This much-anticipated 2020 version of the classic comedy Emma by Jane Austin shares the same source with numerous other productions and introduces a new generation to the manipulations of a bored woman of wealth and privilege in early 19th century England. Unlike Jane Austin’s other popular works, Emma is not the sort of character to draw an audience’s empathy and love. The humor of the story originates from her machinations with other people’s lives, and her love interest is the only one who can mitigate her behavior. Emma’s virtue as a character is that she embodies theneed for certain interrelational morals that we should all know or learn. This version of the story excelled in production quality and situational comedy.
The score by Isobel Waller-Bridge and David Schweitzer added just the right period flavor to the movie, and the musical transitions easily entertained with period folk music that introduced and reinforced the mood.
While rated PG, Emma contained a surprise near the beginning that will turn off modest viewers (full back male nudity). We’re not sure how that scene made it into a rated PG movie, but the rest of the movie is relatively clean. Be sure to check out the Plugged In review for more information on objectionable content.
General impressions
Eve
I’m not sure there needed to be a remake of Emma. I actually liked the 1996 production with Gwyneth Paltrow. From the previews, I thought this one would be artier, but I preferred the narration style in the previous version. Since they share source material, the differences were mostly in casting, production quality, and situational comedy (which this one did better).
I liked the music for the most part. I’m still unsure if the use of “How Firm a Foundation” in two of the transitions was a subtle mockery of the hymn or the situation.
Why on earth was there a rear view of a naked man in a rated PG movie?????!!!!! Completely unnecessary scene.
“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world.” (1 John 2:16)
Tim
I’ve never been exposed to Jane Austen. To the best of my knowledge, I’ve never read any of her works, any works based on her works, or seen any movies even loosely based on her works, like “Mean Girls.” Apart from AYJW, neither my wife or I would have gone to see Emma.
I liked it. I liked the character-centric comedy that was smoothly achieved without any crass or low-brow forays. I liked that so much of the humor was simply in the characters being themselves, like Mr. Woodhouse and the two male servants.
The main story line and moral builds around Emma suffering from and recognizing the consequences of her inept attempts to manipulate the fortunes and emotions of those around her. It’s built and revealed in a way that is both smooth and solid over the course of the movie and felt 100% natural to me.
Holding Your Tongue
At the picnic scene, Emma lets fly a verbal jab that was far more potent and painful than she’d perhaps intended.
Scripture frequently speaks of the importance of measured speech and soft words:
So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large forest. And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed[b] among our members. It stains the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. Every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish is tamed and has been tamed by humankind, but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:5-8)
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:18)
Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. (Proverbs 21:23)
A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath. (Proverbs 15:1)
Pride
Emma was very proud of her “ability” to make romantic matches after successfully matching her governess to Mr. Weston. Not once, but twice she misreads the romantic intentions surrounding Harriet Smith. The consequences of these mistakes are far-reaching.
Better to be without sense all together than to misapply it more than you.—Mr. Knightly
General Scripture:
Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)
A fool’s way is right in his own eyes, but whoever listens to counsel is wise. (Proverbs 12:15)
For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11)
Class warfare
Though not “hit-over-the-head” with a moral on class distinctions, Emma shows characters interacting based on their social class.
How do the class distinctions of Jane Austen’s age compare to those of today? Is modern class discrimination helped or hindered by social justice efforts?
A young farmer, whether on horseback or on foot, is the very last sort of person to raise my curiosity. The yeomanry are precisely the order of people with whom I feel I can have nothing to do. A degree or two lower, and a creditable appearance might interest me; I might hope to be useful to their families in some way or other. But a farmer can need none of my help, and is, therefore, in one sense, as much above my notice as in every other he is below it.—Emma
Emma has a very self-centered, snobbish view of people. Either they are low enough in social status to need her help or high enough to be of help to her—anyone in between isn’t worth her notice.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)
My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in, if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? Yet you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into court? Don’t they blaspheme the good name that was invoked over you?“ (James 2:1-7)
Portrayal of “Christians”
The vicar is easily the most despicable man in the entire movie. How does this compare to whom God calls to lead His church on earth?
This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.” An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy. (1 Timothy 3:1-3)
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.” (Romans 12:16)
The church congregation is all about habit and appearances so much so that it is part of the physical comedy in the movie. How do we act when someone sits in our pew?
“How Firm a Foundation” is a very old and dearly loved Christian hymn that is either mocking the situation of the movie or the hymn itself. Not sure which.
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