I'm not big on period films but this one held my attention well enough. I've seen Emma Thompson recently in a couple of Kenneth Branagh's Shakespearean adaptations, and have come to appreciate her talent in a way I haven't noticed before. The actor I couldn't quite endear myself to in this story was Hugh Grant. He seemed to have such a wimpy demeanor that it turned me off to his character. Not his fault probably, because director Ang Lee is calling the shots. Lee continually surprises me with films so disparate in which he's the guiding hand. How do you figure "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", "Hulk" and "Life of Pi" were all directed by the same man who did the honors for this film? I'm at a loss to explain it.The other surprise for me in this picture was the presence of Alan Rickman. I've always associated him with more or less villain type roles, and it was interesting here to see him portray a compassionate sort of character. Even so, I can't come to grips with the chemistry that eventually brought Colonel Brandon and Kate Winslet's Marianne together. Nor for that matter, did Elinor (Thompson) seem like an obvious match for Edward Ferrars (Grant). But the story itself was told well, with kudos to Ms.Thompson for adapting Jane Austen's novel into a competent screenplay. It was almost like watching Shakespeare.

Okay, non-fan might be too strong a description; I just find it hard to get into Jane Austen, though I do enjoy Pride and Prejudice. I caught this 1995 version of Sense and Sensibility on TCM last night, solely because of Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman being present, and was shocked at how riveted I was from start to finish.Complete with handsome production values, fantastic direction from Ang Lee, lovely cinematography, and of course, the excellent performances, all make this a charming little romantic dramedy. It's also opened my eyes to just how good an actress Kate Winslet is, having had limited exposure to her until recently.Great film.

What a wonderful period movie. How could I miss it for 20 years.To me personally the love story between Elinor and Edward (sense) is by far more touching than Marianne's with Willoughby or Colonel Brandon (sensibility). Elinor's emotional outburst in the end is so perfectly plaid by Emma Thompson that one could not think of the tiniest little bit that would make it any better.I also want to stress how wonderfully some of the underparts fit into the movie and how much they add to it by embedding the main story lines into a lively environment. Having not read the original novel I cannot tell how this is to be owed to Jane Austen, Emma Thompson or to both of them.I especially like Margaret (Emily Francois). In her natural and still quite unspoilt behaviour the youngest sister is building a bridge to us people of modern society and does make us feel more connected to the otherwise so far away appearing world of yesterday (although 200 years do not seem to be such great a distance). Apart from that, the acting performance of Francois is quite impressive. Almost every scene with her is bewitching like the one where she is so disappointed that Edward did not bring the atlas himself or the scene where she is stressing out that she likes Mrs. Jennings because Mrs. Jennings talks about things unlike her own family.Mrs. Jennings (Elizabeth Spriggs) herself is another example of a marvelous character. So annoying she seems to be in the beginning she turns out to be a really warmhearted and consoling person. I especially like her comments on her son-in-law Mr. Palmer like: "Mr. Palmer is so droll. He's always out of humour".Also her other son-in law Sir John Middleton (Robert Hardy) gives a very interesting character who cares only partly for the strict rules of behavior of his social class. Being a rather simple and straightforward "male" character he quite often does not really understand all the concerns of his female fellow people. This also may sound familiar to some of us. His comment on Elinors's favorite key in F major and his truthful joy about his own somewhat embarrassing joke alongside with Mrs. Jennings always make me laugh when seeing this scene.I also cannot share the opinion that Emma Thompson then was too old for Elinor's character. Her character straits, that is being sensible and guarded, are much more credible in someone who has already overcome the emotional confusions of the youth. Apart from that it is hardly imaginable that anyone else could have played Elinor's part better than Emma Thompson.To me this film offers so much: big emotions for the great romantics without being kitschy, a subtle sense of humour and deep insights into a past society. Thank you for this wonderful work.

From beginning to end this movie has comedy, romance, and angst in it to help move it along. A great adaption to the book and by far the best seen even compared to modern versions. Grant plays the broody character that is quiet and submissive to culture times. Thompson plays the quiet shy mouse that doesn't hesitate to help her family. The side stories that twine themselves to the main characters one way or the other keep it entertaining. The guest starring Hugh Laurie from House MD and Alan Rickman from Harry Potter are a great additions to the cast. By far this movie is 2 hours and 17minutes of a great classic not many other movies compare to.