Pride & Prejudice
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Movie Reviews of Pride & Prejudice
Movie Review: Fresh, Exciting
Summary: 5 Stars
The most important thing to say when concerning Pride and Prejudice is that there are many versions of the story, some are better than others. Of course everyone, especially the devout Jane Austen fans will say that they best version of the story is the 1995 version with Colin Firth/Jennifer Ehle. I have to agree with them, it is the gold standard when it comes to Pride and Prejudice.
I was convinced that I was going to hate this version. At first I could not see Matthew Macfayden as Mr. Darcy, it just did not seem right to me. Not to mention the fact that it would be a shorter movie so I felt that it probably would not do the book justice. After the first time I watched it, I thought it was okay. I found the dialogue fast-paced, and I thought they left some major scenes out. I also thought that people who were not familiar with the story might get confused as somethings were not explained very well or misleading.
The second time I watched it, I don't know what happened but it all fell together better and it was like magic. I fell in love with Matthew Macfayden as Mr. Darcy (he almost peaks Colin Firth in my opinion) and the chemistry he has with Keira Knightley is just electric. From their first meeting, the atmosphere is so charged with it the audience can feel it. If you step away from the plot, and look at the movie by itself it just shines, even though they stray from the book how they present the story is just lovely, and maybe more relatible to us today. My heart still flutters at the end of the movie in the early morning when Mr. Darcy comes to speak with Elizabeth again. I find myself sobbing, even though I have watched it countless times.
Even though, the 1995 version is the best made from the screenplay by Andrew Davies to the acting and costume this version starring Matthew Macfayden and Keira Knightley offers a different perspective to the story that is fresh and exciting and is well worth watching.
Movie Review: I am thinking of buying this
Summary: 5 Stars
I am not British, I haven't seen the BBC version and have no idea of the minutiae of aristocratic surroundings in the UK to be too distressed about the Bennett house. I read the book, but not recently, so I cannot offer a detailed comparison of what was altered. Perhaps because of these factors I was surprised about the mixed reviews this film has gotten.
I really liked this film for its emotional intensity, social commentary and beautiful cinematography. Love is unique enough today, when most people's choices are far less circumscribed than in the 19th century. At the time, it was the exception many dreamed about and few experienced, at least in their marriage. Pride and Prejudice is about women's lives, where compromise rules and the rational decision of Charlotte is the order of the day. The necessity of marrying for financial security gives even the most unsuitable men the pick of quite adequate women.
The social hierarchy is clear and oppressive and all of us romantics watching it :) root for love to upset it. The pacing of the film allows us to understand the way Lizzy's and Darcy's feelings develop (by contrast, we are told of Jane's and Bingley's feelings, but do not experience them) and although we may know what comes next, we can still hold our breath. When at the end of the film, for example, Darcy comes to visit early in the morning, we watch him approach, rather than cut to him appearing and then talking to Lizzy. An important conversation is given weight by editing. These are the details that give the film its intensity. The actors are wonderful, a complex mixture of well-bred manners and uncontrollable emotion.
Finally, the images of the countryside are striking in their beauty and rich detail rules even the indoor scenes. I actually regret that I haven't seen this film in the theater and I am seriously considering buying it. As this rarely happens to me, I can strongly recommend this movie :)
Movie Review: If it gets people reading Austen, what's to complain about?
Summary: 5 Stars
Aside from that, this is a lovely adaptation. As to the complaints about cuts and re-working of scenes, the film makers didn't have the luxury of five hours to tell the tale verbatum. I took my two nephews (age 16 & 14) to see this, and they both liked it. The older one is an avid reader who had been told by an older brother that Austen was dry and boring, so he expected to hate the movie going in and didn't. Now he's reading Austen and enjoying it. So where is the harm in knowing this is an adaptation and won't be completely faithful to the book? If you want a completely faithful version of the book, read the book.
