MovieChat Forums > Northanger Abbey (2008) Discussion > Not Enough Detail

Not Enough Detail

posted 14 years ago by GaelicLass
6 replies | jump to latest

I just finished watching the series Downton Abbey and maybe I am spoiled by the many episodes on that series, but I found this one lacking quite a bit. Also, maybe I am used to the BBC doing multiple episodes in their adaptions as well. I just found so many unanswered questions in this and felt it was short shrifted. That may be the books fault and not ITV or I am plain spoiled by the other Austen works. This had a less expensive look to it, unlike so many others I have seen. I am glad ITV spent more on Downton Abbey, an original work by Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park) and it looks so much richer in detail to this one...I don't know. I just feel disappointed, it just seems to end so abruptly.

For those that have read the book, can you tell me if this was true to the book or did they leave some things out?

[–] Julie-30 14 years ago

It wasn't as true to the book as it could have been. It had great potential, but it just didn't meet that potential. It's a rather short book, BTW, so it wouldn't have gone on for multiple episodes to begin with.

http://currentscene.wordpress.com/tag/jane-austen-odyssey/

[–] weaselfrance 14 years ago

The ending of the book is rather abrupt, but that's deliberate on the part of Austen, IMO. The three Austen adaptations ITV made in '07 were low budget unfortunately. This one, for example, wasn't filmed in Bath because funds just wouldn't stretch that far. This adaptation doesn't really explain why the General was courting Catherine on Henry's behalf, why he changed his mind threw her out and then why he allowed Henry to marry Catherine after all. It also doens't really show why Isabella and John Thorpe were chasing afer Catherine and her brother. This is covered in the book, so the adaptation is lacking in that respect.

Having said that, this version is a vast improvement on the '86 BBC version. That's about 90 minutes long and is IMO a stinker!

He looks like what happens when you punch a cow!

[–] GaelicLass 14 years ago

I thought the General never gave in about Henry and Catherine, but did allow Eleanor to marry her paramour after all. I was falling asleep at the end so I am not sure. I just remember thinking why did he allowe Eleanor and not Henry, yet Henry and Catherine did marry and managed to live somehow. I should have paid more attention but it ended so quickly and I fell asleep. I would have liked to know what happened to Isabella also..yes, it must be a very short book.
I am glad ITV is spending more on their newer productions..you can't do the period ones without the money.

[–] weaselfrance 14 years ago

We don't really find out what happens to Isabella in the book. She chucks James because she thinks Capt. Tilney is about to propose (she doesn't sleep with him in the book), Capt. T. leaves ignores Isabella after that because he was just messing her around for fun, Isabella tries to get James back via Catherine and fails. We don't hear more than that.

NA is my least favourite of Austen's books.

I agree, a tidy budget is essential for a good costume drama. The '07 version of Mansfield Park is pretty poor too!

He looks like what happens when you punch a cow!

[–] Julie-30 14 years ago

I agree that NA86 is a stinker, but I don't agree that you need a big budget to do things right. A very important thing is to have a good script. I'm sure Andrew Davies doesn't work cheap, and he wrote NA07. It could have been so much better, given the cast. But the script was just wrong. For example, wasn't the actors who decided to have Isabella sleep with Capt. Tilney -- it was Davies. Maybe if they'd gotten someone who understood the book better they'd have been able to afford Bath. After all, P07 could afford Bath (as could NA86) and that scriptwriter isn't as famous as Andrew Davies.

http://currentscene.wordpress.com/tag/jane-austen-odyssey/

[–] randommovies2002 14 years ago

I'm sure Andrew Davies doesn't work cheap, and he wrote NA07. [...] Maybe if they'd gotten someone who understood the book better they'd have been able to afford Bath.

Didn't they already own the script long before the concept for the Jane Austen Season came into being? IIRC, this is the same script that first showed up during the late 1990s, that was eventually purchased by Miramax so they could shelve it (presumably so they wouldn't have to compete with another UK-tv Jane Austen project, as they did with Emma in 1996). Then when their Mansfield Park film flopped they decided not to do anymore Austen projects, so no need to hang onto Davies's script for NA. They sold it to Granada IIRC, (which was eventually purchased by ITV-- and that's how they got the script).