Anastasia Kharlamova I seem to be in the minority that prefers the 2005 version after all. It's one of my favorite movies ever (I watched it before I even read the book) but I decided to watch this one because it's generally everyone's favorite. Well, the costumes and settings are beautiful, and I liked that this version omitted practically nothing from the novel. As for the acting, I especially liked the Gardiners, Georgiana (my favorite Emilia Fox didn't disappoint) and, more or less, Mr. Bennet. The rest of the actors was good enough, but the characters...First, some other reviewers have already mentioned that the unlikable characters are made into caricatures. I felt it too. Lady Catherine looks and behaves like a more richly-dressed version of Mrs. Bennet - after watching the amazing performance of Judi Dench that can give you the shivers this one is rather bleak. Every fault of Mr. Collins and Mary is taken to such extremes that they couldn't even be annoying, they just felt wrong. Mr. Bingley and Jane were all right, but they were hardly given any interaction beyond dancing. Caroline was nicely cast, but I think sometimes her characters was too loud and rude in public - it would have been unthinkable for the oh so proper Miss Bingley who was poisonous but always kept her cool. Second, about the leads. I like Colin Firth - he was wonderful in "The King's Speech" - but he looks way too nice for Mr. Darcy in the first half of the story. His expression just says "poor; misunderstood, in love with Elizabeth from almost the beginning". Jennifer Ehle does capture Elizabeth's liveliness and wit... but here's the main problem. For me, the chemistry between the characters seemed far too weak. Their banter at Netherfield was excellent, but afterwards... let's just say that I was bored during the first proposal scene (one of the most electric and passionate ones in the 2005 movie). Even Mr. