diverdiva

If you are going to adapt a Jane Austen piece, even if the original was only a short fragment, then at least follow the source material as far as it goes! This series only uses the setting and (some) of the main characters - the storyline bears very little resemblance to the existing first 5 chapters of Jane Austen's sadly unfinished novel, where she sets up the tone and various character plots quite clearly. The most glaring departure is the character of "Miss Lambe" who is described as a 'half mulatto" (yes, I know this is an objectionable term, but was in common use at the time). She would have been light-skinned, and was described as 'sickly' and was obviously intended to be the love interest of the youngest Parker brother. Although Crystal Clarke is lovely and gives a spirited performance, her character and story arc is in no way Jane's Miss Lambe. The same goes for several other characters either missing, added, or totally unlike their counterparts in the novel. Austen's subtle humour and observations about Regency life are sadly missing also. I have given it 6 start because as a stand-alone, Georgette Heyer-like Regency romance/drama it's enjoyable enough - but as I said in my title WHY call it Sanditon?!

Can't comment on the pronunciation of the Oregon placenames, but totally agree with the wine expert on all the silly and unnecessary gaffes that the "winemakers" commit! Then, when the restaurant where they convened at the start of the competition was called "Le Lune Bleue" (I don't know what language they were trying for, but if it was French it should have been "LA Lune Bleu - no 'e') I gave up - it was all too distracting from the story. Surely Hallmark can afford better research staff?! Jen Lilley' character was annoying. Dan Jeanotte and the Paris scenery were the only pluses in this movie.

Reading all the negative reviews citing the 'distracting' CGI, Emma Watson not being as good as the animated Belle(!), etc., etc. I wonder what people expect when going to movies like this. Do they leave their sense of wonder at home and just look to pick holes? Well, to summarise my feelings on seeing Beauty and the Beast - I thought it was lovely! It paid respectful homage to the iconic animated original, but can stand on its own two feet as an artistic achievement. The cinematography and set decoration was magnificent, Emma Watson was fresh-faced and feisty as Belle, Luke Evans was a funny and wonderfully hateful Gaston and the musical numbers were well staged (Emma has a sweet voice which suits the songs). Only down side was that we didn't get to see very much of Dan Stevens out of beast mode - but can't help the story-line! I thought that the beast CGI was effective and managed to convey both the savage and vulnerable sides of the character. Go and see it, take your movie critic hat off and prepare to lose yourself in this magical movie.