EMMA.

Very witty and well-acted... Emma has been adapted a number of times, but this has enough intelligence in its adaptation to stand out from the crowd.

If anyone were to push Emma Woodhouse into a less straitened age, why not the woman who captured Childish Gambino in a palm-tree polyblend?

While the story's sturdy, familiar structure remains resonant, this version never feels particularly inspired or revelatory, despite some lovely moments scattered throughout.

Austen's genius lay in turning one girl's interior world into the whole universe, and transforming the pettiest of social interactions into microcosms with global moral significance.

The movie is handsomely mounted and consistently engaging. Yes, the story is familiar but part of the charm is seeing how key scenes have been re-envisioned by the filmmakers.

Emma. is deeply satisfying watch that, while lacking the contemporary feel of Amy Heckerling's Austen adaptation Clueless, is charming and lovely in its own right.

Sumptuously designed, elegantly appointed and spectacularly costumed and coiffed, de Wilde’s fresh rendition has a piquant flavor complemented as much by self-aware sexiness as the abundant pastel hues on display.

Lacks surprising elements, making the existence of this new adaptation a bit questionable. Why make another film if there's nothing unique about it? Predictable from the get-go, confusing first act, and very hard to feel invested before the one-hour mark.

Austen is as compelling as ever.

De Wilde's mannerist visual approach won't help endear the character to skeptics, as the film shows evidence of a director more interested in design, style, and particulars of performance than the substance and emotions at work in Austen's story.