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| from Persuasion (2007) |
For this post (because I've changed the movie viewing requirements, your comments will be due at the regular time of Tuesday, 9 a.m.) please discuss one of the major differences between the visual and written text of Book I. It can be a specific scene, a specific character's development, or any other aspect that lends itself to written comments. After briefly summarizing the difference (in just a few lines), explain how the movie adaptation alters your understanding and interaction with the original written text, and then comment briefly on whether you believe the adaptation does justice to the original narrative. As always, include textual evidence with page references.
One of the biggest differences that stands out to me when comparing the two works is the obvious stress on the relationship between Anne and Captain Frederick Wentworth in the movie. I understand that romance is a key factor that helps sell tickets at the box office, but I can only see how it hinders the portrayal of the book in the case of the 2007 film adaption of Persuasion. There are many examples in the movie of additions to the script for this purpose such as the instance where Anne falls on the walk to Winthrop and Wentworth comes to her rescue. For this example, I do not understand why they could not just include the scene on page 74 in the novel, where Wentworth pulls one of Mary's children off Anne's back. I believe both provide the same fundamental material for a romantic base, yet one does not exist in the initial source.
ReplyDeleteOne specific example I wanted to deal with is right at the end of the fifth part of the movie after Wentworth informs the Musgrove's of their daughter Louisa's misfortune. The two works provide the same moment in striking contrast. In the novel, the whole ordeal lasts three short paragraphs on page 109, consisting of Wentworth asking Anne for her opinion about his approach on telling the news and then a brief description of Wentworth's leave back to Lyme. Wentworth does not talk to Anne further after his question before he departs. As far as the book is concerned, nothing else is revealed about the two's relationship at this time. However, the movie adaption provides quite a different perspective on this scene. After Wentworth leaves the house, he comes back towards Anne down the walk with the intention on returning to Lyme. Yet instead of leaving as the book decrees, Wentworth and Anne have a private conversation. Here they discuss how Anne is returning to Bath, to which Wentworth expresses his surprise verbally. His body language also conveys disappointment. Wentworth comments on a memory he has of Anne disliking Bath, which allows viewers to see he is recognizing their past together. He also agrees to send news to Anne about Louisa's condition. The movie makes an insignificant part of the book, a very significant step for these two characters.
As I have not yet read into Volume II, it could be quite possible that the screenplay writers are trying to catch the relationship up so they can eliminate other scenes ahead; however, the book and the movie are in stark disagreement. I believe the movie adaption completely alters my understanding of the true relationship between the characters. For selfish purposes, Hollywood has altered a famous story to be in their eyes more "likeable." I understand the reasons, but do not believe that a great work like this should be compromised for those purposes. I also do not believe that justice has been done for the book. Guaranteed, I am not stating that I believe every scene, action, and dialogue component be used, but as I stated before, why choose to add new conflicts like the one on the walk when there is perfectly good substance in the pages already? There are scenes that can be removed, but the book should be able to keep its integrity.
I was able to recognize many differences between the text and the movie. I think, however, that these differences were primarily among character development and less about individual differences in particular scenes throughout the movie. I do believe that the producer of the movie did a good job following the book, even using quotes verbatum from the book throughout the production.
ReplyDeleteThe primary difference that I noticed was the difference of Anne's character in the movie. In the book, there were many times where I felt that Anne was very timid, and like Crystal explained in class I felt the need to shake Anne, and tell her to stand up for herself. However, in the movie I believe that Anne is portrayed as a very strong character. Although she is timid, every move is perfectly calculated and thoughtful. Her character is strong and her mannerisms are beautiful and graceful. In the book, I thought Anne's character was very conflicting. She may have appeared to have been walked all over, but not in the movie. I think this particular change benefits a person watching the movie because Anne is a little bit less confusing. The version used within the story is beneficial to the story reader, because the reader is consistently pondering the internal feelings of Anne. Being able to view Anne's expressions and mannerisms, make Anne easier to understand in the movie, at least for myself personally.
I thought being able to see the movie and visualize the characters, made me understand better the period that Anne lived in. The dress of the characters was so elegant, and was something that may have been more difficult to capture within the book. I believe seeing the men in long suits, and women in their dresses, made me visualize better the place that women held in society when this book was being written. This alone could perhaps help the reader have a better understanding of Anne compared to in the book. Anne's timidness and gentleness was probably greatly reflected by the action and character of women during this time. Overall, I enjoy the book better because it is more thought provoking, but seeing the movie helped me to better analyze the intentions of each character, in particular Anne.
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ReplyDeleteLast week, we discussed Anne’s “penchant” for helping people and whether she did so to avoid conflict or simply because it was part of her personality. After reading the book, I wasn’t quite sure which notion was a more accurate description of Anne, but watching the movie has definitely swayed me towards the latter.
ReplyDeleteSeeing Anne “in action” in the movie really made me feel as though she’s a “people-pleaser” by nature; this idea is especially noticeable in the scenes where Anne acts as a doctor. In the movie, Anne is portrayed as a very capable person, as someone who simply knows how to do things well. In the emergency situations where Mary’s son dislocates his collarbone and where Louisa falls at Lyme (in the book, these scenes occur in chapters 7 and 12, respectively), Anne springs to action immediately. It is evident in her swiftness of manner that she knows precisely what she is doing and that she is doing it because it’s all she knows how to do, not because she wants to avoid chaos and keep everyone else calm. She seems genuinely concerned about the welfare of the injured person in both scenes.
Because I was able to finally make a decision about Anne and her motives for helping others, I feel that the movie does in fact do justice to the text; it made it easier for me to see how Anne presents herself in her interactions with others. Although there are countless interpretations of the narrative and there is a possibility that the movie may not portray Anne quite as Jane Austen intended, the film presents Anne in a believable and realistic way; the movie appears credible and lends itself well as a useful supplement to the narrative.
