Love and Friendship: A Movie Review

Jane Austen's wit and charm return to the big screen in the new feature Love and Friendship. This film was based on the novella Lady Susan by Jane Austen herself, and it it one of her later and not as well known projects. 

The title itself is decieving as you quickly discover when the story begins. Lady Susan is not what she appears to be. She has many faces and mannerisms that she believes are necessary to secure a comfortable and stable life. Despite her relations' opinions of her, Lady Susan continues to plot and she is quite determined to secure a husband for herself and her daughter Frederica. Her first focus is on the brother of her sister in law, Reginald DeCourcy. DeCourcy already knows of Lady Susan's reputation, but he falls despite himself. Meanwhile, Frederica, whom Lady Susan is determined to marry off to a lord she doesn't care for named Sir James Martin, begins to find a new sense of freedom among the company of Reginald DeCourcy and her aunt and uncle. While Lady Susan continues to pull the strings of the young men, Frederica begins to explore her talents as a singer, and her possibilities for the future. 

Will Frederica find what she is looking for, or will Lady Susan dominate the fortunes of all the cast in her wicked play? 

This film was a delight. It's only downfall was the introductions of the characters. They were extremely blunt, without dialogue scenes or audience perception. 

Here are some examples: 

Sir James Martin was the most comical character in the film. 

Reginald DeCourcy was the most intellectual and charming. 

Frederica was actually my favorite character, and the one I rooted for the entire film. 

All in all, I give the film four out of five cups of tea. 

The introductions were short, but a few were comical. The story itself was clever and the main characters were very interesting. 

Happy Birthday Jane Austen!

It's that time of year again, Jane Austen's birthday!

Jane Austen's storytelling has inspired various stories for years! 

The most recent tribute I've seen for Austen was in the TV show Girl Meets World: 

The Riley and Maya, in all their confusion over what happened in Texas, relate to the story Sense and Sensibility.

 "What is essential to the situation, my dear Maya, is to host a ball. A grand ball, a New Year’s Eve Ball. We shall invite all the eligible gentlemen of good (….) standing in the village." - Riley

This episode was so well written, and it foreshadowed possible events in their lives. 

In my opinion: Riley related to Marianne. Her crush on Lucas mirrors the affection that Marianne

 feels for Willoughby. The simple fact that she was only in love with the idea of him. And what about Farkle you ask? Why was he so hell bent on exposing her secret? 

Farkle relates to Colonel Brandon who is always there for Marianne, but she doesn't see that until Willoughby breaks her heart.  

Now, what about Maya? Maya relates to Elinor, who hides her true feelings for Edward for a long time. It's been obvious that Maya has tried to hide her feelings for Lucas since the beginning of the show. 

I loved the shout out to Jane Austen in this episode, and I thought the parallel was well done. 

Austen's works are timeless. 

Some of my favorite adaptions are of course the BBC Pride and Prejudicce: 

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries: 

And Emma Approved: 

Happy Austen Day Everyone! ^_^

Happy Birthday Jane Austen!

Today Jane Austen is remembered as a classic story teller, and rightfully so! Her stories are still  recognized today, and they have inspired many modern storytellers. Without Pride and Prejudice, we wouldn't have The Lizzie Bennet Diares. And without Emma, there would be no Emma Approved. 

In honor of Jane Austen, these are my favorite stories and characters. 

1. Persuasion: This is my favorite Jane Austen novel. It is a story about hope in spite of regret. Anne's journey from living under the shadow of expectations to discovering what she truly wants has inspired me to do the same. Captain Wentworth himself is charming, and his letter to Anne is the moment I remember most from the story. 

2. Emma: Despite many people not liking this character, I admire Emma's confidence. She does have faults, but she doesn't let her mistakes keep her from moving forward. Her obsession with matchmaking is a reflection of her desire to be useful. Mr Knightley is her confidante, and he is never afraid to point out when Emma is wrong. Mr Knightly is actually my favorite Austen hero. He is awkward and shows his concern for Emma by teasing her, and his lectures are based on his care for Emma. 

