The Views on Becoming Jane: Bad Or Good?

[Anna]

I have seen Becoming Jane and I thought it was horrible, it could have been much better if they had removed a scene that is too gross to write out in words. Was Jane Austen really like that? or was that just the movie?. Some authors can be like that but is Jane? If so, why?. Personally Anne Hathaway and James Mcavoy did a good job but they ruined their characters they were playing. Please answer with your answers to the question.

[Katie]

I have not seen the movie, but I am convinced that any portrayal of her is better than Miss Austen Regrets.

[Kristin]

"Becoming Jane" is one of those movies that I really want to love. I mean, it's got Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy, gorgeous scenery, beautiful music, great country dances...

So I keep watching it, giving it more chances. But I just can't bring myself to love it. I like to think that Jane Austen was bold and fiesty and outspoken, like she was portrayed. But other than that, I hope her character was a little different. From what I've read about her, I don't think she would have made some of the decisions they had her make in the movie.

[Shea]

Anna,
You may want to check out the previoius thread on this movie started by Michelle to see other thoughts and opinions:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...

Shea

[Sophie]

What's this scene you refer to!?!

[Nicole D.]

Kate I couldn't even finish Miss Austen Regrets It was just such a bad movie.

I don't think Becoming Jane was close to a true portryal of Jane Austen but I still enjoyed it.

I second Soph's question what scene are you refering too?

[Sophie]

Scene that was 'too gross to write out in words' ;) ??

[Isabel]

I'm sure it wasn't realistic, but I have to admit that I loved it. Yes, especially her outspokenness. And it all gave her a reason for wanting to write about people finding love, with the right amount of money and the circumstances to allow them to do so... I like to imagine that it was he who was the mystery man in Lyme Regis all those years later! :P

[Nicole D.]

Catherine are talking about the skinny dipping scene with Tom and Henry?That is the only scene I can think of at the moment that might be called shocking(in a Jane Austen film).Or the scene where Jane and Tom are talking in the Libiary(sp?)?

Those are the only two I can think of that might of that are shocking for a Jane Austen film.But like I said I haven't seen the film in a year or 2.

[Sophie]

Wow - skinning dipping in Austen!! So Nicole and anyone would you recommend it or not? I um unsure as to whether to watch it or not....

[Nicole D.]

Soph Only the men and you only see them form behind when Jane and Eliza run after them.I was a little surpised to see it in a Jane Austen film but I alwas felt they did it to modernize(sp?)it for the public today.I don't agree and think it was best left out.

[Sophie]

Yeah , to make it attract to wider audience . So would you say avoid it?

[Nicole D.]

I enjoyed but it is not for everyone.I say take a chance.I still haven't taken a chance on Mansfiled Park 1999.

[Sophie]

Oh yeah - same but I think I want to keep JLM as my Knightly and not Bertram so will avoid that one I think...

[[deleted user]]

I also couldn't enjoy Becoming Jane despite a decent casting.

[Nicole D.]

I most likely wouldn't watch the 1999 version either.I really think that that Manfield Park 1986 version is the msot faithful to the book and hope someday they make another as faithful.

[Sophie]

What's your opinion on the latest one? :) I haven't read or seen any versions yet and would like to which is best?

[Nicole D.]

I thought the Billy Piper one was ok.The plot moved way to fast.The play scene or anything to do with it was only like 10 mins.It is a very major thing in the book.I also would recommend you read the book before you watch the movies.

[Sophie]

Thanks :)

[Shelley]

It's impossible to do a movie or a book about a true writer that ignores or trivializes the fact that her writing is central to her life.

Shelley
Rain: A Dust Bowl Story
http://dustbowlpoetry.wordpress.com

[SarahC, Austen Votary & Mods' Asst.]

Ok, I am caught up -- Catherine used the term "gross" so I was trying to think of something more in the line of gruesome. The skinny dipping was trying to add a sexual undertone obviously, but I thought the movie overall was beautiful and portrayed Jane in a respectful light. I am sure that to get a subject like Jane Austen onto the modern screen there is always a negotiation of scenes left in and scenes left out. I like the fact that a movie anything to do with literary classics does make it to the general public.

[Sophie]

Thanks for your opinion Sarah :)
And thanks Shelley :)

[SarahC, Austen Votary & Mods' Asst.]

Sure, Soph. I am not attempting go beyond anyone's opinion of any of the films. My viewpoint is mainly this: films are art, they are an art interpretation of the story, the setting, the feel, the sounds of someone else's work or life in the case of what we are discussing here in Jane Austen. They will seldom follow the novel or the facts of a person's life identically. They are the director's or the screen writer's art form.

I like watch a film (but I fully respect if you don't want to watch) to see where the artist has taken a story. I also question if what he/she has added may carry a similar message of the original novelist -- even if it does not follow the original word for word. But that is tricky too, because we all interpret the novels differently anyway, right?

[Sophie]

Yes totally agree - thats why i don't and try not to hate any films i see - especially Austen ones ;)

[Lorraine]

While Becoming Jane was not a great story, I do like the movie, because of the scene where Jane is down in the dumps at the dance, resigned to wed the boring son of the rich neighbour, and while dancing with him, turns to find James McAvoy as her partner - that scene makes the movie for me. I think the "gross" scene might be the one in the library where the two characters are discussing a book???