Pride and Prejudice

Camy here. Most of you know that I’m a pretty die-hard Jane Austen fan. But I had heard so many negative reviews of the Keira Knightley version of Pride and Prejudice that I put off watching it for a while.

Well, my Tivo has a Wishlist search for Pride and Prejudice and recorded it, so I figured I might as well watch it since it’s taking up memory space on my Tivo and I don’t have to waste a Netflix space on it.

My opinion: It’s not bad. But it’s not as good as the 1995 version with Colin Firth.

However, there are a few things in its favor.

Some of the non-Austen dialogue is really quite funny and witty.

The scene of Mr. Collins dancing with Lizzie is HYSTERICAL! I was hooting and laughing. The actor who played Mr. Collins, Tom Hollander, is phenomenal, but my only complaint is that he made Mr. Collins very sympathetic and likable rather than prosy and ridiculous like he is in the book.

The scene of Bingley pacing before he proposes is cute.

Mr. Darcy coming through the morning mist is very romantic. Matthew Macfadyen is a handsomer and more passionate Darcy than Colin Firth, besides being younger, but I did think he made Mr. Darcy softer and less austere than Colin Firth did. Colin’s portrayal is closer to the book, in my opinion, but Matthew is a teeny bit more pleasant to look at.

Keira Knightley is good, which didn’t surprise me since I think she’s a rather good actress, although she played Lizzie with more fire and not quite as much wit as she is portrayed in the book.

Judi Dench made Lady Catherine more elegant rather than ridiculous as she is in the book. I don’t think Judi Dench could be ridiculous if she tried, she has that magnanimous air that lends elegance to whatever she plays. Still, Lady Catherine lost that humorous edge and was more dramatic instead.

Donald Sutherland was quite good, which surprised me a little, since I couldn’t quite see him playing Mr. Bennet at first, but he pulled it off really well. My only complaint (and this might have been the script) is that in the movie, Mr. Bennet lost the humor and wit he had in the book.

I liked that the actors for various characters were as attractive as they were in the book, like Wickham and Jane Bennet.

There were some inconsistencies with Regency time periods—Lizzie’s hair being down, Caroline Bingley in a sleeveless dress, no gloves on half the people at the ball, men and women. Things like that. They kind of jarred me out of the story a bit. And what was up with Lady Catherine visiting in the middle of the night???

Overall, I liked the actors in this version better, I think, with the exception of Julia Sawalha and Alison Steadman from the 1995 version. But the script for the 1995 version and the direction is still my favorite. Was this entertaining? Yes. Would I buy the DVD for this version? No.

What did you guys think?

Camy Tang lives in San Jose, California. She previously worked in biology research, she is a staff worker for her church youth group, and she runs the Story Sensei critique service. Her humorous romance, Single Sashimi, is out now, and her romantic suspense, Deadly Intent, releases in July. She also gives away Christian fiction on her blog and her newsletter YahooGroup.

Comments

[Grace Bridges]

I actually saw this long before I got to the 1995 version, so it always holds a place in my heart. I didn't just buy the DVD, I bought the soundtrack and music score book too! The earlier version is awesome too; I guess it depends how much time you have available. Did you ever read Pamela Aidan's books? The same story from Darcy's POV. Truly brilliant.

[Ruth]

I enjoy this movie. I definitely think the 1995 version is more faithful to the novel, but this one has a lot going for it as you point out so well. Plus, I owe it a huge debt of gratitude for starting my love affair with Matthew Macfadyen. ;)

[Barb]

Matthew Macfayden cannot even begin to compare with Colin Firth, in my opionion. I have both versions on DVD, but the 1995 version is the best by far. The newer one took too many liberties.

[Sherrinda]

I loved both movies. I watched the director's cut of the newer one and the director said he thought the scene where Darcy comes down the meadow in the mist was a bit cheesy and was going to cut it until the makeup artist next to him sighed and said, "I wish my life was like this." He left it in!

I LOVED the "almost" kiss in the rain when they have their argument! Sigh...maybe not true to the book, but ever so romantic. :)

[Jeannie]

I loved both movies. I really liked how Matthew "grew" on me through the movie. At first I didn't think he was handsome at all...they portrayed him so severe...but by the end of the movie, he was looking more casual...hair askew, no cravat...and he was WAY good-looking. Not sure I agree that he's handsomer than Colin, though. :)

The thing I like about the new version is that you can get the entire gist of the book in 2 hours instead of 5...which is great if you don't have the extra 3 hours to watch the really souped up, truer-to-novel version.

Great post...I love anything having to do with this book. :)

[Julie]

I actually haven't seen the 1995 version. My husband is out of town this weekend. Maybe I should rent it on Saturday night. But I absolutely loved the latest version. The end turns me into mush.

[Robin Johns Grant]

I like the 1995 version much better. I thought Colin Firth was the PERFECT Mr. Darcy. It was amazing to me how much passion he could project while still maintaining Darcy's cold exterior. To me, Macfayden just had the cold exterior. But maybe it's just because I saw the 1995 version first.

[lovedandamazed]

The 1995 version is my favorite movie ever and I went and saw this version in theaters when it came out, trying not to have too many expectations. To my surprise, I enjoyed it enough to buy the DVD when it came out. A repeat viewing only brought out its bad points, though... and I haven't watched it in such a long time that I've been considering putting it on my SwapaDVD listing. Maybe I should give it another viewing before then!

[Camy Tang]

LOL I love it when my P&P friends come out of lurkdom to comment! I love hearing your takes on the two versions.
camy

[Hannah]

I watched both versions, and I liked certain elements of each one better than the other. I agree that Mr. Darcy is more aloof when Colin Firth plays him, but I think he's more prideful and handsome when Matthew Macfayden is on the screen. :) And I thought Kiera Knightly was a good actress, but the script writers made Elizabeth too giggly in this later version. She's more playful and less thoughtful/intelligent sounding.

[Holly]

There are certain things about the new one that are ok, but I adore the Colin Firth version. There's no comparison, really. If you took Keira Knightley out of the new one, it would be terrific. She smirked her way through the film and was just annoying. I think the 1995 version is a more mature version and the new one was going for more trendy.

[Camille Cannon Eide]

"Cami" here, another die-hard Austen fan. I listen to film critics sometimes as I consider whether or not I'll see a film, EXCEPT when it comes to anything Jane. I buy, period. So I agree with many who say that though the Keira version wasn't as true to the book as the A&E Firth version, it was still a lovely flick. Well written and acted. And a nice job telling such a well-known story in 2 hrs.

I have to say the same about the A&E version of Jane Eyre; although there are other more accurate adaptations of the novel, the 2 hr version was well plotted and written for a modern audience's attention span. To be honest, I think it was actually an improvement on the novel as far as pacing and mood. But since there are no Bronte purists lurking here, I should be safe. Hopefully.

Thanks for the discussion, let me know when there's talk of Persuasion. :-)
~Camille