As to the particulars about my choice of rating: Keira Knightly is lovely as Elizabeth without outshining Rosamund Pike in beauty as Jane. Matthew Macfadyen does an outstanding job of showing us what Mr. Darcy is feeling and thinking. There's no other way to portray it in a movie; in the book, Austen puts us into his head so he doesn't have to show it. Donald Sutherland and Brenda Blethyn shine as Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, presenting them as warm, real human beings rather than charactures. And Tom Hollander gives an amazing and completely different read on Mr. Collins. Usually played as a complete buffoon, here he is an ackward misanthrope who seems aware of the fact that there's something not quite right with how he comes across. It would have been nice if Judi Dench's scenes as Lady Catherine hadn't been cut so much, but there's that time restraint coming into play. Plus, you can't have everything.
As to this DVD: Nice rendering. Good picture. Lovely sound. I only wish that the extras were a little more beefed up. I was sad to find no deleted scenes. However, the behind-the-scenes and interviews with the cast and crew are extensive and well done.
Also recommended DVDs: BBC version, North & South (Elizabeth Gaskell), Wives & Daughters (also Gaskell), Sense and Sensibility (Emma Thompson version)
Movie Review: Wow, another hot Darcy!
Summary: 5 Stars
I just watched this for the millionth time, and I loved it all over again. The cinematography is fantastic, and the music is so lovely and perfectly suits the story. The story was wonderfully depicted, so real and earthy. I love that the characters' environments are so well lived-in. And I love the contrast between the poorer and the richer settings.
Keira Knightley is such a wonderful Elizabeth Bennett. She is natural and witty and somewhat angelic, but she's still a little rough around the egdes. I like how charming she seems even with her tiny bit of silliness. She's confident but still maintains an innocent quality.
OK - Matthew Macfadyen is the hottest Darcy to walk the planet. At first, I wasn't sure about him because he looked so much like a sourpuss when he made his entrance to the film, but, as his character transforms, he becomes more handsome and eventually just completely sexy. All the nuances we see of Darcy's; the stolen glances, the way he can't stand still around Elizabeth, the tension in his hands - they were all captured perfectly on camera and really brought Darcy's longing (and sexiness) into focus for the audience.
I have to add, that there were moments when I wanted to jump through the screen and bite Darcy's bottom lip. For example, the rainy day proposal was so intense...if I were Elizabeth, I'd be tempted to just say screw pride, I'm yours! And she almost looks like she will. But seriously...Matthew Macfadyen is one hot Darcy. The scene where he walks through the dew-covered field at dawn in his flowing coat and his boots and high-waisted pants, YUM! Wow, and my favorite line, "You have bewitched me, body and soul." Who wouldn't say yes to that proposal?!
I like the BBC version...Colin Firth is such an awesome, sexy Darcy, too, and now we have this modern, more sexed up P&P. Wow, two great P&P versions, Austen fans should rejoice about that.
Movie Review: I'm Glad I Watched It
Summary: 5 Stars
I must admit, when I first saw it, I was critcizing everything. I didn't like the actor they chose for Mr. Darcy, I didn't like Keira as Elizabeth. There were also some aspects of the play that irked me- technical things; things the character wouldn't do. Of course, I realize that it has been a few years since I thorougly read Pride and Prejudice but as the movie continued on I began to enjoy it.
I found the actor who played Mr. Darcy very attractive. I loved the costumes, the music, I thought the acting was good and lo and behold, I loved the movie. I cannot stop watching it. I enjoy trying to catch the little mannerisms of the characters and the looks between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. The more I watch it the more I realized that I was wrong about Keira- she was really good in this.
I can understand why many people may not like it. There are some movie adaptations based on some of my favorite books that I hated. Am I a purist? No! but sometimes you just want the movie to catch the magic of the book and I'm starting to realize that it can't happen. That's why you can always go back and read the book. It's more fulfilling when you can envision the characters yourself.
This movie is not for everyone, Austen fans or not. I never seen the Colin Firth version but now I want to. I forgot how much I loved Jane Austen and I thank this movie for reminding me. I'm rereading the story now. All I have to say is, just rent it first or watch it on HBO since they're showing it now. It doesn't hurt to try it and then make the decision. I enjoyed it, i thought it was good. I have not seen all of the versions so I can't answer which one is better.
Of course there were some differences between this and the book. But I think it's good enough to recommend to others. I had my misgivings at first but I took the chance and watched it and now I love it. Take a chance, it's not bad.