After watching the first five parts of the 2007 Persuasion film, I would have to agree with the earlier posts that there are many differences between the movie and book. Although some of the differences are only slight differences, but whenever a book is made into a movie, one has to expect these differences. Like Crystal referred to in class earlier this week, the movie will progress a little quicker because they are trying to fit a two hundred plus page book into a two hour movie.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading though the earlier blog posts, I would have to completely agree with Amber Gottfried in that Anne’s character is portrayed in a different light then that of the book. A scene that really caught my attention was the conversation between Anne and Lady Russell in part one. Anne starts the conversation by presenting the relation between Mrs. Croft and Captain Fredrick Wentworth as being brother and sister then referring to her “blind” mistake of her breaking off her engagement to Captain Wentworth. Anne does not directly blame Lady Russell, but admits that she was excessively persuaded to do something that she did not fully agree with. I wish Anne would have blamed Lady Russell a bit more in the movie, but she just did not seem to have the heart to. Where as in the book, it seem that this situation was only briefly touched on and Anne seemed more content with the heavy persuasion from Lady Russell.
Again like Amber said, Anne’s character in the movie seems stronger in the way that she tries harder to defend herself. I did enjoy viewing all the characters thus far in order to have a good visualization in my head as I read on, and I do feel that the movie did do the book justice. Overall, I thought that the movie portrayed each character as how they are in the book, and also I do not think the movie altered my perceptions from the book and I even thoroughly enjoyed many scenes from the movie that I remembered reading word-for-word out of the book.
Scott Evenson
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the film and reading the book I felt that the film portrayed the bitterness Wentworth felt for Anne much more than the book did and it didn’t seem like he ever started to warm up to her again. In particular scenes of the movie Frederick is a not so ready to acknowledge Anne.
In part 2 Anne is looking at different dresses in a not very excited fashion while Mary is running up the stairs insisting they must not keep the Crofts waiting. When little Charles is hurt Anne says that she will stay and take care of him. In the book the boy is hurt a day or so previous. From a movie viewing perspective it seems like Anne takes the opportunity to avoid dinner with Frederick’s family while in the book I felt that she does it to keep Mary from complaining. She deliberately makes the choice to stay home but in the book the decision is made for her by her sister. In part 4 Frederick introduces the Miss Musgroves and “Miss Elliot” and says Miss Elliot as if he’d rather not say the name. He just doesn’t seem to have good memories about Anne. Throughout the movie it seems that Frederick is always bitter even towards the end of part 5. In the book, however, there are flashing glances that show that he’s coming round again. When Anne runs into Mr. Elliot Frederick thinks “that man is struck with you – and even I, at this moment, see something like Anne Elliot again,” (Page 97). I never got a sense of him returning to his past feelings in the movie.
The movie is a bit different from the book but it definitely does it justice. Anne’s expressions say so much about how she is feeling. Maybe reading the book before watching these parts gives more background and context the expressions of Anne and Frederick that say so much but the movie definitely shows the effects the broken engagement has had on both of them.
After watching all parts from Book I, I must admit that my take on the movie version is very similar to those of others. Since the movie & book are centered around Anne Elliot and her experiences, I feel it is only natural for us to compare the book version of her with the movie version. While other characters seem to act slightly different, her behaviors are the most noticeable.
ReplyDeleteJudging Book I as a whole, I would have to agree that the movie and book significantly contrast in their depiction of the relationship between Anne & Captain Wentworth. After reading the book, I felt as if Wentworth had moved on and left all feelings of affection towards Anne behind. For example, while in Lyme (Chapters 11 and 12) he seems to spend all of his time with Louisa and even Anne becomes "hardened to being in his company" and "the interchange of the common civilities attending on it - (they never got beyond) was become a mere nothing." (pg. 93) With the entrance of Captain Benwick at this point in the novel, it seems as if Anne may have found a new love affair herself.
However, in the movie, Anne plays a young woman who is still after Captain Wentworth's heart even after 8 years. And from his brief comments and subtle movements (offering to sit with her after she falls, speaking highly of her in regards to Louisa's accident, etc.) one is inclined to think that he is still smitten too. The movie leaves out much of the interactions that occur in Lyme, especially between Louisa and Captain Wentworth. Their relationship does not seem to be as built up as it is in the book.
I have read most of Book II at this point so I am hoping that that is not skewing my perspective. I did enjoy the movie version, despite its subtle differences to the book (and in all practicality, no movie follows a book exactly). A good movie rendition of a book helps me to visualize the characters and the setting, as this one does. You can, of course, always visualize a story in your head but seeing it on screen gives it a sense of reality. I do not think that the creators of this film changed the plot significantly at all, rather played it out in its true fashion...and that is importance given the history of this book.
A major difference between the movie and the novel is the time spent on different scenes. In the beginning the movie, there is not real introduction to the characters and it is not until Anne is telling Lady Russell what is happen does she know why the family is leaving Kellynch Hall. In the novel, Lady Russell is a part of the discussion about what the Elliots are supposed to do with because of their financial situation. She helps draw out plans of economy for the family. (p. 12-17). The book spends more time than the movie on what the Elliots are supposed to do because they are in their final situation till they decided to have someone rent the hall till they leave for bath (p. 12-24). However, the movie is able to accomplish this is all in about one scene. Another difference between the movie and book is what they focus on. The movie focuses more on the love of Anne and Wentworth. It never shows directly of Anne’s thoughts about wanting to have a greater since of belonging with her family. On page 39, Anne is thinking about how she wishes that she has the same affection with her sisters are the Musgrove siblings have with each other and on p. 85-86 Anne is admiring the love the Crofts have for each other in the way the drive a carriage together. In the movie the audience can sense that Anne that does not fit in with her family but there is nothing that comes from the mouth of Anne saying her feelings on the matter.
