julia2702 I got the Austen virus after watching the famous 1995 adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice", which brought me to the original, wonderful book. But the disease hasn't really progressed. Other Austen works haven't impressed me half as much, and Sense & Sensibility – both the book and Emma Thompson movie – left a strange aftertaste, not at all sweet and exhilarating, as it was with P&P. So I was happy to learn that Andrew Davies, who became my idol after giving us such a perfect Darcy, created an adaptation of S&S. I eagerly watched it, hoping that his spin on the story will make it livelier and more likable for me. And I wasn't mistaken, although I cannot say that this is a great series.I really like the casting. Perhaps I would make Willoughby a little more attractive, but the whole Dashwood family and Colonel Brandon were so good, that I can forgive the choice of Dominic Cooper. Can't remember the book well, but I sense intuitively that quite a few liberties have been taken. Still, as a person who doesn't care so much for this novel, I like the story told by Andrew Davies, and except for a few things (like Marianne's visit of Willoughby mansion all by herself) I find the final product satisfying. I love to see an appealing and passionate Colonel Brandon, this adds romance and chemistry – such a gift for a romantic female viewer like me : )To be entirely honest, I expected more from Mr Davies. This is not "P&P" or "Wives and Daughters". But, after all, scriptwriter is not the only one in charge of our impressions from the film. A lot of people work on the project, and such was their view.Some places feel rushed, even when compared to Emma Thompson movie (and this series has 3 episodes!) The scenery is not light & bright & vivid green, but rainy, rugged and more gritty instead. The rhythmic pattern of the story is more choppy and impulsive than slow-boiling. If you want to relax your nerves while a beautiful story quietly unfolds, it is not the right kind of BBC adaptation. However, I still would like to say a big thank-you for this series. I enjoyed the characters, the story, the romance, and I am immensely grateful that someone keeps adapting English literature - which is a gift to humankind - in such a quality fashion.

Dionysiavb If this is the first film adaption of one of Jane Austin's books that you have watched you will find it really enjoyable. As someone who has seen Tom Wright's 'Pride and Prejudice' and Ang Lee's 'Sense and Sensibility', I was really disappointed to see that this version had blatantly and lazily ripped off cinematography from both. To make it worse, they did a far worse job of it. It was like eating off-brand Doritos; you really want to enjoy it but it's just reminding you of something that's far better.If this is the first film adaption of one of Jane Austin's books that you have watched you will find it really enjoyable. As someone who has seen Tom Wright's 'Pride and Prejudice' and Ang Lee's 'Sense and Sensibility', I was really disappointed to see that this version had blatantly and lazily ripped off cinematography from both. To make it worse, they did a far worse job of it. It was like eating off-brand Doritos; you really want to enjoy it but it's just reminding you of something that's far better.

marspeach Although S&S 2008 is now my favorite version of Sense and Sensibility, my thoughts were very different upon my first viewing! I saw it as it was airing in the UK on a poor quality streaming video, only able to watch bits at a time between classes. I just couldn't wait for it to air here in the US. I was so disappointed and thought it was too dark and copied too much from the 1995 version, which I liked but was not entirely satisfied with (read my review to see why). It wasn't until I got the DVD this past Christmas that I noticed everything that made me like it. It was dark, yes, but it was only the bad quality of the stream that made it hard to see! I watched a behind-the-scenes video that they hadn't intended to make everything "dark and stormy" but there was bad weather all the time during filming and they decided to go with that look! As for the copying from the 1995 version, yes, there were some parts from it, not in the book, that Andrew Davies also included in this, and while I could definitely do without them, they don't stop me from enjoying the show! On my rewatch I noticed so many other things that made me love it! The main thing that I love about this movie is its wonderful (with a couple exceptions), more age-appropriate cast. This version really excelled in its portrayal of the relationship between Elinor and Marianne, which is really the main focus of the book. In all the previous versions, one of the sisters always left me cold. This is the only one in which I like BOTH actresses! It wasn't perfect. I wasn't a fan of the elements lifted from the 1995 version and all Andrew Davies' usual sexed up scenes, but I still love this version.

jlcdrama I just saw this mere hours ago and I couldn't get it out of my head. I'd like to start off by saying that I read the book and then saw the 1995 version of Sense and Sensibility and couldn't imagine what could top it. It's simple: this mini-series.Within minutes I was saying that I liked this adaption better than the 1995 movie. I mean no disrespect to Emma Thompson who wrote and starred in that movie, but this was a lot better. There were a few flaws in the film that I hadn't really paid attention too before until I saw this version. The main one being the age of both Thompson who played Elinor and Alan Rickman who played Colonel Brandon. Both were far too old to be playing Elinor who is supposed to be 19 and Brandon who was 35, in which Thompson was in her thirties I believe, and Rickman was 49. The problem wasn't so apparent until I saw this version.The age problem for Rickman in particular helped convey in the movie that Marianne should have wound up with Willoughby instead of Brandon. The point Austen wanted to make in the book was that Marianne's idea of Brandon being too old was silly seeing as 35 isn't that old. Shallow viewers of the 1995 version would be bothered by the more obviously older man (who looked to be in his fifties) marrying a teenager.The main thing that won me over in this movie was the portrayal of the men: Edward, Colonel Brandon and Willoughby. Hugh Grant in the 1995 film was good, but at times he seemed too awkward and insecure. Dan Stevens played Edward as having a bit of a sense of humor (like in the book) but still a private man. I instantly liked him. But honestly it was Colonel Brandon and Willoughby when stood out the most.Willoughby is often forgotten to be the villain of the story, this mini-series made it clear from the start that he isn't a good man. Purists might not like the opening scene of Willoughby seducing Eliza, but I thought it worked well particularly when Willoughby showed Marianne Allenhelm. It reminded us that Marianne is treading through dangerous waters and has no idea of who she is dealing with. In the 1995 film, Thompson left out the scene with Willoughby explaining his actions to Elinor after Marianne is jilted by him. My thought there was that Thompson felt that would draw too much sympathy for Willoughby, but I think that was a mistake. This mini-series included the scene and showed more of Willoughby's selfish character. I felt no sympathy for him at all. In fact I found it hard to believe a word he said. As it should be.Colonel Brandon is often forgotten about by scholars and that is shame because he is one of my favorite heroes. This adaption did him justice because not only did David Morrissey look the part, but Brandon was given more screen time. Unfortunately both Austen and Thompson didn't show much of Marianne's journey to falling in love with Brandon, but this one filled in that gap. At last we were finally able to see why Colonel Brandon was meant for Marianne instead of Willoughby. When she said that Brandon was "a truly romantic man" I squealed because I'm sure Austen meant the same.Beyond the men, I will say that the Elinor, Marianne and all of the other characters were done incredibly well. I found nothing lacking in any of them with the exception of Mr. Palmer who was much more amusing in the 1995 version, but since he was a minor character I wasn't offended.In short, Thompson's version was good but this one outshone hers. Sense and Sensibility had more complicated plot which is why I think a mini-series like this was better suited for it on screen since more time can be devoted to it. If you want to watch the best version of Sense and Sensibility, this is for you. I also recommend reading Colonel Brandon's Diary by Amanda Grange if you are as smitten with his character as I am.