Seeing the advertisements for this newest adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma, I expected something completely different—a reworking of the story with significant changes to either the storyline or the setting, and a generally free approach to the source material. I was prepared to dislike it. However, what I found instead was that they applied ingenuity to making minor adjustments to various elements. Harriet Smith, who might have been considered unremarkable, appeared walking about with her schoolmates, all wearing identical red dresses and large hats—a very noticeable visual detail. There was choral music playing at the close of scenes, either leading directly into or blending seamlessly with the start of the next one. And Bill Nighy seemed appropriately concerned about sickness and cold air, but occasionally had a lightness in his movements that contrasted with his anxious personality. I considered Rupert Graves and Miranda Hart to be inspired selections for Mr. Weston and Miss Bates respectively. Even the title itself has an inventive touch—a period is added after the name to signal that this film takes place in the past. This marks the third Emma adaptation within the last quarter-century—two films and a television series—and at least for now, it’s my preferred version.

Source on TMDB