ReplyDeleteFor the most part i think that the movie does the book justice. I do think, however, that there are some differences in the ways the characters develop in the book versus the movie.
ReplyDeleteTo me Anne in the book is much more of a push over then she is portrayed in the movie. In the book she seems more willing to except what others want for her even though it might contradict what she wants for her self. I feel like the movie portrays Anne as a stronger person. She is still not going to be a commanding presence, but she is more willing to fight for her self in the movie then the book. Anne is much more capable person in the movie, she is very calm and thinks things through in each situation that she encounters. I feel like the book portrays her as someone who needs to be told what to do, i just dont get that in the movie.
Another difference i see is the relationship between Wentworth and Anne. The movie makes it appear that both are still interested in each other. This comes out when Wentworth talks about Anne's actions during the Louisa's accident. The book makes it seem that Wentworth for the most part is over Anne.
There are going to be differences between a book and a movie. The fact that they are different mediums requires that they present the same material in different ways. Each one is able to enlighten certain elements while limited on others. The area where this stands out the most to me is when they are in the glen and Mary says to Capt. Wentworth "It is very unpleasent having such connexions! I assure you, I have never been in the house above twice in my life." The book makes the Capt's response clear. He is appaled by her behavior. He gives her a "scornful" look. The movie barely shows his face at all during the interaction. I did not get the feeling that he was even unhappy about her words. I feel the medium of film could have done a great deal more with his reaction in order to let the audience know how he felt.
ReplyDeleteI feel the changes in the film did alter the overall story in the book but no more than would be expected given how each medium functions. Overall, I found it to stay loosely true to the character of the story.
In the film adaptation of the book there seem to be many more lingering glances passed between Wentworth and Anne. One part that especially stuck out to me was at the very end of part 5. Mr. Wentworth asks Anne if she approves of his plan to break the news to the Musgroves alone and Anne says "I do." It recalls a time before the book began, when Anne hoped to say this to Wentworth in an entirely different context.
ReplyDeleteIn the book it is simply said that "she did" think that it was a good plan (109).
Also, Anne and Wentworth have a sizable conversation in the last seconds of the film version that does not exist in the text. In this exchange Anne admits that she is going to Bath and Wentworth recalls that she dislikes Bath. Anne reassures him that she will be in good company.
The viewer gets the feeling that Wentworth cares for Anne more than he will admit and that they might end up together after all. However, the impression I have from the book right now is that Anne will end up with the younger Mr. Elliot who is destined to inherit her father's estate. At the beginning of the book I hoped that Wentworth and Anne would reconcile and get engaged again, but while reading I've changed my mind and think Elliot would be an ever better catch. Maybe the book and the movie versions have different endings?
Anne's sister Mary is indeed a goof in the book, but she is absolutely ridiculous in the movie. In the movie, the way Mary talks and carries herself is infinitely annoying and I hate to see Anne bending to her every wish. But in the book when Anne bits the bullet for the sister it only shows Anne's maturity and wisdom in contrast to her sister's immaturity and shallowness.
I think that the movie and the book are both entertaining in different ways. I love the costumes and scenery in the movie, but the mood is so much darker than it is in the book. I'm excited to see the resolution of both of them.
The biggest difference I could notice in the book from the movie like others said above was the stress of the central relationship of Anne and Wentworth. There were two scenes that struck me as more clearly portrayed or defined in the movie rather than the book. In the movie, the instance when they are at the dinner table and Wentworth both talks of his not even considering marriage while still in service and also the part when he made the obvious passive aggressive pass at Anne by saying the only thing he wants in a women is that she is strong willed by herself and not persuaded by other people. First of all, it was Anne that broke off their engagement that was devastation to Wentworth. Although Anne guesses right when she talks of Wentworth’s feelings of her (p. 57) he never comes out to say anything openly against Anne at least not to her family or while Anne is present. In fact, the only time Wentworth speaks of Anne it is positive like the instance where he wants Anne to take care of Louisa because she is the most caring and responsible (107). I also found it humorous in the respect that I can see it happening today in any context; when Anne is formally introduced to Captains’ Benwick and Harville and they give her then Wentworth a look based on what Wentworth must have said about her in their navy days. The tension/ longing between the two is much more noticeable and like Amy suggested perhaps is foreshadowing a renewal of feelings both characters seem to still have toward each other. The changes for the movie were made to get more entertainment value, but I think the alterations don’t rob the book of any of its initial value but just makes all the dialogue and feelings more prominent than they are presented as in the book.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be the typical consensus that overall the movie does a very good job of portraying the book and sticking to the book. However, I disagree slightly, I think that right at the beginning you don’t get as much out of the movie as you do from the book and therefore, I would like to talk about the opening scenes of both the movie and the book. In the book, we get a very good knowledge of what Sir Elliot thinks of all of his daughters and perhaps his wife and in the very beginning of the movie we see none of this. We do get to see some of the family’s dis-contempt for Anne when they are discussing how to get out of debt but I feel that we don’t get to really see how her father feels for her.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, in the opening scene of the book we see Anne’s father, Sir Walter Elliot, looking at the Baronetage, which we are told is the history of his family. It is said that he “was a man who, for his own amusement, never took up any book but the Baronetage; there he found occupation for an idle hour, and consolation in a distressed one…” (Pg. 5), this shows us how important this book is to him and then we get to see into his mind and how he thinks of his daughters. “For one daughter, his eldest, he would really have given up anything…”(Pg.7), “Elizabeth had succeeded, at sixteen, to all that was possible, of her mother’s rights and consequence; and being very handsome, and very like himself, her influence had always been great, and they had gone on together most happily.”(Pg.7), “His two other children were of very inferior value. Mary had acquired a little artificial importance, by becoming Mrs. Charles Musgrove; but Anne…was nobody with either father or sister: her word had no weight; her convenience was always to give way; -- She was only Anne.” (Pg.7). I feel that here we get a real feel for how Sir Elliot feels of his daughter and maybe what he thought of his wife. I think that also here, we, as was stated in last week’s blog, can maybe think, if we had read nothing else about this novel before starting it, that Anne is not the main character. I just feel that this scene is a good opener to the book because we are given details we may not have otherwise known.
