Emma.

I can’t say this is head and shoulders above any other “Emma.” to come along. But de Wilde, her leading lady and her production team have made the matchmaker in need of her own match fresh and modern in a period piece detailed — right down to the acapella folk tunes and hymns sung on the soundtrack.

Mr. Woodhouse’s daughter may be a case study in the perils of playing God with others’ hearts, but Emma. is proof that bringing a timeless book and fresh talent together is still a worthy kind of artistic matchmaking.

With the help of cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt, composers Isobel Waller-Bridge and David Schweitzer, and Alexandra Byrne’s spectacular costumes, the film captures the whirl of a predatory society that can no longer hide behind surface prettiness. That sounds a lot like right now.

The latest “Emma,” marking the feature directorial debut of Autumn de Wilde, is a little edgier, driven by a more ambiguous and emotionally guarded portrayal of the blithe young matchmaker played by Anya Taylor-Joy.

De Wilde’s film is a more clueful affair, and Flynn (soon to star in a bio-pic of David Bowie) makes an arresting Knightley — more bruiser than smoothie, with a hinterland of unhappiness.

There are some good ideas here. The overpowering prettiness is welcome in the windy months. But the characters are somewhat lost in a busy rush to find some new angle (any new angle) on a much-adapted text.

What’s missing is nuance (the idea of Mr. Nighy’s performance, like others in the film, is wittier than what’s actually on screen); connective tissue (the story is semicoherent at best, a jumble of characters rushing to and fro); and depth of feeling.

The film with a charming views, excellent cinematography and sweet and young praiseworthy noble characters. It's really refreshing to see such a beautiful, sometimes flirty, sometimes a little heartbreaking, but overall light-hearted story in a 19th century setting.

This is very much a 'prim and proper' frilly tale of its time. As a period drama its ok but not entirely memorable. Some aspects of the story interested me but I didn't feel entirely impressed by this film to be honest. It's ok, with some gentle comedy at times but nothing exciting or memorable, certainly (though seeing an as ever grumpy Bill Nighy did make me smirk), so no, I wouldn't recommend it as such.

I have watched many Austen adaptations, but I think the only truly successful ones have been the BBC's hallowed Pride and Prejudice miniseries, and Ang Lee's Sense and Sensibility. I've yet to watch an "Emma" which hits the mark, which is a shame because the original novel is wonderful. This film is a nearer hit than most, but still a miss. It's a shame, because Anya Taylor-Joy's performance of the central character is by far the best to date. And the rest of the cast is good, particularly Mr Knightley. The production values are also quite good. I think it's the screenplay which lets everything down. Everything moves too fast and the story is quite jumbled. Dialogue is perfunctory and does not effectively capture Austen's characters, nor her ample wit. The film has no spirit, because it does not take time to breathe.

This Emma played like a farce, I didn’t care at all for the actress playing Emma. The sets were a awful, especially her house, all the pinks and greens, so NOT Georgian England and I’ve never cared for the actor playing her father, he always plays himself in everything he’s in, with that weird cadence. It’s no where close to Paltrow’s version. I’d give it a D

I really disliked this film. Just so much eye candy and so little attention to what makes the novel great, i.e. subtlety, lightness of touch, nuanced characterization. I especially disliked the main character's flirting with the camera - why, oh why? Is it some Broadway pantomime or what? And Ford's general store being made to look like something out of the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?? I find it difficult to believe that anyone who loves the novel can feel anything but annoyance, revulsion or just plain boredom sitting through this film.