Thanks for the memories!

i must have seen a different film!!

Did you people see the same film I saw?

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

This might have made for a decent movie, but the choppy and over fast pace made everything too confusing to follow, and after a half hour my mother and I gave up on it.I have not read the novel it was based on, and I have read maybe one or two Jane Austen books (and that was for school decades ago), but the idea sounded interesting. But other reviewers here have said that the movie fails to follow the novel it was based on, and the stories of the main characters did not necessarily correspond to what happened in any Jane Austen stories (as the box for the movie implied was the case).Though they were ahead of their time for their era, it is difficult to believe the most liberal-minded authors of that era would have covered lesbianism, or for that matter, bestiality (as implied by the remark about the dog taking care of a woman's sexual needs). Don't bother.

Great story. Great writing. Great acting. What amazes me about this film is three-fold: (a) This is a movie that will persuade movie-goers to want to read Jane Austen's novels. It seduced and lured me back to "Pride and Prejudice." (b) You don't have to have read any Austen to see the wisdom in her observations, and (c) The screen writer has woven Austen's witticisms and perspicacious themes around the lives of every character in the movie. Amazing! I have introduced this movie to seven people in three states. It led all of us either to encounter Jane Austen's novels for the first time - or re-read and re-savor one or more of them again! There are numerous moments in the movie plot where I totally forget that this was a movie, that actors were merely acting. Every single one of the actors became the character that he or she was portraying. I was led to care. That, for me, is great art.I think I would recommend this movie for people who love to watch movies based on good books involving great writing. I'd also encourage anyone who has ever been in love - or who hopes to be in love again - to watch this movie.

I originally thought that the movie would be about people talking about Jane Austen novels and then flashing back to scenes from the novel. As I generally like movies from Jane Austen novels, I thought it would be great. However, after I bought the DVD, my wife informed me that it was just women talking about the novels and she suggested that I wouldn't like it. After about a year on my shelf, I slipped it in the DVD player, expecting to stop it after ten or twenty minutes.I was quite surprised that I easily got through the whole thing. The characters became more and more interesting as the movie went on and I enjoyed the layering of the different emotions and stories.For me, the ensemble cast was good, but Kathy Bates, Maria Bello, and Emily Blunt stood out, especially Emily Blunt. She was acting on a much more intense level than any of the other characters. While everyone else was doing "MidSummer's Night Dream," she was doing "MacBeth." This mixture of light, light, dark, actually made the movie much more interesting and gave it a realistic flavor. I think Emily should have gotten a supporting actress Oscar nomination. It was an intense and beautiful performance.I always promise myself after watching a Jane Austen movie that I am going to read the novels when I get a chance. After this one, I'm really going to do it. After I finish reading Harriet Beacher's Stowe's, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," Kafka's "America," and Richardson's dreadful "Pamela," "Sense and Sensibility" is next on my classic novels list.

Jane Austen, the English author, left a body of work that, to this day, seems unsurpassed by any other novelist of her time. She was not a prolific writer, and yet, her six novels have survived the passing of time; they have become a must read for English literature studies. Bernadette, a Californian lady that loves the works of Jane Austen proposes to start a book club in which each member would lead the discussion of one of the six novels that must be read. Her only problem is she can only count with two other friends. Bernadette is set in getting the rest of the group by sheer determination that pays off in unexpected, and satisfactory ways.The group that Bernadette assembles could not so much different. Jocelyn, a dog breeder, leads a lonely life in her rural place. Sylvia, a librarian, discovers her husband Daniel wants to leave her. Her daughter Allegra agrees to join, perhaps a bit reluctantly. Prudie, the uptight teacher, whose marriage seems to be disintegrating before her eyes, is talked into coming aboard. The last member Bernadette finds is not a woman, but a computer specialist, Grigg, whose taste runs more into science fiction. Bernadette feels the last member will be good to boost Sylvia's morale who is depressed after Daniel's desertion.Director Robin Swicord, who also adapted the original novel by Karen Joy Fowler, shows an affinity to the material that is no small achievement. Ms. Swicord's second film is an enjoyable time because it involves the viewer in unexpected ways. The narrative brings parallel between the work of Jane Austin and the characters that are trying to make sense of the meaning of it. Another coup for Ms. Swicord is the incredible talented cast that was put together to bring to life a story that in someone else's hands would not have had the impact this film has on many levels. It is a highly feminine work, but it should not scare discriminating fans.Kathy Baker, who plays Bernadette, is a welcome addition to any film. The luminous Maria Bello, another excellent actress, does justice to her Jocelyn. Emily Blunt is perfectly snobbish as Prudie. Amy Braverman and Maggie Grace appear as mother and daughter, Sylvia and Allegra. The other principal, Hugh Dancy, does a surprising turn as Grigg. Jimmy Smits is seen as Daniel.Robin Swicord's understanding with the material and her love for Jane Austen made a rewarding film that will delight audiences of all ages.