Hello and welcome to my version of the game, ‘F*@#’, Marry, Kill. This week we are WWW’ing actors/characters in Jane Austen movies/TV shows.
Myself and some of my friends are sharing our Want, Wed, and Waste choices from this week’s list:
Matthew MacFadyen as Mr. Darcy, Rupert Penry Jones as Captain Wentworth, Jonny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley
(Sorry the pics are so small, not sure what happened)
Click on book titles below to learn more and to be taken to a buy link
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Me (Alicia Dean). Author of DEATH NOTICE – A killer is using her obituary column to forecast his kills.
Want: Mr. Darcy – I must admit, I still haven’t watched ANY Jane Austen movies. Ugh…I swear, I will one of these days. But for now, I have to base it on what I know/see. I watched a clip of Mr. Darcy and the girl out in the rain, and it was very emotional, very sensual. I adore rain, so I would have to want Mr. Darcy.
Wed: Mr. Knightley – Just because he’s the most appealing of the two who are left over, and I would rather Wed him than Want him, because Mr. Darcy is sexier. (Do the heroines in Jane Austen novels actually call these guys by “Mr.” or “Captain” so and so? Even in the throes of passion?)
Waste: Captain Wentworth. He is the least attractive of the three, although if I saw these three guys in action, I might change my mind. Besides, making her call him “Captain”….isn’t that a bit pretentious? Or, is he actually a captain?
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Linda McLaughlin, author of Lady Elinor’s Escape, Cinderella meets Jane Austen in this sweet Regency romance. website: http://www.lindamclaughlin.com
Want: Matthew MacFadyen as Mr. Darcy. He brings an intensity to the role that neither Colin Firth nor Laurence Olivier could, though their Mr. Darcy’s were more elegant and perhaps true to the book. I like the notion of an Atlas-sized Mr. Darcy, since he does willingly shoulders the troubles of the world, or at least the part of it he controls, which is not inconsiderable. But I put him in the want category because marriage to such a paragon would be a bit daunting, esp. having to deal with Lady Catherine de Burgh!
Wed: Rupert Penry Jones as Captain Wentworth. I’ve always had a fondness for naval gentlemen, and I love Rupert Penry-Jones. The only fault I see in the casting is that he’s too fair to be believable as a sea captain. (They were perpetually tanned from being outside in the sun and wind.) He is handsome though, and does a good job of portraying the reserved captain who never got over his first love. Persuasion is Austen’s most emotional book, IMO, and the movies always touch my heart.
Waste: Jonny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley. This doesn’t seem right, but Emma is the least romantic of the three movies. It’s really the education of Miss Emma Woodhouse–19th c. chicklit, really–and Mr. Knightley seems more best friend/older brother than prospective suitor. It’s not Jonny Lee Miller’s fault, but rather the limitations of the character as written. I hadn’t seen this version of Emma and it was fun to watch. I’ve always found Mr. Knightley less dashing than Austen’s other heroes, though he’d be good husband material. But if I have to choose between Mr. Knightley and Captain Wentworth, I’ll take my sea captain.
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Jill Hughey, author of the Evolution Series set in Charlemagne’s empire, wants you to know that today, April 2, is Charlemagne’s birthday! Get her five-star series bundle only $6.50 for three novels and a short story! http://jillhughey.blogspot.com
Alicia is killing me with this round of choices because I LOVE all these movies.
Want – Jonny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley – I enjoy Jonny Lee Miller in this movie and also his series, Elementary. I’d probably wed him except he was once married to Angelina Jolie, which worries me more than a little, and he has some affectations that might get on my nerves. I’d definitely like him to court me for awhile, though! The way he sighs when Emma reveals her feelings for him is truly swoon-worthy.
Wed – Rupert Penry Jones as Captain Wentworth – This character drives me a little crazy when he leaves the recital after Anne throws herself all over him, but that is Jane Austen’s doing. I think Rupert Penry Jones absolutely nails the pivotal interaction that gives Anne renewed hope with the way he delivers the line: “A man does not recover from such a passion with such a woman. He ought not. He does not.” I just melt. And the way he looks at her in both the kiss scene and the end of the movie shows that he will be attentive and faithful to the end!
Waste – Matthew MacFayden as Mr. Darcy – Matthew MacFayden does a wonderful job in this role. My family will tell you I’ve about worn out my DVD of this movie, so it is pretty surprising to discover that he is not my type. I can’t even figure that out because I absolutely adore Richard Armitage who has a similar build, coloring, and voice, but Matthew doesn’t really light my fire. Sorry Mr. Darcy!
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RoseAnn DeFranco, author of Secondhand Romance – She wants to know if he’s a Mr. Darcy or a Mr. Knightley. He’s there to fix more than the wiring in her bookstore. A bet and a stack of old love letters leads to a secondhand romance. Website: www.radefranco.com
Choosing between Jane Austen’s heroes is very difficult for me but here goes….
Want: Persuasion – Rupert Perry Jones as Captain Wentworth. Sigh. The passion in the Captain as played by Rupert Perry Jones gets me EVERY time…and I do try to watch this one at least twice a year! The glances he steals of Anne throughout the story smolder as he tries to conceal his passion, but his final declaration, and the kiss at the end of this one makes me think these two will enjoy a very happy marriage bed.
Wed: Emma Masterpiece – Jonny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley. First, Johnny Lee Miller gives the best performance of Knightley to date! His portrayal of Knightley conveys the thoughtful, honorable traits of Knightley while also exposing his depth of emotion for Emma plain for everyone (except her) to see. His love and understanding of Emma and her family situation makes him perfect husband material.
Waste: Pride and Prejudice – Matthew MacFayden as Mr. Darcy. As much as it pains me, and it DOES, someone has to go in the waste column. While perhaps not my favorite portrayal of Mr. Darcy (See Colin Firth, BBC Version THE POND SCENE) Matthew MacFayden portrays a very passionate Darcy, one that it would be hard to say no to. “You have bewitched me body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you…” Amazing moment in the movie, sigh. Damn. I want them all. I’d wed them all. I’d let nothing go to waste! But in this instance, sorry Matthew!
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Linda Carroll-Bradd, author of Capturing The Marshal’s Heart, a western historical, that will be on sale on Amazon for 99 cents 4/4/14 only. Website: www.lindacarroll-bradd.com
Want—Rupert Penry Jones—his performance was understated and confined, which makes me think there was so much more under the surface to be discovered.
Wed—Matthew MacFadyen—he stepped into big shoes to play this role and within the first couple of scenes, he made me believe in his sincerity and steadfastness.
Waste—Jonny Lee Miller—he was good in this role but I wasn’t convinced that such a high-energy performer was the calm and laid-back Mr. Knightley.
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Juli D. Revezzo, author of Passion’s Sacred Dance, He may be her savior in disguise–but can she trust him?
Want: Rupert Penry Jones
Wed: Johnny Lee Miller (He seems like a sweetie)
Waste: Matthew MacFayden (Sorry. But his portrayal of Darcy was just *too* depressing)
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Now we’d like to hear from you….which of these Jane Austen Heroes would you Want, Wed, and Waste?
Thanks for playing!
Author Alicia Dean 