REwatch REcap

This spring, dear reader, has been one of my absolute favorites for rewatching. And, now that the first day of summer is fast approaching and the Spring!rewatches are over, I feel like its a perfect time for reflection on the 4 REwatches we rocked via twitter.

FIRST: I've got to thank my rewatch ladies who made these possible and fantastic! @CaseeMarie (I SO could not have done these without you!) @DarbyDashwood @LadyRelaynie @So_Meow @SheBlog @Mu5icRomancer . Ladies, you're the best and never let anyone tell you different.

#REsuasion was the first of the rewatches simply because--and I do not say this lightly--it has to be my favorite of all adaptations. There is just something about this one: I can't put my finger on it, but this Persuasion, even with its textual changes, even with its event shifts, just makes me unbelievably happy. As much as I do love my Pride and Prejudice, my North and South, my Jane Eyres, I simply cannot get past the fact that whenever I just feel like watching a beautiful costume drama, I pop this one in my DVD player. 

#REsense was next, and it was fantastic. We all got silent whenever Brandon spoke, we all adored Edward and Elinor, and we were all so talkative during this rewatch. This was the first big rewatch, with more of us participating and gushing over one of our favorite costume dramas. This is also the rewatch the brilliant and fantastic Casee Marie joined me in co-hosting.

#REanger is one of those short costume dramas and is too adorable and too time friendly not to watch. It was also one many of the rewatch gals hadn't seen. Luckily, its an easy one, too, to get our little costume fan hands on, and we were off to the races. Northanger is that brilliant mix of humor, Gothic undertones, and classic Austen romance. As Austen's first novel, hints of her later characters abound. If you are careful, and rewatch it a few times: you'll find the seeds of Darcy, Elizabeth, Caroline, Fanny, Edward, Wickham and Willoughby amongst others.

#REpride is how the rewatches (for me) began and how they ended this spring season. Every beginning of Spring I rewatch the epic '95 version, and as the twitter rewatches got underway, there was no way P&P '05 was going to be left out. Sometimes the best dish comes from other costume drama fans, and boy were we dishing last night! Emma Thompson's connection, the complete textual changes, Orlando Bloom's twin....it was all in there dear reader! Don't you wish you'd joined us?

Now the rewatches are not going away. Not by a long shot! They now will be featured in fycd's week of costume, which occurs for a whole week once a month in the summer. A week of costume is a feature on the tumblr: Anything Period where I only post photos from one costume drama for a whole week. Last summer we did: Pride and Prejudice, The Young Victoria, and Marie Antoinette.

So, this means that if the week of costume is Pride and Prejudice focused, we will be rewatching Pride and Prejudice for the rewatch. I know it might sound silly, but with summer being busy for everyone, I think one rewatch a month will make the anticipation all the more fun. The first week of costume begins June 20. Pencil in June 24 for the next rewatch! What will we be watching? Well, we'll just have to wait till June 3rd to find out!  

Pride and Prejudice Fanmix

In celebration of the rewatch this Friday, I've mixed together some of my favorite current songs that always remind me of Pride and Prejudice. Mixing music, for connecting my favorite songs to my favorite books is something I've been doing forever (even before Ms. Meyer made it popular). And for me, Pride and Prejudice is a mix of alternative jazz for the heavy parts, and upbeat alternative and pop for the lighthearted parts. After all, if the Bennets were a modern family, I think Kitty and Lydia would make the rest suffer through some pretty awful teeny-bopper pop.

My favorite pick on this mix is Adele's "Rollin' in the Deep". Its one of my favorite songs for Darcy's rejection by Elizabeth. And yes, I still listen to Dashboard Confessional. I got to see them last year in concert and they still rock, dear reader. 

To give you just a hint, quite a few of the songs relate toward Darcy. Well...that angst is more the music I listen to, but I'm sure you can pick out the bright Bennet spots too. 

If you would like to listen to all the songs, hop on over to 8tracks. You'll even find a few other mixes I've made. 

