Austen fans will be delighted with the second disc in this set: Miss Austen Regrets is a perfect companion to the miniseries, starring Olivia Williams stars as the author, and Greta Scacchi--who could easily pass as Williams' real-life sibling--as Austen's sister Cassandra. The film takes a bittersweet look at Austen's life and hints at what could have been had she married one of her suitors. Smart and headstrong, Austen refuses to cave into society's notions of what a proper woman should do. While her famous heroines all paired up with dashing gentlemen, Austen found that the loves of her life were her written creations. --Jae-Ha Kim

On the third disc of this set is the sumptuous production design and first-rate acting in the 2007 Masterpiece Theatre version of Persuasion. Sally Hawkins is controlled and moving as Anne Elliot, the quietly heartbroken but sensible heroine who was "persuaded" (read: forced) to turn away her true love but still carries an unseen torch for him. Hawkins's performance is genteel yet steely, and the quiet strength of the entire production. Hawkins looks alternately quietly lovely and sadly pinched--as one might expect the long frustrated Anne to look. 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

Sense & Sensibility Collector's Set (Sense & Sensibility 2008 / Miss Austen Regrets / Persuasion 2007)

• Masterpiece Theatre: Northanger Abbey
• Masterpiece Theatre: Mansfield Park
• Emma (A&E, 1997)
• Cranford
• Pride and Prejudice - The Special Edition (A&E, 1996)
• Becoming Jane
• Persuasion
• Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre, 2006)
• The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
• Mansfield Park (1999)

After watching the various versions of Pride and Prejudice out there and coming to a strong conclusion that the BBC's version adapted for the screen by Andrew Davies was head and shoulders above the others, I was ecstatic to see that he has now also adapted for the screen Sense and Sensibility. It makes the movie come across as very natural and realistic. This version pf Sense and Sensibility is not overly dramatized and neither is it dulled down. I watched this film with high hopes and was not disappointed. The dialogue is also very close to the book dialogue. While it's well done, the version with Amanda Root playing the lead role remains my favorite. I think the costumes were better and Amanda Root did an exceptional job that I find hard to outdo.

The actors play the roles in this period movie as if they are very comfortable in their setting. . I hope you will try this movie and enjoy it as I have. If you are buying this collection for Persuasion I would consider renting it first. Just a sidenote: I did notice that the quality of this DVD is better than the BBC's Pride and Prejudice set.

AND if you liked the Kira Knightly Pride and Prejudice, you will love this version of S&S. If you liked the BBC/A&E Pride and Prejudice, you will love these versions of Sense and Sensibility & Persuasion. Sense and Sensibility was particularly amazing. It has the beautiful scenery, fantastic filming, and dramatic music of the Kira Knightly version of P&P but the well written script and good acting you'd expect from the BBC. Persuasion was also well done, but slightly less remarkable.

Their review was RIGHT ON. The scenery is breath-taking, and the acting is superb. This offers many hours of low-cost entertainment that also influences me to be a better person. A synopsis of "Sense & Sensibility" by one of your reviewers influenced me into purchasing this particular version even though I already owned the one with Kate Winslett. Such a wonderful love story that one doesn't want it to end. .

This was absolutely the best two adaptations of Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion out there, and this is coming from someone who LOVES Jane Austen and the earlier Persuasion and S&S movies before. If you buy one dvd set for the next 5 years, buy this one.or the A&E Pride and Prejudice (same screenwriter). And i'm kindof a skeptic when it comes to Sense and Sensibility and remakes of movies I already like, but this is so completely worth every penny you may spend on it. Fantastic, utterly Austen. The cinematography and vision of the movie were breathtaking, beautiful, fresh, and very Austen. watching S&S. I loved it.

They are so fresh, and any liberties they took with the book were completely wonderful. I was in love with Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon, but Colonel Brandon in this was even better. I was almost reluctant to watch them, but when my sister brought them up, I first watched Persuasion and was so enthusiastic I stayed up until 2:30 a.m. Incomparable. Loved, loved, loved it. I just can't stop gushing, I want to buy a t-shirt with a Colonel Brandon slogo now, it was that good.

Sense & Sensibility Collector's Set (Sense & Sensibility 2008 / Miss Austen Regrets / Persuasion 2007) I'm a huge fan of Jane Austen and this set is a MUST HAVE for any other fans. Great job on updates of the classics. I still won't part with my others (e.g., Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow, Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson), but really enjoy the new ones. Miss Austen Regrets is a fantastic bonus, really makes you see a more personal side of Jane.