Comments on: Mansfield Park (the Movie)

By: Sheila DeChantal

Sheila DeChantal — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:04:44 +0000

This looks really good. I am still workingmy way through some Austen movies for the challenge.

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:44:49 +0000

I really enjoyed the movie. But I still have yet to read the book…I started it a few years ago, but I just couldn’t get going on it. I’ll have to try it again. Thanks for your review!

By: admin

admin — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:51:45 +0000

Celia,

I can’t believe I forgot to mention the slavery thing. I did read that it is not apparent in the book, and did think it gave something more to the story.

By: Celia

Celia — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:02:39 +0000

I agree with you about the changes to Fanny’s character between book and movie versions. I don’t think there was much they could have done to make Austen’s Fanny palatable to modern viewers, so inserting some of these ‘inauthentic’ character traits into the movie character make sense.
Having said that, I didn’t much care for the movie overall. The book is what it is, and you can definitely place it in its context and appreciate the side characters for their comments on manners and place in society. The movie doesn’t do a whole lot of that, although the inclusion of the Atlantic slavery discussion did make me sit up and pay attention.

Thanks for your review!

By: Christina

Christina — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:53:32 +0000

Regarding substituting “Jane” in for “Fanny” – a vast majority of Austen’s work is based on people she knew and things that did happen in her life made their modified way into her books.

So from that standpoint, I’m more than fine with modifying Fanny’s character a little. Overall the story is still the same and it’s capturing this slice of experience. Giving Fanny more chutzpah doesn’t change who she is or the outcome – it’s not like they swapped personalities with a different character and made her completely unrelatable or gave her actions/words that would change her drastically and thus the outcome.

Audiences are also very well versed with Lizzy Bennet – they have come to expect all of Austen’s heroines to react and speak in a similar manner. “Jane” in Becoming Jane is even a reflection of this.