Emma: The Verdict

All right, so last week's post regarding the Twilight craze was actually supposed to be a post about BBC's Emma --so, without further ado, as I've said, amid glowing praise from trusted friends and fellow Austen-ites, and after hearing that it was simply so much better than any Emma they'd ever seen --

Here goes: after having watched BBC's production of Emma this past weekend amid the glowing praise of trusted friends and period film fans, I must once again join the ranks of the infidels in proclaiming that, as I expected (drumroll please):

I prefer the Gwyneth Paltrow version.

Before you throw a shower of rotten tomatoes in my direction, hear me out:

Emma's my favorite book. (My mother says it's my favorite because I am Emma =). I have read it no less than fifteen times over the last five years, and have most likely shed more tears, giggles, and wistful sighs over its pages than most, and, as I did with Pride & Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Sense & Sensibility, I read the book before I saw any film adaption. So I'm saying this with Emma's best interest at heart, you see. =)

Character for character, I prefer Miramax's actors. Even as much as I love Michael Gambon, I don't think he was right for the character of Mr. Woodhouse; Mr. Elton was creepier than he was hilarious (although he was one of the funniest characters in the film); Harriet was a little too dense (though younger than Toni Collette, and closer to the age Harriet was in the book: seventeen); and Mrs. Weston was, in my opinion, a little childish. And Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax were a little too much the focus of the story (although it would have been nice to see a happy medium there, because the Miramax film barely touched on them).

My mom also pointed out that it seemed like Emma and Mr. Knightly hated each other until the last fifteen minutes of the movie. Romola Garai is lovely -I just don't really care for her as an actress (and to all Garai fans reading, I'm sorry to say that watching her in a four hour movie did not cause her to grow on me) -I prefer Paltrow's much wittier and mature (and spoiled =) rendition. And I didn't think the lovely words of Mr. Knightley's proposal could possibly sound unromantic --but that's the way they hit me when they came from Jonny Lee Miller's lips --he might have been too young for the part, and a bit too warm for the character, but Jeremy Northam is by far my favorite Knightly. I didn't see a drastic change of character in Emma, as I did in the book or the Miramax version of the film.

Scene for scene, I prefer Douglas McGrath's screenplay. Line by line, I also prefer McGrath's portrayal of Austen's sharp whit and the characteristic banter of her characters to the burdened dialogue of Sandy Welch's version. Something I always say (and I'm an amateur film critic, not a filmmaker, so don't quote me =) is that a script is different from a book, and that staying truer to certain aspects of a book doesn't necessarily make a film adaption the best; staying true to the heart of the story does --as the screenwriter of one of my favorite movies The Count of Monte Cristo said (paraphrasing) "They hired me to write a screenplay. If you want the book, go read the book -it's a good book. But I'm a screenwriter, not a novelist." =) Sometimes, change is good --sometimes, two hours is enough to tell a story, even if the four or six hour version might be truer to the book.

Above all, I just didn't find the new version of Emma very funny (although it had its moments). And one of the things I love about the book is that it makes me laugh.

Perhaps I would have preferred this new Emma if Andrew Davies of Bleak House, Little Dorrit, and Northanger Abbey fame had written the screenplay (although I love Sandy Welch's script for North & South), or if Richard Armitage had played Mr. Knightley instead of Jonny Lee Miller --alas, it is what it is.

For what it's worth, I did enjoy watching BBC's Emma. The story line is masterful, of course. The costumes are inspiring (Garai was much more modest than she was in Amazing Grace, and a great deal less sensual in her portrayal of Emma than she was as Mrs. Wilberforce). And it was lovely to see how far filmmaking has come since 1996 -a modern adaption was a treat. =) It was also nice to see an Emma that wasn't confined to one hundred and twenty minutes, and to see much more of John Knightley than I did in the '96 version. It's hard to miss me with a Jane Austen movie, even if it doesn't end up being my favorite adaption (I mean, come on --I even like Persuasion). It may yet grow on me upon closer inspection (and, with Austen films, you know there's always going to be closer inspection =). But I found myself constantly comparing it to the 1996 version, even though the quality of this version is far better.

