Pride and Prejudice

[Door]

I really tried to give this movie a chance, but I just couldn't get into it. I'm a fan of the book and the '95 miniseries. Usually I have no problem with Kiera Knightley, but MAN there was a lot of "tooth acting" and pouting going on. Jena Malone annoyed me, and Kitty's stage directions must have said nothing but "giggle uncontrollably here."

Like I said back in August, I still think they were channeling Bronte over Austen. Just make a Bronte movie then, know what I mean?

For the sake of fairness, KK did a great job when she wasn't pouting or teething. Generally I was very happy with the casting choices. The other people in the theater seemed to love the movie. So.

I didn't think I would be such a purist about this but I guess I am. ;o)

[bastinado]

door said:

I didn't think I would be such a purist about this but I guess I am. ;o)

That's the way I felt when I left the theatre. I was all set to like this version but it fell so short. Then I thought about it and I decided it wasnt me; it was the screenwriter and director's fault. I am perfectly fine with the 1940 P&P with its many liberties. Some of the added scenes that the 1940 version added like the archery scene at Northfield was in perfect keeping with the spirit and wit of Austen.

I felt that the director of the current film had a good, but certainly not perfect, understanding of the book and it showed in his ponderance of panning shots and leaving out crucual lines mentioned before like the "fine eyes" bit.

[indygirl]

bastinado said:

his pubic looking hair always detracted away from his looks for me.

Ew! And heh. I hope I can still watch CF as Darcy and not have this thought flitting through my mind.

I'm gradually becoming more inclined to see this one in the theater. KK and MM are growing on me.

[heavenwithagun]

Saw it tonight and loved it. Everyone did a great job. MacFadyen actually looks a little like Firth. He played it totally different and I liked his take a lot. They did an awesome job of photographing him, starting off letting him look like a shy dolt, not very attractive. He morphed ever so slightly throughout the production, looking more and more appealing with each appearance. By the time they hit the midnight walk scene, he was a positive dreamboat. (ETA--This was my first thought but perhaps I should be giving the credit to MacFadyen's acting. He made the transformation from scene to scene.)

I've heard a lot of complaining about too much giggling. I disagree. Also, Knightly's Lizzie was younger, more humble but just as in-your-face as Ehle's Lizzie (who I did not really care for).

They took the gloss off the mini-series version and that made it so much better. A special thanks to Brenda Blethyn (sp?) for not making the mother so irritating that it ruined every scene she was in (as the mother in the mini-series did).

Mr. Bingley was so good spirited and meek personality wise that it distracted from the actor's absolutely gorgeous good looks. I just loved him.

I want to live in the Collins cottage. I'd even marry Collins to do so.

ETA--I thought the screenplay was very strong and it didn't feel rushed in spite of the time constraints. Also, the Lady Catherine in the mini-series was my favorite. Dench even takes third place behind Edna May Oliver from the 1940 version. She was competent as usual (Dench) but maybe too good looking. I like the character faces of the other two.

[Deleted]

I've heard a lot of complaining about too much giggling. I disagree. Also, Knightly's Lizzie was younger, more humble but just as in-your-face as Ehle's Lizzie (who I did not really care for).

I didn't mind the giggling and loved the movie. I think one of the reasons I found it to be so enjoyable was because it just didn't invite comparisons with the mini-series. I mean, everything about it was so completely different that comparing would just be... tiresome (I guess). I love the mini-series and I love the movie. Neither are perfect but both were so satisfying and well done judged on their own terms.

That said, I prefer Ehle's Elizabeth. I am a huge fan of Jennifer Ehle (not only because of her work in P&P) so I could just be inherently biased, but I felt that her Lizzie exuded this intelligence and innate confidence that allowed her to deliver some mightily bitchy lines without ever sounding like she was being a total b!tch or out of order in any way. Keira, I felt, sometimes went a tad overboard - especially in her first scene with Lady Catherine (the subsequent one was pretty bloody awesome, though) and her early scenes with Darcy - and came across, at times, like a shrew with bad manners.

