I just saw this film, and the one thing I cannot get over is how terrible and awkward the kiss between Anne and Wentworth was. It was so bad it almost ruined the movie for me! Anyone agree?
shareOh I have to agree, it makes me cringe every time I watch it (and I watch the film about once a month). WHY did they have to do such a ridiculous job of leaning in for their first kiss? It's so silly looking.
shareI thought the same thing when I saw that kiss. It made me uncomfortable and she seemed to me like a fish gasping. UGH!
shareI agree the kiss at Bath was rather hesitant and a little "not so pretty", but as far as the audience is aware, they never kissed 8 years ago. Anne has probably never kissed anyone. And whether she has or has not, she is unsure even after her affirmation of never changing her mind, of what Frederick will do--will he kiss her back? And kissing him first is totally out of the norm for that time, I would imagine, compounded with being on the street. Everything she is doing is out of the norm, out of what she has been taught about propriety. I say congratulations to the both of them for throwing that propriety to the wind. Frederick's face is partially seen, and I agree you can see both rapture and partial hesitation. I don't think he is punishing her, I think he is unsure of himself too. Perhaps he is making sure she will meet him halfway or more without him "falling on her lips" and making a fool of himself if she changes her mind at the last minute. They have a lot of heartbreak to work through and a lot of interference from others to ignore so they can live with each other in harmony. Perhaps her appearance (hair especially) was owing to the fact she felt depressed and unworthy of anyone, so why try to look nice. I think she has nursed a broken heart for many, many years. Also her father and sisters certainly do not seem to have her thoughts and best interests at heart. They selfishly take advantage of Anne and she feels she must allow it. I do like the Amanda Root version as well as the end of Sally Hawkins version wherein once their heartbreak is over or on the mend and they realize they have worth and they are loved, their appearance alters and you see just how beautiful they are and what Wentworth fell in love with all along. I like the Sally Hawkins version ending and agree that his holding her, presenting her house to her as a wedding gift, catching and kissing her so lovingly, and then the dancing was truly romantic and makes me so very happy for them. Jane Austen was a wonderful, wonderful author whose work is so timeless.
shareWhy wouldn't they have kissed when they got engaged the first time?
I lost my jobshare
What? Why?... Not the Phantom Menace?
Things were very, very different in that time period. They may have kissed, they may not have...we don't know because Jane Austen doesn't mention it. Just holding hands was a HUGE deal. Regardless, as I mentioned, I think it is very appropriate for Anne to be hesitant and unsure of how Frederick will react. She is like "is this really going to happen this time, will we be truly married this time." She is excited and apprehensive.
shareThat's true. But this is one way that the plot is weakened by moving the interlude between Anne and Captain Harville to earlier in the story (and to a different captain). The full letter in the novel is so incredibly strong and passionate that Anne, knowing Wentworth's temper as she did, would have no real hesitations or reservations - and in the book, she flaunts "respectability" easily and comfortably.
shareI haven't read the book, so I'm not sure what was left out or changed. I've seen the 1995 version and I enjoyed it very much. In many ways I liked it more than the newer film. Still, I don't feel like I wasted my time by watching it.
That being said, I did find the kiss scene to be very awkward. I think if they had used a different angle and shown Wentworth's face as well, it wouldn't have been bad at all.
There was a bit too much of the ridiculous in the film (Anne popping dislocated bones back into place and running a crazy looking marathon in Bath), but I must say, the eye candy that is Rupert Penry-Jones nearly made it worth it. I found myself staring at him the entire time he was on screen.
All in all, good film.
The second kiss after Wentworth shows Anne the house is much better.
Dogs have owners, Cats have staff!
I have to say the kiss does annoy me,i thought she looked like a fish as well,but i still enjoy it, and yes when wentworth brings her back to her former home after they're married its lovely and not awkward in the slightest.
I totally agree.
Poor Sally looks absolutely horrid during the first kiss, her mouth kind of gaping open and closed and her teeth sticking out a bit. Plus he doesn't really respond at all, just kind of waits for her to stretch her neck out far enough to reach his lips. I mean, I'm all for the slow, lots-of-buildup kiss, but this one was just awkward. And that camera angle wasn't helping anything.
The second kiss was a thousand times better. Very sweet and NOT awkward. And a much improved camera angle.
"And then he started cheating...especially at magnetic travel scrabble."
