Emma (1996 film)

"One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other."

The 1996 film version of Emma by Jane Austen. Written and directed by Douglas McGrath for Miramax films, the film starred Gwyneth Paltrow as Emma and Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley.

Tropes used in Emma (1996 film) include:

Adaptation Dye Job: In the novel, Emma, in a rare physical description by Jane Austen, has "the true hazel eye." Gwyneth Paltrow, on the other hand, has definitely blue eyes, which were highlighted in promotional materials (such as the CD score cover).
Gaussian Girl: Emma frequently appears as such, especially when writing in her diary, thinking about Mr. Knightley.
Incredibly Lame Pun:

Emma: Oh dear!
Mr. Knightley: What's that?
Emma: Oh, ah, something about the ah, deer...we need...for the venison stew.

Pragmatic Adaptation: Several devices are used to make the film more cinematic, such as the beautiful opening with the spinning model globe. Additionally, the Harriet plot is emphasized to the near-exclusion of the Frank Churchill sections. Various elements such as the archery scene, the diaries, and the conversations with Mrs. Weston also indicate the choices deemed necessary to translate the story.
Relationship Compression: Because of the expansion of the Harriet sections, the Frank/Jane relationship is almost relegated to an afterthought - most of it happens completely offscreen, and some of Jane's actions are even given to other characters such as Miss Bates.
Younger and Hipper: Jeremy Northam was only a few years younger than Mr. Knightley, but partly due to Gwyneth Paltrow's height, he was often perceived as "exactly the same age as Emma" (to quote Anthony Lane of The New Yorker).