Don't forget #REpride is this Friday starting @ 8pm EST!  

Last REwatch of the Spring Season

When: May 20, 2011 @ 8 pm EST

Where: Twitter: #REpride

look for @heatherfrances, @caseemarie, @Ladyrelaynie, @darbydashwood, @sheblog, and @so_meow

Who: Everyone!

Why: Its Pride and Prejudice dear reader! It isn't often that we get to spend 2-3 hours completely GUSHING over Mr. Darcy. You know, with other people... This is the last of the Spring!Rewatches for the season, so join in now before its too late! You know you want to!

Incentive: Wallpapers, gossip, and tons of Jane Austen fun await. Need I say more? Like last time, stop by Rusty on facebook for a special wallpaper.

Spring! Rewatch: Northanger Abbey

Dear readers! you know you want to join in! What are we rewatching this time? The 2007 version of Northanger Abbey.

When: April 29, 2011 @ 8pm EST (Yep. The day of the Royal Wedding. I know, I'll be half dead too ;) )

Where: Twitter: #REanger

look for @heatherfrances and all the rest of the fantastic rewatch group: @CaseeMarie, @Ladyrelaynie, @darbydashwood, @sheblog, and @so_meow

Who: Everyone!

Why: Because we can. And its an absolutely adorable Austen drama. There are only 2 twitter rewatches left for the season! Get into the last 2 before its too late!

Incentive: Like with the S&S rewatch, I will be posting rewatch-only wallpapers and photos. Feel like showing off your photoshop skills too? The more the merrier! Stop by and tweet your fan art. We love sharing!

Check back the day of for youtube links and more. RSVP on Rusty Sarcasm's facebook page to get a special wallpaper.

#REsense recap

Dear reader, I'm positive no one had more fun last night than us at our #REsense twitter party. My lovely beyond lovely cohoestess @CaseeMarie and some of my favorite twitter ladies: @darbydashwood, @ladyrelaynie, @sheblog, and @so_meow, dropped by to enjoy a lot of Austen, and even more Austen discussion. Wondering what some of the top rewatch moments were? They're below, or read the twitter log here.

The twitter silence any time Brandon walked on screen/talked.

There was a good 8 minutes where no one typed anything. I thought twitter might be having a meltdown, or my computer was going to blow up, then the tweets started again and everyone realized we had been silent. And then, we figured out why -- Col. Brandon, in that oh so sexy Alan Rickman voice, was telling us his history in connection with Willoughby. This happened again twice later on in the night and was an amazingly entertaining coincidence. A theory was also thrown out that most women think Snape is a closet gentleman because Rickman played Brandon. Okay, so I'm the one that brought it up and I'm the one that thinks it, but I still think its true! 

Our mutual distaste for Lucy & Fanny

There will always be one Austen character we just can't stand, or certainly love to hate. For Sense and Sensibility that title was won by both Lucy and Fanny. Two women equally ridiculous and equally spiteful.

The inevitable comparison to the '08 adaptation, and subsequent desire to watch the '08 adaptation

Need I say more? I didn't think so.

A argument must be made that Edward and Elinor rival Darcy and Elizabeth  

Darcy and Elizabeth are iconic. They're iconic because of their hate-love relationship, but during the rewatch we questioned why Elinor and Edward are seen as a lesser couple. They're are just as honorable, just as hopelessly in love, and in many ways, act more mature than Darcy and Lizzy. Therefore, I'm arguing today that, while Darcy and Lizzy can keep their reigning title, Elinor and Edward need to get a little more respect as a top Austen couple.

2 more rewatched have be forged (Forgive the medieval sword references, I've been watching too much Camelot)

YEP. Two more rewatches! Northanger Abbey  and Pride and Prejudice '05 will be our next rewatches. This will include more Austen fabulousness, more wallpapers, more photos, and lots more tweets. Pencil in April 29th for Northanger and May 20th for Pride and Prejudice. I know, it feels like a long way away, but it will SO be worth it! More details to come.

