I don't know if anyone out there is a Jane Austen fan, but I love her stuff. I can't say I'm a huge fan, but I did like...most...of the movies based off the books and the books I did read are actually very entertaining. Now, before I go further, I normally I don't go into movie or book discussions because I know people tend to get into heated debates over such things and I don't want people to think I'm a fool because I don't see "the artistry" in something I hate or because I don't see "the overbearing flaws" of something I love. (I am someone who likes Batman Forever and the Star Wars prequels, just to give you and idea of my mindset). However, having just seen the latest movie, I feel the need to get this off of my chest, so bear with me.

I HATE EMMA!!!!!!

Okay, now that I've written that out of my system, let's get serious.

I don't really hate the story; I just have mixed feelings on it. I definitely think Emma is a good story about not being overconfident or arrogant. About making sure you don't think you're superior to literally everyone else. However, something about it just doesn't sit with me and I can't help but feel put off by all three films. Now, I've never read the book of Emma, so I don't know how Emma's character is supposed to be. But I've decided to break down the movies into a few simplified ideas that I feel will sum up my mixed emotions about all I've watched.

Emma, 1996

This was the first Emma I was introduced to, understandably. (Also I just read the cast on the picture as I was typing this...Ewan McGregor is in this movie?! Who does he play?! No one sounds nor looks like him!!!!! Anyway.....)

PROS:

1) I like this Emma. I think she's generous and kind and well-meaning. She's definitely misguided and tends to put herself in awkward situations, but I love her and I think she's a very gentile and proper. Apparently book Emma is supposed to be more snobby, but if they truly changed her character, I don't mind. Actually, I like all the characters in this film. Except Jane, but that's mostly because we don't see much of her in the movie so I can't say much about her character.

2) I like the interactions between the characters. The chemistry feels natural.

CONS:

1) I am a person who puts themselves in the shoes of others in films, so when a character embarrasses themselves it makes me EXTREMELY uncomfortable. And unfortunately, Emma does a ton of these scenes to the point where I pretty much stand for most of the film so I can run out of the room. Especially the Box Hill scene, but honestly, that's a thing in all three movies and I can't stand any of them.

2) I don't like Mr. Elton. Of course, I hate him in all the movies anyway, but in this movie, he's just a vicar who gets rejected and becomes a jerk afterwards. Also I hate the scene where he keeps tapping Emma's shoulder and causes her to miss out on the story. HOW RUDE!!!! If anyone keeps me from hearing the end of a good story, you too will automatically never be my spouse!

Emma, 2009

This is a tv series divided into four 1 hour parts. A decent series that explains a lot, but this too I have mixed emotions on.

PROS:

1) I love the intro to this series. I like seeing everyone as little children before being sent away. It explains the backstory before all the years pass by.

2) I liked this Jane Fairfax. She's very reserved, but tries to speak her mind. I also love the little friendship she and Emma develop and how Emma tries to shield her from the overbearing Mrs. Elton.

3) Frank Churchill and Jane's reunion after Mrs. Churchill dies. Them happily hugging and swinging around in the streets was precious and adorable and nothing will change my mind on it!

4) Babies. All three movies have babies and it always makes things a little better in my opinion.

5) I dug the dancing scenes. I want to dance them! They're so energetic!!!!!

CONS:

1) Mr. Elton is kind of creepy.....like, can you stop snuggling against Emma in the carriage?! I don't even know if that was allowed back then....might have....but still....!!!!!!!

2) I liked the casting for this Emma, and I liked her in certain parts, but her behavior was so improper! I mean, she goes on and on about Mrs. Elton being uncivilized despite acting like a lady and yet she lets Frank lay on her lap and she smirks and grins at Mr. Elton despite intending him for Harriet, and then acts like she's a high and mighty princess...!!!!! Maybe that was the point of her character though. Or maybe she has undiagnosed Asperger's. I don't know.

3) I mentioned that I hate embarrassing scenes. This series doesn't have a ton, thank goodness. Maybe 3 or 4 in comparison to every two seconds. (At least for me. You guys might feel differently). However, what they lack in quantity they make up in quality. They drag those painfully embarrassing scenes out!!!!! The box hill picnic is a perfect example of that! That scene goes on for, what, 20 minutes?! I don't know, but it felt like forever and I hate it!

