Customer Reviews

Bridget Jones's Diary [VHS] [2001]

5 star:		(91)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I hired this DVD out of curiosity, as I hadn't read the book or newspaper columns - but what a pleasant surprise!

Although not normally in favour of Americans playing Brits, I was v.impressed with Renee Zellweger's accent and thought she was charming as Bridget, and more English than most English women! It was a refreshing change to see a woman portrayed with curves, just as they are meant to be! Although I am not a 30-something singleton (I'm 30-something & married, but not smug!!) I could still identify with Bridget - who hasn't sung out loud to 'All by myself'?!

Colin Firth as Mark Darcy should have a health warning attached! Unfortunately, men like Mark Darcy do not exist but it was interesting to see Colin Firth reprise his role of Darcy from Pride & Prejudice.

It was fun to see Hugh Grant play a bad guy for change...

The general standard of acting is very good, loved Jim Broadbent as Bridget's put-upon dad, Pam and Una were very funny and Uncle Geoffrey - well, I'm sure we all know someone like him.

My favourite bits were when Bridget walks out on her boss, Cleaver; the Blue Soup scene and the fight between Darcy and Cleaver - this was inspired and worked brilliantly. Most men can't fight and it worked so well because they were so pathetic!

The only thing which spoilt it was the over-use of swearing; seems to be an epidemic of expletives in films these days, perhaps most viewers are de-sensitised to swearing but I don't have a TV so am not used to it and find it unnecessary - bit of a cop out really.

Still - watch it and enjoy, a refreshing, funny and original, BRITISH film!

What a film. Renee Zellweger plays Bridget Jones with a fantastic British accent and makes the character amazingly realistic and someone every woman should be able to relate to. I loved the way that Bridget was not stick thin but curvy- it makes everyone feel better about who they are. My favourite parts of the film were when Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleaver were fighting and the scene right at the beginning when Bridget was miming along to 'All by Myself.'Every woman should watch this and although this film is ultimately a chic flick I know many men who have also enjoyed it. Trust me-buy this video,stay in for an evening and laugh yourself silly watching this film!

Bridget Jones's Diary is a surprisingly good movie. Detractors who deride it for its admittedly minimalist plot miss the point - this is a film that shows life without the layers of artificiality favoured by directors (resulting in movies somehow removed from the realm of the everyday in which us mere mortals dwell). Life is frequently aimless and trivial; and therein lies the movie's attraction. Notwithstanding of course that this is a very funny and highly original comedy.
Bridget (played with considerable aplomb by Renee Zellweger) belongs to the ranks of that modern phenomenon - the over-30, unmarried career woman. Just when it seems Bridget may be destined for terminal spinster-hood, two opposing forces enter her life - charming cad Daniel, and uptight (but very sexy) lawyer Mark. Which of the two is her Mr. Right? And why does everyone insist on asking that question detested by all singletons - "How's your love life going?" The movie's conclusion is predictable, and although any other ending would leave the audience feeling cheated, it does seem somewhat tame and ultimately unsatisfying.
The film encourages the viewer both to get involved with Bridget emotionally and to laugh at her at the same time. Perhaps the best joke is the milieu inhabited by her parents - where the mini-gherkin is the height of sophistication, and 60-year-olds throw garden parties with such alarming themes as 'tarts and vicars'. Bridget is certainly no social butterfly, and whilst we cringe at her public embarrassments (notably her TV report involving a fireman's pole and a bottom the size of Brazil), we triumph with her when she manages to turn a bad situation to her advantage. Maybe we can recognise a little bit of Bridget Jones in all of us.

i totally agree with the reviewer from surrey...how ironic is was to find my mr darcy playing a new mr darcy in the same way but even better...this film is funny, funny, funny...it had me rolling around the aisles the whole way through if i wasnt laughing i was crying the first scene where bridge is gulping wine, over inhaling on the ciggies and crying whilst listening to sad songs bought tears to my eyes as we have all been there...if it is the only positive thing you do this year buy, buy, buy

