I don't think that its possible to get anything out of this movie unless you are a fan of other versions of this. The acting is bad. The camerawork is flat. The dialogue is dull. NOTHING HAPPENS. This movie so boring that just thinking about it makes me want to take a nap. The audio/visual quality is so poor it made me think that the movie was much older when I watched it than it is (though that may have been the intention). Have I mentioned that nothing interesting happens? I would never recommend this movie. The only reason I would ever bring it up is to give it as an example for a boring movie.

RELEASED IN 1995/96 and directed by Ang Lee, "Sense and Sensibility" chronicles events in England circa 1810 after Mr. Dashwood dies and legally leaves his estate to the son by his initial wife, which leaves his second wife and their three daughters relatively destitute. This negatively affects the marriageability of both practical Elinor (Emma Thompson) and romantic Marianne (Kate Winslet). When Elinor falls for the handsome Edward Ferrars (Hugh Grant) his kin object and put the kibosh on their blossoming relationship. Meanwhile, the noble but aging Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman) becomes infatuated with young Marianne, but she is interested in the dashing John Willoughby (Greg Wise). Imogen Stubbs plays the rival for Edward's interest.If you're in the mood for period piece drama/romance "Sense and Sensibility" fills the bill pretty well. It starts great, gets a tad tedious in the middle, but perks up at the end. The English locations/sets and costuming are superlative. You might want to take advantage of the subtitles to make out all the verbiage and keep track of all the names in the slightly convoluted relationship-oriented plot. In any case, it's interesting seeing Winslet before her big success with "Titanic" (1997) and Rickman playing a straight role rather than hamming-it-up as a goofy villain.THE MOVIE RUNS 136 minutes and was shot entirely in England (Devon, Norfolk, London, Wiltshire, Somerset and Cornwall, with studio work done in Shepperton). WRITERS: Jane Austen (novel) & Emma Thompson (screenplay) .GRADE: B

Sense and Sensibility (1995) was directed by Ang Lee. It's based on the novel by Jane Austen, with screenplay by Emma Thompson. It stars Emma Thompson as Elinor Dashwood, Kate Winslet as Marianne Dashwood, Hugh Grant as Edward Ferrars, and Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon.Many people reading this review will be familiar with the Austen novel. It's a work of genius, and is as popular now as when it was written more than 200 years ago. The novel (and film) emphasizes the unhappy status of upper-class women in early 19th Century England. Gentlewomen had very few choices because they couldn't work outside the home, which meant that they were dependent on their husband for all things.Such is the case of the Dashwood sisters. By law, their father had to leave his home and fortune to his son by his first marriage. His widow and daughters received virtually nothing. They may have wanted to marry for love, but they had to marry someone who was able to support them. Sadly, everything pivoted around making a "good" marriage.Elinor Dashwood represented "sense," that is practicality. Marianne Dashwood represented "sensibility." Clearly, the meaning of this word has drifted after 200 years. For us, "sensibility" implies "sense." However, for Jane Austen, the work had a meaning closer to "sensitivity." The sister with sense is pragmatic, the sister with sensibility is romantic and impractical.Kate Winslet is charming as the sister with sensibility. Emma Thompson is a great actor, but I believe she is miscast. She looks more like Kate Winslet's mother rather than her sister. (Thompson was 36 when the film was produced.) Hugh Grant is well cast as Elinor's suitor. Alan Rickman is ideal as Colonel Brandon. (We think of Rickman playing the role of a villain, but he has a much broader range than that.)There are four Sense & Sensibility versions available on DVD. I've seen and reviewed the 1971 version, directed by David Giles, and the 2008 version, directed by John Alexander. There's another version, from 1981, directed by Rodney Bennett, which I haven't seen.It's very interesting to see how three different directors, working with three different casts, can give us three different versions of the same novel. It would be interesting--but tedious--to pick out the "best" Elinor, the "best Marianne," etc. However, there are real differences among the versions. It's the same novel, but it they're not the same movies.You'll have to see them all to make up your mind about which version you like best. Ang's Sense and Sensibility was meant for theaters, so something is lost on the small screen. Even so, it works well enough on DVD.. Find it and see it. You won't be disappointed.Note: Look for Hugh Laurie in a small supporting role. He's excellent.

Rich Mr. Dashwood (Tom Wilinson) dies, leaving his second wife and her three daughters poor by the rules of inheritance. The two eldest daughters are the titular opposites.I never really got into Jane Austen, and I do not believe I ever read "Sense and Sensibility". I had no idea it referred to two characters how they differed. Knowing that now, it makes me appreciate the title all that much more: it is like saying "Reason and Emotion" but with a much more alliterative sound. Heck, more than alliterative.How this got in the hands of Ang Lee is unknown to me, but I am glad it did. This is an adaptation that makes what could have been a dry, stuffy Victorian tale seem very much alive. And the excellent casting. Emma Thompson, who also wrote the script, is excellent, and the supporting cast: Kate Winslet, High Grant, and all the greats.