I know that a lot of people aren't a fan of this adaptation, but that's not the case for me. I haven't seen the older version (and really don't have any desire too) so maybe that's why I liked it so much. That and RPJ as Wentworth. ;)
So, does anyone have any favorite parts?
I ♥ all the looks between Anne and Wentworth. His stare made me melt in my seat. I loved the part at the beach where he's looking at her, and then turns away really quickly when she looks at him. An absolutely favorite part is when he runs into her while getting out of the rain and he talks about how a person couldn't get over a really powerful love. Be still my heart!!
He was wasted here. Wentworth is a rather active man, and RPJ wasn't given anything to do. He just stood around glowering. He's very good-looking, but he's really not very believable as a sea-captain. In the book, there's a scene where Sir Walter makes fun of Navy men because they are usually quite weather-beaten. RPJ can't pass.
Oh, I don't know. I rather liked all the glowering. ;)
I know a lot of people like their book adaptations to follow as closely to the book as possible (and I'm sometimes like that) but it doesn't bother me when they alter the characters appearances. Yes, RPJ was a little too polished for just finishing up 8 years at sea, but it wouldn't have had the same effect (again, for me) if he had entered the door wearing dusty, dirty clothes and had a very tanned, lined, weather-beaten face. I'm okay with a little leeway in the looks department when it comes to my Austen men.
I also know this version veers a lot from the book in other areas, besides just appearances. But, I still enjoyed it. I'm a fan of "true adaptations" as well, but also love a more modernized version just as much (and sometimes more, if I'm in the mood for spending a few hours just looking at pretty faces) :)
Oh, I'm not a purist (I love P&P05, for example), but so much was changed in this adaptation that I simply cannot like it. Moving the constancy conversation from Bath to Lyme and from Anne/Harville to Anne/Benwick and not having Wentworth hear it at all just boggles the mind. It means that there's absolutely no reason for him to write the letter. But they did have him him write some sort of letter that ended up being a butchered version of Austen's letter. They had Harville know all about Anne (huh?????) and Anne fixing the collarbone on her own, etc. And then there's all the stupid running. Frankly, a gorgeous Wentworth does not make up for the ridiculousness that is this adaptation.
In short, I thought the whole thing was just a big ol' mess.
I haven't read the book in about 5 years, so I don't really remember some of the more detailed parts of the book. So, I just took Harville knowing about Anne because I assume Wentworth talked about her while he was gone. She broke his heart, so one would think some of his sailors would know the story.
I do regret they didn't put the real reason the letter came about. I think RPJ would have done a good job portraying how Wentworth felt listening to her talk about how she was still in love with him. Like you said earlier, what a waste!
But, a gorgeous Wentworth makes up a tiny bit of it for me...lol
I personally believe that the Crofts knew something of their relationship, if not from Frederick himself then from their other brother. Or sensed some spark or emotion emanating from the two. I think now of the way the Crofts said and mentioned things to Anne, and it could be inferred they were playing a little game of match maker! Just what I interpreted in my reading of the novel, which I read around once or twice a year, and I am aware people may disagree with me, but from the first time I read Persuasion, I had that feeling that they were in on it.
By the way, I actually loved this adaptation. Didn't mind the changes. Les Miserables is my favorite novel of all time, and in the 1998 movie they leave out Eponine. Completely. And pretty much cut out the Bishop, who is my favorite character in all of literature. I don't allow that to get in the way of enjoying the movie. Same with another absolute favorite, Gone With the Wind. Soo much is left out, but I can still appreciate what they left in and what they changed and guessing why they changed this scene or famous bit of dialogue. Same goes for my other favorite novels, War and Peace and The Godfather(I have eclectic taste, can't you tell, lol!). Novels and books aren't sacred and holy things that God forbid shouldn't ever be changed. And they shouldn't always conform to the source material, or to previous adaptations. I wish that this production of Persuasion could have moved you like it moved myself and most of my acquaintance who have seen it. We thought the manic running scene was a way of showing her urgency and her desperate need to put her wrong right and take control of her own life. If not running through the streets of Bath, haven't most of us ladies done something completely unlike ourselves and desperate and embarrassing for love? Perhaps it wasn't the most clever or accurate way to portray this emotion as it pertains to the novel. But maybe it was for THIS Anne Elliot. Who is a different entity from the novel. I'm just rambling on because I am tired after work!!
Agree with both those. I also like the dance scene at Kellynch, although it's too short and the camera doesn't show us enough footwork. I can never resist those dance scenes!
