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Rating:  - Old English mate-shopping among the rich and famous
What can I say that has not already been said better by others. This rendition is faithful to the book and holds one's interest throughout. I enjoyed Ms. Knightly's version when I saw it but this one is superior.
I've noticed a tendency lately to superimpose modern mores on these old stories--for instance kissing in public, where a couple appears to be fighting for sole possession of the same wad of gum. This is probably done to try to improve interest--and therefore marketability--to a young adult audience. But it would have been unheard of to display that much passion in public in that society and during that period.
Rating: - Umm, absolutely love this
I think I have watched this 5 times in 3 months (30 hours of movie watching!) Love Jane Austen and I think this movie does a superb job of telling P&P. I read the novel in between one of my viewings and only a few things were much different, but nothing that made me want to slap the screen writers for omitting great sections or adding silly stuff. I do also have the Kiera Knightly version which I love too. (Think I have watched it 3 times during the same 3 months) Both have Pros and Cons.
Colin Firth Version
Pros:
1)Very faithful to the book with few liberties, if you love Austen and like movies to follow books this is a great one for that.
2)Very detailed, 6 hours to tell the story for all it's worth is just about right - but don't fool yourself into thinking you will just watch a section at a time, you'll watch it straight through, trust me!
3)Love the detail of character especially in Darcy (Colin Firth). He acts this part very well.
4)Extraordinary actors for some of the secondary parts - I think the minor character actors in this version are very superior to the Knightly version secondary actors. The subplots that affect the main plot actually make you feel like they are necessary whereas the other version goes over their parts so slightly that you almost feel like they are unnecessary.
Cons:
1)Length, not something you can just throw in to your movie watching schedule, you will watch it straight through and lose 6 hours of your day, but an enjoyable 6 hours.
2)As my grandma (who is blind) said after starting it, all they do is talk and dance (now why that mattered to her since she can't see things anyway is beyond me). The other version does give it more of an "action" movie like feel, but that is not an Austen story - the witty dialog is the great feature of her novels.
3)I don't know why it bothers me, but the actress who plays Jane Bennett in this one pales in comparison to the Knightly version's in both looks and acting I think. She is supposed to be the handsomest girl but I think the Lizzy character actress is actually better looking which kind of goes against the story, and her acting isn't that bad, but watching the other one shows how much better it could have been done.
4)I also don't like the Caroline Bingley actress, but I can't really tell you why, I just don't think she "fit." I liked the Knightly version Caroline better.
5) The mother's voice grates on you (which is appropriate for the character) but 6 hours of it has affected a few of my family members that have watched it with me.
6)The ending left me a little unfulfilled - the Knightly version or the book does a better job than this. This is sad because I think the rest of the movie is almost perfect. This is actually the only thing that I think could have really been done better.
Kiera Knightly version
Pros:
1)Absolutely love the music - had to buy the soundtrack - it does so well to set the mood, every time I hear it, the emotions that coincide with the screenplay return.
2)The character of Jane Bennet is prettier than the other version (I didn't find her pretty enough for Jane in the Firth version) which is necessary to the character
3)Kiera perhaps is too lovely for Lizzy Bennett, but she is gorgeous and for some reason we humans are wired to like that so I don't think it hurts the film.
4)Easy to sit and watch to get an Austen or P&P fix
5)*SPOILER* The scene where Darcy first asks to marry her is in a totally wrong setting according to the book, but running after her in the rain is sooo romantic - I really like the screen writer liberty on that one.
6)The principal actors (Lizzy and Darcy) are very good.
7)I personally like the ending of this one better.
Cons:
1)Too short - Left out a lot of good stuff, but that's what you get in a regular length film of a Austen novel.
2)Some of the scene changing or character dialogue changed from the novel, I think, unnecessarily; however it wasn't horrid.
3)Left out several minor characters and incidences or shortened their role in it which makes sense in a shortened film, but their "flavor" is very much missed.
Pro or Con??
When I first watched it the initial attraction of Darcy was so understated that I was actually "surprised" when he declared his love, but rewatching it, I caught the subtleties, so it is better on the second view, but totally appropriate in the context of Lizzy being surprised as well; however in the novel, the author gives you some pretty good hints. Not sure whether this is "bad" or "good."
Most likely the Colin Firth version will be the one I watch most (and currently is), but if I need a quick fix in a short amount of time, the Knightly version will do, and I love listening to the score as the movie plays - background music is normally not something I am normally tuned into or care about, but this one was done so superbly it makes me love it; however after several viewings it doesn't hold my attention as well as the Firth version does since it is not as detailed and not as faithful. So I suggest: Get Both!!
Rating: - Favorite Movie of All Time!
No movie does Jane Austen's most famous novel as much justice as this miniseries done by the BBC. I try to watch every version of "Pride and Prejudice" that's released and this is by far the best I have seen! The movie is about 4 hours long (2-discs) and takes great effort to be as true to Austen's novel and spirit as possible.
If you can only own one version of "Pride and Prejudice", make this version it - once you have watched this movie, nothing comes close. While the more modern version with Kiera Knightly is good, it cannot begin to comapare to this move. I just love, Love, LOVE this movie!
Rating: - Pride & Prejudice
I am a big fan of Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice is by far my favorite of her books. Colin Firth makes every woman wish she had a
Mr. D'Arcy in her life. All of the other actors were also outstanding in their portrayals.
Rating: - Always something new
If you enjoy classic English literature, this is the way to go. After the first time you watch the series, take your time to watch it again, and notice amazing details here and there, thanks to Austen's genius. The same happens with Shakespeare in Love, where tiny details of the author pop up as the spectator is not distracted by the main theme. Enjoy! P&P is still an amazing production 12 years after it's opening!
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