don not watch this movie expect the jane austen wit and crisp dialog or clever social commentary . this time around and the premise of northanger abbey have be update in a very sensual way . in this version and catherine erotic daydream be not just silly fantasy and but a connection to the world of adult sexuality she be just peek into with her daylight adventure . by day she be very prim and demure and and her swain henry treat her with the utmost courtesy . but a her own sexual nature awakens and her daydream shift every so subtly from mild to steamy to lurid . at the beginning of the story and catherine vision of sex be base entirely on the gothic novel she devour in bed . it be both heartwarming and sexy and and provocative to observe the way her dreamy picture of handsome henry dissolve into a lurid dream of be carry off and ravish by romantic villain . at the same time and it be wry and touch to cut back to her bed in the morning catherine sleep peacefully look so innocent one would never guess what really go on in that pretty little head . later and after be invite to henry castle and catherine overhear a family argument and totally misunderstand it meaning . jump into bed and she cover herself up with the bedsheets and lie awake listen fearfully and her striking blue eye the only visible sign that she be alert . little by little and however and those pretty blue eye droop and close a she drift into another heated dream of innocent desire . this time and catherine dream she be in elizabethan time and wait fearfully outside the castle for the approach of the banditi . it pretty clear she be more excited than terrify by the idea of be carry off by bandit . she all but shudder with excitement and anticipation . but then and after a shot of her run frantically to escape and we be back to the daylight world and where the maid be scold her for have make a mess of her room before fall into a sound sleep . it worth note that catherine heavy eye yawning in the morning light be itself a rather sensual symbol of how passionate her dream have be . ultimately and of course and catherine stern and unimaginative lover henry divine the nature of her fantasy and give her a stern lecture . it interest that catherine immediate collapse into tear symbolize not a retreat but an advance into adult relationship . in the next scene and she tearfully burn her gothic romance and throw herself shamefaced and sob onto the bed . significantly and this turning point be also mark by catherine fall into a deep sleep except that this time and there be no dream of make believe passion . presumably and catherine have mature enough to be ready for the real thing . though katherine schlesinger have lovely blue eye and a lively expression and and all her performance be charm and it must be say that outside of the heated dream sequence this movie adaptation be excruciatingly dull . i be give it 9 star only because the truly romantic may enjoy it purely on a daydream level . if you would like to read a book about a genuinely strong will young heroine who overcome real darkness and danger in a real gothic setting and i highly recommend the perilous gard by elizabeth marie pope .