Well, movie-wise, I didn't love it...but story-wise, I love anything remotely related to Persuasion.
And, Lord, RPJ is so gorgeous! I could stare at him for hours.
So my favorite parts were all the times when he stole looks at Anne and when they had their awkward moments. And I also love the part where they run into each other getting out of the rain - so much tension! I about swooned.
"And then he started cheating...especially at magnetic travel scrabble."
The human inkwell at the beginning. Otherwise, I have to go with Julie-30's answer....the closing credits. Even RPJ's lovely looks couldn't save it. What a waste of talent.
I came on here before watching it and read some of the negative comments, so I was prepared, it actually helped me to get them out of the way so that they had been addressed and realised that other people thought the same thing, so I could focus on the good parts.
I loved the understated, quiet, passion , tension between Anne and Wentworth. I loved all the stolen glances between them, even though they hardly had any direct interaction with each other, you could just sense the longing and the tension between them, even if they were just standing next to each other or were near each other.
I loved RPJ as Wentworth, he was very handsome and charming and is now my favourite Jane Austen hero :)
I loved all the scenes with Wentworth and Anne.
I loved how he would look at her from across the room, or from far away and when she caught him looking at her, look away. I wish there was more interaction between them two, but in a way, I think perhaps it just makes it more passionate that there wasn't. It shows that attraction doesn't always necessarily have to come from directly speaking to someone, but just being near them, standing next to them, or simply being in the same room as them, even if they are far from you, but you always know where they are...
It's like when you're in a room, and you have this feeling someone is looking at you and you turn to look and they are and they quickly avert their eyes because they have been caught looking at you. It just goes to show that passion can be shown just from having eye contact even across the room.
The following are my favourite scenes (basically all the scenes that involved Wentworth and Anne):
When he is looking at her, whilst Anne is talking to his sister and she looks and he turns his head.
When he is staring at the back of her head at the beach, and again looks away when she catches him.
When he is looking at her playing the piano.
When Wentworth describes to his friend why and how he is still in love with Anne.
The scene when Wentworth is talking to her in the shop waiting for the rain to stop.
The interaction between them when he walks out of the concert.
The ending scene when Anne tells him she accepts his proposal.
I am now going to read the book. I love how I can image RJP as Wentworth hehe :) He really is very handsome and had such a quiet charm about him.
I am planning on going to a second hand bookshop this week to procure a second hand copy, there's something about an old book, adds character especially to classic literature! :)
I'm looking forward to reading it and then coming back here to discuss it! love IMDb for that.
Contrary to common opinion on this board, I like the kissing scene the most. It's very emotional and cathartic to me (great performance by Sally Hawkins). And I especially like the choice of showing mostly her face, not the captain's, for it's as if I'm looking at her through his eyes, besides, for me the scene is more about Anne's hopes coming true and making the experience more personal. I've been on a Jane Austin adaptation binge recently, and Persuasion 2007 is the one that lingers. I love it)
I saw both movies before I read the book. In this version, I love RPJ and my favorite scene was when he looked utterly horrified when he found out that he had promised himself to the sister.
I agree with TheSameWithaTart that it's possible to appreciate adaptations as unique works if you can suspend expectation that they be just like the book. For this reason, I love both adaptations. However, I love the book more.
I recognize the flaws in the 2006 version, but the warm feelings it evokes more than make up for them.
Other favorite scenes: -when Frederick swoops in to lift her after she had fallen off the log; their faces so near again after so long!
-Fredrick's expression of suppressed wonder when he learned that Charles had also proposed to Anne and been turned down.
-Fredrick taking Anne by the hand and leading her to his sister and the admiral's carriage, and then - !! - lifting her up and placing her in the carriage because he couldn't bear for her to walk with a sore ankle!
-Anne and Fredrick joint ministry to Louisa and their intense awareness of each other.
-Their conversation in the dark, when they arrived back at Uppercross after Louisa's accident. Shades of yesterday!
-And when he learned there was no truth to the rumor that she was to be married to young Mr. Elliot. None whatsoever. Disbelief, the birth of hope!
Loved the film. I love that we get to see FW's pov. So, those scenes are my favorites. I love all the times when Fw watches Anne when he believes that nobody is watching And, I like the scene when Wentworth introduces Anne to Harville and he recognizes the name, obviously, Wentworth told him about Anne. It is nice touch that shows how hurt Frederick was that he told his best friend about Anne.