Persuasion : Complete ITV Adaptation [2007] [DVD]

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
The work of Jane Austen is being confidently mined by filmmakers at the moment, and IPersuasion/I is the latest to be visited. And while there are some fair issues raised about just how faithful the film is to the source material, it’s nonetheless a lavish and enjoyable take on Austen’s story, with much to admire. P Much of the reason as to why this version of IPersuasion/I works well lies with its talented cast. Rupert Penry-Jones, for instance, tackles the role of Captain Wentworth with skill, and Sally Hawkins too gives a performance to be admired. Backed by a primarily good supporting cast, the romantic drama is both watchable and engaging. P Inevitably, parallels are going to be drawn with the similarly strong 1995 television adaptation, and the truth is that some will favour one, some will favour the other. For our money, the earlier version just about nudges it, but the two takes on IPersuasion/I both have enough ideas of their own to make them suitable companion pieces. P Diligently directed and suitably lavish to look at, IPersuasion/I then shows little sign of dampening the enthusiasm for bringing Austen to screens of all sizes. And on the basis of the charming 93 minutes on offer here, that’s no bad thing at all. --IJon Foster/I

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Customer reviews

review by: deb tB date: 2009-06-24 rating:
Jane Austen
Another brilliant adaptation. The actors have been cast superbly and do a wonderful job, and the atmosphere created throughout the movie pulls you right in! Highly recommend!

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review by: date: 2009-04-24 rating:
Captain My Captain!!
The most wonderful thing abt this version of Persuasion is the deliciously divine and utter heart-throb that is Rupert Penry-Jones!! He is the perfect romantic hero!! So much passion under that cool exterior! I love love love love love his style of acting. He is so compelling to watch! No other actor has the ability to say so much simply by his presence (maybe Colin Firth as Mr Darcy)!! And those fine eyes! Sigh. He is perfection! I could watch him all day! br / br /Ciaran Hinds, in the 1995 version, is equally good but I cannot help but prefer RPJ. He is the more elegant, the more refined and the more dashing! This in large part must be due to the much improved costume! How hideously ill-fitting were the ones which Ciaran Hinds (and Amanda Roots) had the misfortune to wear! Thank God we didn't have to watch the men wearing beige sacks for pants! RPJ has never looked so handsome and sexy than in his superfine Regency costume. Who knew a man could look so sexy in cravats and top boots! Never thought I'd see sideburns look so good on a man! Watching him in Spooks certainly does not have quite the same sigh-inducing effect. br / br /Sally Hawkins is a fantastic actress. She plays the part of Anne Elliot so compellingly! She had me in tears!! However, I don't think Anne Elliot has ever been properly represented. She is neither dowdy (Amanda Roots) nor desperate (Sally Hawkins)! Why on earth did Simon Burke (the screenwriter) sent her running around all over Bath like a hoyden! So unbecoming and completely out of character! I wish Sally Hawkins had played Anne with more refinement and elegance instead of forever having her mouth either gawking or gaping! And she looked so stupid in that ridiculously hideous straw hat!! Urgh! I have never wanted to murder a thing more! Seeing her without it is no relief since her hairdo is equally offensive!! It has never made any sense to me why she would have been allowed and managed to get away with dressing so shabbily by her father - who is after all notoriously fastidious abt associating with only the best-looking company. br / br /In both adaptations, Anne Elliot's portrayed as always nervously unsure, timid and inelegant. But there is more depth to her character than any adaptations have managed (or bothered) to present. Where is the sweetness that so captivated Captain Wentworth?? There is hardly any enough evidence of her intelligence either! Argh! But who knew Anne's talent is in medicine, from being an accomplished bone-setter (when little Charles broke his collarbone) to a trauma nurse (Louisa's cracked skull). How convenient! But sorry, I don't buy it! br / br /I cannot like the liberties which Simon Burke has taken with the characters and storyline. I can understand the need to inject the dramatic, energy and tension (aka giving it a new spin!) but surely not by sacrificing the integrity of the book. For instance, why was it necessary for the "kissing" scene to be so protracted and with poor Anne stretching so (talk about tension!) and looking an absolute desperado! I did not expect Wentworth still to be so cool after such a declaration of love! It makes no sense! br / br /The worst and most baffling character is Mary, who instead of being shallow and harmlessly selfish, is ridiculously stupid and annoyingly bafoonish. The actor playing Mr Elliot is so wooden he just sounded so ridiculous! How is such a person to be taken seriously? Surely Wentworth deserves a more worthy nemesis! The Musgroves are slim and refine - the complete opposite of their characters in the book. Also disappointing were Admiral Croft and Mrs Croft - so boring (Fiona Shaw (in the 1995 version) was superb as Mrs Croft)! I didn't think she looked remotely related to Wentworth! Stumpy and coarse-looking when Wentworth is so very tall and dashing!! br / br /The absolute offense must be the ending - Wentworth buying Kellynch Hall for Anne!! Why??? How completely and utterly absurd! br / br /There are some things different in this adaptation that are really good - we get to see Wentworth and Harville's friendship which gives the film depth and charm it sorely needed. I wish there were more moments of originality like this. Much of the film copies the 1995 adaptation (hence the kissing in the middle of the street!!), but with a lot more of the plots and characters simplified or left out. Resulting most unfortunately, the film looking clumsy, rushed and lacking in substance! Thank God for RPJ as Captain Wentworth or this film would surely have sunk!

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review by: date: 2009-04-18 rating:
I was persuaded
While I think that the actress who plays Anne is not as pretty as she might be, the Captain is, I think, appropriately cautious and naive. I think this version is beautifully done but rather skimps on the br /text a bit. Of course, the book itself leaves a lot of the "intrigue" of the young Mr Elliot and the vanity br /of the older to ones imaginations (as they are seen and described by Anne after all) I did think that br /the role played by Anne's friend was rather downplayed. I did not like her "running through Bath" after br /the Captain, either. Seemed rather un lady-like, as much as you would want her to make sure br /she gets him. His smile is worth the whole DVE.

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review by: date: 2009-04-17 rating:
Thank you
Arrived in great timing - before mothers day so mum got her gift on time - I was very grateful. Thanks


review by: jacquihogan date: 2009-04-12 rating:
A curates egg
Being a fan of both Rupert PJ and Anthony Head, I was inclined towards enjoying this adaptation. Neither of them disappointed, especially Anthony Head who will forever BE Sir Walter for me. His air was a perfect study in self centered arrogance. RPJ was not wind roughened enough in my view, but he's RPJ so I forgive him! Most of the other characters were exceptional e.g. Mary, the scenery was great, the costumes were lovely. br / br /BUT.... br / br /And its a big but! Why, oh why did Sally Hawkins constantly have her mouth hanging open like some gormless fish? She otherwise looked great and acted fine, but her mouth hanging open made me think she was about to drool. Totally offputting. And what happened to the ending? Jane Austen wrote a perfectly good romantic ending to this story, with the passing of the letter etc. and what did they do. They rewrote it, and replaced it with an unescorted Anne running around Bath like a harridan, which she would never do. This spoiled the film for me. Finally, didn't they think anyone would notice the geography of Bath was all wrong? I know the Crescent looks nice, but it just wouldn't be on her route! br / br /A potentially great film spoiled for the lack of a little attention to editing and the arrogance to think they could write a better ending. br /

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