Wednesday, January 09, 2008

The Jane Austen Fest is coming!



I have to admit something. I am a true Jane Austen fan. I have seen the 1995 BBC version of Pride and Prejudice more times that I can count and everytime Sense and Sensibility or Emma comes on I can not be moved from watching the tv screen.

But I am ashamed to say I have never read an Austen novel. Not even Pride and Prejudice! How can I say that I am a die hard romance reader and not even pick up one of these novels by the woman, who in my opinion is one of the pioneers of romance?
I deserve a smack across the head. *SMACK*

I am jumping up and down because starting this Sunday, Masterpeice Theater on PBS will be showing an all new version of Persuasion, thus beginning the Complete Jane Austen marathon of all her books with four new remakes which includes the original Pride and Prejudice with that sexy man Colin Firth. (Lake dipping anyone?)

It is hard for me to say which is my favorite Austen novel that has been made for the screen. I adore P&P, but Persuasion comes in very close to being my favorite. It is all about love lost, letting that one person you love get away because in part of greed and the approval of your family and friends. But then he comes back and the yearning between you two can not be denied! I have watched the 1995 movie version with that wonderful actor, CiarĂ¡n Hinds who plays Captain Federick, the man that Anne, leaves. Talk about some heated looks between the two!
It will be interesting to see the newest one that airs this Sunday. I am all for those- secret, look into my soul" looks the hero and heroine share with each other. To me, that is very sexy indeed. *G*

Katiebabs

13 comments:

Kristie (J) said...

How much worse then I am! The only P&P version I've seen is the one with Keira Knightly. I haven't read the books - but! I do have them (thanks to Jennie) and I just recently got Sense & Sensibility with Emma Thompson and Kate Winselt and I've seen it before.
I haven't read any of the others and I've only seen part of an old version of (oh Nuts! whats' it's name - the one with Mr. Rochester who keeps his mad wife upstairs but nobody know about her and he goes blind - Wait! I remember - Jane Eyre) with George C Scott. I wasn't that impressed.
But on the other hand, I have seen three versions of Wuthering Heights, the original with Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon, one with Timothy Dalton and the latest one with Ralph Finnes. And I've read the book a number of times.
And I've read quite a few Georgette Heyer's so I'm not a complete lost cause.
Which reminds me - I have to check to see exactly when and what channel they are on here in Canada.

Anonymous said...

Kristie, I really wish you would watch the Colin Firth version - it is worth watching, and you could do a really interesting blog about Mr Thornton v. Mr Darcy. (I mean, of course, N&S v. P&P - obviously, it's the literature I'm chiefly interested in.)
But you could decide, finally, who does tortured soul better - Armitage or Firth. Go on - we all watched N&S for you. (Pretty please...)

I do love Jane Austen - I think it's the way I feel I know people that she describes, and her sense of humour.

Katiebabs, sorry to say, I think the old Persuasion was better - the end of the new one annoyed me. Be interesting to read your thoughts.

And as for the lake dipping - will you get the St Trinians film over there? Because they dip Firth again, and he manages to look completely unsexy - and while I was sad to have that memory besmirched, I thought the moment was wickedly funny.

Marianne McA

Dev said...

Kristie ~ The 1995 version of P&P is so much better! I hope you get a chance to watch it.

I'm so excited for the Jane Austen marathon. And, all though the writer's strike has gone on far too long, I'm thankful for it also because I was going to have to cancel future recordings of either Desperate Housewives or Cold Case so I could watch this. Now I don't have to.

Jennie said...

I'm really excited about this too. I printed up the schedule from the website and stuck it on my fridge.

Kristie--you won that beautiful copy of JA and you haven't read any?! LOL. Jeez. But Marianne's right. You really should watch the Colin Firth P&P. I think you'd really like it. I think it's even better than N&S. (!!) And there's a challenge. ;)

KT Grant said...

I am trying to decide which P&P I like better...

1995- Darcy swims in lake.
And when he and Elizabeth walk and he says to her- "My lovely Elizabeth". Because that is the first time he says her name rather than Miss Bennet

or

2006- Darcy walks through the mist with that great big overcoat towards Elizbeth and kisses his hands!
And the very end when they decide on their nicknames for each other. They simply pick Mr. and Mrs. Darcy.

Kristie (J) said...

Well - it's playing somewhere - I know I saw it advertised - I'll just have to try and find out where. And I shall take up the challenge. Just in case I miss it, I did see a copy at the store in the mall near me so I will get it by hook or by crook. But I'm warning everyone - I don't think there is the slightest chance that P&P can overtake N&S in this little heart :)
And Jennie - I know exactly where it is - it's sitting on the shelf calling me - but then so are so MANY other of my little friends. They ALL want me to read them. *g*

Marg said...

It's sad but I haven't read any Jane Austen either! I did give myself the Keira Knightley version of P&P for Christmas but I haven't unwrapped it yet...I got a bit obsessed with something else!

Bridget Locke said...

Kristie-First off, there's something wrong with your blog. when it loads, half the stuff is missing and the left margin is literally on the first letter of each line. Makes it hard to read.

I'll probably have to DVR this version of Persuasion. I really enjoyed the last one. My only issue with so many of these movies is the ridiculous clothing. So many of them are NOT correct.

I agree...a blog about the differences beteween N&S and P&P would be very interesting. I just might have to do that. :)

I bought the book of N&S. I usually read fast, but this book is taking me forever. I think it's the language. Very slow going, but still very good. :)

Kristie (J) said...

Kaitlin: I know it's gone all wonky but I have no idea how to fix it!!!!! Weird thing though - if you view it in Firefox it's fine.
It would be interesting to do a comparison between the two and I will do that when I watch P&P :)

Stacy~ said...

I almost didn't like the Keira Knightley version because I loved the longer '95 P&P better, but the 2nd one grew on me. I still like the Colin Firth one better though.

I've never watched all of "Persuasion", so I might have to do that. Sounds good.

Kristie don't feel too bad. I skimmed through the book of P&P, looking for the good parts.

Anonymous said...

I'm green with envy!!! JA is my fave author and Colin Firth wins hands-down, no arguments there. I'm trying to get my paws on N&S -- no luck at Borders and the local video stores, so looks like it's amazon for me.

I've read most of the JA novels except Mansfield Park and Persuasion, and watched most of the movies/ series. Seen the earlier version of Persuasion, and Mansfield Park movie. Emma -- starring Gwyneth Paltrow -- is still lying in the cabinet though.
If you want a biased opinion, the ladies at austenblog are great at that.

Enjoy the austen fest! Hmm ... time for me to dig out the videos ...

Jodi_Lee said...

I am so freakin' excited for this! I've got the DVR set and ready to go! Life is good!

Chantal said...

You have got to read Emma. It;s very funny :)