TheLittleSongbird I absolutely loved this Persuasion, for me it is a winner both as an adaptation and on its own merits and one of my personal favourite adaptations of the books of Jane Austen. The story is beautiful and emotional, and while not always true in essence the characters are interesting and not dull. The adaptation is rather short though, but it doesn't entirely matter when it is done so well. Persuasion looks wonderful too. The costumes, locations and photography look stunning, while the piano music that accompanies the adaptation is simple and beautiful without ever being repetitive. The dialogue is sophisticated and the acting is great, complete with solid support turns from Simon Russell Beale, Susan Fleetwood, Sophie Thompson and Corin Redgrave and wonderful lead ones from Amanda Root and particularly Ciaron Hinds. In conclusion, a beautiful adaptation. 9/10 Bethany Cox

andrewbanks This is one of my favourite Jane Austen dramatisations. I really like it for three reasons: 1) Amanda Root is outstandingly good as Anne Elliot. She really captures the character to perfection, and it is a hard part to act, too, since in many scenes, especially in the first half, she is simply listening to other people, and all of her emotions are conveyed by means of facial expressions and body language.2) The musical score. So many Jane Austen adaptations use an orchestral score. This one sticks to simple piano accompaniment and it works very well indeed.3) The supporting cast. A lot of the supporting characters really come to life, thanks to excellent ensemble playing from the likes of Susan Fleetwood as Lady Russell, Robert Glenister as Captain Harville, Fiona Shaw as Mrs Croft and Simon Russell Beale as Charles Musgrove.

Greg Mullins This film is so flawless, it's hard to think of a place where it misses a single beat. I'm a great fan of the Merchant/Ivory cannon, and believe them to be unbeatable in their perfection of the Ideal. Here we are given a masterful lesson by Roger Michell in the perfectly Real. And it's OK to like both. I do not agree at all with the premise that romance and long dresses make any movie a chick flick, which is a fairly modern invention - both in grammar and a particular vein of shallow popular movie making. This is not that, and I cannot watch a true chick flick - they're not even good movies, none of them will be named here, you know which ones they are.Most of the well known period pieces made in the last 20 years are some of the very best movies we have. I think them not so much an acquired taste, as an appreciation that must be learned. Like many of the finer things and varied seasons of your life, it took someone showing you before you knew what you were looking at, or looking for. It is that way here. Once you see the truth they have to tell, then decide you don't prefer them - at least you've validated your own choice through actual experience. But to dismiss them out of hand from ignorance, or prejudice, or misplaced masculinity makes such a view less relevant. And I think more importantly, causes you to miss out on something you might find quite beautiful, had you seen it.For the uninitiated, let me take a moment to explain. It is the inner beauty of good people, the proper behavior and right conduct toward others as a societal norm - just because they are others like yourself, not because you wanted anything from them. Real Gentleman and True Ladies. This all happened for the first time in history on this scale and at this level within the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Though this is the period right before the Victorian, they are directly connected and that's what is on display here. It will feed your spirit if you let it. All of which comes out of the ethics and morality of Christian nations, and does not trace back to any other cultures on the earth.Just as the West came out of the Greece of Alexander, the modern world was birthed by the Britain of this time, and everyone knows it. The turn into the 20th century is the end of the England we Americans as a society, came out of. We did not get this goodness in us as a nation from ourselves, we got it from someone who had it before us. Good Infection as C.S. Lewis calls it. There is hypocrisy, contradiction and cruelty, of course, and people who are not so nice - that comes with a fallen race. But that is not what you are being shown. There is no excellence in the error of men, there is no light in their darkness. Darkness is the absence of Light - Light displaces it. All of the bad that men have done to each other is hardly worth making a film about, on it's own.Good films come from good stories, and stories get their strength from the Power of Words. Like the ones I'm using here. It's a power that God put into words, man had nothing to do with it. Films and stories are important only because Words are important. If it sounds like I'm preaching a little, you can't fault me for that - that's what Preachers do. So do film makers, film goers, writers, and people - like you. All with something to say, when given a chance - will say it. And everything ever said will be Judged.Thus ends my attempt at persuasion, for those of you who might give great period pieces a view. Let their good words minister, let their morality speak. In an age where people have become products, and talk is cheap. You'll get a little bit of help from the Light that is in them. A spoonful at a time is all we are given, because a spoonful is all we can handle. Pictures, and words and stories of the way people used to be. The goodness of God is the goodness that you see. Including the goodness in films like Persuasion - an example of how good film making ought to be.

faithfulredhead78 This screen adaptation of Jane Austen's novel, "Persuasion", is excellent. I love Amanda Root as Anne Elliot. She plays the part to perfection, displaying her feelings and regrets, but never showing disrespect towards her family. This is just as Jane Austen wrote it.The entire cast does a great job, and the story plays out so beautifully. The longing of Anne Elliot for Captain Wentworth is so real and meaningful. As are Captain Wentworth's feelings for Anne.I also enjoyed Fiona Shaw as Mrs. Croft, Capt. Wentworth's sister. She has such an unusual look that she always stands out on-screen, and she is a great actress. She plays the part wonderfully in this movie.As always, I urge you to read Austen's novel before watching a screen adaptation. Why not enjoy the original first? It truly is a wonderful experience to see such beloved characters come to life on the screen.