Other highlights include a post-Buffy Anthony Head, as Anne's clueless, blustery father, Sir Walter. Head gets to turn on his deft comic talent here in ways most American audiences have not yet seen him; he's clearly enjoying himself immensely, blustering about "my shrubberies" and other trivial affairs. The cinematography is lush (several breathtaking tracking shots are used, especially early on), as are the period costumes. The production was filmed exclusively on location, and the reality of the sets enforces the story.

Some fans may prefer the 1995 Amanda Root version, for the casting of Ciaran Hinds as Capt. Wentworth, but this later effort is a worthy entry in the Austen film oeuvre--and Rupert Penry-Jones is a dreamboat in his own right. As the wistful Anne says, on behalf of all women, "We do not forget you, so soon as you forget us." --A.T. Hurley

Persuasion

• Masterpiece Theatre: Northanger Abbey
• Masterpiece Theatre: Mansfield Park
• Sense & Sensibility (with Miss Austen Regrets) (BBC TV 2008)
• Becoming Jane
• Emma (A&E, 1997)
• Persuasion
• Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre, 2006)
• Pride and Prejudice - The Special Edition (A&E, 1996)
• Mansfield Park (1999)
• Cranford

Ruins the story. Captain Wentworth could not have given the family home back to her. I usually enjoy the film adaptations of Jane Austen more than the books, but those who adapt the book for the screen should show some understanding of the characters and the context of the story, or stay out of it. And it's not just bad because it's not like the book.

Couldn't have happened. We are meant to see Anne as a capable, warm person who made a mistake she now regrets, while her immediate family treats her as a pathetic old maid. It's called an anachronism. That's it. It's ludicrous and laughable.

Here's a link to the great Persuasion: Persuasion I didn't care what happened to Anne or him in this version. The performances in this unnecessary latest adaptation of Persuasion were for the most part stilted and were all inferior to the great version with Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root. This ending was so stupid and wrong: Anne simply would NOT have run down the street in public with no hat on after a man like a desperate harlot, not in that time and place. In this version, Anne is played as trembling and pathetic, which actually contradicts what her character is supposed to be.

It's as ridiculous as if Anne had jumped into a Toyota 4x4, torn off after him, and then they'd flown off in a spaceship together. Ciaran Hinds was a presence: gorgeous, passionate, and believable. The guy in this new version is so BORING I find it hard to finish a sentence about him. Anne, as played by this actress, isn't interesting enough for this device. It's bad because the context of a story matters. The awful ending is every bit as ridiculous as other reviewers have said. It's impossible not to compare the Captain Wentworths.

If you think you can just start picking bits out and sticking other bits in because your audience is too stupid or ignorant to know or care what you're doing, you're insulting everyone involved and wasting everyone's time. I only gave it two stars instead of one because the overall production was okay: music etc. I also didn't care for her talking directly to the camera/audience like a sort of confessional. This has been used to brilliant effect in productions like House of Cards, but it usually works best when the character is evil or has at least done something wrong. A story makes sense and has meaning within a premise: this is when it takes place, and this is the problem the heroine has. If the CONTEXT doesn't matter, the STORY doesn't matter. Sorry.

The ordinary way it was presented made it feel more real, like I was there instead of watching a movie. No, it's not quite like the book. I, too, enjoyed the earlier film version of this. Captain Wentworth was SMOKIN', plus I identified with Anne immediately. However, I really enjoyed this version.

The lighting and scenery are more beautiful than this one. It ended wonderfully despite the marathon Anne ran, and the kiss was worth the hour spent. Is any movie as great as the book. If you are a purist go spend the time reading the novel, but if you want a relaxing hour of well written characters and a heart-wrenching story you've come to the right place. I'm not an Austen expert, but having read the book I thought it captured the spirit of it. The acting is good, the story is great, it's a good time to be had by all.

Well, I haven't read the book yet, so I can't say from personal experience how accurate this adaption is, but I've heard there are serious liberties taken. I would say if you're a die-hard Jane fan, you might not like this adaption so much, but as an ignorant viewer like myself, you'll probably find this a pretty enjoyable film. I didn't dislike her portrayal of Anne Elliot, but there were things that bothered me: for example, she seems to be constantly kind of wavering, or on the brink of panic, or something. Rupert Penry-Jones is smokin' as the hero and, besides her little hesitancy issues, Sally Hawkins is a very good Anne. I just got tired of her little panting, helpless moments. The only things the were irksome were: 1) Sally Hawkins.

Actually, the whole last ten minutes or so were a bit problematic. As an ignorant viewer, however, I thought the movie was pretty good. This leads to the second (and more serious) annoyance: 2) The Kiss. I don't want to give anything away, but seriously, that kiss made me feel slightly sick. Aside from these little issues, though, I really enjoyed the movie.

Though is is not like the book; I found more enjoyable then the book. I love Jane Austen, but Persuasion was a bore, until the ending chapters. The movies that are close to the book are boring, this is enjoyable. How she gets his letter is lame, and the kiss is horrid, I have to fast forward through it, they look so unpleasant.

It has a beginning, a middle and a happy ending. (probably) It seems a lot of JANE AUSTEN book readers buy the film adaptions, just to criticise them.

Only ninety minutes long, short enough to watch daily. This adaption of PERSUASION is thoroughly entertaining. It is as good as the BBC P & P, without having to wait for hours and hours to see what happens.

Stop it. Anyone else will enjoy this version of PERSUASION. What more could you want.

Serious AUSTEN readers should not buy DVD's or go to the movies, they should stick to books.