Secondly, in the movie we start with a scene that is absolutely nothing like the book. We start off with a shot of Anne’s face and she appears to be bothered or worried. Then Anne proceeds to walk through the house seemingly taking inventory of their belongings. She seems flustered and then she looks out the window to see a carriage pulling in. As you can already see there is nothing in common with the two scenes at all. Of course the movie scene continues on but I believe that I have already made my point.
I do not think these very different beginnings alter my understanding of the original text; however, I do think that it alters my interaction with it. The movie just makes me feel, as most made from books do, that it is lacking in detail. I am a detail person and I like to know someone’s thoughts and how they are feeling and as we discussed in class last week, that is just hard to portray well, if at all, in a movie. This makes me want to read the book more closely to prevent my missing of details that, when I have watched the full movie, I can say were different. Also, I do not believe the opening scene of the movie does justice to that of the book. As I have said, I just feel that the book gives us some additional perspective of Anne’s father’s feelings toward her which are left lacking in the movie. I think that this was very important to understand because I think it helps you to understand why Anne maybe is the way that she is, but obviously it was too hard to do properly or Hollywood just didn’t put quite the importance on it that I seem to have done.
There are obviously going to be major differences when you are converting a book into a movie. In this case, the relationship between Anne and Captain Wentworth stood out the most to me. I may have a biased opinion because I am a girl and love over thinking relationships but the differences are noticeable!
ReplyDeleteI felt that in the book you could sense that Captain Wentworth was still in love with Anne. In the movie they make it seem like he is over her and wants as little to do with her as possible. The scene that I thought would be in the movie that was not, but it is in the book was the moment in ch 9 when Anne’s Nephew crawls on her back and Captain Wentworth comes to her rescue. This was huge because Anne realizes that he does still care about her. Throughout the entire first half of this movie Captain Wentworth is very emotionally cut off from Anne. You can see in his body language to her that he is still hurt and doesn’t want much to do with her. Also the scene at the end of part five after Captain Wentworth tells the Musgroves about Louisa’s accident, he comes back and they have this talk of how Anne will go to Bath. In the book in chapter 12 it’s a very quick scene, where they don’t even discuss where Anne will go Wentworth only tells Anne that he would be returning to Lyme.
They were parts to the movie that I felt were the same, such as Anne’s constant wanting to please everyone else but herself! In the movie the scene where Anne volunteers to watch her sisters sick child because her sister and Charles want to go to dinner. Anne’s claims that she’s not even hungry and pleases her sister by watching her children for her. Also Mary in the book and movie is very outspoken and selfish. Her constant not feeling well enough to do anything for herself drives me crazy, as does Anne not sticking up to her sister.
There are many differences between the novel and the film adaptation - some subtle and other quite obvious. A more obvious difference lies in the characterization of Captain Wentworth. Although it is clear that Wentoworth is well-liked by the other characters in the movie, I feel that his character is portrayed as much more serious and bitter in the film than it is in the book.
ReplyDeleteEven though the novel illustrates that Wentworth is still upset about his broken engagement to Anne (57-58), he appears much more agreeable in the story than in the film adaptation. In the book, Mary and Charles describe Wentworth's "charming manners" (55)and the other characters note his "high spirits" (66-67). Through descriptions and Wentworth's conversations, the book makes him out to be a much more personable and charming character than does the film. To illustrate, in the first five parts of the film, the viewer rarely sees Wentworth without a solemn expression or bitter stare.
Overall, I feel the film does justice in portraying the story of Persuasion. It provides the viewer with a decent visualization of the time period and characters in the book. However, I agree with many others that the film changes the story in ways that affect and change the story. As I have already illustrated, I feel that watching this movie without having read the book, would give a viewer a very different perception of Wentworth. This is just one of the ways in which the film alters the story.
I do agree with many of the people who have stated that Anne in the film seems to be a stronger and more commanding personality than she does in the book. However, in the film, Wentworth still refers to the feebleness of Anne's character, and the strength of that of others, which leads me to believe that she is not all that different in the film than the way she is portrayed in the book. Similarly, we often see in the film Anne lamenting her poor decision as she writes in her diary, even sobbing onto its pages the first time she sees Wentworth. While she does appear to have a stronger personality at some points in the movie, she still appears quite affected by her life's events at times.
ReplyDeleteOne difference I did pick up on consistently, however, is the change in the dynamic of the Crofts' relationship. As we have read, and discussed in class, the Crofts in the book have a very close, intimate and strong bond, and I feel as though Anne's perception of their relationship in the book is quite important, possibly because it serves to highlight further the mistake she feels she made in leaving Wentworth. On the contrary, in the film, their relationship is nowhere near the co-dependent partnership we see in the book, and in fact they appear to be quite independent from one another.
There are a couple of instances in which the differences between the book and film in regards to the Crofts' relationship is quite prevalent. The first of the two is in chapter 8, at the incredibly uncomfortable dinner that Wentworth and Anne have to share with the rest of their party. Mrs Croft says that she accompanied her husband on all but one of his naval voyages, and that one signified a very sad time in her life (p 66). However, in the film, the Crofts say that they appreciate the time they spend apart while Mr Croft is away.
Another such difference is after Anne falls whilst walking with the group and the Crofts pick her up in their carriage. The book sees them basically driving the carriage together, which Anne admires greatly (p 84-85), while in the film, they do no such thing.
