I am fanatical about the novel Mansfield Park; it is my favorite book of all time. I read it constantly- always starting over when I reach the end. I'm not a book-to-film-nazi however, so I don't mind that films are different from books. It's not mentally taxing- come to think of it, this film reminds me a lot of Disney film, where it's all rated G and nothing gets too serious or too thought-provoking. As long as it's not viewed as a film related to the Jane Austen novel, it is enjoyable and delightful to watch. Maybe that defeats the purpose?
There are a few things that are bothersome, as someone who knows the story well: **Spoilers Follow** Fanny Price is not meant to be a free-spirit. Yet in this film, she lilts around like a hippie with her hair flowing down and she perpetually runs through the mansion laughing and playing and bumping into servants. Since a silently tortured Fanny is pivotal to the story, this huge personality change is very disappointing. The building tension of the story is precisely what makes it so great, and that is missing here, which is probably why it reminds me of a Disney flick. If one wants to see a delightful Elizabeth Bennett character, one should watch Pride & Prejudice.
Also, as aforementioned in other comments, not sending Fanny away from Mansfield to her poor home most definitely changes the anatomy of the story as well. To be isolated for months (not three weeks) with virtual strangers in a strange, cramped, poor home is vital to Fanny's isolation. In this film I suppose it's easy to leave out, since we never get the sense that Fanny becomes slightly won over by Mr. Crawford. I realize the filmmakers didn't have a lot of money, but they could have converted one of the many rooms in the mansion they filmed in into makeshift cramped quarters. Maybe they couldn't afford more actors.
I got an overall feeling from the film that the filmmakers intended to dumb down the social structure of the period so that viewers wouldn't be confused about why certain behaviors and proposals were improprietous. If they wanted to reach more than just period piece lovers, I can understand their penchant for doing so.
I feel Blake Ritson, who plays Edmund was, well-cast and the cinematography was excellent. The costuming wasn't always accurate, but very well done. The sets were gorgeous and I really feel that with the correct story structure and direction that Billie Piper (whom I'd never seen before) could actually have been a great Fanny Price. It was also very satisfying to see Fanny and Edmund at their wedding! Overall, this really is a fun, sweet film on it's own!
There are a few things that are bothersome, as someone who knows the story well: **Spoilers Follow** Fanny Price is not meant to be a free-spirit. Yet in this film, she lilts around like a hippie with her hair flowing down and she perpetually runs through the mansion laughing and playing and bumping into servants. Since a silently tortured Fanny is pivotal to the story, this huge personality change is very disappointing. The building tension of the story is precisely what makes it so great, and that is missing here, which is probably why it reminds me of a Disney flick. If one wants to see a delightful Elizabeth Bennett character, one should watch Pride & Prejudice.
Also, as aforementioned in other comments, not sending Fanny away from Mansfield to her poor home most definitely changes the anatomy of the story as well. To be isolated for months (not three weeks) with virtual strangers in a strange, cramped, poor home is vital to Fanny's isolation. In this film I suppose it's easy to leave out, since we never get the sense that Fanny becomes slightly won over by Mr. Crawford. I realize the filmmakers didn't have a lot of money, but they could have converted one of the many rooms in the mansion they filmed in into makeshift cramped quarters. Maybe they couldn't afford more actors.
I got an overall feeling from the film that the filmmakers intended to dumb down the social structure of the period so that viewers wouldn't be confused about why certain behaviors and proposals were improprietous. If they wanted to reach more than just period piece lovers, I can understand their penchant for doing so.
I feel Blake Ritson, who plays Edmund was, well-cast and the cinematography was excellent. The costuming wasn't always accurate, but very well done. The sets were gorgeous and I really feel that with the correct story structure and direction that Billie Piper (whom I'd never seen before) could actually have been a great Fanny Price. It was also very satisfying to see Fanny and Edmund at their wedding! Overall, this really is a fun, sweet film on it's own!