Lovers of Jane Austin novels are always happy to see their favorite story brought to the screen again. But when a movie totes itself as the all new adaptation of Emma, you expect it to bring something new to the story. The 1815 novel has brought to the movies a few times before and to television multiple other times as well. With the strong female lead that gets in her own way and that of others when it comes to love, who eventually finds her way to repair any damage she caused as well as finding love that has been in front of her eyes the whole time.
The new Focus Features adaptation of Emma does give viewers a beautiful version of the movie, with period outfits, beautiful scenery and a new cast. But like many of the other projects that Focus works on, it is only going to appeal to a very small audience. The story is the same and while the period accuracy is there, that isn’t enough to bring in a large crowd.
Although this newest version of Emma is being billed as “reimagined” it seems to just join a long line of stories that have come out in the last few years. While the story stays the same, a more modern update of the 1815 story that viewers can relate to may have been a safe gamble when it comes to theaters. The last modern adaption of Emma was Clueless in the mid-nineties – which even younger audience could relate to now than this new version.
But even with that in mind, if you are into classic literature and movies that allow you to slip back in time Emma may be the movie that you want enjoy. The lush scenery and layers of fabric on every character may be what you want to see. While we enjoyed the movie over all, it is just the same story told over again and doesn’t seem to add anything new, and we left that it was just the story of Emma, again.
About Emma:
Jane Austen’s beloved comedy about finding your equal and earning your happy ending is reimagined in this delicious new film adaptation of EMMA. Handsome, clever, and rich, Emma Woodhouse is a restless queen bee without rivals in her sleepy little town. In this glittering satire of social class and the pain of growing up, Emma must adventure through misguided matches and romantic missteps to find the love that has been there all along.