I agree that the relationship between Anne and Captain Wentworth is portrayed completely differently in the movie than it is in the book. I also agree that Anne is different than how I thought of her in the book. However, the thing I noticed that was most different in the movie than from the book was Mary. Just Mary in general. She is so...twitchy. In the book she is shown as needy: "So you are come at last! I began to think I should never see you. I am so ill I can hardly speak." (36). The exact same lines are said by Mary in the movie, but she twitches and takes an awkwardly long time when she says it. There is no mention in the book of Anne being a twitchy person. And the way she carries on is much too over-exaggerated. Always whining and taking ten times the amount of time necessary to speak.
ReplyDeleteI did also notice a difference in the Musgroves' girls' composure towards Mary, and that made me laugh. Mary goes to greet them at the door and they jump on Anne and insist SHE come to the Great House. And Mary just stands there...twitching. In the book we know that they favor Anne because of the conversation Louisa has with Captain Wentworth, but not before then I don't believe. The book hints at the girls' feelings toward Mary, but it doesn't come right out and say "and they pushed Mary aside and warmly greeted Anne, all the while ignoring Mary because they don't like her."
These are the two biggest things I noticed that differed in the book and the movie.
Upon watching the movie adaptation, I thought there were many more similarities between the book and the movie than there were differences. The differences, however, resonates a few key aspects of the novel which the movie had left out.
ReplyDeleteOne of the major aspects that the movie emphasized was the relationship (or lack thereof) between Captain Wentworth and Anne. Contrast to the book, Captain Wentworth treated Anne much more coldly than in the text. Although at the end of chapter 8 Anne expresses how much it pains her to see Wentworth treating her with his "cold politeness" (p.67), the movie makes this much more apparent as one can see it by Wentworth's stern and cold facial expressions and actions. Nevertheless, both media conveys the description of "cold politeness" very well.
I also noticed a difference in Anne's character between the text and the film. My perception of Anne through the text was that she seemed very much timid and uncertain, always being pushed around by those around her. However, the movie portrays her as a stronger and much more graceful (albeit still timid) than the original text.
Overall I think the movie does the book justice for the most part; but more importantly, I think the film is a good supplementary to the text as it helps clarify certain scenes and characters specifically in their intents and mannerisms. The text provokes you to think deeper and makes you focus on the internal conflicts of each and every character, not only Anne and Wentworth's; whereas the film helps you to visualize the context and time period of which this story took place.
In comparing the first part of the book to the first five sections of the movie, there were several differences that stood out to me, but they all seemed to be grouped around one common character, Anne. I felt that the majority of the differences in the movie in comparison to the book were in regard to Anne. I think that this is to be expected as she is who the story revolves around, but changing things about a character as influential to a story as Anne can also change the story.
ReplyDeleteThe first major change I noticed in the move was the attention that is placed on the broken relationship between Anne and Wentworth. I agree that this is a significant aspect of the story, but the way in which it approached seemed much more dramatic and bitter in the movie than in the book. I felt that Wentworth’s initial comment to Mary about Anne in the book in saying she “was so altered he should not have known [her] again,” (p.57) was stressed much more than in the book. This bitterness seems to follow them thorough out the movie.
Additionally, I thought that the book made it seem as though both Anne and Wentworth were trying to move on and get over their past whether it was what their heart wanted to do or not, yet the movie made it seem much more like a search to make the love work out again. In the book it says their interaction was an “interchange of common civilities” (p.93) and not much more. However I felt that in the movie it was more than this. An example of this can be seen when Wentworth offers to sit with Anne after she falls. I feel that the Wentworth in the book would never do this. Although he does pull the child off of her back on p.74, this is a simple nice gesture. I feel that it shows he cares for her in a very subtle and not all that significant way, but offering to stay back with her seems completely different.
Personally, I like the Anne of the book better than the Anne of the movie. I think that the Anne of the book is often more confusing and more difficult to understand, but that is what makes her seem real to me. I like her uncertainties. The way in which her thoughts and her actions often times don’t match up is what makes her more realistic to me. I don’t think that in this situation I would be able to think clearly and act on those thoughts effectively, so this makes her relatable. The Anne of the movie has many of these qualities, and I think that the movie did the book justice thus far, but I think there are just aspect of her character that are lost when the story is converted to a movie.
The scene from the movie that I really like is the scene in which Anne goes to Mary’s for the first time. This is the first time in the movie that the viewer see’s Mary and the Musgroves. In the book I grew to really dislike Mary but the movie and the actress who plays the part of Mary does a fantastic job of making her really annoying! The biggest difference between the book and the movie in this scene is the happiness that the Musgroves have.
ReplyDeleteYou meet Walter Elliot and his family and they are a drag and aside from Mary the Musgroves are so much more enjoyable and happy then the book describes. The book describes the Musgroves as “some of the happiest creatures of her acquaintance.” (p.39) I got a feel for how unrealistic and snobby the Elliot’s are but the movie seemed to hammer that point home better. After watching the Elliot’s, the Musgroves are an absolute joy to watch on screen. There seems to be love in the house of the Musgroves where in the Elliots it seems to be more about propriety then anything else. I felt like the movie version did a better job with this scene than the book, on a whole however the book is far better.
After reading the first half of the book and watching the first half of the movie, it is clear that there are many differences between the two. Most of these differences are probably in the interest of condensing the novel into movie form, but there are a few differences that significantly change the plot.
ReplyDeleteOne of the major differences I noticed between the book and the movie is the openness with which Anne and Lady Russell discuss Anne's current feelings toward Wentworth. In the book, when Anne realizes that Frederick will soon be coming to Kellynch Hall, the backstory of her relationship is revealed by the narrator, but Anne does not explicitly talk about it to anyone. In fact, she later hesitates to even bring up Wentworth's name with Lady Russell, as the narrator says "there was a little awkwardness at first in their discourse" when "Captain Wentworth's name must be mentioned by both" (Ch. 13, pg. 116).