I know what you're thinking: this is the third time (after Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility) that I've chosen Hollywood's one hundred and twenty minute offerings to BBC and A&E's lengthier portrayals. And then I added insult to injury by preferring Matthew Macfayden to Colin Firth (oh yeah --I'm admitting it in print) and Jeremy Northam to Jonny Lee Miller. Perhaps I'm just a rebel. I really will try not to let it happen again. ;-)

Now, if only BBC would make a decent Mansfield Park. That's something I would really enjoy! And if it ever came between them and the 1999 version --there'd be very little contest. Now, I'll give you the link to view Emma before I duck off and dodge all of the rotten fruit I know ya'll want to throw at me --I've yet to meet someone besides my mother who shares my opinion. =) I'm already cringing at all the glowing Garai and Miller praise I'm expecting in the comment section --but you shan't change my mind, dear readers; I'm determined. =)

Do watch the new Emma, though, for a wholesome treat. As hard as I've been on it, my problems came more from a compare/contrast than a dislike of the film itself. No doubt BBC fans will revel in this new adaption, as I realize I'm part of the precious few who actually enjoyed the Gwyneth Paltrow version of Emma -don't let this heathenous Hollywood infidel ruin your fun. ;-)

Saturday Stream of Consciousness

So, this week, I'm thinking about Cincinnati and how freezing cold and incredibly excited I'll be to attend the Sufficiency of Scripture conference from December 10-12. I am looking forward to hearing godly men like Paul Washer, Scott Brown, Ken Ham, Joe Morecraft, my dad (of course =) and many others during the course of our time there, and also to visit the Creation Museum for the first time. I'm also very excited to know that I'll be meeting some of you there for the first time. Someone asked me how they'd find me in the sea of people, to which I responded that wherever the books are gathered, there I shall be also. ;-) Someone else wondered if I'd be as interesting in person as I am online. I guess you'll have to tell me. =)

And then, I'm having the number one thought that lots of females have at times like these: what am I going to wear. I know, I know --hear me out, though. It's not from vanity that I ask! It's just that it's going to be cold --really cold. I'm not used to that kind of weather. While my mom doesn't have any problem whipping together the perfect outfit for any occasion, I always end up bundling down too much or freezing to death in too little. I hear the ticket is layering. To be honest, I'm not overly fond of cold weather; it's been in the 60s in Houston this week, which suits me just fine; any colder than this just ain't right. I'm a southern girl for a reason --waaaay south, where we never even see snow. =)

Speaking of the south, you may have noticed the new book on my sidebar, Glory, Duty & the Gold Dome (how did I tie that together, you may ask? Easy peasy --the novel takes place in Georgia, quintessential Southern state =). I'm really excited about this one; I read it in just under a week, stealing away every chance I got to find out what was going to happen next. It's a story told through the eyes of a young man and his father, set against a political backdrop, teaming with interesting characters and edge-of-your-seat suspense. Nathaniel Darnell has done a great job of crafting a well-written novel that challenges readers to think about ethical issues from a biblical standpoint through the eyes of down-to-earth, relatable characters. If any of you have younger brothers looking for a good read, I can definitely recommend Glory, Duty, & the Gold Dome without reservation --and, if I'm any indication, girls like it, too. =)

Now there, you didn't think you were going to get three book recommendations this week, did you?

Now, veering off-topic a little bit, many of you have asked about my thoughts regarding the impending Christmas season (actually, the season is already here, isn't it? =). Christmas is a time known as much for the feelings it inspires as its tangible characteristics, from decorations to Christmas carols, to lovely gifts, to heartfelt sentiments. Often, many of us are afraid to stop and consider the origins of some of our traditions, and the meaning of the holiday itself. And, sometimes, instead of doing our own research and acting from our own convictions, we wait around for someone else to do the searching and convictions for us. You know, I wrote a whole paper about it once...

A paper you may just be able to read if you check out December's newsletter from Voddie Baucham Ministries (you didn't think I was going to give it to you that easily, did you? =); just log on to Daddy's site and join our mailing list to learn more.

What's your favorite hymn to sing around the holidays? I love O, Holy Night and O Come, O Come, Emmanuel --I wish more people sang them outside of December, actually. Their words are beautiful and true all year round. Songs like those always make me wish I had a big, powerful voice to sing along with; more Aretha Franklin and less... well... unpleasantness. Did I mention I couldn't carry a tune if it had handles? I probably did --it irks me so, you see. And so I don't usually sing, though I've been trying to do so more lately, to improve. And, if I do, I do so very quietly, so as not to harm the innocent ears around me. It's not that I'm horrific, but I'd rather be blissfully tone-deaf than achingly aware that I'm not singing all that well. =)

I like to dance, though. Not that I do it particularly well, mind you. But I grew up learning ballroom dancing in my living room with my dad. When I was a little girl, I always loved the scene in princess movies when the princess whirled across the ballroom in the arms of her prince (but, have you noticed that all of the Disney princes look alike, outside of my personal favorite, The Beast? Derek from The Little Mermaid, Prince Charming from Snow White, Prince Charming from Cinderella... same face). I can also do the Virginia Reel and other similar dances, though I don't do them often. You know what sort of dance I always wanted to learn? Tap dancing. I think it was my affection for Gene Kelly that drove it.

