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Amazon.co.uk Review
Rightly winning wide acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic, this latest take on Jane Austen’s classic Pride & Prejudice is a real, all-round triumph. The age-old story still holds real resonance, and it follows the tale of five sisters dealing with love, and the many trials and tribulations that brings.
There are so many delights to director Joe Wright’s take on the story, and his direction is a strong place to start. In spite of having to condense the tale to fit a movie running time, he nonetheless injects a real energy and intelligence to his retelling, and he’s served supremely well by his cast. Backed up by strong support by the likes of Brenda Blethyn and Donald Sutherland, it’s Keira Knightley in the lead turn who’s a real surprise here. Her performance is a real joy, and very much at the core of the film’s success.
The film inevitably draws comparison with the superb 1995 BBC adaptation, and while arguably it doesn’t quite scale the same peaks, it’s to the credit of the filmmakers that their version still holds strong. For this is a tremendously enjoyable drama, and one that should continue to find an audience for a long time to come. An excellent film.--Simon Brew
Synopsis
This version of Jane Austen's fiercely beloved novel has the daunting task of living up not only to the classic book, but also to the excellent 1995 miniseries of the same name. Yet 2005's Pride and Prejudice is up to the task, thanks to lively pacing, a witty script, an excellent cast, and clever direction from British newcomer Joe Wright. The surprisingly still-relevant story follows the five Bennet sisters as they deal with suitors and love, as their mother desperately schemes to marry them off advantageously. Sweet-tempered beauty Jane (Rosamund Pike) develops feelings for the equally amiable and extremely wealthy Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods), but forces conspire to keep them apart while Lizzie (Keira Knightley) finds herself first appalled by, but gradually drawn to, Bingley's aloof, intelligent, and socially awkward friend, Mr. Darcy (Matthew MacFayden). The movie, at just over two hours, is forced to cut and condense a number of the book's subplots, and at times it tries to heighten the drama of certain scenes. But, for the most part, it's as faithful to the spirit of the original as time and cinematic convention allow. The tremendous supporting cast includes Brenda Blethyn as Mrs. Bennet and Donald Sutherland as her wry, withdrawn husband; Jena Malone as teenage twit Lydia; Judi Dench, effortlessly haughty and imperious, as Lady Catherine de Bourg; and Tom Hollander, who steals every scene he's in as the ludicrously pompous and awkward Mr. Collins. The movie's script, adapted by Deborah Moggach, manages to be proto-feminist without becoming anachronistic and, like the novel, it is incisive about the class politics and gender inequalities of the day.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
65 of 79 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Oh dear.,
By Christopher Wilson "watto3535" (Vancouver, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Pride & Prejudice - 2005 [DVD] (DVD)
Since most of my criticisms have been written by others I'll try not to repeat them. I also watched the BBC/Firth production some years ago and found it enthralling. It had most of the book's stories and sub plots and the main characters were faithful to the book. But when I watched this edition I had to check that it was actually Pride and Prejudice and not some filmed story from Mills and Boone. For a start, the Bennetts were a reasonably well-off middle class family. They did not live on a farm. Elizabeth was not a giggly, skinny little girl; she was a robust, shy and highly intelligent young woman. Knightly seemed to be permenantly in a state of undress; in the 18th century no girl or woman would be seen out without a bonnet and gloves. As for Darcy, he seemed to be in a trance most of the time trying to do an impression of a lovesick James Dean. Mr Darcy is a major character in English fiction; MacFadyen could have been ignored if the only person in a room. Then we come to Donald Sutherland: much as I admire his acting aren't there enough good actors (Simon Callow,for instance) in England to play Mr Bennett? And Mr Bennett's wonderful asides are a highlight of Austen's wit. Where were they? I appreciate that the book had to be condensed for the big screen but to cram the last sixty pages into 2.5 minutes was farcicial. The meeting between Elizabeth and Darcy (on a misty field just after sunrise?)when neither could sleep (sic) was straight out of Eastenders. And most of the lines were not included anyway; there was no explanaiton of Elizabeth's feelings nor of how Darcy had changed his opinions over the past few months or why. The book's conversations are a little long on this point but a conversation of 30-40 seconds could have explained a great deal. She didn't even say 'yes' to the big question. Of course someone had to write some lines for the film because Austen didn't write dialogue for all her scenes but they could have been written in 18th century English not some mid-Atlantic sub-slang! The producers would say that this film was aimed at a general audience who would not understand 18th century dialogue. Rubbish! Audiences are a lot more intelligent than that.
95 of 117 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Suprisingly beautiful and engaging,
By A Customer
This review is from: Pride & Prejudice - 2005 [DVD] (DVD)
First of all, I should say that like a previous reviewer, I was determined to find fault with this film, given that I am a huge fan of the seminal BBC version, and didn't think anything could come close. However, I rather grudgingly went to see it, and, suprise, suprise, loved it. The whole film has a much more earthy, organic feel to previous adaptions, which allows us to see the divide between the 2 families involved even more sharply. Given that the story has to be shortened to fit in with the time, this actually works to the films advantage, focusing almost exclusively on the main relationship; Elizabeth and Darcy. One of the main reasons that I didn't want to like this film was Keira Knighley, as she usually irritates me and I don't like her acting that much! However, putting my prejudices aside, and sitting down to watch this film, she truly is the star, and puts on a wonderful performance as Lizzy; funny and engaging, and she deserves much credit for this. The music is quite simply, glorious, and worth buying the DVD just to see/listen to it as intended, on screen. I came out of the cinema feeling as though all was well in the world, and loved it so much I had to go back and see it the next week. A wonderful adaption, and will certainly be in equal standing with my BBC version in my DVD collection. (And I never thought I would write that!)
16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not the real deal,
By
This review is from: Pride & Prejudice - 2005 [DVD] (DVD)
As other reviewers have noted this adaptation isn't a patch on the BBC's version or the novel. If you love the book I recommend you don't watch it at all!! The script is almost completely changed from Austen's glorious words, the actor who plays Mr Collins, although good in other roles (the BBC's adaptation of Wives and Daugthers springs to mind), isn't a patch on David Bamber's turn in the 1995 BBC version which was fantastic, and quite a few characters have been left out all together (Mr Bingley only had 1 sister according to this version, and Kitty's part is almost none existant). One thing that really bugged me is that they used Chatsworth for Pemberley. Yes, it looks great and it is a stunning house, but in the novel Lizzie and her aunt and uncle visit Chatsworth a few days before Pemberley!!! Also, the location in the BBC version just seems to fit Elizabeth's personality better. I couldn't imagine Keira with that hair (a bird's nest springs to mind)living there. Keira Knigthtly is alright, but she just isn't as talented as Jennifer Ehle, who IS Lizzie for me as much as Colin Firth IS Darcy. Another problem is that Mr and Mrs Bennett appear to get on quite well - they actually share the same bed and even a kiss in one scene!!! These are supposed to be probably the worsed matched couple in English literature, that rub each other up the wrong way consently, and possibly should never have married each other in the first place. Even the usually reliable Judy Dench cannot better Barbara Leigh Hunts Lady Catherine De Burgh. For me, the only performance I really liked was Rosamund Pike as Jane.
I know that the time limit (the BBC version is about 3 times longer) is one of the facters, but good film versions can be done - Sense and Sensibility is wonderful, and Emma with Jeremy Northam was also good - but this isn't one of them. Buy this only if you haven't seen the BBC version or read the book recently, otherwise it will just annoy you that it isn't much like either of them!
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