(Please excuse me, I'm having a Logan Echols-induced moment...)
Anyway, Sommer's post led me to think about those quintessential romantic moments. You know the ones. Those moments where you kind of gasp, sigh, and try not to cry?
Here are a few of mine and while I'd say they're in no real order, I will put Jane Eyre first. Toby Stephens is the ultimate Rochester just as many romance fans will agree that Colin Firth is the only accepted Fitzwilliam Darcy.
Jane's impassioned speech is a rallying cry for women out there who feel like an ordinary person in an extraordinary world:
"Do you think I'm a machine, that I can bear it? Do you think because I am poor, plain, obscure, and little that I have no heart? That I am without soul? I have as much heart as you and as much soul. And if God had given me some beauty and wealth, I would make it as hard for you to leave me as it is now for me to leave you."
Score: 5 out of 5 sighs
I tried to find video clips from Ang Lee's Sense & Sensibility (1995), especially Elinor and Edward's final scene when she learns the truth about who Lucy married. Emma Thompson earned her Best Actress nod in this scene. You watch it and tell me you don't feel her struggle to remain composed while overwhelmed with emotion. Well, I'd link it here, but I can't find it.
Score: 3 out of 5 sighs
As far as swooning goes, I couldn't really get behind the Elinor/Edward romance as much as I could reserved Colonel Brandon and impassioned Marianne Dashwood. The bedside vigil he held while Marianne fought for her life? I sigh just thinking about it.
Score: 4 out of 5 sighs
I will leave you with this scene from Pride and Prejudice. Yes, the A&E version, not the Hollywood knock-off. There are other scenes that are more sigh-worthy, but for anyone eager for a Colin Firth lake scene...
Oh, Darcy. We forgive you for your earlier proposal.
Sigh...
Score: 5 out of 5 sighs (for the entire A&E production)
These are notoriously great classics. But you know the best version of Jane Eyre is the one with Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke (1981) I think is the year.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Brit so they come on TV all the time here. I've seen them all and nothing compares to the 1981 version :)
Love the A & E version of Pride and Prejudice. Very swoon worthy.
ReplyDeleteI still need to watch the A & E Pride and Prejudice. I don't know what I'm waiting for. Summer, maybe. ^^
ReplyDeleteAlso, I agree with Colonel Brandon and Marianne. That scene was awesome. Also, this is the second time I write this today but... Alan Rickman is awesome. <3
Hi, I'm stopping by via the A-Z linky list. Nice to meet you. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure which version of Pride and Prejudice my daughters and I watched (we've seen 2 or 3), but this story is one of our favorites and we always sigh.
Have a nice weekend.
Ah! I didn't get to any of my blog friends this week and then I discover you mentioned me! :-) Thanks and I'm glad you liked the Kissing post. I love this post because I'm in total crush over British love scenes.
ReplyDeleteI love Pride & Prejudice the most. And the scenes from North & South! *swoon*
@D U, thanks for the tip. I'll have to check out the Timothy Dalton version. I just bought one from Target on a whim, I think it has Ciaran Hinds? It was only $5 and I still can't bring myself to watch it because it's not Toby Stephens.
ReplyDelete@Claudie, watch it. This summer. Set aside 6 hours of a weekend day, get a good bottle of wine, a wheel of fancy cheese, and a fresh loaf of bread and enjoy!
@Michelle, thanks for stopping by! Nice to meet you as well. I couldn't get behind Kira Knightly as Jane in the most recent Hollywood adaption, though the direction and the cinematography was beautiful.
@Sommer. How could I forget North and South? Gah! *turns in her Patrick Swayze fan club card in shame*