S&S rewatch, reasons to be excited

Dear reader, are you as excited for the rewatch as I am? I have my dvd all set out already, I've got all the wallpapers and photos ready. I even...I know this is bad...watched the 2008 BBC adaptation to get ready. Now, I figured there is no reason to sing the newest adaptations praises, we'll be comparing it to the fantastic '95 version in just 2 days, so why not talk a little literary today?

As Jane Austen's first published work, Sense and Sensibility asks many of the same questions as her first novel, (and her last published) Northanger Abbey: what is true love, true romance, and true good sense. What is different in S&S is that we get to see two starkly contrasted relationships grow at the same time. And while different, both relationships question what makes sense and what social sensibility dictates. And, like every Austen novel -- good sense wins, and most of the time is complimentary to social sensibility.

What I love about the novel is Austen's narrator has such a strong voice throughout. In the adaptations, Elinor takes on much of that strength. Thus, its undertone in her character deeply impacts her silent suffering. Anytime Elinor's on screen you feel her love suffocating her, you feel her desires chocking in her throat. Its a brilliant example of how, though some things are lost in translation, other, beautiful nuances take their place.

I can't wait to see what we think during the rewatch! I always love adaptation discussion.

Feel like catching up on your S&S?

Read the novel here

Watch the 2008 version here

Join the rewatch party on facebook

Set your twitter search to #REsense

Didn't catch the details? Read them here

And to all my blogging bellas, I'm so sorry I've been MIA around your comment pages and tweets. Real life's been cah-razy. I can't wait to kick back and #REsense on Friday!

Everything you need to know about the S&S rewatch

Dear readers! We're doing it again. That's right! Another rewatch!

This time? The 1997 version of Sense and Sensibility hosted by yours truly and the fantastic Casee from The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower.

When: April 8th at 8:00 pm EST

Where: Twitter: #REsense

look for @heatherfrances and @caseemarie

Who: Everyone!
Why: Because we can. And everyone loves to watch Alan Rickman play Col. Brandon, but if you want to have a twitter discussion on why David Morrissey is better, totally I'm game. (btw David Morrissey HAS a twitter (ignore the very strange profile pic. I'm pretty positive its him.) I'm sure if we @ him enough, he might be intrigued..)
Incentive: Isn't rewatching enough?! If its not, I'll be posting special links to S&S fanart wallpapers and high res images not yet posted on fycd during the April 8th rewatch. The links will only be good for the 2 hour rewatch window.

Keep checking back for more rewatch info! Of special interest: Wednesday and Thursday.

SPRING! REWATCH: Persuasion

#resuasion, or the Persuasion rewatch party that took place on twitter last week was some of the most costume drama fun I've had in a long time. @CasseMarie, @dotsara, @runawayblu and I had so much fun watching and discussing in real time, but you can read the tweets and see that. So below are my top 3 favorite moments from the rewatch.

3. Hearing that Persuasion opening music
I love the opening music to Persuasion. No matter how many times I start this movie, I still fall madly in love with it due to its music. Surprised, dear reader? I bet you thought I'd say Rupert Penry-Jones would be my sole reason for loving, didn't you? While he is a strong contender, music will always win me over no matter the acting.

2. The Louisa and Mary smackdown
There was a moment, a serious moment, where if we were on Survivor island, Mary and Louisa wouldn't have just been voted off, they would have been kicked out into shark-infested water. It was so much fun to be able to admire the actor, and at the same time be driven mad by their characters. It was definitely a lol moment. And it was refreshing to discuss this with thoughtful and opinionated watchers.

1. Discussing my favorite parts with friends who love costume drama
Its rare that I sit with anyone, let alone good online friends and get to gush and discuss my favorite costume dramas. Most of the time, getting anyone to watch a BBC adaptation with me is like pulling teeth, and so the connection twitter gave me was wonderful and exciting. Watching your favorite movies is always so much more fun when watching with others who love it just as much.