However, in the movie adaptation, all that the narrator reveals about Anne's history with Wentworth is instead revealed through a conversation between Anne and Lady Russell. The reason for this may only be that the filmmakers needed a way to relay this information without showing Anne's inner thoughts. However, the choice does change the meaning of the story somewhat. Part of Anne's anxiety in the book comes from not wanting to have to breach the difficult subject with Lady Russell, but in the movie this anxiety is gone and she is able to talk about it freely. This conversation also serves to enhance the audience's view of the strength of the relationship between Anne and Lady Russell, something which I would have liked to see more of in the book.
This change, along with a few others, certainly alters the viewer's comprehension of the story. However, I still believe that the movie is a good adaptation of the novel and stays true to it for the most part. The filmmakers chose to include all of the vital scenes and much of the novel's dialogue. The few changes made do affect the understanding of the story somewhat, but they do not go so far as to completely change the plot, at least from what I have seen so far.
A movie based on a novel is extremely hard to create, mostly because novels are so long and with written words you can include such detail and dialogue into every scene. With movies it is much more difficult because you have a time constraint and in order to keep the attention of the audience, scenes cannot be drawn out too long otherwise they become boring to the viewers.
ReplyDeleteThe main difference I spot between the book and the movie is specific details and dialogue. For example, when Anne and the rest of her party visit Captain Benwick and Harville, Anne says, "he has not, perhaps, a more sorrowing heart than I have. I cannot believe his prospects so blighted for ever. He is younger than I am; younger in feeling, if not in fact; younger as a man. He will rally again, and be happy with another" (91). While in the book Anne says this to herself and during her introduction to the captains but in the movie Anne says parts of this speech to Benwick while they are having dinner. Sometimes you will see directors combine certain scenes with dialogue from different parts of the book to save time if the two are relevant and can be tied in appropriately.
Another scene which has some differences is when Louisa jumps and falls. This scene made more sense to me when I saw the movie and made it look like Louisa cracked her skull. In the book it just says she fell and then says, "There was no wound, no blood, no visible bruise; but her eyes were closed, she breathed not, her face was like death" (102). In the movie there was a pretty visible wound and there was definitely blood, but again this was probably necessary to illustrate the severity of the situation in the movie. Further on in this scene in the book there is a lot of dialogue which is left out of the movie and instead the movie just skips to where Anne says, "A surgeon!"
For me the movie really helps me understand the book better. While I understand that the movie will not include every line of dialogue and every scene because there just isn't enough time, it helps me visualize the setting, what the characters look like, and provides a summary of the events. After watching the clips on Youtube and then re-reading the corresponding chapters, everything made more sense and the book flowed more smoothly for me.
The movie does a pretty good job of portraying the movie. I feel as if they did a good job on the characters especially. Mary is annoying in the book and even more annoying when you can actually hear her in the movie. Anne is reserved, shy, smart, and quiet in the movie, just as she is in the book. The scenes are pretty accurate and everything in the book and movie seem to line up in terms of time lines and major events worth putting into a movie. One thing in the movie however which isn't really mentioned in the book is how Wentworth constantly gives passing glances and keeps checking out Anne. In the movie they try to make it a lot more obvious that Wentworth still has feelings for Anne.
The first main difference I notice when watching the film adaptation in comparison to the book, is the speed at which everything takes place. In the book, it seems we have more time to observe and understand our characters. The entirety of Anne's visit at Uppercoss last almost two months in the book, and seems to fly by in the film. There are descriptions and thoughts that can be talked about in a book that a film has trouble expressing. I know it is almost impossible for a movie to completely coincide with a book. Some things like physical description of landscape and people's emotions have to be picked up by the observer when watching a movie adaptation.
ReplyDeleteThe next major difference I see between the two mediums is the underdevelopment of Sir Walter Elliot in the film. In the book Sir Walter is described in greater detail, and is actually the first person the reader meets in the story. "Sir Walter Elliot, of Kellynch-hall, in Somershire, was a man who, for his own amusement, never took up any book but the Barontenage." (pg.1, 1st paragraph). There he is, right at the beginning of the book, with detailed descriptions of who he is; a rich man with silly quirks whose kind of stuck up about who he is. In the movie we hardly even get to know Sir Walter, and what we do know of him is different from the book. In the film, Sir Walter is portrayed as this harsh, cold, unfeeling man. He still holds the quality of being a stuck up, but it's not presented in the same humorous manner as the book. This changes the story completely, making it appear that Anne's situation is more severe and sad.
Even with the differences between the book and film, I think the film is a worthy adaptation. It may not incorporate all aspects of the book, but the film has the essence of the story in it. We can see the conflict between Captain Wentworth and Anne through the lasting expressions and chaste glances. The film flows well and presents the story in a way the viewer can understand, even if it is a little fast. The 2007 version of Persuasion in my view does the book justice.
There are several differences between the book and the movie, but to me I could not help but notice how they portrayed the relationship between Captain Wentworth and Anne.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the first volume (page 107-109), which was mentioned by Corinne as well. On page 107 we see how the altercation of who will stay, either Anne or Mary, with Louisa. While the book and the movie give off the same meaning, the way in which they do it is a bit confusing. In the book this line is said from an outside point of view and not as a direct quote, where as in the movie it must be put into direct action. Also I am perplexed at the fact that the book and the movie agree on the the closeness and intimacy of Anne and Captain Wentworth right as Louisa falls, but at the end the Movie seems to the last talk in part five, as only for theatrical glamour, or is it to lead into what you will see next.
Also I am perplexed as to why Captain Wentworth continually goes back and forth between calling Anne, "Anne" or "Miss Elliot". I feel that he only calls her Miss Elliot when he realizes that he still has true feelings for her.