Emma, 2020

Ooh.....I have some words for this one. I admit I have an attachment to movies I've previously seen, but since I don't have much of an attachment to Emma, I think I can safely say I went into this with the same negative bias I have towards the other films. And the result....?? Well...............

PROS:

1) I'll give the movie this: unlike the others, I didn't feel the urge to cover my ears every two seconds. Only one or two scenes I did it. I actually sat through a whole Emma movie!!!!! That's new! Never happened before! And anything I thought might become embarrassing actually wound up being okay! So I'm glad that happened.

2) I loved the dresses in this movie! They were so pretty and I wanted them! Even some of the hair decorations!

3) I thought the transition scenes were weird at first, but I like how they help you keep track of how far along in the story you are. And the scene is the same, so you don't confuse it for part of the next scene.

4) I thought Harriet was absolute cute! I like how we see her with her school friends, like the tv series. And I liked Miss Bates and her mom! And Jane Fairfax. I thought I wouldn't like her at first, but I think she had the prettiest looks in the whole film. And I also liked Mr. Woodhouse and his screens. It took a second to adjust to the movie being more comical than just a simple adaptation, but I like the joke with the screens. Seeing all three up at a time made me burst out laughing I have to say.

CONS:

1) I will say this straight off the bat: I HATE THIS EMMA! I guess this is how Emma is supposed to be in the book, but if the other movies truly changed her character, I'm kind of glad, because this character is like watching some cliche high school Mean Queen Bee be the main character and we're supposed to like her at the end! I think that's why I was torn at the end of the movie! This woman acts like a self-entitled little manipulator who has no redeemable qualities whatsoever, and within two seconds we're supposed to like her? I think NOT!!!!! Though I will say, if the character was truly changed for the previous incarnations, I guess that explains the Mr. Darcy personality difference in the short Pride and Prejudice. Fair enough.

2) The person who designed this set wanted it to stand out as "showing off" rather than being "antique", but I thought the reason Regency styles were "antique" was because it was centuries old. If Regency wallpaper is supposed to be showy, someone please let me know. All I know is that the first thing I thought when the inside of the house was shown was, "I can't decide if the colors remind me more of a Melanie Martinez Music Video, the Hairspray Musical, or the stupid The Cat in the Hat movie backdrops."

3) I thought Mr. Elton was creepy in the TV series. I didn't think he could get any worse here! But oh boy he sure did!!!!!! (Also, just on a side note, what's up with the crazy eyes everyone has in this movie?)

4) I get the curly hairstyle was popular in this time period, but that doesn't mean it's not ugly. In the TV series Wives and Daughters, I think the characters are pretty, but it's hard to think that when they have such terrible hairstyles!!!! I guess their crazy curls of the 1810's/1830's was kind of like our rat-tails and mullets of the 1980's/1990's.

5) WHY IS THERE NUDITY IN THIS MOVIE?! Literally our first introduction to Mr. Knightly is to see him strip butt-naked in his living room! Okay, maybe it was his bedroom. I have no idea. The second I saw him undress I shrieked in terror and covered my eyes until I was certain he was wearing clothes again!!!!! And then Emma's over there warming her naked butt by the fire.....I get it. You want to show people in their natural environment being people. However, I don't know about anyone else, but I don't hang out naked in my bedroom to cool off or sit on a heating vent to quickly warm up! I mumble to myself when I'm alone! Or scratch an itch on my butt! Or rant! Or reenact a scene in a book or movie in front of the mirror and laugh because I think it's hilarious! Can't I see someone in their natural habitat without seeing them in their birthday suit?!

It's because of these reasons above that I have a mixed opinion on Emma. I can't decide if I like it or hate it. So I say: if it's on, sure. I'll watch a scene or two. But not willingly. Or I'd have to be in the mood.

However, this is just my opinion. If anyone out there likes any of the movies, or the book, (or hates them), come and have a chat. I want to know what other people think. I'm pretty sure most people like the 2020 movie, so if anyone is a fan of it, let me know. I won't judge you. I'm glad you like the film. It's always good when an adaption pleases someone.