I used to have no feelings for this Jane Austen work. Although I have seen the 1996 version and the modern version of Clueless, I have never really liked the heroine. In fact, I still don't like the heroine very much in the new version, but I was quickly attracted by many interesting supporting roles and beautiful scenes in this film. Not for the love story, this film is absolutely seductive and worth watching again and again.
One of the biggest advantages of Emma over other Jane Austen characters is that she has money. So no matter what era this story is in, no matter how it is remade, there will be a "big mansion", and this "mansion" is still an important role in the film. The manor in this new edition is even more eye-catching than the '96 edition, and is literally a Barbie doll room, with walls of various candy colors. Whether it is a light blue corridor, a light pink bedroom, or a light green living room, all of them are full of spring atmosphere, which makes people want to visit immediately. Many of the outdoor scenes are also captivating, and each shot is postcard-like. The scene design and visual presentation have surpassed Sofia Coppola's "Marie Antoinette" as the most seductive costume film in my heart. From this point of view, women of almost all ages will be attracted to this film.
But the hair and clothing of the film may be controversial. From the flat picture, it is exaggerated and ironic. In the film, some of Emma's clothes are quite beautiful, and the men are also well-dressed, but the women's hairstyles are very fake, as if the fake headgear will fall off when the wind blows. But it did help to create a lot of interesting characters, such as the talkative Mrs Bates, and the neurotic Elton couple, who are very happy from head to toe.
Although the random love story itself is cliché, the humor is the biggest difference between this film and other versions. I remember being so bored that I fell asleep watching the 1996 version, but now everyone speaks with a sense of jumping like a singing opera. Many comedy plots allude to the traditional and outdated etiquette of that era, and the characters are also very cartoonish, which makes the whole person relaxed The feeling of pleasure is definitely the most entertaining adaptation.
The character Emma is not really smart, but thinks she is smart and kind, and has a very hypocritical side. As said in "Parasite", she is kind mainly because she has money. In fact, she is the Queen B that is often said in today's era, and needs to be admired and followed by others. This version of Emma is more interesting than Gwyneth, and more mature than the heroine in Clueless, without feeling squeamish or spoiled, which is considered a success. But I have reservations about the casting of Anya Taylor-Joy. Those eyes are too scary, but they are big but lacking in aura. She even had a nosebleed in the film. At that time, she immediately thought it was the upper body of the horror heroine. Plus the hairstyle is too exaggerated, it still feels awkward no matter how you look at it.
Moreover, the love story between Emma and Mr. Knightley always felt very sudden. It seemed that both of them looked around, absent-minded, and suddenly fell in love after a dance. And this dance is also lacking sparks. This version of Mr. Knightley is charming enough, but silly and lacks the maturity that the character should have. The '96 version might be more suitable. After I watched it, I heard other female viewers say: "It's still the best version of Paul Rudd (Clueless)"
Of all these Queen B characters, I still love Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl, not only because she's smarter and more tongue-in-cheek, but because she also has a lot of vulnerable moments. The TV series has the opportunity to show more layers of this character, which makes people feel sympathetic instead of being cruel.
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