How could one not adore Gene Kelly? I mean, Fred Astaire had his charm -no one could have been more graceful. But male dancers shouldn't be as graceful as they are athletic --like dear Gene. I love him in Summer Stock, For Me and My Gal, An American in Paris, and, of course Singin' in the Rain, and I own the full-legnth poster from his film with Frank Sinatra (dear Frank!), On the Town. I was completely crushed when I found out that Kelly was only 5'7" --being on the taller side myself, I'm (understandably, I think =) a bit height-oriented at times. But, I'll cut my future Romeo a deal --if he's as charming and talented as Gene Kelly, he can be as short as Tom Cruise, and I won't mind a bit. Pinky promise.

Speaking of movies, earlier this week, I mentioned that I had written up a review of BBC's Emma (not a proper review, just some of my thoughts on the film). Though the movie won't be released in the U.S. until early next year, after unceasing praise from trusted friends and fellow Austen-ites, I used subversive tactics (*cough* YouTube) to locate the four parts of the film and watch it in ten-minute segments. While I must cringe and admit that Romola Garai was not as unbearable as I'd suspected she'd be (she strikes me the same way Keira Knightly does, but I think Knightly's a better actress), I came away with my view of Gwyneth Paltrow's version quite unaffected. Yes, yes, I know this is the third time (after Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility) that I've chosen Hollywood's one hundred and twenty minute offerings in the place of BBC and A&E's much longer adaptions, but don't revoke my Jane Austen card just yet --it's simply the best. And that is all.

Well... not all. =) I'll write more about that later next week. Hold off your rotten tomatoes until then, please. =)

Lastly, what on earth am I doing up so early on a Saturday?? I'm not. =) I wake up at 5:45 every morning. I write my blog posts at night before I go to bed and schedule them to publish around the time I know I'm going to be up the next day. I sleep in on Saturdays ("sleeping in" for me is around seven-thirty, eight at the latest), but still schedule my posts just as early as ever. =) I don't need much sleep to get by; seven hours is nice, but I only need about four or five to function the next day. It comes in handy for sleepovers, when I know we'll be chatting until one or two o' clock the next morning, and that life is still going to go on as planned the very next day. =)

All right, I think those are all of the musings that I have for today! I hope you've all had a marvelous week! Please do tell me what you've been up to if you have the time. =)

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Heroines, Brothers, and Thankfulness

I would like to have a little girl and name her Corrie.

It's not necessarily the first name on my list. I've never met a woman with that name (although I've known a couple of men named "Corey"). However, if you've been reading here for a while, you know that I have three heroes: Sarah Edwards, wife of Jonathan Edwards, is heroine number one. I loved to read about her life and her legacy in Marriage to a Difficult Man. It's a book so rich with inspiration that, oftentimes, when I'm reading it, I forget that I'm reading a true story about a real marriage and a flesh and blood family. I'm inspired every time I read about the Edwards family to be the second link in the multigenerational legacy my parents are laying down for us.

My second hero is Abigail Adams. As I've shared, I love to read the letters that passed between Abigail and John. I see Abigail and John's marriage -despite its faults -as something I hope my husband and I mirror in a lot of ways. For instance, I'd like to be my husband's best friend. His main counsel. And I rather like the occasional "mushy stuff" you read in their correspondence. =)

Third, Corrie ten Boom. And that would be my little girl's namesake. I cringe when I read or hear someone praising Corrie ten Boom and her amazing life --and then pausing to add, "Even though she wasn't married..." Corrie was a single woman who sucked all of the joy and industry out of life. She had a heart that was passionate about the things of God, a heart that was tender to the sufferings of his people, a heart that falters as any human heart does, but a heart that was hopeful. I so admire her, and, as I've shared, can't wait to meet her in heaven someday.

If the Lord blesses me with a husband, I hope to impart a multigenerational legacy like Sarah and Jonathan did --and I hope we're a team like Abigail and John.

If I'm destined to singleness, I pray that the Lord gives me an ounce of the character of Corrie Ten Boom, an ounce of the servant's heart she had.

Of course, I pray that I only strive to emulate these heroines in the ways in which they emulated Christ. And I'm very grateful to have a heroine to look up to who lives under the same roof as I do. ;-)

This week, I have two book recommendations, as I don't think I offered one last week. The first, Marriage to a Difficult Man, is a biography that, as I shared, will leave you with a clearer picture of who exactly Jonathan Edwards and his family were, and what they imparted to their children and their children's children.

