Comments on: Which Version is Better? Persuasion Film Comparison

By: Shirl

Shirl — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 12:40:40 +0000

In reply to Ann. So true, a bit silly. The girls were always running also. I will watch any Jane Austin with glee. Casting of secondary characters not so good. I feel Alice Krige is more loving than Ms.Fleetwood. the sister Elizabeth in 1995 is absurd.

By: Ann

Ann — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 21:58:44 +0000

In reply to Lis K. Funny you mentioned that strange vaulting through the streets. What a runner she was. I started humming the theme to Chariots of Fire to myself then began cracking up ruining the drama of the moment.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 02:55:55 +0000

2007. She is a great actress and I can feel her hesitation over her choices then when she knows you really feel it!

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 17:05:48 +0000

I do enjoy both, but I really love the 2007 version. The only criticism of it is the running scene. I didn’t like that and it was so unnecessary when the novel is so sublime when he writes the letter to her. It was exquisite. I get that it’s a metaphor for her not letting anything get in her way when it came to Wentworth, but not needed.

The 1995 version is acted well, but I had a hard time with Ciaran walking around like he was on the deck of a ship. This was not typical. Men who were sailors would wear a Navy rosette on their hat when they were ashore and did not wear their uniform. He also seemed too old for the book. I liked that Anne but they made her look tooooo dowdy in the beginning – like she was a washer maid. It was distracting for me.

I do love the novel so much and I really connected to the 2007 version.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 04:00:50 +0000

Well, let’s just keep this discussion going for another seven years, shall we? The 1995 version is closest to the book. No one was a better author of this genre or as witty as Jane Austen so of course I want the film to be the closest to her work as possible. I’m also a history buff, so can’t stomach the sight of a respectable young woman of that period running through the streets. Ridiculous. I think the best adaptation was the 1995 Pride and Prejudice. They got the atmosphere of the times just right. I tried to watch the current version of Sanditon and it was awful. Just awful. Too much to go into here. Well, cheerio all!

By: Kiki Wilson

Kiki Wilson — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 02:21:00 +0000

In reply to Amber Topping. Great to see your reply. Oh I just read over what I wrote and I'm dying from all the typos. Never stay up all night and write at 7 am!

By: Amber Topping

Amber Topping — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 16:33:07 +0000

In reply to Kiki Wilson. Thanks for your thoughts. I agree that both versions have aspects that make them superior to the other.

By: Kiki Wilson

Kiki Wilson — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 14:20:12 +0000

I know I may be 6 years late on the conversation but was brought here seeing the trailer for the recent Netflix adaptation and becoming devastated. I own and have watched both the 2007 and 1995 versions and find specific parts of each superior to the other. Overall I like the 1995 version better. I’ll admit I’ve had a bit of a crush on Rupert Penry-Jones for years and can’t help but swoon inwardly even when he angrily looks at Anne. The 2007 version is for me too explicit with the pining between Anne and Fred, which I actually liked for Fred with the stares when Anne is not looking but not for me with Anne and the crying and diary additions (maybe I just like a broody man). Also the scene where she is running up and down Bath and at the end when she says “I am determined” I don’t know I just hate it. I even hate how long it took the two of them to kiss and the look on her face. She just looked silly. The side characters were not as charming and some were just unfunny caricatures. However I think the intrigue with the father, Anne’s sister’s companion and Anne’s awooing cousin. For the 1995 version portrayal of Anne was pitch perfect for me. she wasn’t too meek and seemed to have blossomed as the movie progressed. You could see how dependable she was and how witty and charming she could be making is clear how one could fall in love with her. Anne in the 2007 version was just pitiful. She stumbled over her words so often and to me was too meek. Finally the reveal of the letter and when Anne read it was much better than 2007, no silly breathless running. The kiss at the end–appropriate. Fred coming to the evening party to announce the engagement much to the chagrin of William Elliot couldn’t be better.

By: Deanna

Deanna — Sun, 17 Jul 2022 19:18:06 +0000

In reply to Erica. I hated Anne's (Sally's) hair in the later version. It was always slicked back in some weird gel/hairspray bun that was completely unflattering and frankly difficult to imagine for the times.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 15:11:24 +0000

In reply to Jim.

Jim, I agree that the 1995 version is great (I’ve yet to see the 2007, but will), but IN NO WAY is that flush-deck ship, with Ciaran and Amanda cuddling and gazing into the sunset, supposed to be the Victory. The latter was a First-rate multi-deck ship of the line; it’s the ship Nelson sailed on at Trafalgar. Wentworth was a frigate captain. You may have noted, too, that at the dinner where Anne Elliot gets reacquainted with Wentworth, one of the Musgrove girls looks up his ship in a register. The movie has her mention the Laconia, supposedly a 74-gun “frigate”. Please. Someone should have caught that. A “74” was, as Jack Aubrey fans know, a third rate, but NOT a frigate.
Are these quibbles, I suppose so, but it’s no less damning than having a lady run foot races through the streets of Bath or insisting that 10% of the actors in a period drama be gay, or recasting Sense and Sensibility with sea monsters. You can do it, but just admit you’re doing damage to the original material.