Cranford Movie Review

I watched Cranford for the second time late June. I took notes and told myself I would do a review on my blog ASAP.... well, obviously that didn't happen. But I love Cranford and its inhabitants to itty bitty bits, so I must review it! :) ("'Why are you putting cologne on a handkerchief?' 'She seemed in such distress. She wrote in exclamation points!") Pardon me for the parentheses, I couldn't help myself. Although I am not in distress ;) 

Now, on to the review! For those of you who haven't seen or read Cranford, here is a brief description from the wonderful IMDb: "In the 1840s, Cranford is ruled by the ladies. They adore good gossip; and romance and change is in the air, as the unwelcome grasp of the Industrial Revolution rapidly approaches their beloved rural market-town."  While this description is good, it misses out on the feel and old fashioned loveliness of it all. (which is hard to do in one paragraph, I confess.) 

                       

First of all, the acting is fabulous. Wonderful Dame Judi Dench plays Miss Mattie, who is sweetness personified. The other wonderful and fantastically quirky and lovable characters are Mrs. Forrester, Miss Pole (her faces are priceless!), Miss Tomkinson, and Miss Jamieson. Miss Deborah was almost like Marilla Cuthbert, a bit prickly, but under it all is a good heart. 

                               
It is an account of all the comings-and-goings in a "typical" English village in the 1800s. Starting with the coming of Mary Smith-who comes to Cranford to get away from her new stepmother and her attempts to marry her off- to the new young doctor (who to my surprise was Mr. Bingley from P&P '05.) who had the audacity to wear a red coat. He was quickly corrected by the senior doctor and told to get a black coat. (In point of fact, I liked the red one better.) Then comes the blow of the news of the railroad coming to Cranford. Needless to say, it did not meet with the ladies approval. 

It would take me forever to chronicle all the sad and amusing moments of Cranford, so I suggest you watch it yourself and enjoy, as I did. I would like to warn you about a couple deaths (although it seems like everyone). I will not mention who, as that would spoil it for you, but I thought you ought to be semi-prepared. 

I feel I cannot do justice to the mini-series in one cohesive post, so I will just put down my jots and scribbles in a non-cohesive post and hope I catch some of its charm.

-Miss Deborah's face when Mary says she came by the railway is priceless!

- Miss Mattie's gossip when Mary first arrives is so amusing! Especially when she was talking of a pick cart that got wedged and tipped, and Mary asks if anyone was hurt, to which she replies "Oh no; BUT there was talk of calling the constable!" (astonishing, don't you agree?)

-I simply loved Miss Deborah and her gentle reproof of Martha, the maid. "Whatever-Martha-has-said- MADAM." haha

                       

-The orange scene is EPIC. "We shall consume our fruit in solitude."

-I was so proud of Dr. Harrison (Bingley) and his unheard of operation. Thank goodness it went well! And the dear ladies of Cranford offering up their candles for it was heartwarming.

-"No women is the equal of a man. She is superior in every place." -Miss Deborah :D

- Not only was Mr. Bingley in Cranford, but Willoughby from S&S '95 and Carson from Downton Abbey made appearances as well.

-I must mention the scene where the poor cat ate the lace stitched by hand by nuns in the 1400s!

- And I admit, I totally shipped Miss Galindo and Mr. Carter. It ought to have happend, Miss Gaskell!

-I wish Miss Mattie had gotten the turban she had wanted

                         

-Harry and Mr. Carter's relationship... leaves me speechless.

-I think my readers may find this quote of Miss Pole's to be amusing, I know I did! "My father was a man; I think I understand the sex." :) dear Miss Pole

-oh, Miss Mattie and her fear of a man being under the bed. The ball was a good idea. "Very well, there is no man concealed there." 

-I kind of also shipped Jack Marshland and Mary... did anyone else?

- Miss Pole bringing Thomas Holbrook's silhouette to Miss Mattie restored my faith in humanity

-Miss Mattie and her "dream baby" left me nonplussed... I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

       

- Sometimes I can't stand Lady Ludlow, and other times, I feel I can understand her perfectly. She and Aunt Hetty from Road to Avonlea do that to me.

-I was so pleased at Miss Jesse's happy ending. :D

-Peter! Oh, PETER PETER PETER! *ahem* Sorry, I had to get that off my chest.

-So, I was rather proud of myself this time- the little tears didn't appear until the end.

So, I hope you at least got the gist of what I am trying to say- if not.... well just go and watch it yourself and then you will understand. :)

Oh, I don't think I have mentioned before, but I have a sister. The reason I saw fit to mention her now is because she actually watched Cranford with me! She usually doesn't "do" period dramas. She even left a footnote at the bottom of my notes which reads as follows:

"Hi sissy :) You took wonderful notes :) Everyone thought that doctor dude was in love with them...like, I wouldn't be surprised if even the men thought the doc had a thing for them! Plus, so many people died!!! What a movie!"

