I’ll admit it: I’m a Janeite. One of those fans obsessed with Jane Austen to the point of being hyper-critical of anything to dowith our beloved author. I tried to resist the urge to yell at thescreen during Becoming Jane but instead gave my friend a running commentary on all the film’s inaccuracies. I watched the 2005 Pride and Prejudice, groaning every time Keira Knightley pouted (so, basically, the entire movie). And yet, in spite of my rage and wish to throw something heavy at Anne Hathaway and Keira Knightley, I actually liked both movies. They’re not my favorite Jane Austen films — that honor goes to Roger Michell’s Persuasion — but I enjoyed them because I have an Austen sickness. I can’t get enough of her: I criticize because I love.
Which leads me to the topic: Jane Austen fanvids. I was innocently searching YouTube for clips from the ITV Jane Austen Season that aired this past spring in the UK (don’t worry, my fellow American Janeites, Masterpiece Theatre is airing The Complete Jane Austen in 2008). when I began stumbling across videos with such titles as "You’re the One That I Want" — Jane Austen and Tom and Elizabeth and Darcy — "How to Save a Life." Of the ones that I’ve watched, most turn Austen film adaptations into sappy teenage rom-coms complete with angsty music, which gave me the feeling that I was watching Dawson’s Creek or Laguna Beach, but the empire-waist dresses are a dead giveaway for Jane. These are the videos that make me die a little.
Some of the videos are kind-of funny though, like this oft-seen "Maneater" video with clips of the Austen ladies lookin’ fine. Nelly Furtado is an inspired choice to play over the women in their best gowns, but my favorite moment is the clip of Willoughby (Greg Wise) from Sense and Sensibility doing the Regency version of the Harlem Shake. Speaking of the Austen men; they get their own montage tribute set to Christina Aguilera’s "Ain’t No Other Man." If you have ever argued over which Jane Austen hero is the hottest (and I absolutely have not… well… maybe not) then this is the video for you.
Even better than the music videos are the trailer mashups. How about the famous one combining Harry Potter and Pride and Prejudice (embedded above)?It’s been circulating for some time now, but it’s a classic anddeserves recognition for being so meticulously planned and executed.Beside, seeing Rupert Grint use Matthew McFadyen’s deep voice is just enormously entertaining. Apparently Harry Potter fits Jane Austen well because there is also a trailer mashup of Potter with Becoming Jane, but this time it’s Harry and Hermione who play the romantic leads.
What’s your verdict on these videos, PopWatchers: amazing, sad, or awesomely bad? Think Jane Austen herself would approve?
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While I admit to being an Austin fanatic (I’m already mentally clearing space on my DVR for next year’s PBS extravaganza), these fanvids just make me cringe. It’s like seeing your awesomely dignified and classy aunt being dragged onto the dance floor for the Macarena. The P&P/Harry Potter mashup, though, is pretty funny.
Love, love Jane Austen. I own two copies of the Pride and Prejudice book (the first one ended up falling apart after one to many readings) as well as the DVD for the 2005 movie AND the BBC series, both awesome in their own special ways !
I can’t help but wonder, though, who on earth takes the time to make those videos ? Yes, they may be funny and/or cute and/or horribly cheesy, but by gosh, they must take a loooong time to make ! Guess they must be even more a a fan than I am ! Don’t know if I should be sad or relieved !
Persuasion is my FAV Austin movie. Anne blooms by the end of the movie. Was in bookstore yesterday and saw a “Lost in Austen: Create your own Adventure” book for Jane Austen. Anyone else see this? By choosing different scenerio, you can lead Elizabeth Bennett to Capt. Wentworth instead of Darcy. It was strange.
Persuasion IS THE BEST. I love these vids. I hope that people continue to make them. They are really funny. Some Jane Austen fan’s take themselves too seriously. It is great to see that someone like you can really enjoy a little razzing.
The “Pride & Prejudice” with Keira Knightly was amazing, and I thought that Keira gave a fantastic performance. Just wanna say that.
That was the best thing I’ve ever seen. Ever.
Persuasion with Amanda Root is definitely the best Austen adaptation out there (yes, even better than BBC/A&E Pride and Prejudice). I actually just watched it this weekend and had myself a good swoon. I am also a stickler for getting adaptations right, which is why I’m not all that thrilled with the Austen-Fest on Masterpiece Theater on 2008. I’ve seen the ITV adaptations and they are sub-par at best. But that’s just my opinion. Others are more than welcome to judge for themselves.
As for the fanvids…I say keep ‘em coming. My favorite is the one that reduces the painfully inaccurate “Becoming Jane” to a three minute production with some of the funniest snarky comments about the inaccuracies. Anyone who saves me the trouble of having to sit through that movie again AND makes me laugh is alright in my book.
Persuasion is THE ONE. Nice to see some lit-bloggin here on popwatch.
I’m a closet Jane-a-holic. I watch P&P and Sense & Sensibility at least 6 times a year. They just give me hope that someday the world will return to that romantic space in time (without the stupid …house goes to the son rule). I’ve yet to see Persuasion. There are 4 listed on IMDB. Which is the best version?
Oh, and those videos above are lame.
I have only recently found these videos and they aren’t bad per se. But I don’t think that they get to the heart of the books. While fun, they cheapen their meaning which is unfair to the books and all the potential readers out there.
I normally find those sappy videos pretty sad (who has that kind of time on their hands?), but ‘Maneater’ is hilarious. It makes me feel bad for the poor men in those stories.
BigJaneFan, I can’t believe you haven’t seen Roger Michell’s “Persuasion” from 1995 — it’s the best Jane Austen film ever, it’s even sold in a special edition with the book included.
And that “Maneater” video was perfect. I think Jane would’ve liked that one, she was always up for a bit of fun. The Ain’t No Other Man one was more seizure-inducing than enjoyable though.
Thanks for posting that vid – loved it! Just brilliant.
Cute–especially since a lot of Harry Potter fan fiction is obsessed with Jane Austen-like regency romance.
I agree–Persuasion is absolutely the best. Ciaran Hinds is just wonderful in anything like that. Gotta love Alan Rickman in Sense and Sensibility though too.
That video clip shows Ron and Hermione as the romantic leads- not Harry and Hermione as was stated in the column. Just so you know.
oops… read it wrong… my bad. You had it right. SORRY!
OMG, how could you have not mentioned Lion Pride and Prejudice? Look it up on Youtube, it’s hilarious.
Why haven’t any of you Jane fanatics mentioned the little gem called ‘Manfield Park’ with Francis O’Connor. I thought it was rather lovely!
OK, you got me to watch the “Maneater” vid. and, well – at least the music was hot