I had very mixed feelings about watching this movie. Another 'Chick-flick' with a flavour of the month American actress stealing another british role. However, I couldn't have been more wrong! It was a great feel good film and the catalogue of disasters that the brilliant Zellwger stumbled through were hilariously presented and not contrived or cringeworthy at all. All the players were excellent throughout and Zellwger's accent was spot-on. I spent ages trying to work out where I had seen her gay ex pop star friend before, only at the end did I twig that it was Dr Bashir from Deep Space 9!!
If you are romantic and optomistic at heart then you will adore this movie. In fact I will be buying this video to watch again and I NEVER do that.
Curl up, with the one you love or the thoughts about the one you loved and lost and really enjoy reading this particular diary!
P.s Dont turn it off when the credits come on...there are a few hilarious after thoughts!!!

Bridget Jones's Diary is neither a masterpiece nor the sort of cult film its made out to be. Yet, in ways more than one, it can't be dismissed off as just another film. The story of a middle-aged singleton on the verge of making sense of the world around her, the tale has its moments which are ruthlessly original (like Bridget's public speaking fiascos-- every single one of them an absolute riot!)

Since I haven't read the book, I watched the film with absolutely no baggage and therefore can't comment which medium offers a more amusing Bridget. But that said, Jones's diary in the film is more of a you-see-it-and-then-you-don't affair (In fact all I can actually recollect is maybe two scenes where Bridget seems to remember her diary), so the effect of the climax seems rather forced... but is handled effectively nevertheless.

The love story per se also delves in cliches but when the definition between the black and white blurs in the second half, the film becomes immensely watchable. The editing is fantastic, the dialogues very very tongue-in-cheek and London's seldom looked so prim-n-propah-- perfect setting for a mushy affair like this.

Renee Zellweger is unpredictable. Sometimes clownish, sometimes underplaying, sometimes horribly self-conscious, sometimes calculative-- which gels reasonably with the situations Bridget goes through-- but how I wish there was more spontaneity in the performance to give the series of emotions a fluid energy. You don't become absolutely ineffectual to Bridget's character because of the actor's inconsistencies, but you are on a verge to.

Hugh Grant is the unrivalled star of the enterprise. The lived-in flamboyance gives Daniel's character an unsurpassingly entertaining edge and the guy delivers his lines like no other could have. Colin Firth, however, as the stiff-lipped Darcy underplays so much that it even makes the chemistry between Jones and Darcy seem so awkward. And which kind of poisons some of the effect of the film again.

Overall, you have a fresh approach to middle-aged singletons, an amusing Zellweger, an uproarious Grant, a pale Firth, some awkward, some cliched, some childish moments and a happy-go-lucky ending. Not as staggering a film as Pretty Woman or even Notting Hill-- but worth a watch once. With some more careful casting, however the film had the potential to become a classic.

Oh yes, the DVD extras which consist of some deleted scenes and a behind the scenes featurette are reasonably entertaining and altogether justifies the throwaway price (£8.00.. wow!).

I LOVE this film. It is extremely hard to put in words quite how much I love it. It is the perfect film for me in almost every way. It is a fantastic romantic comedy but without being 'teeny' and it makes you laugh out loud many many times. I can relate to Bridget Jones very well and this film lifts me up when I'm down without fail.
Buy it, rent it, borrow it, do ANYTHING to see this film.

bridget jones's diary will go down in history as the best british film of all time. Firth, Grant and Zellwegger were all excellent in their roles, well done in managing to make a good book into a great film!

Renee Zellweger is surprisingly brilliant as Bridget and you think who else could have played this part as well ? . All 30 something women will have something in common with " Bridge " . Hugh Grant is hilarious and Colin Firth is as sexily aloof as ever. This DVD has added music videos, deleted scenes and other extras. Buy it now !!!!

I have watched this movie 3 times, and could easily watch it 3 times more!.As a Brit living in Texas (Renee Zellwegers state) it was sheer joy to rediscover the English humour.Quite simply the best film i've seen this year.