I’ve seen quite a few film and television adaptations of Jane Austen's works, and so far, I haven’t found one I didn’t appreciate. This adaptation of *Emma* continues that streak. The movie features a strong group of actors, and even the characters who are portrayed as somewhat comical—like Miss Bates and Emma’s father with his obsessive cleanliness—are played for laughs while still being given enough substance so you can connect with them. I suspect the people who wrote the screenplay find it rewarding to adapt Jane Austen novels because a good deal of what becomes dialogue in the film originally appears as exposition in the books, passages where the author explains events and thoughts to the reader. This gives the writers some leeway when crafting the actual conversations. And there's one particular aspect of this *Emma* that, I think, they handle better than any other version I’ve encountered. Following Emma’s insensitive remark on Box Hill that embarrasses Miss Bates, Mr. Knightly calls her out on it, and she feels bad because she cares about his approval and suddenly sees the impact of her words differently. Because of her position in society, when she goes to try and make amends, she doesn't offer a direct apology. The assumption seems to be that her visit is sufficient compensation, and maybe it is. Most adaptations follow this detail. One even cuts the scene entirely, just showing Emma entering and exiting Miss Bates’s home. I’ve always thought Miss Bates deserved more from the writers—even from Jane Austen herself. But this version of *Emma* gives Miss Bates a little extra. Emma doesn't apologize outright, but she does reassure the woman that she has many friends in the village who are on her side and hope things will work out well for her. It’s a subtle gesture that hits exactly the right note, and it reinforces my feeling that this *Emma* rarely misses the mark.

Source on TMDB