Ok - luv'd it!!!
I saw the latest adaptation of Jane Austin's "Pride and Prejudice" tonight. I was leery of it being mediocre. I was also not sure if Keira Knightly could do the job. Don't get me wrong, I find her to be quite a versatile, strong young actress. It's just that I have this Jane Austen leading lady, all time, "Hall of Fame" which includes none other than Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson and Gweneth Paltrow. I've also become a bit weary of Keira since she's been in lots of stuff lately and Pirates of the Caribbean (which I've seen at least fifty time due to the fact that its a favorite of an 8yr old friend with whom I spend a great deal of time). I was pleasantly surprised.Rather quickly I no longer saw Keira Knightly, but saw the sprite Elizabeth Bennett. In fact it takes no time at all to become enchanted with the whole family. The whole cast is great and rather eclectic. When I saw Donald Sutherland as Mr Bennett I initially thought "what is he doing in a Jane Austin film?" He was perfect likewise was Brenda Blethyn as Mrs. Bennett, so too was Judy Dench and where did Matthew McFadyen, who plays Mr. Darcy, come from. He was great.
The director, Joe Wright, makes this very abridged version light hearted drawing out Jane Austin's insightful humor and impeccable dialog. He also does some clever staging and lovely cinematography which lends to excellent story telling. For me this version is by far the most charming and I found the banter between the characters to be most believable. It was believable because the lively portrayal her family gives Elizabeth's manner context. She comes off as a bright, witty and prideful member of the Bennett Family verses a contrary young women who thinks too much. One version I saw was actually quite dreary practically gagging the viewer with the angst of the plight of nineteenth century women born with no fortune.
All said, I'll probably see this movie again. It's likely to go on my "Movie seen multiple times in theater" list (buying the DVD doesn't count). This list includes: "Sense and Sensibility - five times (I loved that so much I went back the next day), "Emma" - three times, "Strictly Ballroom" - four times, "Much Ado About Nothing" four at least, "Ground Hogday" - lots, "Matrix" - too many to count, and there are few others I can't remember.
Enjoy.
posted by kt @ 12/01/2005 10:58:00 PM
7 Comments:
i liked it too. i think they did very well keeping the spirit of the story alive in a two-hour film adeptation. the did some clever things to condense it.
i still prefer the bbc/a&e version, because it sticks completely to the book, which is one of my favorite stories ever.
oh...and i still don't like keira knightly. she's got a whiney face and only three facial expressions.
yes, having seen the BBC/A&E version I wondered how this tale could be told any better. that added to my skepticism. yet, this version does keep more to the spirit of Austin's story, for example when Mr. Darcy says to Elizabeth "you have bewitched me body & soul." i heard one commentator say that line wasn't in the book, but that's what everybody wished he would say. it slips so naturally off that Matthew's lips - i'm not seeing that so easily said by Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy.
Because i think a story should be told on film just as it was written (or as closely as possible) i have to clarify that id didn't mean that the new version holds more true to the spirit of austen's book than the bbc version. yes they did well with keeping the spirit of the story, but that is not in comparison to the older version, and is only in reference to the fact that they didn't butcher the plot for the sake of making a 'good movie'.
the new version had the feel of 'this is what we would do if we lived back then', and some changes were made to the portrail of social interaction that would've been completely unexceptable in early 19th century england. mr darcy didn't say that because it would've been completely inapropriate. i think colin firth captured fitzwilliam darcy's torment better than matthew mcfadyen, though mcfadyen did an admiral job with the script he was given.
that being said, i still liked it quite alot and would definately see it again.
ah...the first movie in theatres I have actually wanted to see since Lord of the Rings (not that I don't go to movies regularly, it is just that they are all the movies my children wish to see...)
I am still waiting to go....glad to hear it is good.
did you know it was out in Europe when we were there? I noticed the sign at a theatre in Amsterdam...
not really - i'm not sure that's in the book either. i'd have to check.
neither ending was in the book. the book ends with elizabeth and darcy hapily settling into married life and little miss darcy trying to get used to the way elizabeth pokes fun at darcy.
i don't think the american ending was so great, but it's the only kiss they share in the entire movie. you didn't miss much.
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