I had a lot of fun here last Tuesday, discussing the upcoming batch of Jane Austen adaptations. (Upcoming in the US, anyway — most of them have already aired in the UK!)
As you all can tell, my interest in movies and my interest in Jane Austen intersect to make me a semi-obsessive Austen movie nut.
I may not love every adaptation.
I may not love every casting choice.
I may not love the decision to have Keira Knightley running around, sans bonnet, her hair straggling down her back.
But I’m still going to see every adaptation I can get my hands on.
And once I see them, I love to dissect them, talk about them, praise them and make fun of them!
And I know that a lot of you feel the same way I do.
So… I had a thought. How about a Risky Regencies Jane Austen movie club?
Here’s how my idea looks, in its current form: The first Tuesday of every month, anyone who’s interested can stop by the Risky Regencies blog to discuss a particular Austen adaptation. (And, of course, the discussion can continue as long as people are interested!)
People can talk about their memories of the last time they saw the particular adaptation, even if it was years ago — or they can watch it again (or for the first time) especially for the discussion, and have all the details fresh in mind.
So — would any of you be interested? Are you likely to participate?
If your answer is “maybe,” is there anything that would turn your answer to a “yes”?
Do you have any alterations that you think would improve the stated plan?
Which adaptations do you think would be most fun to discuss?
If I think there’s enough interest, we can go ahead and do this on Tuesday, July 3, and see how it goes! (And if it doesn’t go well, it will have been a fun experiment!)
Long live Jane Austen!
Cara
Cara King: Regency Author, Movie Nut, and Austen Groupie
I’m down with that! Sounds like a blast.
I’d love to discuss all kinds of adaptations (it would help if we stuck to ones available to rent/buy, though)…any that I haven’t seen, I’ll run out and rent so I can talk about it for the discussions. 😀
I think it would be fun to see some of our blogger readers to guest blog in this way!
I would love to do this!
I’m already doing something similar, hosting “books on film” parties to watch adaptations of classic novels. We’ve done P&P (the recent one) and Horatio Hornblower so far and it’s been fun. Wish I could invite the Riskies and friends!
But this is the next best thing. We’ll just have to pretend to have drinks and chocolate, too. 🙂
I’d definitely participate. I’m pretty obsessed with the Jane Austen adaptations myself.
-Michelle
Elena — I do wish I lived near you and could go to your parties! 🙂
My friend Heather and I used to give “teas” — we’d make tons of tea food (both from period recipes and modern) and invite folks over and watch Austen adaptations or other period things (we once did “The Railway Children,” for instance) — that was great fun, but Heather moved away and my place is too small (and too many of my friends have babies now and won’t go anywhere…sigh…)
Anyway, my point was *supposed* to be (1) cool parties, Elena! (2) Yay, I’m glad people are interested!
Cara
Cara
Hey, I’m sure babies love Austen movie teas, too! 🙂 And I’m up for discussing Austen (or other period movies) any time!
Diane, love the “guest blogger” thought…
Your teas sound great, Cara!
and too many of my friends have babies now and won’t go anywhere…sigh…
This is why I have a dozen very nice girls on my baby sitter list. My kids love ’em; they’re not as strict as we are about cleaning up and they like to play with hair and makeup. 🙂
I’d love to try, but alas, I haven’t seen too many yet. . . and I’m reading Persuasion now so I can watch that one, and the 1995 one too. 🙂 Think I might go with the 1995 one first since I heard that one was rather good. 😉
But anyway, sure. . . and even if I didn’t see it, I sure would like to see what everyone else says about them (so I know which to try to go for first before others LOL) 🙂
Lois
and too many of my friends have babies now and won’t go anywhere…sigh
What is it with that? Just throw the kid in the car and GO!
I’m in for the movie nights. I love this kind of thing (just watched Wives and Daughters for the umteenth time over the weekend; man I love that miniseries).
I had no idea we were looking for guest blogger topics! (Have we even discussed having guest bloggers? Might be fun.)
And if we are looking for guest blogger topics, I think I’ll selfishly keep this idea for myself — because it’s mine, mine, all mine… (Evil cackle.)
Cara
This sounds fun!
Count me in, Cara. (You knew I was going to say that!) Do let us know in detail how you’re going to run your movie club.
Okay, Cara, I totally misunderstood what you meant about the movies. I thought you wanted guest bloggers to post about the movies. I now understand that you want to post about the movies and the rest of us will comment.
Duh on me!!!
What is it with that? Just throw the kid in the car and GO!
Not quite so simple but there are ways to do this. We’ve always packed snacks and toys, because it’s not fair to expect childless hosts to provide same. We’ve brought our kids to restaurants, open air concerts, etc…, so they learn how to behave. And we get sitters for events that run too late or aren’t kid appropriate.
I think it’s a shame when couples don’t make these efforts, because getting out is good for everyone.
You *could* move, Cara…
Rob, who lives relatively nearer Cara’s friend Heather than he does to Cara
You *could* move, Cara…
Sure, Rob, but the last time I moved somewhere near friends, they all started moving away! 🙂
I’m still waiting for you to move back down here, BTW. (Yes, I’m delusional.) 🙂
Cara
Sounds like a great idea!
I can’t promise that we won’t move, although it would take an awful lot for that to happen.
I can promise that we won’t have kids!
Kalen wrote:
What is it with that? Just throw the kid in the car and GO!
Two words: roof rack.
Todd-who-(perhaps-unsurprisingly)-has-no-kids
…and by the way, I am of course up for discussing Jane Austen adaptations. Great fun! We can eat tea cake beforehand and get crumbs on the keyboard. (Of course, my heart will always belong to Jennifer Ehle, but I am happy to watch and discuss other people as well.)
It is odd how once we moved back to Southern California all our friends started to move away. It makes one think. Don’t think I haven’t thought about it. But maybe we’ll have another tea someday–once so many have moved away that there is room enough for the remainder in our dining room.
Todd-who-wonders-if-it-was-something-he-said
Todd, you did say “roof rack” and names “Enlarge and Polyester.” That might have something to do with folks with kids moving away from SoCal.
Great idea!! I’d love to participate!
Yes, to anything having to do with Jane Austen. I’m even warming to the newer versions!
You *could* move, Cara..
Or you could *visit* and we could have a tea with you, Rob and any other Riskies in the Seattle area!
But I’m in on the movie club idea, even if I make tea food and eat and watch all by my lonesome . . .
Keira wrote:
Todd, you did say “roof rack” and names “Enlarge and Polyester.” That might have something to do with folks with kids moving away from SoCal.
I have no idea what you mean, Keira. Why would anyone be offended by that?
BTW, did I mention to anyone my plan to extract energy from small children? I would strap magnets to them and wrap the house in giant coils of wire…
Todd-who-remains-clueless
BTW, did I mention to anyone my plan to extract energy from small children? I would strap magnets to them and wrap the house in giant coils of wire…
Todd, I must lend you my youngest. She could probably power not just a house but a small city. 🙂