| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - November 30 2005 : 1:06:35 PM
Having cleared my memory cache of all the images of the 1995 BBC/A&E mini-series... or at least tried to... I went to see this last night. In a word: WOW!
Everything about this movie is stunning. The acting, the directing, the screenplay, the clothing, the sets and scenery, the music... all of it. Every single thing about this movie is excellent, in my opinion.
Acting: Kiera Knightley is every bit as enchanting as Jennifer Ehle was as Lizzie. Her portrayal is more light-hearted, making her seem younger and fiestier than Ehle's portrayal. Matthew MacFadyen, while not as fun to look at as Colin Firth, was very believable as Mr. Darcy. The supporting characterizations, such as Mrs. Bennett, Mr. Collins, the silly sisters Lydia and Kitty, were toned down somewhat compared to the BBC adaptation, but were still well-defined enough to give the viewer an excellent idea of their personalities.
Photography, scenery, sets: This movie is great eye-candy. Visually very beautiful. Added treat: the Bennett property is shown more fully as a working farm, with ponds, workers and farm animals. The Bennett's place in the English Class system becomes more clear.
Screenplay: One of my major concerns was how on earth they could possible condense all of the material the 6-hour version covered down into 2 hours and have it make any sense. Well, they accomplished it very well. For example, there were fewer scenes involving Mr. Wickham and Lydia, and their story, while still very important to the plot, was not highlighted as strongly. Frankly, I didn't miss it at all. I read that, although she is not listed in the credits, the actress Emma Thompson had a hand in the screen adaptation. Having seen what she did with Sense & Sensibility, I believe it. Very well done, indeed.
For once, I agree with Roger Ebert. He loved it... and so did I!
Two Thumbs Up!!
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| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Lotte |
Posted - September 26 2006 : 11:26:52 AM
I agree, after having seen Mr. Bennet's sentimental ending at the cinema, when I saw the alternative ending as a special feature on the DVD, it just didn't feel right.
The following websites mention a little bit about the alternative ending:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4436062.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2006/02/02/pride_and_prejudice_2006_dvd_review.shtml
I love 'Jane Eyre' too, I suppose it helps that it was written by a Charlotte; I can't help but cringe at Charlotte Lucas' character in P&P! Although I must admit I found that 'Wuthering Heights' was a far more compelling read the 'Jane Eyre', but only slightly more so.  |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - September 25 2006 : 6:37:46 PM
How very interesting! I did not know that there were two versions of the ending. Here in America, we saw the final scene with Mr. & Mrs. Darcy at his estate and that is what is on my DVD. It didn't detract from the whole movie for me in any way, but I did feel that scene was too 20th (or 21st) century for the story. It was sweet and pleasant to watch, but it really didn't fit. I think I would have liked it to end as you saw it, with Mr. Bennett's final line. That would have been even more perfect!
Ahhhhh.... Jane Eyre! Another of my favorite stories. I love the old movie version with Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine. |
| Lotte |
Posted - September 25 2006 : 4:23:35 PM
Firstly, sorry for dragging up an old post. I went to see this when it came out in the cinema over here last year. I was a big fan of the BBC adaptation so went to the cinema with prejudice against the new version. However, I loved it,  especially the ending, where Mr. Bennet says "If any young men come for Mary or Kitty, for heaven's sake, send them in. I'm quite at my leisure." This was the end of the film.
However, I can remember at the time, the newspapers making a fuss of the soppy ending that was shown in the US in order to attract more attention. On my DVD, it ends with Mr. Bennet saying his bit, and then on the special features it gives you the opportunity to watch the alternative ending. After watching the alternative ending ie. the soppy ending, I came to the conclusion that it was rather too soppy, also a bit out of character and so I liked the ending with Mr. Bennet better.
I was therefore wondering which ending you saw in America and South Africa? Also, if you saw the ending where Lizzie and Mr. Darcy at at Pemberley, what did you think of it?
On another note completely but linked by six degrees to this post through the BBC... the BBC did a really good adaptation of Charles Dickens' 'Bleak House' recently, and at the moment on the BBC, the two part series of 'Jane Eyre' is also a good watch for anyone in the UK.
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| rydergrl |
Posted - July 14 2006 : 11:55:38 AM
I too, went to see the movie in the theater and now own a copy of the movie Pride and Prejudice. Next to LOTM, it is my favorite movie. I also own the b&w VHS with Sir Lawrence Oliver and Greer Garson, the DVD Version of A&E/BBC (Jennifer Elhe & Colin Firth) and I own another BBC version with Marsha Fitzalan and Peter Settlelen. And though I did like the new version with Kira Knightly, the A&E version is still my personal favorite. |
| Lady of Glencairn |
Posted - July 09 2006 : 10:04:03 AM
I bought the DVD too. I went to see it and thought it was wonderful! I was extremely sceptical because I am such a fan of the 1995 BBC version (and watch it on DVD as often as I can!) and since Im not that much of a Keira Knightley fan. Im pleased to say I was more than pleasantly surprised. Very well done! |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - April 18 2006 : 08:33:36 AM
Glad you liked it, Kay! The DVD is out. Bought it. Watched it on Easter Sunday. Still love it!
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| Kaylynn44 |
Posted - April 17 2006 : 9:17:36 PM
WW,
I finally got to see Pride and Prejudice. It was on Pay Per View, so I decided to check it out. I LOVED it!!! I am just mad at myself for not seeing it at a theater!!! It seems like I was so busy at the time and had convinced myself that nobody could do justice as Mr. Darcy except for Colin Firth. Boy, was I wrong!!! Matthew Macfayden was wonderful as the quiet, brooding, but definitely sexy Mr. Darcy. 
Keira Knightly was an enchanting Lizzie. I kept looking at Keira and was trying to figure out where else I had seen her, and then it hit me that she played in "Love Actually." Another movie that I have seen time and time again because it has Colin Firth in it.
Anyway, to anybody that missed Pride and Prejudice in the theaters like I did, if you have satellite, then go check it out on Pay Per View!!! I don't know if the dvd is out or not, but this is a must have for my movie collection, so that I can watch it again and again!!!
Love,
Kay |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - December 19 2005 : 1:24:21 PM
When I first saw that they had cast Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennett, I thought: Huh? Why did they cast a sometimes-quirky American and not a more appropriate British actor? But I have to agree with you, BW. His portrayal was marvelously understated, and you definitely get a good sense of Mr. Bennett's desire to just be able to live the life of a gentleman farmer, breeding his hogs and spending his leasure time reading in his library. Yet his love for his family comes through. His scene near the end, as he expresses his pleasure at his daughter's joy, with tears in his eyes... brings tears to mine.
Oh yeah. I went to see it a second time last Sunday. I enjoyed every minute of it all over again. |
| Bookworm |
Posted - December 18 2005 : 9:17:30 PM
I agree with what WW has to say -- it was a great movie! I haven't seen the miniseries and so can't compare the two versions, but I've heard from friends who have seen both that, as WW indicates, this recent version is stronger on the class differences -- you understand that while the Bennet family may have been "upper class," in that they had an estate to support them, they were on the bottom rung of the upper class, and in a considerable state of anxiety because of it. Of all the actors, my favorite was Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennet -- just a wonderful performance. |
| Kaylynn44 |
Posted - November 30 2005 : 5:01:01 PM
Thanks WW. I have been thinking about going to see this movie, but just haven't had the time lately. I think that I will ask my sisters to with me to see it this weekend.
Love,
Kay |
| Monadnock Guide |
Posted - November 30 2005 : 2:47:44 PM
A pretty good endorsement I'd say, - thanks WW. ;) |
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