I disagree only because you said it "almost ruined the movie." Almost nothing. Personally I felt the movie was dying from nearly the get go (the constant staring at the camera was far too creepy) and that pathetic excuse for a "kiss we've all been waiting for" just put the final nail in the coffin. The only good thing about this movie was the guy who'd plaid Wentworth. I was simply horrified by the rest. Worst kiss EVER!
I find it very telling that several people now (myself included, just after I watched the movie and before I came on here) equate the kiss with what's her face looking like a gasping fish.
Lily, I totally agree. The film was absolutely terrible, sooooooooo disappointing.
Sally Hawkins is a brilliant actress & is really pretty but looked awful in this. I just couldn't believe the utterly gorgeous Rupert P-J would have feelings for her, (shallow I know, but you have to have some sexual chemistry & there was absolutely none that I could see)! The kiss was embarrassing to watch IMO. Although, I've noticed that Rupert isn't a good onscreen kisser anyway !
And most of the others actors were insufferable. Rupert PJ was pretty much the only good thing about it, (again very shallow I know), although he didn't do very much. What a really disappointing, dull story. 1 out of 10 for me sadly.
I actually watched North & South for Daniela Denby-Ashe, (always loved her since Eastenders), but of course fell madly for Richard Armitage also. Would really love to see them reunited on screen, something modern maybe?
Also let's no forget the gorgeousness that is Toby Stephens in Jane Eyre, that was a fantastic adaptation, my favourite.
I was like for pete's sake kiss the lady dude!
shareYES! I marked the movie down a whole point for that.
shareTotally agree. I thought Hollywood was bad for the extra long and ridiculous pre-kiss but this is the absolute worst I've ever seen. It must have taken five minutes it took for the guy to kiss her. She looked like a fish trying to suck him towards her and he's just totally unmoving the whole time, like he's deliberately torturing her. They didn't show his face at all - I bet he was laughing. Or was he busy doing something else, looking around, checking his watch? It was so horrible I tried to watch it again to time it but I just couldn't put myself through the sheer cringe-worthiness of it.
I'm not really hungry, but I would like to have reservations somewhere.
I felt the kiss was OK. For me the camera angles ruined it and the fact that Sally Hawkins had so much thick spit when she was speaking to him before the kiss. Perhaps again it was the camera angles and super close lens or the fact that she had been running so much prior to the kiss.
Yeah and no other period piece kiss can rival Richard Armitage in North & South.
Yes, I agree the kiss was awkward; but, rightfully so considering the circumstances. I believe that Anne was fully determined and desperate … at last. I believe the kiss was awkward because Anne was exhausted, out-of-breath, trying to catch her breath, overwhelmed by running all over Bath trying to find Captain Wentworth in allll those layers of fabric with lungs restrained by the corsets of that era … only to find her beloved being bored by Charles long-winded rant. It was actually good that Charles was there talking so that she had a chance to catch her breath and try to swallow! Just reading that passionate love letter from Wentworth would take a woman’s breath away. “For you alone I have planned” … I swoon just thinking of that. Ooooh, I lost my train of thought … oh …
Throughout the entire movie, she was composed, reserved, subdued and cognizant of what is expected of her … by her family and society in that era. It almost as if she was wearing a mask of decorum while her emotions were overflowing inside with regret for rejecting Wentworth years ago. That second to last kiss of the movie was perfect. I believe Captain Wentworth’s slow motion reaction was a big, bundle of tenderness, “are you sure”, love, passion, amazement, questioning and overwhelming; yet, cautious joy as he finally saw Anne’s full emotions & love for him unmasked. Afterall, in that era, a lady does not run through Bath in pursuit of a man, sweaty, out-of-breath, emotions bared … yet, his Anne did it for him … fully herself in that moment … finally. Also, Captain Wentworth and Anne never had opportunity throughout the movie to really look at one another uninterrupted … in that moment, Wentworth could not take his eyes off of her.
The last kiss as Captain gave her her wedding present was perfect because they were finally fully together in love & life.
Now, I am off to watch North & South yet again … love how Mr. Thornton melted as Miss Hale kissed his hand & then kissed her perfectly!
Kdforest, exactly!! I agree with you 100% with your entire post. Every word...
Now, I am off to watch North & South yet again … love how Mr. Thornton melted as Miss Hale kissed his hand & then kissed her perfectly! share