DisHammerhand

I wasn't expecting much because it was a direct to DVD release. I was still disappointed. It was a weird mishmash of fantasy and historical fiction and horribly cliché. The Mummy films and SK1 were fantastical and rather cliché too but they had something this film didn't. They were fun to watch.

The clichés were not the film only problems. Poor story writing, directing and a plodding pace made it painful to watch. And what's with the armor that doesn't cover? Oh yeah, we gotta see their muscled abs. I couldn't wait for it to be over so I could see the ocean documentary I had queued up next. I ended up giving up on SK2.

Don't waste your time on this one.

I will agree with others that the production value of this mini series is a bit low. The acting is very stiff and is some places just unconvincing. For users of digital televisions the picture and sound quality is very low, but understandable since this production was made in the early 80s.

The thing that amazes me most about this rendition is how faithful it is to the book. If you loved the book, then you will also like the movie. I'm sure the costume designer and casting directors looked at the old Hugh Thomson illustrations. This most noticeable in the characters of Henry and Mary Crawford.

Lady Bertram is very much like she was in the book -except for her voice. I found it very odd! Rather overdone in my opinion. Mr Yates had a very strange hairstyle as well.

The locations and set were very nicely done. Sotherton and Mansfield Park are very much like the way I pictured them. There was one scene in Portsmouth where there was a matted background with ships. That was rather cheesy looking but it was the only scene that I was less than satisfied with.

This production lacks the polish of BBC's Pride and Prejudice (1995) but it is worth seeing for the serious Austen fan.