Finally as with many book and movie combinations there will be differences made, either because it is extremely hard to portray what is said in the book, or the movie producer cuts a part out because it is too boring, although it could be crucial to the plot.
I feel that this movie does keep the main parts of the story in tact. So far the once romance of Anne and Captain Wenworth is evident in both, along with the extremely annoying Mary. After reading the book I believe that each character in the movie is either a perfect representation or an extremely close representation of how their character is portrayed in the book.
There are always going to be differences between a novel version and a film adaptation. That is why they are called "adaptations", and people will always say that the original book was better. However, what makes a book good isn't the same thing as what makes a movie good- if film makers never made any changes to the original story, it would probably be a terrible movie to watch. So as a result, differences between the book and movie version of this story certainly exist. The language of romance is universal, and although the most interesting change in the movie is the way the relationship between Wentworth and Anne is handled, the backbone stays the same. The way the character Anne is shown in the film is also very interesting.
ReplyDeleteWentworth had his heart broken by Anne, and while she did want to marry him, she was convinced to turn him down. Wentworth, being a sailor, spent most of his time outside of the normal social life, and never found a replacement to Anne. It is very difficult to recover from a heart break unless you can find someone new. Wentworth never truly found anyone after Anne due to the obligations he had of being in the navy. So it is very possible that even after seven years, he is not over her. The book narrates to us the ways that Wentworth shows that he still has feelings for Anne, even if he doesn't want them.
As discussed in class, what might be a full page of description in the book has to be reduced to one quick facial expression in the movie and do it justice. We saw such scenes in the movie when Wentworth and Anne met for the first time since their breakup, and the tension was very obvious. All the feelings were up in the air. This happens in the first half of page 56, and instead of focusing on the pain of the situation, Austen focuses on the fact that the two exchanged a polite greeting and that was it. Another example is when Anne and friends are eating dinner with Wentworth, and as Wentworth says the one thing he truly looks for in a woman is firmness of mind, you see the pain in Anne's face and eyes. Showing all this, as opposed to telling it, is something the book could never do. That dialogue takes place at the end of page 58, and ends with the dialogue. The movie is able to cut out the part of the book that tells things, and instead shows them. It makes the story linear and much easier to follow, and certainly does the book justice.
The movie and the text are different in various ways but I do not think that there are extreme differences. I know that others have said this but I think the speed and details are much different. I think one of the great things about the text (most texts) is that as a reader the detail and time is so much more extensive to build the emotional investment.
ReplyDeleteOne major difference is the meeting between Wentworth and Anne. It was just as awkward and uncomfortable as it seemed in the text. Anne reflected, “Her eye half met Captain Wentworth’s; a bow, a curtsey passed; she heard his voice…” (56). In the text the moment is quick and awkward. The movie makes its quick as well but there is more time spent on the interaction. It also struck me that we see him staring at him for a much longer period of time. I noticed this long staring a lot more in the text. The way that I saw it while reading was much quicker and more ignoring than anything.
Throughout the text we do not really see any interactions that Wentworth has with Anne. The only time we really see these interactions are through dialogue. One difference is when they are on a walk and Anne trips and falls. I think this whole scene is so interesting and makes me look and Wentworth a little differently. He comes over and helps her up and quickly walks away. These physical scenes with Wentworth show that he does care for her more than the description we get in the text. In the text you can see it heading that way like when he forced his sister to take her back after the walk. The text states, “Yes,-- he had done it. She was in the carriage, and felt that he placed her there, this his will and his hands had done it…” (84) and we see that he still cares about her. However, it is more apparent in the film because actions do speak louder than words.
I think the film does do the text justice. I think some of the main differences are just losing some internal dialogue but gaining physical interactions to better understand the text. I also imagined Mary a lot more dramatic and over the top, but in the movie she just seems more negative and dull. I think that it makes me like her even less than I already did.
I really enjoyed watching the movie and seeing how they portrayed Persuasion, but the biggest difference I saw was in how Jane Austin was able to write so incredibly as to make us feel all the pain and turmoil that has happened between Anne and Frederick, but in the movie it is not conveyed as well. If I hadn't read the book first, I would feel as though they were not very close or even very serious about the engagement, however the book says "They were gradually acquainted, and when acquainted, rapidly and deeply in love" (16), but the movie seems to rather minimize their relationship. The other big difference I noticed was the movie also seems to make it seem like they are still on relatively friendly terms, yet in the book it seems as though Anne is still pining for him, and he is, although a little scorned, for the most part over her. I really believe he was interested in marrying Henrietta or Louisa, where as in the movie this is not really brought up very much at all. While there are always going to be differences between the books and the movies made of them, I think this is a very good adaptation.
ReplyDeleteI believe that adaptations of books do not live up to the original books. This is mainly because movies must cut out and shorten the book in order for it to be created in a given time frame. We could take a lifetime to read a book, on the other hand. This is my opinion, and most people would say while some adaptations of films are very close to the book, some are not.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, I do believe that after watching Persuasion 2007, it was an enjoyable adaptation of the book. However, there were differences between the book and the movie that, for some, may have seemed small while for others would have “destroyed” their experience. I plan on discussing Wentworth’s character in the movie versus the book.
Overall, I feel like the pacing in the move was too fast, and many details of the characters were left out. I know this happens in adaptations, but it is extremely important for the characters in both the book and the movie to match up with each other. I think Wentworth’s character, in the movie, so far, is horrible. In Chapter 4, it describes him a “remarkably fine young man, with a great deal of intelligence, spirit, and brilliancy (p 26).” He was a good, confident man who was deeply in love with Anne but had had his heart broken. Unfortunately, he was without expression in the movie. He is not showing show his “brilliance” or “confidence”. I don’t understand why, in the movie, it was so difficult to make him seem like he was still in love with Anne. In the book, he was still in love with her after all these years in an “absence-makes-the-heart-grow-fonder”- kind of way. He did not seem to show any strong feelings towards Anne in the movie, even though, when in the book, it said that “there could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison, no countenances so beloved (p 59-60).” Wentworth was so greatly in love with Anne, and for the movie to barely show it greatly destroys the meaning of the love between the two as well as the character development in this classic.