I don't mean to come down harshly on KK's performance because I thought both she Matthew MacFadyen (and the director) did something really wonderful. They took beloved characters (two of the most beloved characters of all time) and made them fresh and new. Instead of constantly inviting comparisons to Ehle and Firth, or, for me, the versions of Lizzie and Darcy that exist in my own head, KK and MM made the characters their own. No easy feat (especially with a rather weak screenplay - considering the source material, imo) and they deserve all the praise they get.

[Deleted]

I saw the movie with my 1940 version loving mom. While I didn't have a problem with the film my mother thought it was too dark.

Then we had the misfortune of watching the Colin Firth/Jennifer Ehle BBC miniseries which I begged my mother to watch for a long time and we both agreed that this was the creme de la creme of all the versions. I liked the KK film but I was entranced by the miniseries despite the casting of Julia Sawalha as Lydia. She's a bit long in the tooth for that role.

[Karrit]

I liked it. If I had never read P&P, I would have probably loved this movie. However, I adore the book, and I am so familiar with it, that I can't help but compare the two.

Strengths: I thought the casting ranged from good to inspired. Mr. Collins was great, and I have always pictured either Judy Densch or Maggie Smith as Lady Catherine, so that worked very well for me. As mentioned up thread, Brenda Blethyn did a great job with Mrs. Bennett...without making her so irritating that you would think it impossible for Lizzie and Jane to be her daughters. The look and the feel of this version is fabulous. I thought it was gorgeous, even though I was a little worried about reports of the Bennetts being "poor". Lizzie and Darcy were fine, and certainly KK is the right age for Lizzie.

Weaknesses: Everything that I was not happy about in this movie all points back to one main reason. Time. Two hours is just not enough time to tell this story really well. I think the whole movie seemed so rushed. Another half hour would have helped tremendously flesh out the story. Wickham's role should have been expanded more...he is an integral part of the story.

The one casting choice I was not happy with was Bingley. Yuck. I thought he seemed like too much of a goofball to be a good match for Jane (who I thought was inspired casting) or even a good friend of Darcy's.

All in all...I say go see it in the cinema. It really is a beautifully made film. And anything that gives me an excuse to discuss Jane Austen is fine with me!

[heavenwithagun]

Just had to post this pic which I've just placed upon my desktop.

[indygirl]

admin said:

I'd definitely say it's worth seeing in the theatre...it's a very beautiful movie and I'm guessing is much more spectacular on the big screen than it is on a t.v. screen.

You are absolutely correct. I saw it on Monday, and was just enthralled! It was gorgeous! And I really enjoyed all of the performances, especially those of KK and MM. The actress playing Jane was truly lovely.

I also liked that this group seemed more of a family. Mrs. Bennett wasn't so over the top, and Mr. Bennett actually seemed to like his family. I really loved that brief moment when the audience sees Mr. Bennett comforting a crying Mary after he had told her to stop playing the piano. A small but touching moment.

The only performance that I found grating was that of Jenna Malone. But I'm not sure my annoyance is a reaction to the actress or the role.

Overall--loved it!

[jynni]

I saw this yesterday and LOVED it. Loved it and want to have it's pretty little babies.

I've never read the book (now I want to) or seen any version of it. The only thing I knew about the story was something about Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy and that they eventually got together.

Mr Bingley was just adorable. You could tell he was just smitten - the proposal scene was so well done.

The actor playing Mr Collins did a great job of playing him with SMS (Short Man Syndrome) - you could tell that before you even saw how tall he was. The church scene was great.

They did an awesome job of photographing him, starting off letting him look like a shy dolt, not very attractive. He morphed ever so slightly throughout the production, looking more and more appealing with each appearance. By the time they hit the midnight walk scene, he was a positive dreamboat.

I completely agree with the above regarding Mr. Darcy. Not sure if was the acting, direction or whatever but by the end of the movie he was damn fine. Dark, brooding sexiness.

Keria did a great job too - the scene with her and Darcy in the rain was very good as was the scene where she finds out that Lydia has run off with Wickham - she's a good little actress.

Now can someone explain something to me - maybe it's clearer in the book but one thing I wasn't quite sure on. Did Wickham run off with Lydia because he knew that Darcy was in love with Elizabeth and would pay the $$$ to bail the Bennetts out? Also what was the big deal about Lydia running off with Wickham - I missed some dialouge somewhere.