or is it a case of bad acting?

Eliot Sumner was cast as a male character. She makes an extremely poor male because she looks what she is, which is female. So there's a big disconnect with characters who are supposed to be male yet played by a woman pretending to be a man. It really does spoil things.

Also she's not a good actor at all, so there's no reason to cast her, apart from to satisfy some diversity quota.

SnoopyPajamas · Yesterday 20:10

ExOptimist · 25/09/2026 16:11

Eliot Sumner was cast as a male character. She makes an extremely poor male because she looks what she is, which is female. So there's a big disconnect with characters who are supposed to be male yet played by a woman pretending to be a man. It really does spoil things.

Also she's not a good actor at all, so there's no reason to cast her, apart from to satisfy some diversity quota.

Why? Just . . . why would anyone do this?

The dingy brown colour palette and scraggly hair had me on the fence about this one already, in addition to some eyebrow-raising statements from the creators. But hearing this settles my indecision - I'll wait to be disappointed by the movie when it hits streaming, rather than waste my money on it.

FuzzyFetlocks · Yesterday 21:25

Well. I saw it today, I enjoyed it and I would recommend it. It is definitely flawed, though.

It is very dark. Maybe the budget didn't stretch to a few more candles (and a hairbrush)? Even sunny days for the outdoor scenes would have helped.

I would change some of the cast. The three that stood out most were: the very masculine stallion playing Marianne's grey mare called 'Queen Mab', Willoughby, and Mr Palmer (whose part was very small - I wonder if they knew it wasn't believable and cut it down?).

I definitely saw the Wuthering Heights comparison as mentioned in the OP of this thread.

AnotherEmma · Yesterday 21:48

Warning: contains spoilers as I've just watched the film

It was so bad that we actually had to laugh. The worst thing is that they made some significant, and ridiculous, changes to the plot. YOU DON'T MESS WITH JANE AUSTEN'S PLOT.

It was badly written - mostly incredibly boring with very few amusing or moving moments. It was badly cast - WTAF did Willoughby look like?! He's supposed to be devastatingly handsome - and they put him in a completely ridiculous hat! Special mention must go to how consistently awful Marianne's hair was. She looked terrible.

The Ang Lee / Emma Thompson version was not quite perfect - yes, she and Alan Rickman were both too old - but apart from that it was basically perfect. I went to see this new version with an open mind, not expecting it to be as good as that one, but still expecting it to have merit in its own right. How wrong I was.

Appin · Yesterday 21:58

Saw this today and just couldn't get on board with the changes to the storyline or the actress playing Marianne. She looked dreadful, ill and like she might die of consumption at any point. She actually looked healthiest when she was supposed to be ill!

There were lots and lots of lovely dogs in the cast, which I enjoyed.

SnoopyPajamas · Yesterday 22:02

FuzzyFetlocks · Yesterday 21:25

Well. I saw it today, I enjoyed it and I would recommend it. It is definitely flawed, though.

It is very dark. Maybe the budget didn't stretch to a few more candles (and a hairbrush)? Even sunny days for the outdoor scenes would have helped.

I would change some of the cast. The three that stood out most were: the very masculine stallion playing Marianne's grey mare called 'Queen Mab', Willoughby, and Mr Palmer (whose part was very small - I wonder if they knew it wasn't believable and cut it down?).

I definitely saw the Wuthering Heights comparison as mentioned in the OP of this thread.

Queen Mab was sex-swapped too? I'm sorry, this is sending me 😂

FuzzyFetlocks · Yesterday 22:20

Yes, he's a beautiful horse, though.

DorotheaShottery · Yesterday 22:20

Marianne looked like she needed a bath, a hair wash and an updo tutorial.

Willoughby should look like Greg Wise.

What were the plot changes?

SnoopyPajamas · Yesterday 22:22

AnotherEmma · Yesterday 21:48

Warning: contains spoilers as I've just watched the film

It was so bad that we actually had to laugh. The worst thing is that they made some significant, and ridiculous, changes to the plot. YOU DON'T MESS WITH JANE AUSTEN'S PLOT.

It was badly written - mostly incredibly boring with very few amusing or moving moments. It was badly cast - WTAF did Willoughby look like?! He's supposed to be devastatingly handsome - and they put him in a completely ridiculous hat! Special mention must go to how consistently awful Marianne's hair was. She looked terrible.

The Ang Lee / Emma Thompson version was not quite perfect - yes, she and Alan Rickman were both too old - but apart from that it was basically perfect. I went to see this new version with an open mind, not expecting it to be as good as that one, but still expecting it to have merit in its own right. How wrong I was.

Not sure what the spoiler etiquette is on a 200+ year old book, but if you can tell us, what changes were made to the plot?

I loved '95 and '08 S&S, and would love a third version to adore, but I just don't see this being it.

It's so frustrating. There were elements of Emma 2020 I didn't love (Emma was a bit cold and catty for my taste, Knightley was a bit juvenile and therefore un-Knightley, and Autumn de Wilde's attempts at absurdity didn't fully land for me - I could see what she was trying to do, but the nosebleeds and bum-warming and 20, 000 servants in every room just felt forced) - but I really thought we'd turned a corner with that one, and might be onto a hot streak of attractive, largely book-accurate Austen adaptations. Everything since has been a disappointment though. Half the time it feels like the people making these don't even like the book.

Or they're all just desperately trying to imitate Joe Wright's P&P, which I assume is what all the earth tones and bedraggled hairstyles are in aid of. But they're like Temu versions of what he was doing. It's awful. Someone please set Austen heroines free from this bad hair! If the wardrobe department is going for "windswept and free", why can't they take inspiration from something like Poldark? Demelza had some beautiful gowns and her hair looked miles better than the Dashwood sisters, despite having to contend with a constant Cornish breeze

Janefx40 · Yesterday 22:24

Emma Thompson’s was great in so many ways but the ages did jar especially Alan Rickman because although he’s wonderful I don’t want a teenager to end up with a 50 something. 35 In the book which is a stretch for a modern audience but vaguely believable. But also everyone else was too old. Mr and Mrs Palmer - Imelda Staunton is amazing but meant to be early 20s - the list goes on.

so basically I would take the same film but recast with the right ages and the different energies that brings and that would be perfect!!!

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