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ReplyDeleteThe book and the movie had several obvious differences in plot, but that is expected when trying to fit the contents of a novel into a much shorter movie. The movie takes away the much of the descriptions from Austen's novel, therefore it focuses more on the individual characters.
ReplyDeleteThe movie offers body language that the book almost cannot; The facial expressions Anne makes in the movie make it more clear what she is thinking and how she is feeling, however the language used in the novel offers more of the author's thoughts and feelings. Through the characters of Anne and Sir Walter Elliot, Jane Austen offers her opinions and criticisms on the values and lifestyles of the upper social class in England in her day. Austen uses the very ridiculous Sir Walter Elliot to portray the typical thoughts and beliefs of social class of the upper class, and she uses Anne to express many of her own personal feelings toward these beliefs. The quote "Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Elliot's character," (Page 6) is how Austen describes her representation of the upper social class. She describes Anne as having "an elegance of mind and sweetness of character, ... she was only Anne" (Page 7). The movie depicts these characters almost the same way, maybe a little less exaggerated, but still with the same personalities and character traits. However, reading the author's word makes the novel a representation of the author's views, whereas watching the movie comes off as more of just a tale of a love story.
There were many differences in the movie than what the actual text had stated previously. First off when they are in Lyme and come across Mr. Elliot. They are all discussing who the man is that they see and they have a semi-indepth conversation about him. In the book however they see him twice while they are at lyme and no one knows who the mystery man is until they go to Bath (pg 97 2nd paragraph). Another major difference between the book and the movie is the conversations between Anne Elliot and Captain Fredrick Wentworth, throughout the first book Anne and Fredrick have little to no communication with eachother however in the movie they have quite a few conversations throughout the first half. When they were at Cobb and Louisa fell and got knocked out in the novel there was no wound to the head she just became unconsious (pg102 "There was no wound, no blood, no visible bruise, but her eyes were closed, she breathed not, her face was like death.")but in the movie she infact cracked her head open. There is a scene in the movie where Fredricks friend is talking to him telling him that Louisa's family thinks that their attachment is quite permament and Fredrick confesses to his friend that he has no intentions with Louisa other than friendship and his friend suggests he leave the area. However in the book the entire conversation never happens and the only time we actually find out about fredicks intentions with louisa is when he speaks to anne at the end of the book.
ReplyDeleteChristy Hunter
ReplyDeleteOne aspect I noticed that is different between the book and the movie is that in the 2007 version Wentworth makes a speech in front of everyone (including Anne) at the dinner table what kind of woman he is looking for. This is in contrast to the way he expresses these views in the book. Wentworth wants someone, above all else, who is firm in character and does not give in to persuasion. In the book, he makes this same sort of speech while praising Louisa for convincing Henrietta to visit her cousin. He states, "It is the worst evil of too yielding and indecisive a character, that no influence over it can be depended on...My first wish for all, whom I am interested in, is that they should be firm" (p. 81). An important distinction between the two is that in the movie Wentworth declares this publicly, and right in front of Anne, while in the book he says this during what he thinks is a private conversation with a potential lover. The way the Captain says this in the movie makes him sound much more bitter and forces the audience to resent him a litle bit. Especially after seeing our hero's face quietly, yet with great strength, take this abuse, we feel for her pain even more. It's as if Wentworth wants Anne to know that his ideal woman is everything that Anne isn't. On the other hand during the book, it makes the reader sympathize with both characters. One, because Wentworth is clearly still hurt about the whole affair, yet has the decency to talk about his views privately. And two, because Anne has the misfortune to hear him essentially criticizing her.
I like to view movie adaptations as solely a supplement to books. While movies can offer certain visual and audial elements that a book can't, I think the time and budget constrictions placed on movies often lose the author's true essence of the book.
There are a few differences between the movie adaptation of Persuasion and the original written text. One of the main differences between te text and the movie is the scene where Mary, Louisa, Henrietta, Anne, Captain Wentworth, and Charles all go for a long walk to Winthrop. In the movie while the six of them are crossing over a small stream on a log, Anne falls off of th log and loses consciousness for a second. The next thing Anne sees is the face of Captain Wentworth as he lifts her off the ground and sits her down on the log. They share a romantic moment before Captain Wentworh quickly walks away. In the novel this scene never occurs.
ReplyDeleteThis scene portrayed in the movie replaces the romantic encounter between Anne and Wentworth that occurred earlier in the novel. The encounter in the novel occurs at the end of chapter nine, as Anne is watching over the children. Walter (the young boy) unable to bother his injured brother, begins to wrestle with Anne and clings to her back. Anne while struggling to free Walter is all of a sudden assisted by someone she can not see. Instantly, "...he was resolutely borne away, before she knew that Captain Wentworth had done it"(p. 47). When she realizes it is Wentworth who has come to her rescue, "She could not even thank him...his kindness in stepping forward to her relief--the manner..."(p. 47). This breif encounter in he novel is used to reveal the hidden feelings between Anne and Captain Wentworth. I personally prefer the scene in the novel over the one in the movie.
The scene in the novel feels more natural to me and not forced like in the movie. The movie adaptation however, did alter the way I perceive the strength of the feelings between Anne and Wentworth. I did not originally view them as very intense. The movie helped me to back out of Anne's mind for a moment and view the story from a different point of view. Although there are significant differences between movie and the novel, over all I have enjoyed the movie. So far I think it is doing justice to the novel.