I really enjoyed this adaptation except for one thing!

I love ALL of Ms. Austen's novels and heroines - even dear Fanny/MP has a special place in my heart. But were I to choose, Emma - the novel and the heroine - is my favorite. There's quite a few people (one of them being a professor even!) I know who actually really don't like her, but I do. I think, in a way, her flaws make her more human, more relatable, and even more endearing to the reader.

Anyways, to get back ON topic, the Kate Beckinsale version of "Emma" was the only one I didn't get the chance to see until yesterday. I really liked it! I thought Kate made a good Emma, Mark a surprisingly good Knightley (I say surprisingly because the only movies/productions I've seen Strong in were with him cast as either a morally ambiguous or an outright villain,) and they had good chemistry. I also thought this version stuck to the story well. Overall, generally high marks.

BUT - and this is kind of a large but - there was one thing that made me kind of cringe.

The kissing/proposal scene! I actually liked EVERYTHING well enough until the fateful exchange of

(not verbatim)

KNIGHTLEY: I held you in my arms when you were but three weeks old.
EMMA: Do you like me now as you did then?
[They embrace]

It was like..."way to kill the moment." I dunno...maybe it's because although I found Mark Strong to be an attractive and good Mr. Knightley, you could definitely see the 16 years between he and Emma (whereas it's obvious but not quite so underlined with Jeremy/Gwyneth and Jonny/Romola) and that little bit of dialogue just sort of seemed like he was grooming her to be his wife.

I can't remember off the top of my head if in other versions (or maybe even in the novel itself) there were similar exchanges - and if there were, it seemed more natural? innocent? less off-putting?

I dunno...is that silly of me?