Pride and Prejudice (2005)

Don't waste your money - buy the A&E Version!

This version of Pride and Prejudice is pretty bad. It is more like a poorly produced junior high play than a movie. Not even Judi Dench and Donald Sutherland can rescue this one. The main actors are so flat. They seem to want to rush through the movie to get it overwith and do not have any stage presence at all. Only the camera angle and choreography of the scenes keeps your attention. The acting of the main characters just isn't up to snuff - at all. Buy the A&E Version with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle from Amazon. It is an exquisite version that is exceptionally well done. The "Americanized" air of this modern version leaves you wanting to watch the A&E version, even if it is much longer. August 8, 2008

The best!!!

I am willing to admit it, I am a shallow woman because Darcy and only Darcy made this movie so magic for me! His vulnerability, his shyness and reserve I found extremely attractive. This is the best version and adaptation of my favorite book. Chemistry between the actors is just unbelievable! August 7, 2008

Pride goeth before critic's falls

Those reviewers who criticize the imperfect portrayal of the characters, fancying themselves to be pro Jane Austen, need to go back and read the book again to get it right. They missed a lot of things which the movie picks up beautifully. yes, there isn't time for complete character development in a 2 hour movie. yes, some scenes are combined, which wonderfully serves the purpose of retaining the emotion and atmosphere one gets from reading the book. keeping the scenes strictly by the book, and then cutting it down to 2 hours, would give a watered down version of the overall tone. these people who call themselves fans of Jane Austen seem more to be the narrow minded prejudiced snobs that she abhors. The costumes are different styles, because certain people would be able to have the lastest fashions, and others not. There is a lot of reality in this film that many peple are overlooking, and much of the original dialogue is incorporated. And who cares that Georgiana is a little extroverted? The BBC version, BTW, didn't stick strictly with the book - they added things that weren't in the book, like the "most beloved" lake scene. (What would Jane think about that?) I think Jane would appreciate all these versions as compliments to the book's timeless popularity and introducing it to new generations. It's interesting that some parts of the film, while not necessarily in the Austen book, are very similar to scenes from P. Aidan's trilogy about the whole story from Darcy's viewpoint. Interesting read to go along with a great movie! August 4, 2008

Loved It

This was my first introduction to this story, never having read the book or scene other productions. I absolutely loved it. I was heart-broken with Elizabeth when she realized she had lost a man she truly was able to love, and relieved and overjoyed with her when it turned out that his love endured even after her initial rejection. I totally believed that they had fallen in love with each other and would be happily married after the film's end. And I wanted that happiness for them both so very badly. That to me is as much success as a romance story can ever hope to achieve, so 5 stars. August 4, 2008

A GREAT REMAKE

I think that I've seen just about every version made of this Jane Austen classic. This is such a great and endearing story that it is hard to mess it up (although the Bollywood bad-acid-trip "Bride and Prejudice" came very close!) But director, Joe Wright, showed that he was up to the task, doing a great job of retelling the foibles of the Bennet sisters. Keira Knightley's Elizabeth is strong and reminscent of a contemporary feminist while remaining true to the mores of the period. Matthew Macfadyen isn't the best Mr. Darcy, but it's hard to come behind the magnificent Colin Firth who played the role in 1995 as if he lived across the road from Jane Austin. Brenda Blethyn (Mrs. Bennet) shines as a mother on a well-planned mission to marry off FIVE daughters. Rosamund Pike (Jane) is the classic English rose while Talulah Riley's portrayal of Mary is not the usual ugly wallflower. Newcomers Jena Malone and Carey Mulligan (Lydia and Kitty) make the best clueless Victorian "hoochies" ever! But the real treat here is Donald Sutherland as the estrogen drowned Mr. Bennet. He has masterfully executed an unexpected role for him, exhibiting a refreshing tongue-in-cheek patience. Dame Judi Dench, always in top form, makes the best Lady Catherine De Bourgh to date. Unlike the previous adaptations, here the viewer is not bounced back and forth between London and the countryside locations and the costumes aren't overly fussy, giving the overall production an understated lushness. I would love to see what Joe Wright could do with "Sense and Sensibility" and "Emma".
August 3, 2008

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