It’s been a lovely year for Jane Austen fans. First, 2005’s Pride & Prejudice celebrated its 20th anniversary with a theatrical rerelease, and now Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility gets a great stand-alone 4K release for its 30th anniversary. It’s the same version found in the Columbia Classics Collection Volume 2 box set, and that’s good news as it’s an excellent transfer filled with great special features.
“Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, and Hugh Grant star in this captivating romantic comedy. Based on Jane Austen’s classic novel, Sense and Sensibility tells of the Dashwood sisters, sensible Elinor (Thompson) and passionate Marianne (Winslet), whose chances at marriage seem doomed by their family’s sudden loss of fortune. Rickman, Grant, and Greg Wise co-star as the well-intentioned suitors who are trapped by the strict rules of society and the conflicting laws of desire,” says the synopsis.
Ang Lee got the job to direct Sense and Sensibility by telling the producers that he wanted to “break people’s hearts so badly that they’ll still be recovering from it two months later.” Make that 30 years later, as his 1995 period drama has aged wonderfully. Featuring an incredible cast that stars Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Alan Rickman, this Jane Austen adaptation plays on all of our emotions. From some sharp lines of dialogue that are quite funny to feeling the romance and longing of both sisters, it’s a beautiful film from start to finish.
Thankfully, the Sense and Sensibility 4K release is just as beautiful to look at and hear as the film itself. The visuals are incredible, delivering a wonderfully sharp picture that really helps the environment shots, and the attention to detail of the period piece really shines. The Dolby Atmos audio mix is just as great, with dialogue that is easy to hear and a really stellar score that moves the film along. Despite being over two hours long, the film is near-impossible to stop watching as it’s a gripping experience when presented so well.
The Sense and Sensibility 4K release features two separate audio commentaries, one by Ang Lee and co-producer James Schmaus, and another by Emma Thompson (who wrote the script as well as starring in the film) and producer Lindsay Doran. Both are great listens, and there’s also a 27-minute reunion that was recorded over Zoom, which features much of the main cast (although sadly no Hugh Grant), Doran, and Lee. Rounding out the package are 40 minutes of featurettes discussing the making of the film, plus two deleted scenes and the film’s trailers. These will certainly make you appreciate the film even more and are worth diving into.
Sense and Sensibility 4K Review: Final Verdict
Ang Lee was a truly inspired choice to direct Sense and Sensibility in 1995, and his work since then has proven how brilliant a choice it was. Featuring an all-star cast, which all give strong performances, it’s one of the best period romance movies ever. The Sense and Sensibility 4K release does it justice in every way and is an easy recommendation for any Jane Austen fans.
Disclosure: ComingSoon received product from the distributor for our Sense and Sensibility 4K review.