PRIDE AND PREJUDICE -- a total delight

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 9:29pm

Just a quick heads up for anyone looking for a good flick to see this weekend, the new adaptation of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is the didn't-see-it-coming unexpected surprise delight of the year. Keira Knightly is delicious. Reviews have been incredibly strong and this could be a true dark horse Oscar contender.

[Atrias]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 9:33pm

*hisses and clings to her P&P miniseries DVD set*

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 9:34pm

The LA Times loved this movie.



'Pride & Prejudice' Updated On: 11/11/05 at 09:34 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 9:37pm

I have never read PRIDE AND PREJUDICE or seen it in any other incarnation (I've heard the BBC miniseries is wonderful), so I can't attest to how faithful or not this current film version is. But I know a great film when I see it, and this film is enchanting.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 9:43pm

ARRGH, PEOPLE...READ THE BOOKS! The movies are fine, but they are NOTHING like the real thing......arrgh this drives me nuts!


how many movie versions will they do of this?????

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 9:44pm

If Keira Knightley took some acting lessons and ate about 300 cheeseburgers, she'd be perfect.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 9:45pm

I don't want to read the books. I want to have a satisfying film experience. And this gave it to me. BUT, you will be happy to know there were many young girls in the audience at my screening and I'm sure many of THEM will pick up the books. Don't worry, Jane Austen lives on.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 9:47pm

ACK, it's like Cliff Notes, or a condensed version......but whatever floats your boat

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 9:53pm

At least the miniseries tried to keep as much of the book in as possible. I was so upset when I heard they were making a major movie of it, because I knew they'd carve it down into a skeleton of its former self. I love this book, it was one of my favorites that I read in high school.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 9:56pm

Do you PROMISE this is absolutely entertaining??

Because, the trailer and the fact that this is the umpteenth Austen/similar period film makes me want to run screaming from this.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 10:01pm

jrby, I can relate......If they make ONE more adaptation of Little Women, I will kill myself!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 10:01pm

I thought the trailers looked awful. I had no interest at all in seeing the film until I began hearing buzz through the Hollywood pipeline about a week ago. And the buzz was right. Here's the review chart from Rottentomatoes.com if you need further convincing

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pride_and_prejudice/

Definitely check out Stephen Holden's review in the NY Times.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 10:03pm

I hear ya--It has gotten great reviews and Oscar buzz for Keira.

I just don't know! lol

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 10:56pm

no way.

::also clings to her bbc miniseries box set::

[Glebb]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 10:57pm

Love the old M-G-M version but it is totally a book I would love to take to Cabo for a two week vacation.
I'll have to see this new film version.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 10:58pm

*has had BBC miniseries on her Christmas list for 4 years but still hasn't gotten it yet!*

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 11/11/05 at 11:47pm

I don't think you could possibly top the BBC series, as it was almost word-for-word like the book. But I might see this new version when it comes out on DVD. As it is, I already have seven movies lined up for the holiday season.

Elphaba, what's wrong with adapting a classic? Surely this will encourage others to pick up the novel, if they enjoy the movie.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 12:43am

I am really, really looking forward to this film.


But then again I started that Cedric Diggory thread last night, so God knows my tastes must be weird.

[angelic1]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 12:54am

Having loved the book and the BBC version, I couldn't wait to see this. And I was not disappointed. I loved this movie (the whole cast, especially Keira and Matthew, were perfect). You could cut the sexual tension with a knife. I need to find a Mr. Darcy for myself.

I laughed and cried and loved it. Then again, I'm known for having bad taste. It's such a chick-flick. Sigh...

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 2:53am

Enough about the damned BBC version. Whatever. This is something completely different.

And Bennett is right - I saw this tonight. It's absolutely fantastic.

The direction is gorgeous and masterful. The entire cast is senstational - and Keira Knightley delivers the surprise performance of the year. She's literally almost brilliant. I was dreading this movie because it seems to run of the mill - but it is not to be missed - it's TRULY, truly wonderful.

The screenplay is excellent, and keeps you thoroughly engaged in the story, yet laughing the entire time. The laughs are many and hefty, but the more serious parts of the films work brilliantly. I can't recommend it enough!!!

[wickedwitchofthechest]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 3:17am

*Hugs P&P miniseries DVD set in one arm and VHS set in another, whispering words of comfort to Colin Firth's picture*:
"It's okay, Mr. Darcy. I still love you, and your hair never really looked like that."

Pride and Prejudice, the novel, was one of my first obsessions, and I've always been enchanted by the BBC miniseries, so I'm highly skeptical of this adaptation, if only because I can literally quote entire sections of the novel and have written several papers of substantial length involving it. I know, I know, adaptation is the key word here, and I should take it for what it is, but from what I've seen of the previews, etc., especially Matthew MacFaFadyen's Darcy, I just don't know if I'll be able to enjoy it. I know, I've allowed myself to be blinded by prejudice, but I can't help it. I'm planning on seeing it anyway and I'm hoping for the best, but as I don't really care for Keira Knightley, my expectations are pretty low.

I am looking forward to Tom Hollander's Mr. Collins, though. I love that little guy!

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 3:33am

*hisses and clings to her P&P miniseries DVD set*

Hehehe... yeah, I know the feeling.

Still, I do love Jane Austen, so I'm planning on seeing this when I get the chance. Keira is not in a million years who I picture as Elizabeth Bennet, but maybe she'll surprise me. And I still firmly believe that NO ONE can top Colin Firth as Darcy, but I'm not opposed to seeing someone else try.

It would actually kind of be nice if it IS good... I love the miniseries to pieces, but I don't regularly have an entire six hours to devote to Pride and Prejudice (although I do watch it way too frequently).

[wickedwitchofthechest]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 3:44am

Does anyone know if the anachronisms in the LA Times are just the reviewer getting things wrong or actual deviations from the novel? (i.e. The Bennets being "minor members of the aristocracy," Lizzie running around the moors of Hertfordshire, the story being treated as an espousal of Romanticism, which I've always read Austen's satire as being against, etc.)

Just curious.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 3:54am

ok, munk, I'm going to trust you on this--you better be right!!

[pattifan2]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 5:56am

I hated the trailer for this movie - I just thought it was trying to be 'Wuthering Heights'. Also, I was a keen devotee of the Ehle/Firth BBC adaptation so things were not looking good for this movie. However, I really loved it. I liked both Knightley and Macfadyen very much; I thought they were both looked the right age, too. There were some really lovely moments in this movie; the scene where Lizzie and Jane talk under the bedclothes and that beautiful moment when Bingley touches the fabric of Jane's dress as she walks past (sigh). Tom Hollander is always fantastic and he surpassed himself here - stole every scene he was in. Brenda Blethyn surprised me here, too. She often annoys the hell out of me (see 'Little Voice') but I thought she nailed Mrs. Bennet perfectly and was obviously well directed. Dame Judi never wasted a moment - her confrontation scene with Lizzie is perhaps the best I've ever seen that played (not sure about having her turn up at the Bennet's in the middle of the night, but it did bring drama and urgency at the right moment of the story). I also thought Macfadyen captured a sensitivity that previous Darcy's haven't done before. Loved his final scene 'You have bewitched me body and soul' (another sigh). The film does total justice to Chatsworth House - the most stunning of all English country houses - as Pemberley. I always pictured Chatsworth when Austen described Pemberley in the novel - the vista is exactly the same as Austen's description when Lizzie first sees it. I didn't care for the actress playing Lydia - looked totally wrong. And Wickham would not have looked out of place in 'Lord Of The Rings'. That aside, a lovely film and Donald Sutherland's last scene with Lizzie was perfect