3. Pride and Prejudice: Elizabeth Bennet is such an amazing character. She is smart, brave, honest and follows her heart. Her story is entertaining. She won't settle, and she is determined to help her sister find happiness. Her fault is judging others, and once she meets Darcy, a new game comes into play. Both Elizabeth and Darcy view the world by judging others and believing that they are better than them. Their faults are challenged when they meet, because they mirror each other. This is what makes Pride and Prejudice such a charming story. Both Elizabeth and Darcy grow once they learn to look past their judgements and give people a chance. 

4.Northanger Abbey: Catherine is the ultimate daydreamer in Austenland. Her love of gothic novels and excitement causes her to lose sight of reality. I can relate to this. Being lost in a story, and wanting something exciting to happen I often have my head in the clouds. Mr. Tilney is also a silly person, and the siliest of Austen's heroes. His charm and happy go lucky attitude really compliments Catherine's romantization of the real world. The novel is charming because not only is it a satire, but it is also a great lesson not to let your imagination remove you from reality completely. 

Jane Austen's stories are wonderful commentaries on social life, the process of growing up and the ability to listen to your heart. 

Here are my favorite adaptions: 

BBC Pride and Prejudice

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

Bride and Prejudice

Persuasion (1998)

BBC Emma

Emma Approved

Aisha

Northanger Abbey (2007)

Which of Jane Austen's stories speak to you?

Austenland: A movie review

When one discovers that they have a particular obsession with Jane Austen novels, and an infatuation with the fictional character of William Darcy, it may be time to find a solution. For the rich, bored and clever woman, there is Austenland, a wonderous place filled with grand estates, a proper wardrobe and plenty of good looking men to partake with in witty conversation and dancing.  But for Jane Hayes, the world of Austen is a part of her identity, and she delights in dressing up, drinking tea and spending Saturday date nights with the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. 

Once her friend voices her opinion on this obsession with William Darcy, Jane forms a deal in which she will quit the fantasy after one last visit to the world of an Austenite. If she can look beyond the fantasy, Jane must remove William Darcy from her life all together. 

With this deal ever present in her mind, Jane encounters the world of Austenland, and she must discover the difference between reality and fantasy. 

If one enjoys the novels of Jane Austen, as well as the films that retell these charming stories, one will find Austenland amusing, clever and a good form of entertainment. From the exaggerated obession of Miss Hayes to the delightful quips related to the eighteen hundreds, this film is sure to communicate that feeling that fans of Austen know well from her stories. 

Will Jane conquer this humilating obsession? Will she find what she truly wants? The answer to these questions await you in Austenland.

I give this film a charming row of five fake pheseants.

Sense and Sensibility the musical: a review

As a member of the Jane Austen bookclub, I had the pleasure of viewing Sense and Sensibility the musical this evening. It was a delight! Not only was the dictation in good humor, but the songs themselves took the audience back to 18th century England where tea, gossip and status reign. The costumes were wonderful, from the elegant empire waistlines to the red coats of the regiment. My favorite song was "Awkward" because it was fun and very appropriate for the scene in the play where people in connected situations were put under the same roof. It was a fun show, and even though I asked for the soundtrack, they haven't made one yet, but they hope to make one in the future. 

I recommend the musical to any Jane Austen fan, because some of the dialouge was straight from the novel, and the songs fit in well with the way the story was told. The props were neat, from the hill they moved around the stage to the quaint window seat that overlooked the scenery. 

This was an excellent adaption of an Austen tale, with a light disposition and a witty script!

Happy Birthday Pride and Prejudice!

It's amazing that Pride and Prejudice as been universally acknowledged and appreciated for two hundred years! With its realistic characters and layered plot line, this book has been read and enacted over and over again.  It's one of my favorite classics and Elizabeth Bennet has to be one of the most clever and unique heroines in literature. From the adapted screenplay to the popular youtube series, this story is timeless.