REWATCH IN REAL TIME - DETAILS

WHO: costume lovers and tweet peeps!

WHAT: Persuasion (2007) rewatch

WHEN: Saturday, March 12 at 7:00 pm EST till - 10:00

WHERE: twitter, hash tag: #REsuasion

Look for @heatherfrances, I'll be getting the candy and ice cream ready around 6:30.

SPRING! REWATCH: The Devil's Whore

I never knew that 2 days without internet could drive me crazy. I also didn't know that it could be one of the best enablers to my spring!rewatch marathon ever. In a desperate attempt to not scream at my DSL line, I started rewatching the 2008 miniseries The Devil's Whore with John Simm and Michael Fassbender.

Did you know, it was originally to be a 12 part miniseries for BBC1? Considering it was cut nearly 3 times over, I'm very happy we have a 4 hour miniseries that slimmed down with relative ease. And while large sections of the story feel rushed, it is only keenly felt once Angelica has married her "hero of the moment" and you wait for the inevitable.

The Devil's Whore follows the life of Angelica Fanshawe, a fictional character set during the English Civil War. While Angelica is historically inaccurate, the men she loves, marries, and buries are all historical (minus Henry Fanshawe, but that's to be expected), and highlights the political and moral duality of the Civil War period.

And then, of course, there is the simple fact that its 4 hours of beautifully acted costume drama. Fassbender, Simm, and Dominic West put in brilliant performances; while Andrea Riseborough holds her own as the haunted Angelica. I'll admit it, I'm not so prideful as to not be able to: I first watched The Devil's Whore simply for Michael Fassbender, and it was a plus it was about the English Civil War; so few period dramas cover that span of history. And yet, as I watched--and certainly as I rewatched--I found myself lost in all the characters: the idealistic, the tradition-bound, and the foolishly hopeful. I realized that John Simm's profound, yet quiet performance as Edward Sexby is inspired, and that he can certainly handle being a dark and broody leading man. To this, Fassbender became the plus to a beautifully acted and written period drama.

Just think of what 12 hours would have brought us. I throughly recommend a watch of The Devil's Whore for anyone in love with period dramas. And it is certainly a watch for those who want something a little more gritty than an Austen adaptation, or even a Bronte one.

SPRING! REWATCH

Pride and Prejudice 1995
We are going to forget that its snowing/sleeting outside, dear reader. We are. I'm valiantly trying, I can assure you. We are going to forget that we still have a week in February. We are going to fail to remember that spring isn't official until March 20th. That groundhog in Pennsylvania said spring was going to be early, and we are going to listen to him.

With that in mind, I did something this last weekend I've been waiting to do for a good three months (and will most likely do again since it did snow today). I rewatched Pride and Prejudice. You know, the eight hour one...that one with Colin Firth...that one that was my first introduction to costume drama. And its kicked off a firestorm of rewatching for me.

I'm not sure why, but spring is where my traditions are. I wait with breathless anticipation to spring clean, to wear flip flops too early, to smell air that isn't crip with cold. In other words, it isn't spring unless I've spring cleaned every nook and cranny of my room, reorganized my books, and watched the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice. And once that music starts, I'm lost in that Austen world all over again for its full duration.

Part of me unwaveringly believes I watch it every spring, because it was spring the first time I watched the mini-series (over two weeks, the hour before school, on A&E Classroom), the other part tells me it is due to Pride and Prejudice's spring setting and the beautiful film making of this BBC classic. Either way, my system and my pysche couldn't take it anymore, and this last weekend was my unofficial beginning of spring.

And with the unofficial beginning of spring comes my rewatching bonanza. It will start with Pride and Prejudice and quickly spiral into rewatching every mini-series I own, including two version of Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility, and two more Pride and Prejudices. But this blog post is not about my envitable BBC binging, this blog post is simply that, for me, despite the snow, it now feels like spring and my favorite spring tradition is underway: the rewatch. Yay!