Random Observations on Sense and Sensibility '95

(I love the word random.  It's such a perfect excuse for writing anything that borders on jumbled and disorganized.  Just tack random on the title of your post and you're free to make it a completely muddled conglomeration of thoughts which fit together--or don't fit together--as the fancy strikes you.  Yes, it really is a very convenient word.)

 

Anyhow, that's what I'm here for today, to throw some very random thoughts in your direction; and as I have no clear idea where I'm going with this, be prepared for a barrage of confused babbling.  Just so you know, this is not the first time I've seen this version of Sense and Sensibility.  However, it had been quite a few years since the last time I watched it, so there actually were a few new things which stood out to me this time around.  This post therefore will be a collection of old and new thoughts inspired from our recent viewing of this film. 

 

Shall we begin?

 

~ [Opening scene: John Dashwood talking to his father.]  Hold it a second!  Isn't that Uncle Frederick from Little Dorrit??  It IS!  It really IS!  John Dashwood is Uncle Frederick!  Goodness.  And he's so much younger!  And oh my!  That means Uncle Frederick's married to Mrs. Gowan.  Dear, dear.  Poor Uncle Frederick.  I do pity him.  To be married to such a lady as Mrs. Gowan!  :(

 

 

~ *sigh*  Edward is so stiff.  As always.  Do you think perhaps his collar is too tight?  And he does have such trouble saying what he wants to say.  I do wish he could talk without a mile long pause between each and every word.

 

~ There goes Colonel Brandon, talking in a monotone again.  Couldn't he, please, just put a little bit of feeling into his words?  His blankness is driving me nuts.   And he talks too slow, too.  It's giving me anxiety attacks.  (Haha.  Just kidding.  But I do wish they could get their words out a little more quickly.  If you're going to talk, talk!)

 

~ Mwhahaha! Willoughby is so ridiculously charming when he comes in with that bouquet!  Typical rat-like behavior.  You'd think someone would catch on to the fact that he's too good to be true. 

 

 

~ Oh look!  It's Beeeertie!!  Talk Bertie, talk!  We want to hear you taaalk!  Haha!  Thank you.  You're so funny when you talk so seriously!!  Okay, you don't even have to talk.  We're cracking up just looking at you.  Bertie with that solemn, grumpy face...oh! it's too much.   It's just too much!!  

 

 

(By the way, have any of you ever imagined what would happen if Mr. Palmer and Bertie Wooster were to meet?  Because, honestly, I think it would be a riot.  Mr. Palmer fixing Bertie with one of his  death-threatening stares, and Bertie returning the look with one of his innocent, goofy little smiles.  I just know Bertie would drive Mr. Palmer berserk.  And that's why it's so totally hilarious to think that they really are very closely connected.  ;))

 

 

*Ahem* Getting back to Sense and Sensibility...

 

~ Wow.  Willoughby really is a RAT!  I'd forgotten how very bad he is, and now I find that I don't pity him nearly much as I thought I did!  Not even in that last scene when he looks so pitifully down over the hill.  (Actually, I've never pitied him in that scene.  That was pathetic.  You brought it on yourself, buster!  Now get over it.) (Ahem.  I admit, though, I do still pity Willoughby somewhat in the book.  However, my reasons for doing so are too complicated to go into at the present moment, so that's all I'm going to say on the subject just now.) 

 

~ Oh my goodness!  That scene where Edward walks into the room and addresses himself to Elinor, failing to notice that Lucy is standing right behind him!  And then Elinor kindly makes him aware of his situation and...oh!   AWKWARDNESS!  Poor Edward. 

 

Wake me up, someone, please.  This has got to be a nightmare!

 

~ Okay, Fanny.  You're reaction to Lucy Steele's confidence was just a bit over the top.  Seriously?  Dragging her out through the window?  I find that hard to believe.  (Yes, that was a very uncomfortable, groan-worthy scene, in my opinion.)

 

~ Well, Marianne certainly knows the secret to finding herself a man.  Just walk outside in the rain and whichever man carries you home, he's the one!  Wala!

 

~ Look at that!  It's Mr. Wickfield!  (From David Copperfield 1999)  I'd forgotten he'd gone into the medical profession.  Nice to see you, Mr. Wickfield.

 

~ Someone please tell me.  Why does Marianne fall in love with Colonel Brandon?  I don't get it.  I mean, he's awfully nice, and a real gentleman and all that...but he has NO expression when he talks.  If she couldn't bear listening to Edward read without expression, how is she going to bear living with a  husband who can't even talk with the teeniest bit of feeling in his voice?



 

~ Lucy, I dislike you very much.  You're an obnoxious, creepy person.  But I do love how you make things so nice and convenient at the end.  First we hear that you and Edward are married.  And oh! poor Elinor!  But then we hear, what?  You and Edward are not married?  You went and married his brother instead?  Oh, nice.  That was an easy fix.

 

~ One final thing.  Colonel Brandon, why are throwing money into the air? I mean, I know you're super happy since you just got married, and I can't deny it is a cool camera shot, but honestly  isn't that an awful waste of one's resources?  And if you meant for it to be a gift of charity to the poor, then why didn't you just hand it to them straight?  That way they wouldn't have to go breaking their backs looking for it all over the ground?  Just a thought.

 

See?  I told you this was going to be a random post.  You were fairly warned.  And now I just hope you made it safely through this whole confused mess.   Sorry.  I'm afraid I just wasted several minutes of your life.

(Just so you know, I don't dislike this movie.  It's not a perfect adaption of Sense and Sensibility, but it's still highly entertaining.  And in case you were wondering, I've seen the '08 version, too; and while I liked some things about it, I still maintain there's a lot of room for improvement.  They haven't hit on a perfect Sense and Sensibility yet, in my opinion.)
 

 

Have you ever seen this movie? 

What are some of your random thoughts about it?

Do you agree with me that we could still use a better version of S&S?