Book by Jane Austen + Movie (2020)
Now, I wasn't entirely sure I'd love the book when I started it, because I'll be honest, save for Emma and Mr Knightley's interactions and banter, I did not really find much to love. I found it less exciting than Pride and Prejudice, and even Persuasion felt like it had more of a flow to it. In part, I feel this due to the fact that Emma has little going on for herself, and much more for others and people around her.
As goes the movie, when I saw the introduction, I just knew immediately this was MY kinda movie. I loved the typography, the cinematography, and my love for the gorgeous Anya Taylor Joy just added to it. There was something witty and charming that the movie just exuded. Soundtrack was pleasing too. The movie is bright and cheery, and as much as Regency era clothing doesn't quite suit my taste, I did quite love some of the looks from the film.
Overall Review [BOOK, mentions of the movie]
To me, despite what other strong opinions I've read about the book, Emma is the main character of a slow burn, friends to lovers story. She is never reduced to being just the potential love interest of men, though often many fall in love and expect her to return those feelings. And I think their shock, particularly Mr Elton's, that she could not possibly have any feelings for him, is part of the critique that Austen tries to shows. In the film, this is portrayed satirically well and perhaps gets across what is hard to convey with long, difficult words that a facial expression can do easily. Emma is independent, but that is not her entire personality. We can see she cares deeply for people, and whilst she remains very 'uptight' and classist, acting sometimes very shallow, she is not so vindictive as to enjoy putting people down, and oft feels horrible for having done so. She has a heart, and honestly, given her upbringing, it is unsurprising she should act so.
The ROMANCE - okay, Emma/Mr Knightley interactions are cute. I love and adore their banter, and their honesty with each other. Considering so many of the characters in the book, and the entire plot really, is driven by the fact that so much is expressed and misunderstood in nuance, their straightforwardness and ability to be frank with each other is refreshing. Above that, they enjoy each others company and I feel they match very well. Kind of frustrated Austen made us wait so long for them to even bloody dance together, but she still had me squealing like a baby when Knightley confessed (and I was ecstatic to discover the origin of the age old quote, if I loved you more I might be able to talk about it less, oh isn't that dreamy?) At this point in the book, I was suddenly reminded of their age difference, but honestly, 16 years is not bad and considering that George Knightley had only really started to be in love with her prior to Frank Churchill's arrival, I don't understand why some people feel this relationship is outlandish or too concerning. Given the nature of the characters, their interactions prior to this when Emma was a child would have certainly been brotherly and sisterly.
Discussion point - Was Emma "tamed" and had her independence degraded by the end of the book? I really think not. I've read some very strong opinions who argue that from the lens of feminism, Emma of course had to have her opinions changed by an older, wiser man and the older, wiser man only ever married her because she was submissive to his opinion and lecturing. I really think that isn't the case here. Has Emma changed by the end of the book? Yes. How so? She's determined to become less arrogant, more humble, and as a result begins to consider others words, opinions and feelings with greater weight. Why? Not only did she observe the consequence of her actions to Harriet and the pain caused, but also because acting as her friend, Mr Knightley pointed out her wrongs. Given that almost nobody else does this, which they should really, that doesn't mean she's changed to suit his whims. She has changed because she realises who she was before was not someone she wanted to be. Honestly, Emma's just as independent, strong willed and witty as she was to begin with - save a little humbler. My man Knightley literally leaves his home to come to Hartfield. Emma literally doesn't lose anything. He is an angel at heart, and deserves the praise and admiration he gets.
Mr Woodhouse - his character is cute. I say that because I also know people with particular eccentricities, though he came across as less peculiar and energetic in the book than the movie. I adore Mr Woodhouse in the movies, he is there for comic relief but is less of the withered, concerned, seemingly feeble (that's the impression I got from the book, at least) old man with a sweet heart than in the book.
