Sense and Sensibility [DVD] [1996]

How can a romantic comedy about seeking marriage mates win the Berlinale, one of the most prestigious film festivals? Well, this splendid adaptation of a classic Jane Austen novel did just that in 1996, combining fabulous writing (and acting) of Emma Thompson and great directing of Ang Lee ("The Wedding Banquet", "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon").Other performances are also first-class. Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant shine (personally, I've never seen a role to be so fitting for Grant, although "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "About a Boy" came close). The whole cast is flawless.When the film came out, even the self-proclaimed film saviour Quentin Tarantino could not help himself but quip: "Who the F... is Jane Austen?" Yes, this English author who lived 200 years ago wrote only romantic novels about girls (and men) who are in want of a spouse. But she achieved perfection in this very limited space (the novel "Pride and Prejudice" is probably the best). In this movie, the very human side -- the desire not to be alone, to spend a lifetime with the One -- is described with power. Finding the true love was the prime thing for the two Dashwood sisters. But, is it still not true for most of us, even in this cold, material world?Emma Thompson, already an Oscar winner for her leading role in "Howards End" (1992), won the Oscar for this film's adapted screenplay, becoming the first artist ever to achieve such a feat -- winning the Academy Awards for both acting and writing.Apart from saving all important aspects of the story, Thompson included very poignant and sharp moments in the script. When her character Elinor and Edward Ferrars (played by Grant) are on a cruise ride, she says, 'you inherit your money. We cannot even earn ours,' hinting at the situation of middle class women two centuries ago, when their fortunes depended heavily either on inheritance from father or property of husband -- and it was not imaginable they should go to work. A great social commentary.Beautifully shot, with delicate music score by Patrick Doyle, "Sense and Sensibility" is predominantly an entertaining film. But its social and human undertones are undeniable. It did win Berlin festival and the Golden Globe, but lost the Oscar race to "Braveheart". Maybe for the lack of great human topic that would rank it along "Schindler's List" or "The English Patient". Yet I feel that there was not the film in 1995 to deserve the big Oscar more than this one.If you have sense and sensibility, you will laugh and you will cry. This is a film to love.

A really good adaptation of Jane Austen's novel. The actors were superbly cast. Strong silent types, stiff upper lips, rascals, simpering wives and foolish chits. If you've not seen it before I would recommend you do so.

Very enjoyable.

This is a charming and delightful film with rich characters and story. The cast including Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, and Hugh Grant is great. Thompson's Oscar-winning screenplay is a masterful adaptation of Jane Austen's novel, and Ang Lee's understated direction is superb.The picture quality of this disc is solid. The transfer looks like an older scan to my eyes and displays good sharpness and strong colors. Some mild filtering and ringing is present, but nowhere near excessive. Grain and finer detail aren't reproduced as well as they would be on a newer remaster, but this a very satisfying presentation and a notable improvement over the ancient DVD nevertheless. Audio is presented in DTS-HD MA 5.0 and sounds good to my ears (though I'm not much of an audiophile).Moving on to the extras, this Blu-ray includes the following (I'm listing them since they're not listed on the back cover):"Adapting Austen" (11 min)"A Sense of Character" (8 min)"A Very Quiet Man" (12 min)"Locating the World of Sense & Sensibility" (5 min)"Elegance & Simplicity: The Wardrobe of Sense & Sensibility" (4 min)2 Deleted ScenesThe 5 featurettes were produced in 2009 for Sony and to my knowledge have not appeared on any DVD release. These featurettes do not include new interviews with the film's talent. Instead, comments are culled from old on set interviews with the cast & crew. These have been upconverted & cropped to 16x9 and intercut with behind the scenes footage, stills, and film clips. The subject of each is mostly self explanatory, although "A Very Quiet Man" focuses on Ang Lee. Overall, these are well-produced featurettes that offer a good overview of the production, but I would've liked to hear new comments from Thompson, Winslet, Lee, and others. 2 deleted scenes from the DVD releases round out the extras and are presented in letterboxed widescreen and run for a total of 2 minutes and 44 seconds.Fans of the film will want to hold onto their DVD copies which include several significant extras not ported over for this Blu-ray edition. These include 2 commentaries (the first by writer/star Emma Thompson and producer Lindsay Doran, and the second by director Ang Lee and co-producer James Schamus), Emma Thompson's Golden Globe acceptance speech, and the film's theatrical trailer.Overall, I definitely recommend this release. As an American who was tired of waiting for Sony to release this in the States, this disc is completely region free and well worth importing!

