Win a Copy of Emma. on Blu-ray
It’s quite possible Jane Austen may qualify as the author whose works have been most adapted for the screen since the turn of the century. Her work continues to endure and in many ways might qualify as one of the earliest pop culture phenomenons.
The latest such effort is Emma., which Universal released just prior to the nation going into quarantine. While available to rent previously, it is now available to own via streaming with the Combo Pack (Blu-ray, DVD, Digital HD) coming May 19. Or, you can win our contest.
All you need to do is tell us which adaptation of an Austen work is your personal favorite and why. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m., Friday, May 15. The contest is open to North American readers only and the decision of the ComicMix judges will be final.
Jane Austen’s beloved comedy about finding your equal and earning your happy ending is reimagined in this delicious new film adaptation of Emma. Handsome, clever, and rich, Emma Woodhouse (Taylor-Joy) is a restless “queen bee” without rivals in her sleepy little English town. In this glittering satire of social class, Emma must navigate her way through the challenges of growing up, misguided matches and romantic missteps to realize the love that has been there all along.
Autumn de Wilde’s feature debut Emma. is “irresistible” (Justin Chang, NPR) and “the best adaptation yet” (Matt Goldberg, Collider), featuring a fresh and razor-sharp screenplay by Man Booker Prize winner Eleanor Catton (The Luminaries) that stays true to Austen’s endearing novel and brings to life the English Countryside in 1815. With an exceptional ensemble cast lead by Taylor-Joy Emma. is rounded out by Johnny Flynn (Beast), Bill Nighy (Love Actually, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Series), Mia Goth (Suspiria), Josh O’ Connor (“The Crown”), Miranda Hart (Spy, Call the Midwife), Callum Turner (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, War & Peace), Tanya Reynolds (Sex Education), Connor Swindells (Sex Education), Rupert Graves (Sherlock, A Room with a View) and Gemma Whelan (Game of Thrones). Accompanied by a joyous and energetic score by composer Isobel Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) and David Schweitzer, Emma. is a stunning new vision of the groundbreaking literary classic on love and redemption. The theatrical version of the film is currently available for early viewing on a wide variety of popular on-demand services as a premium rental offering.
BLU-RAYTM, DVD & DIGITAL BONUS FEATURES:
- Deleted Scenes
- Gag Reel
- A Playful Tease – Go behind the scenes with the talented cast of as they share their experiences making the film.
- Crafting a Colorful World* – Cast and crew discuss the gorgeously preserved locations, extravagant set dressing, and authentic Regency costumes featured in Emma.
- The Autumn Gaze* – An intimate look at director Autumn de Wilde’s filmmaking process and her photographic eye.
- Feature Commentary with Director Autumn de Wilde, Screenwriter Eleanor Catton, and Director of Photography Christopher Blauvelt
*Blu-rayTM and Digital Exclusive
Emma will be available on Blu-rayTM, DVD and Digital.
- Blu-rayTM unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
- Digital lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download.
- MOVIES ANYWHERE is the digital app that simplifies and enhances the digital movie collection and viewing experience by allowing consumers to access their favorite digital movies in one place when purchased or redeemed through participating digital retailers. Consumers can also redeem digital copy codes found in eligible Blu-rayTM and DVD disc packages from participating studios and stream or download them through Movies Anywhere. MOVIES ANYWHERE is only available in the United States. For more information, visit https://moviesanywhere.com.
FILMMAKERS:
Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn and Bill Nighy
Music By: Isobel Waller-Bridge, David Schweitzer
Costume Designer: Alexandra Byrne
Edited By: Nick Emerson
Production Designer: Kave Quinn
Director of Photography: Christopher Blauvelt
Co-Producer: Jo Wallett
Executive Producers: Amelia Granger, Ben Knight
Based on the Novel By: Jane Austen
Screenplay By: Eleanor Catton
Produced By: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Graham Broadbent, Peter Czernin
Directed By: Autumn de Wilde
TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD:
Street Date: May 19, 2020
Selection Number: 62211117 (US) / 62211384 (CDN)
Layers: DVD 9
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 16:9 1.78:1
Rating: Rated PG for brief partial nudity
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French Canadian and Latin American Spanish
Sound: English Dolby Digital 5.1, English Dolby Digital 2.0 and French-Canadian Dolby Digital 5.1
Run Time: 2 Hours and 4 Minutes
TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY™:
Street Date: May 19, 2020
Selection Number: 62211116 (US)/ 62211385 (CDN)
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 16:9 1.78:1
Rating: Rated PG for brief partial nudity
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French-Canadian and Latin American Spanish
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English Dolby Digital 2.0 and French Canadian DTS Digital Surround 5.1
Run Time: 2 Hours and 4 Minutes
My fav Austen adaptation will always be the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie! Aside from being a beautiful movie in its own right, it’s also what initially introduced me to the Austen world and all its amazing stories, so I’ll always love it for that. ?
My favorite Austen adaption is the Pride and Prejudice (1995) miniseries starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. It’s a classic. The fantastic cast, beautiful filming locations, wonderfully adapted script… everything was just perfection and the miniseries format allowed for enough time to flesh out the characters and most importantly, include as much of the story as possible. I’ve watched it countless times.
My personal favourite adaptation of an Austen work would have to be Persuasion (2007). Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones are absolutely wonderful as Anne and Captain Wentworth, both deftly portraying the veritable angst, longing, and regret of their fraught relationship. Their stellar, subtle performances, enhanced by the immediacy of the cinematography, anchor this handsome production, with its breathtaking scenery and locations and lovely costumes. The beautiful score by Martin Phipps contributes greatly to this affecting story of love lost and found again, particularly in the most memorable and moving climactic scene near the end. Prone to melancholic introspection, Anne may be a quieter, more introverted Austen heroine, but she is no less compelling and remarkable in this deeply heartfelt and incredibly romantic adaptation that I adore.
My pick is this version of Emma. (2020), because it not only is visually gorgeous and extremely funny but also features an amazing cast of young up-and-comers and veterans alike who really bring Austen’s Highbury to vivid life. Most notably, the talented Johnny Flynn gives a brilliant performance in what I personally consider to be the best incarnation of Mr. Knightley yet. Bill Nighy and Josh O’Connor also deserve special mention for their hilarious turns as Mr. Woodhouse and Mr. Elton respectively. Everything about this adaptation, from the exquisite costumes to the enchanting music, make this a most delightful experience. As the penultimate film I saw in theatres before lockdown, it has retained a very special place in my heart, and I would be so happy and grateful to own it, rewatch it repeatedly, and be able to enjoy all the bonus features!
My favorite is definitely the 1995 BBC miniseries of Pride and Prejudice. Everything about it is perfect to me. I absolutely love the casting, especially Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy and Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth. The had such amazing chemistry!
My fav is a rather unconventional choice, seeing as it is both a very loose adaptation and a modernization, but I would have to go with Amy Heckerling’s 90’s classic Clueless. Capturing the spirit, humour, romance, warmth, and biting wit of Austen’s Emma, it successfully transposes the narrative to a Beverly Hills high school milieu with Alicia Silverstone’s Cher and Paul Rudd’s Josh serving as fantastic modern day versions of Emma and Knightley. Irresistibly charming, very funny, and smartly written and directed, Clueless is such a highly enjoyable, clever take on Austen. (In terms of direct adaptations, I would have to choose another movie also released in 1995, Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibilty for its top-notch cast (including the late great Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon) and its exceptional screenplay by the extraordinary Emma Thompson.)