The Literate Kitty

It is, I’d wager, the rare person who hasn’t read an awesome story, only to turn the final page, realize there’s nothing more, and wail, “But... what happens next?!?” Leading the pack in the insatiable wishing-for-something-“more” department is Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. That delightful classic alone has spawned countless prequels, sequels, and “inspired-by” tales, ranging from prim-&-proper continuations of the same story lines, to mysteries putting Elizabeth Darcy’s keen mind (and fine eyes, no doubt) to the test, to bawdy bedroom romps and zombie battles--the likes of which must’ve surely made Miss Austen do several spins in her grave. The resulting works, as one would imagine, vary wildly in their successfulness; not every idea translates well (the zombies--much as I enjoy reading about their insatiable brain-munching and the thought of such a quirky mashup--got old very quickly), while others sort of ooze inappropriateness (graphically-smexy scenes featuring heaving B...

Something especially delightful happens when one of your favorite books is made into an equally-brilliant show or movie. Suddenly, you have the option of creating all the scenes and images in your head, as you read, or feeling the words in the book, as you watch.  Following are a handful of what I consider to be perfect filmed versions of... well, perfect novels.  1). Persuasion - The 2000 production starring Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds is, as far as I'm concerned, the absolute BEST version that has ever been (or will ever be, for that matter) made of this beautiful story.  Root brings a quiet and touching dignity to her role as the long-suffering Anne Elliot, and it’s truly rewarding to see her bloom once joy has, after a protracted absence, returned to her life.  Likewise, the craggy Hinds is simply sublime as Captain Wentworth; he is by turns stern, standoffish, yearning, and finally, indescribably happy when he knows for certain that his beloved Anne will not ...