I remember this film when it was originally released, because I went to see it with my family. Something of a rare experience considering the advances in technology, what with streaming and all. It follows the fortunes of the Dashwood family,(three daughters and their mother), who find their lives turned upside down when their father passes away, and their home is inherited by his son from a previous marriage, by law. Before they move to a cottage in Devonshire, owned by a relative, Eleanor Dashwood (Emma Thompson) meets Edward, and it is clear that they are getting along like a house on fire, but Fanny (Edward's sister) disapproves of the match. The younger Dashwood sister, Marianne (Kate Winslet) meets the dashing Willoughby (Greg Wise), and immediately falls head over heels in love with him, but she also catches the eye of Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman). Through a series of trials, tribulations, and crossed wires, in the old Jane Austen tradition, the two sisters eventually find their happy ever after. I agree with another reviewer that I think some of the cast were indeed too old for the parts they were playing, but it's a very good film in spite of that. At the end of the film, when we were in the cinema, the audience booed the 'bad guy.' Like we were at a pantomime! I won't say who! But it's definitely worth a look!

Good writing, very encouraging, teaches moral living… impeccable. Iconic

Fantastic to watch with friends and family.

Lovely story...well made film

ein Film mit Hirn und Herz wunderbar gespielt von exzelenten Schauspielern,ein wahrer Genuß!!!!!!

Una versió molt bona de la novel·la de Jane Austen. M'ha sorprès la capacitat de l'actriu Emma Thompson com a guionista. No és debades que va guanyar l'oscar al millor guió adaptat. La direcció d'Ang Lee i les actuacions fan de Sentit i sensibilitat un film preciós, intel·ligent i entranyable.

Molto Buono.

We didnt know that Emma Thompson was such an amazing script writer.She *translated* Jane Austen's book so very well , creating a great movie, with much humor and intelligence.Loved it!

Durée : 2h16mn17s (le générique de fin commençant à 2h14)Des images de très belles qualitées.Entre le DVD et le Blu-Ray il n'y a pas à hésiter car la différence est bien visible (je possède les 2 versions).Ce n'est pas le meilleur blu-ray que j'ai visionné mais il y a eu un beau travail de restauration.Les vues en extérieurs sont beaucoup plus belles et nettes. Pour l'intérieur je peux citer l'exemple de l'escalier où l'on voit bien maintenant la couleur bleu des murs de celui-ci.Les langues disponibles :-Français 5,0-Anglais 5,0 DTS-HD Master audio-Allemand 5,0-Espagnol castillan 5,0-Espagnol Amérique latine Dolby Surround-Russe 5,0Japonais Dolby surroundLes sous-titres :AnglaisAnglais pour sourds et malentendantsFrançaisChinois traditionnelArabetchèque (Cesky)Danois (Dansk)NéerlandaisFinnois (Swoni)AllemandGrecHébreuHindiJaponaisCoréenNorvégien (Norsk)Polonais (Polski)Portugaisrusseespagnol castillanEspagnol Amérique latineSuédois (Svensk)ThaïlandaisLes bonus nommés interactivités :-Adapter Austen : 11mn18 en vost. Cela commence dans le Dorset en 1995 avec la productrice.-Le sens des personnages : 8mn14 en vost. Les acteurs principaux répondent aux questions.-Un homme très tranquille : 12mn03 en vost-Les extérieurs de raisons et sentiments 5mn42 en vost-Elégance et simplicité, les costumes de Raisons et sentiments : 3mn57 en vost-Scénes complémentaires :il y en a 2 seulement. Elles sont en vost et durent 1mn35 et 1mn08