tension is the new black

[hafital]

Layoffs will happen today. Honestly, I'm dying from the suspense.

~~~

And so I talk about some fannish things.

I watched the new version of Persuasion earlier this week. I loved it. I'm in love with Captain Wentworth all over again. I adored the older movie with Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root, as well, and both of these adaptations differ just enough to make each really enjoyable for their own sake.

Some comparisons:

The newer version had some bizarre shaky hand-held camera action going for some of the earlier sequences, which was odd and distracting. I mean, this isn't Homicide. But I either got used to it, or it lessened as the story progressed.

The newer version has Anthony Head as Sir Walter Elliot. Gotta tell you, the older version's Sir Walter was better casting. I mean, I loved Anthony Head. He's great, but a foppish buffoon he is not. He was rather more primly menacing. Or maybe I was just channeling Uthur? LOL. He was very good, though, just not at all how I picture Sir Walter!

Both Captain Wentworths are lovely. But Rupert Penry-Jones is probably closer to Captain Wentworth in the novel than Ciaran Hinds. However, they're both smoldering and intense and dreamy and yummy. Although Ciaran Hinds brings with him the remembrance of all his other roles, while Rupert Penry-Jones is just very very handsome. :)

And, alluding to Rome, the newer version's Mr. William Elliot was played by none other than our favorite sniveling betrayer, Marcus Brutus! Now that was good casting. The older version as the ever charming Samual West in the role, who of course did a great job, but it was easier to see the slime underneath the facade with Brutus (I'm sorry, that actor will always be Brutus to me, forever).

Both versions were more or less true to the book, with some slight changes here and there that were mostly insignificant.

I think I need to own both versions.

meep.

~~~

I also watched Fingersmith -- it's like costume drama week, or something -- which I really really liked. I'd like to read the book, too. You know, you just don't get good gothic horror lesbian love stories too often these days.

Comments

[beeej.livejournal.com]

THAT'S where I had seen Rupert Penry-Jones before! I recently saw him in Whitechapel (which was brilliant) and kept wondering why he looked so familiar.

[hafital.livejournal.com]

I've recently seen his name pop up more often as well. But there are like a gazillion Ruperts out there in Brit TV land. I get them all a little confuzzled. lol.

[lasultrix.livejournal.com]

Fingersmith, book and adaptation, is a brilliant piece of art. The adaptation is very faithful - one of the adaptations I've most approved of in my life - and if you liked it, you'll like the book. Imelda Staunton as Mrs Sucksby doesn't play her at all like I imagined, and is very irritating, but as she's not a very likeable character anyway, it's not a problem.

Gothic horror, though? Other than the madhouse interlude, it all strikes me as quite down to earth! In its twisty plotty shocky porny way.

With regard to your first sentence: good luck.

[hafital.livejournal.com]

Well, all right, I suppose "gothic-esqe" is more accurate. *g* It had that flavor, and actually for the first half before the big major plot twist/reveal, I didn't realize it wasn't just a mad-woman-in-the-asylum type of drama. It then became so much more! I was pretty unspoiled for the whole thing. I only knew the little blurb on the Netflix jacket.

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

Isn't Fingersmith cool?? I want to read it now, too.

{{{{hugging you}}}} and thinking good thoughts.

[hafital.livejournal.com]

Fingersmith IS cool. I loved it. Btw, I'm lame and have only dloaded one ep so far of Primeval. I keep getting distracted. hrmph. *hugs*

[klia.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed that version of Persuasion, too. It would be hard for me to choose a favorite Capt. Wentworth, though, because I adore CH, but have had a thing for RPJ since Cold Comfort Farm.

I didn't find TM's William Elliot nearly as slimy as SW's, but then SW has played a creep in practically everything I've seen him in, going all the way back to Howards End, so we're talking 17 years of his making my skin crawl, as opposed to one role for TM. *g*

I keep forgetting if I ever asked if you've seen Cranford? If not, I highly recommend it.

[hafital.livejournal.com]

CH seemed much more mature, an older Wentworth, while RPJ was slightly younger but still having that steady, clamness but able to be flirtly. Wentworth is supposed to be a bit jovial, which, as much as I love CH, jovial is not really what he does. LOL. But I adored his Wentworth, both of them.

I didn't find TM's William Elliot nearly as slimy as SW's,

Hm! I always forget SW was in Howard's End. I think of him first from Hornblower, where he was all uptight and stuff but essentially a good man. TM is just slime from beginning to end for me. heh.

I keep forgetting if I ever asked if you've seen Cranford? If not, I highly recommend it.

It's on my netflix queue! I may read the book first, though. I love Gaskell.

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

I'm reading Fingersmith right now thanks to Charmax's vid. I'm almost done -- having gobbled it up in about three days. The narrative twists are completely unnerving, but I think I prefer her writing in The Night Watch. Good stuff, either way.

Thinking about you today. ::hugs::

[hafital.livejournal.com]

Funny, I loved Charmax's vid which is why I wanted to watch Fingersmith, but I thougth that the whole movie was just about the unrequited love affair. haha.

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

I remember the madhouse sections in the vid, and the implication that all was not as it seemed. Having finished the book now, I recognize that's kind of the understatement of the year. (: