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Rating:  - Not the best adaptation, yet watchable
The 1986 BBC adaptation of Mansfield Park remains in my opinion the most faithful adaptation of Jane Austen's work. Starring Sylvestra Le Touzel as Fanny Price and Nicholas Farrell as Edmund Bertram, the two leads were a bit tepid in their performances, yet the script was quite faithful, perhaps too much so. Then we had the 1999 movie version of Mansfield Park starring Frances O'Connor as Fanny Price. Though she acted very well with the given script, the version was so far removed from Austen's work as to render it alien, and could only be appreciated if viewed as a story by itself, without drawing comparisons with Austen's work [for one, O'Connor's Fanny was way too spirited and audacious].
And now we come to the 2007 adaptation of Mansfield Park, starring Billie Piper [of "Doctor Who"] as Fanny Price, who at the age of ten is sent by her impoverished mother to live with her wealthy sister, Lady Bertram [Jemma Redgrave] and her family comprising husband, Lord Bertram, daughters Mariah and Julia, and sons Tom [James D'arcy] and Edmund [Blake Ritson]. Young Fanny knows her place and grows up loving her cousin Edmund [yes, it was apparently acceptable back in Austen's time]. Enter the scheming Mary Crawford [Hayley Atwell] ,and her brother Henry [Joseph Beattie] who worm themselves into Mansfield Park and cause much havoc within the family - Henry flirting with Mariah, and Mary setting her cap at Edmund, much to Fanny's chagrin. What follows is Fanny's journey through heartache, awakening, and finally happiness.
The acting in this version was not all that commendable - Billie Piper's Fanny with her striking blond locks and contrasting dark eyebrows is a far cry from Austen's portrayal of the demure and sickly Fanny Price in the novel. The rest of the cast too arw quite lukewarm in their performances. Blake Ritson's Edmund, though very good-looking was very shallow and unconvincing,especially in his ardor for Ms Crawford. It is only in the later part that he seems to portray some semblance of sincerity in his newly discovered love for Fanny. Hayley Atwell's Mary Crawford does carry a semblance of credibility in her role and even manages to upstage Fanny Price at times.
This version takes too many liberties with Austen's work - the characters here are not faithful to the ones portrayed in the book, even the minor characters like Lady Bertram who was sickly in the novel,seems enthused with enough energy to pass energetic comments in this version. Many important scenes are cut out as are characters, and there is not much character development at all. It all appears like a rush job with disastrous consequences for the storyline.
The sets and cinematography though are beautifully done and the scenes of the countryside are particularly enchanting. On the whole, I can't say I love this latest adaptation of Mansfield Park [which seems to be the only one of Austen's works to fare so poorly in its screen adaptations], yet it is watchable, and makes for light entertainment.
Rating:  - Masterpiece Theatre disappointment
I expected much better for Masterpiece Theatre. It is based only loosely on the novel and leaves out many important scenes and characters. So far the best video of this novel is put out by BBC.
Rating:  - Not Mansfield Park, but enjoyable!
The first time I watched this dvd I had just finished rereading Mansfield Park and I was very disappointed in the production. The first couple of minutes take you well into the book with almost dizzying speed. I have never been a big fan of Fanny and she ties Emma as one of my least favorite Jane Austen characters as she is a sickly, righteous young lady whose sole distinction is her goodness. After allowing some time to pass between the rereading and then re-watching I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the Mansfield Park, such as it is, which is to say, in many ways, it is not. Lady Bertram, as portrayed by Jane Austen, can barely summon the strength to breathe, let alone share an insightful thought, but in this MS she is perceptive. Mrs. Norris, her sister, is robbed of all her malevolent, insipid and ultimately destructive nature and is quite passive. Her behavior in the book results in grave character flaws in Maria and Julia. Fanny as portrayed by Billie Piper is an enjoyable character,and, unlike the Fanny in the book one can understand why Mr. Crawford and Edmund fall in love with her. This is a entertaining dvd as long as you are not expecting a retelling of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park.
Rating: - Jane Austin Slut
NO, NO, NO...they left half of the story out and made blondie look like a harlot the whole movie. Read the book!
Rating:  - Entertaining, genuine and worth the watch
Mansfield Park is one of Austen's least liked novels but I love the story. Its oft-maligned heroine, Fanny, is both genuinely good and innocent. Marvellously portrayed by Billie Piper, the character comes across as fresh. Blake Ritson is great to look at, and also gives his character freshness without compromising the good-nature of the clergyman. Haley Atwell sometimes steals the show as the deceptive Mary Crawford. Overall, I thought this was a great story of sincere, good people and the romance was touching in its innocence -- especially the scene of Fanny and Edmund touching hands whilst looking at the stars.
*****/***** for Mansfield Park
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