Excellent, smart action film.

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

For any book purist there is much to nitpick about this version of Persuasion. Filled with odd script and directorial choices which include Anne breaking the fourth wall and staring into the camera, a determination to make the film visually dour, and a last minute long-take sequence that borders on the sheer absurd, it is nevertheless anchored by some fabulous acting and chemistry. And isn't that all we really want from an Austen adaptation? Sally Hawkins plays Anne Elliot, a 27 year old spinster from a wealthy family who was once engaged to the handsome but titleless Frederick Wentworth. Years later Anne is now considered withered, plain and doomed to spinsterhood (Regency England was so harsh to 27 year old women!). On top of it all her impractical and vain father has squandered much of the family fortune. Into this mess ventures Wentworth, as handsome as ever and now graced with a fortune that makes him a very eligible suitor indeed. Everything seems cold between Anne and Wentworth and she resigns herself to watching him marry a much younger woman... but sparks fly between the old lovers and hope grows in Anne again. The story is one of my favourite Austen books but be warned! If you liked the novel this adaptation eschews huge chunks in order of brevity. And yet I can't help loving this adaptation and it's probably my favourite one. Hawkins is a perfect Anne and Rupert Penry-Jones is an excellent Wentworth. The two of them exchange enough burning glances to light a spark in this rather dour adaptation. With such perfect chemistry it's only a pity that they are surrounded by a better film.

Anne Elliot (Sally Hawkins) is engaged to naval officer Frederick Wentworth (Rupert Penry-Jones). Her father Sir Walter Elliot (Anthony Head) is dismissive despite himself going through financial troubles. Her godmother Lady Russell (Alice Krige) talks her out of the engagement for his lack of station in life. Years later in 1815, Wentworth has become a highly sought-after bachelor successful Captain. He returns to visit his sister and her husband Admiral Croft who has rented the Elliot estate. Anne has to endure her regrets as she is passed her prime.Sally Hawkins is great as the reserved Anne who is so easily swayed and has basically blended into the furniture. This TV movie doesn't have much in the way of cinematic style although they use obvious big locations. Anne's passivity does make it hard to watch. It's one note and then, a bunch of stuff happens, she runs a lot and it ends. It's not the most satisfying but I do love Hawkins.

That is a seriously terrible adaptation of the novel Jane Austen wrote. This adaptation has been written by someone who does not understand Jane Austen and what she writes, and just wishes to use her novel to produce nice romantic stories. This would not be so bad if her very words were not used throughout the movies, in a way completely, completely and again completely out of place. The expedient of making the characters loudly repeat excerpts of the book, without caring whether those parts were meant as inner reflections or as dialogues, shows no effort in understanding the novel. But what really bothered me, to the point that I had to give up watching the movie entirely, was that Anne makes her famous speech on men and women, the one that finally conquers again Captain Wentworth's heart, to someone else (Captain Benwick instead of Captain Harville) and in another occasion (in Lyme, at the first dinner they have all together)! And, of course, Captain Wentworth does not even hear the speech. But, hey, it's just the most important scene of the novel, what does it matter when it takes place? Seriously, the only merit of the movie is that there are really good actors (except for Rupert Penry-Jones, which does not know what he is doing, but I don't blame him entirely, for the direction assigned him terrible lines to act). The character of Captain Wentworth is not understood nor by the writers nor by the director of such movie. In short, like what happened in the novel and in the 1995's adaptation which is highly superior to this one, this movie irresistibly made me "take the pen and put down my sentiments", because it is really terrible to see. And a waste indeed, because with such great actors to play Anne, Sir Walter, Elizabeth, Mary, Lady Russell etc., and such lovely locations, this could have been a really good movie.

I'm a Big fan of Jane Austen & have read her books a thousand times over. I must say so far this one has been the worst Austen movie adaptation. The direction is poor. It seems that the director is in a hurry to finish the movie and whats with all that Anne running. The actress playing Anne Elliot looks weak & not gracefull. Rupert Penry-Jones looks good. I could not feel the romance between Capt Wentworth & Anne..many subtle but imp points were missed in this adaptation..such weak portrayal of Mary. You can give this one a miss. The 1995 version is by far very very superior adaptation of 'Persuasion'