My sister has a liking for emoticons... but I think she liked it. She won't admit it but... maybe she'll watch more! 

So, in the words of my sister, what a movie!

Here they all are, waving goodbye

P.S. I wonder if anyone knows how to make a blog button? I'd like to make one, but I do not know how... comment below if you know! :)

A Review of Pride & Prejudice (1995)

This picture doesn't really have anything to do with this post, but it is so cute!

As I am sadly behind on my movie reviews for Old Fashioned Charm's Period Drama Challenge, I have decided it is high time to post another movie review. I have rather been shrinking from posting a review of Pride & Prejudice. not because I have bad things to say about it, but because there is such a decided opinion on which movie is best between die hard Janeites..... and I like them both, for different reasons.

While I share a little of the scorn many Janeites feel for the modern version (2005) of P&P, I like it. (Not in comparison to the book, because it is very different in many ways.) But in and of itself, if not thought of in connection to the book, I think it's a wonderful story.

But, if you are looking for something more akin to the book, and you don't mind watching a (is it a 6 hour movie, in all? I think it is...) Nope, I just checked the back of my DVD case, it says  "approx. 300 min." So it is only 5 hours. ;)

I have only just recently found this version of P&P. While I've known the 2005 version for a long time. But I already love it so much! The story of how I found it is this: (in case anyone cares haha)

I found online a music sheet for some of the wonderful music pieces in P&P '05. I brought these in to my piano teacher to see if I could possibly play them. It was while we were discussing Jane Austen. (because she was an Janeite too, she is such a kindred spirit) She mentioned how much she enjoyed P&P '95 and how she believed it left the '05 version in the dust. Well after that I had to see it! Luckily, she had the boxed set and said she could lend it to me! Needless to say, I finished the whole series in two days. (I would've tried to finish it in one, but school got in the way.;) )

I loved it. The movie was spot on like the book. Well, as spot on as any movie can be, because it's never as perfect as the movie running through your head. Darcy had a wonderful air about him, a fascinating gaze, Colin Firth was wonderful. The first proposal, while not necessarily romantic, and I do NOT think she should have said yes, as indeed, he didn't respect her enough yet; I was still terribly torn up when he was rejected. The look on Darcy's face! The pain she was inflicting! Oh oh oh! Jennifer Ehle was also fabulous in the scene. (She was fabulous in every scene....) I like how she didn't have Elizabeth screaming and shouting to Mr. Darcy about all the wrongs done to her. She simply was icily polite and her words were like sword thrusts, wounding Darcy with every blow. Elizabeth is intelligent and a lady, and she would keep her cool even in the most trying circumstances. (Even if she might cry and rage about it later in private) So that was exactly as I had imagined it.

And Mr. Collins! Oh my gosh, could any one be more Mr. Collins-y? He was a little more slimy then I expected, but really, he pulled it off fabulously. His facial expressions were perfect, his social awkwardness funny but cringe worthy at the same time. (In fact, I always feel rather sorry for him) But I never can feel really sorry for him, because he doesn't see his social awkwardness and he is so like a puffed up little wren parading around as a peacock. (I don't know why I thought of that analogy, but it seems quite true.) Poor Charlotte! But she made her choice, and really, she seems happy to finally be mistress of her own home and not a burden any longer. (I wonder if she ever regretted her choice?)


Jane Bennett was so sweet and demur, and the fact that every man didn't fall in love with her is a wonder to me. Bingly is everything a gentlemen ought to be. He really loves Jane and I am always surprised at him being persuaded out of marrying her. But it all works out, so I can't begrudge him his weak character; for Mr. Darcy's is a formidable character indeed! I don't know if I  could go against his judgment!


Caroline Bingly is a rat! She is a rat subtlety though, so we cannot reprove her. And it's such a shame for I would dearly love to knock her down a peg or two! Elizabeth does not allow herself to be put down though, and I always admire her so much for that! The older sister, Mrs. Hurst, I believe, is awful, but she really only is a carbon copy of Miss Bingly. Whatever Caroline thinks, so it seems does Mrs. Hurst! So I really don't waste my energy despising her.

Mr. Bennett was amusing, and I greatly sympathized with him. It can't be easy living with Mrs. Bennett's "poor nerves!" And we are kindred spirits in that we both love to read. Mrs. Bennett was hysterical! Always flighty and amusing and very exasperating! She and Kitty make a crazy pair! Kitty was always kind of embarrassing though, and I found myself grimacing (enjoying myself, but still grimacing) in many of Kitty's scenes. Mary was hopelessly prim and socially awkward. And her singing at the ball! Oh, someone should have stopped her sooner!

And the ending was highly gratifying. I had been waiting for that kiss since the mini series began! But it was worth it! The double wedding was delicious!

I hope I haven't offended anyone, and I would love to hear your opinions and criticisms below! :)