After 20 years with the horrible 1987 version as the only adaptation of Northanger Abbey, many fans were eagerly anticipating the new 2007 version. I was a little nervous about Andrew Davies writing the script, given his tendency to sex things up, but the cast looked really good. And then I saw it… Suffice it to say- I was totally right! Most of the cast was really good, especially JJ Feild as Henry Tilney…but it was really sexed up. Most of this was in the form of Catherine's dreams, but there was something else too. One scene in particular was just plain wrong! Why, Andrew Davies, why? He seemed to interpret the story to be Catherine's sexual awakening. Sorry, I didn't see any of that in the book- it was a comedy! This version has funny moments too, but it's really all the sexed up scenes that bothered me. Davies seemed to have missed the point, but at least not as badly as the 1987 creators did.I wouldn't call this adaptation terrible, or anything. It just wasn't as great as it could have been. It was filmed in Dublin, because I guess they were too cheap to actually go to Bath (yet somehow the 1987 version could afford it? And even Persuasion that was filmed at the same time?) I did like that we got a nice little introduction that was close to what was in the book. There was even an epilogue- but it was so short, blink and you'll miss it! I think what annoys me so much about this movie is not how "bad" it was, but how bad it was compared to how good it could have been! With such a great cast, it could have been really excellent. Instead it was a disappointment.

Catherine Morland, the heroine of Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey", has a lot in common with the young women at the center of the author's literary work. This novel is, perhaps, not as well known as the others she wrote. But in a way, it is a treasure, nevertheless. The abridged version of the series seen on England's ITV channel, makes perfect sense, although many Austen purist might feel it is not so. Any viewer not familiar with the novel, will probably be delighted in what comes in this sunny adaptation.Young Catherine Morland is asked by her wealthy neighbors, the Allens, to accompany them to Bath, which at the time was the place to be for the English society of that time. Bath was a great place to be for young people ready to go into the kind of social life that was so prevalent in the city. The refinement of Bath attracted all kinds of marriageable candidates.Catherine was not a sophisticated girl at the time. She had a vivid imagination, made more so, after reading the Gothic literature of the time. It only took a meeting with the handsome clergyman, Henry Tilney, for her to fall in love with him. Catherine also attracts the attention of a social climber, Isabella Thorpe and her brother John. Isabella, who was being courted by Catherine's brother, catch the attention of Henry's father, Captain Tilney, a fastidious man, telling how Catherine stands to inherit the Allen fortune, something that is music to his ears because of his great ambition to marry his children well. Catherine is set as a target for his schemes.This production was directed by Jon Jones, as adapted from the original novel by Andrew Davies. The Austen's themes about life among the rich classes and the clash between good and evil, are well in place in this handsomely photographed film. Ciaran Tanham gets the essence of what it must have been like in Bath and in the Abbey, as well as in the country where the action takes place.Felicity Jones does a splendid job in her portrayal of Catherine. She is an interesting actress that shows intelligence in all her appearances. J.J. Feild, who plays Henry, is also good in the way he perceived his character. The excellent Carey Mulligan makes an impression with her Isabella. Liam Cunningham is marvelous as Capt. Tilney. The large supporting cast does well for Mr. Jones.Recommended for people that might have wanted to know a little bit more about Jane Austen, but had not been exposed to her books.

I did not watch this completely. I could not bear it. Everything was wrong.At first I thought: Interesting take on Henry Tilney, make him a little more ...glib, I think, fits.But then I found it false and implausible - bad acting did not help.Mrs Allen is too sweet. Missed the chance for authentic portrayal - she is a superficial, self-centered, nice enough simpleton, such a great foundation for caricature (Jane Austen was a genius at that!) Mr Allen too wordy in general.Isabella is FAR TOO NICE. She is supposed to be chatty, self-centered in a bad way, befriending Catherine with her own motives in mind.John Thorpe - completely wrong - oh my...another chance of caricature (and fun!!!) lost.Seems to be they just took the script from the 1986 version and juiced it up a bit (not that I watched that one through...life is short, and at least I want to decide what I waste it on - not this!!!) - a Roman bath scene??? Hello??? lol Catherine - oh Catherine. I love Catherine,naive and simple as she might be. Here she flirts, pouts and suffers from hormonal overflow - yucky! That they used a voice over with verbatim parts from the novel makes this even more ---- HORRID!!!:-) As has been stated here: If you don't do Jane Austen to the book, leave it! (Or take better script writers, actors and directors - I'm not adverse to interesting adaptations - like Clueless for Emma - but this is unnecessary drab)

I too was disappointed with Mansfield Park,and that's putting it mildly, but Andrew Davies saved the day with Northanger Abbey. A big fan of Dickens and Davies' Bleak House and Our Mutual Friend, I thought I would check out his Austin adaptation. I thought the quick hour and a half format was well suited to the breezy storyline, and it didn't feel too short. The casting was terrific (although still not the equal of Bleak House). I thought it was very funny as well, something often lacking in these adaptations. I later watched Pride and Prejudice, which I hadn't seen, believe it or not, and did enjoy that as well. I think it is already on the edge of being dated, however, with the onset of widescreen television, mobile cameras and high definition.