The second, A Prisoner and Yet... is actually my favorite ten Boom biography. It is a much slimmer volume than The Hiding Place, but it's every bit as powerful. Reading it will give you a sharper picture of who Corrie ten Boom was and how mightily the Lord chose to use her, even in the most dire circumstances.

This week's book recommendations are most likely reads that many of you are already familiar with; however, I've been thinking about them a lot lately, and wanted to mention them, just in case. =)

I hope you enjoy them! And I hope you had an amazing Thanksgiving! I know I did --the apple cobbler turned out quite well. ;-) And we had everything cleaned up by 2:00 --just enough time to serve up the dessert and relax before breaking out the leftovers. =) This Thanksgiving, I was most thankful for my family, and for the many blessings the Lord has given us in my four youngest brothers. After fourteen years of eating Thanksgiving with just us four, yesterday, I was blown away that there are now eight of us Bauchams --we never would have imagined that ten years ago; but I'm glad to know that this is what the Lord had in store.

I love my brothers more than words can express, in such a different way than I've ever loved anyone else before. I can't wait to have children of my own someday --but looking into their eyes -Elijah, five now, reading and taking care of his brothers; Asher, almost three, potty-trained and always ready to take on the world; Judah, fifteen months, toddling around on his chubby little legs, talking and cuddling; and Micah, three months old, as sweet and gurgling as any baby could be -I'm so content to be here, loving on them and watching them grow. It's not that they don't ever make me want to yank my hair out --they are four little guys five and under, after all =) --but those hair-yanking moments pale in comparison to the wholeness and blessing they bring to my life.

I love that big one, too --at sixteen, Trey's more and more my best friend every day. =)

Thank the Heavenly Father for families --for friends who are like family --and for every single blessing he's bestowed on us this year! What are you most thankful for this week?

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The Joys of Randomness...

After yesterday's somewhat controversial post regarding the Twilight saga (and a record number of visits to Joyfully Home), I thought it would be nice to take a break from the seriousness that's characterized my blog so far this week. I got the perfect opportunity for such a break yesterday, when Gabrielle of Bramblewood Fashion presented me with a blog award! Thank you, Gabrielle. And a warm thank you to any other readers who have presented me with awards this past year --your thoughtfulness is much appreciated.

This award requires that I blog seven unknown things about me:

1. I used to want to be an actress -terribly. Yet despite my interest in film, I always wanted to act onstage, and used to be obsessed with Tennessee Williams, Oscar Wilde, and George Bernard Shaw's major works. But even though I love to read Pygmalion --
2. I despise My Fair Lady (and, while I'm at it Fiddler on a Roof). It bores me to tears. Once, when I shared this detail with a theater student, he glowered and said, "What kind of person hates My Fair Lady? What, do you hate puppies, baseball, and apple, pie, too?!"
3. No, I don't hate puppies. Trey and I had a Doberman Pinscher and a German Shepherd growing up. We don't have any pets right now, but we're hoping to get another Doberman soon, and, when I get married, I'm hoping on talking my husband into a Great Dane.
4. And, no, I don't hate apple pie. I adore it. It's my very favorite dessert. Of course, I adore many a dessert...
5. Baseball? I can't say that I hate it, but I'm not quite the sports enthusiast I wish -for my future husband's sake -that I was. The only sport I'll sit down and watch is tennis, and that's probably because I took tennis lessons for several years.
6. Despite the lessons, though, I'm afraid I'm shamefully lacking in hand-eye-coordination. I'm thinking of taking up pilates, a form of exercise I can do in my room alone, without anyone to laugh at my technique, or get knocked around by my long limbs.
7. Speaking long limbs, I think I might still be growing. Right now, I'm around 5'9," (after having stretched my 5'8" measurement for the last year-and-a-half =) which is the height I've always wanted to be (and I'm 19, which is the age I always chose in my make-believe games, and has always been the year of my life when I expected "big things" to happen =). My dad is 6'3", my mama is 5'8", and Daddy grew until he was in his early twenties, so I'm curious to see when I'll stop growing.

I tag anyone who reads "Joyfully Home" --thank you very much for stopping by, and let me know if you decide to blog seven random things about yourself. Please have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow with your loved ones, praising the Lord, who has given each us so very much to be grateful for. What are some of your Thanksgiving plans?

At the Baucham home, I'll be making my way into the kitchen again, donned in my June Cleaver apron and a sunny disposition, prepared with oldies tinkling in the background, and armed with a Food Network recipe in hopes of whipping up a dynamic apple cobbler. I'll be back later this week --if sous-cheffing and cobbler-making doesn't drive this perfectionist insane. What were those words again?

Ah -- I remember now. =)

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