1995 Persuasion Review

 
I have to admit that when I first saw this adaptation of Persuasion I did not like it at all.  All I could remember about it was Amanda Roots deer in headlights look throughout the entire movie.  I was sorry that I purchased the DVD.  I decided to watch it again a few weeks later and the second time was the charm.  I enjoy watching this version of Persuasion now.  I find the storyline of this version is easier to follow than the 2007 version.  Everyone of the supporting cast did a great job as well.  This version I find to be much more moving than the 2007 movie.     

Ciaran Hinds is perfect as Captain Frederick Wentworth.  He has the windswept look of a man who has spent years at sea.  Some people feel that Ciaran was too old to play Captain Wentworth.  At the time that this movie was filmed Ciaran was ten years older than what Captain Wentworth would be at the time he returned from the sea.  The ten year difference does show and I found it to be a little disconcerting when I watched this the first time.  Now it doesn't bother me.     

     Ciaran Hinds as Captain Frederick Wentworth

Amanda Root is Anne Eliot.  Her interpretation of the character is more docile than Sally Hawkins' version but I still enjoyed her in the role.  Amanda Root has very large expressive eyes.  

The supporting cast is also very good.  Sophie Thompson who plays Anne's married sister Mary Musgrove does a superb job.  Mary is jealous of Anne and she is also eccentric.
 

After over hearing a conversation that Anne is having with another man Captain Wentworth decides to write a letter to Anne revealing that after all the years that have passed his love for her has remained constant.  It is one of the most beautiful love letters to ever.

 Captain and Mrs. Frederick Wentworth

 

2007 Persuasion Movie Review

This afternoon I saw for the first time the 2007 television version of Persuasion.  Rupert Penry-Jones stars as Captain Wentworth and Sally Hawkins stars as Anne Eliot.  I am not a fan of this version at all.  I wanted to love it, but I feel that the storyline was rushed which did not do justice to it.  I also did not find this version as moving as the one that was done in 1995 starring Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root.

Rupert Penry-Jones is handsome, but he does not look like the windswept Captain Wentworth would look after spending so many years at sea.  In this version of Persuasion Anne and the Captain hardly speak to one another throughout the entire movie.

 

Sally Hawkins portrays Anne Eliot.  She did a good job playing Anne.  I like Amanda Root too but Sally Hawkin's interpretation of Anne was a little bit more animated which I liked.     

   

 

If I had not read the book I would have been confused watching this movie.  It really needed to slow down.  There are scenes near the end where Anne is running through Bath that many people who saw this movie did not like.  It really didn't  bother me, but it would be highly unlikely that a woman during this time period would be running like a bat out of hell through Bath like that.  

I read someplace online a few months ago that Captain Wentworths Letter is not included in this version.  That is not correct.  The Letter is included. but it is done differently and not as effectively.  This is when you see Anne running through town.  When Anne finally catches up with Captain Wentworth to accept his second proposal they kiss but it was lame.  Richard Armitage should have shown them how to do it.  The kiss at the end of the BBC North & South is the best onscreen kiss ever.

 

Captain Wentworth's Diary

I probably would not have read this book without reading about its recommendation in the Jane Austen group on Goodreads.  I am so glad I read it.  I loved it!  It is so nice to read Persuasion completely through Captain Wentworth's eyes.  The author Amanda Grange did a wonderful job.

Captain Wentworth is so mature and only wants to marry for love.  The Captain's love for Anne is constant.  Regardless of his pride and doubts the Captain continues to move forward to regain the love of his life.  I love Captain Wentworth more than Mr. Darcy.  This book is a very easy read too because it is written in diary style.

5 Stars     

Persuasion

Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen novel.

The first thing that I love about Persuasion is that the heroine is not a very young seventeen year old girl being pursued by a man much older man which is usually the case with romance novels taking place during this time period.  Anne Eliot is the heroine and she is eight and twenty years old.  The hero is naval officer Captain Frederick Wentworth and he is thirty one years old.

 Amanda Root plays Anne Eliot in the 1995 version of Persuasion

  Ciaran Hinds plays Captain Wentworth

Amanda and Ciaran represent their characters well.

The happy couple actually met when Anne was 19 and Frederick was 23.  They fell in very deeply in love and Anne excepted Frederick's marriage proposal.  However, on advice from family friend Lady Russell, Anne changed her mind.  Lady Russell convinced Anne that it was not a suitable match because at the time Frederick had no money and was considered of inferior birth.

 Frederick was devastated and sailed off to fight in the Napoleonic war.  Anne soon afterwards regrets turning away the man she loves.

Persuasion begins eight years later when the war is over.  Captain Wentworth returns as a decorated war hero and much richer. Captain Wentworth's love for Anne remained constant all those years that he was away and he still loves her but is also still feeling the sting of her rejection.

You will have to read the book to find out how The Captain makes his way back into Anne's life and writes her the most beautiful love letter known to man.

Anne is a very lucky gal

5 Stars 

Captain Wentworth's Love Letter

OMG, I just finished reading the book Persuasion by Jane Austen.  That Captain Frederick Wentworth puts Mr. Darcy to shame.  The love letter that Captain Wentworth wrote to Anne Eliot sent wonderful shivers through my whole body.  It is the most romantic and moving love letters I ever read.  Here it is word for word in Jane Austen's Persuasion.

I can listen no longer in silence.  I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach.  You pierce my soul.  I am half agony, half hope.  Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever.  I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight and a half years ago.  Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death.  I have loved none but you.  Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant.  You alone have brought me to Bath.  For you alone I think and plan.  Have you not seen this?  Can you fail to have understood my wishes?  I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine.  I can hardly write.  I am every instant hearing something which over powers me.  You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others.  Too good, too excellent creature!  You do us justice, indeed.  You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men.  Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating in F.W.

I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall return hither, or follow your party, as soon as possible.  A word, a look, will be enough to decide whether I enter your father's house this evening or never.

Love Letter written to Miss Anne Eliot from Captain Frederick Wentworth

The Book

 Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds portraying Anne Eliot and Captain Wentworth in the 1995 film Persuasion.

 Actor, Ciaran Hinds

 Actress Amanda Root

1995 Film version

Rupert Penry-Jones and Sally Hawkins as Captain Wentworth and Anne Eliot in the 2008 film adaptation of Persuasion.

 Actor Rupert Penry-Jones

Rupert Penry-Jones and Sally Hawkins

 Actress Sally Hawkins

2008 film adaptation of Persuasion

I have seen the 1995 film version but not the 2008 one.  The 1995 version was good but not a  great.  Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds look fabulous as the hero and heroine, but I found Mr. Hinds to be a bit stiff.  He could have been much more passionate, like Matthew MacFadyen was as Mr. Darcy.  Ciaran Hinds also appears to be a tad older than Captain Wentworth is in the book, but he still was a close match.  Mr. Hinds had that tanned and windswept look that a man who spent years at sea would have.    I would like to see Richard Armitage portraying Captain Wentworth.  OMG, I would LOVE IT!!!

I enjoyed reading Persuasion even though it went on and one a bit longer than I would really like.  Captain Wentworth doesn't finally let go and reveal his true feelings until close to the end.  It was definitely worth it but the lead up to it tried my patience a bit. 

 Captain Wentworth writing his love letter to Anne.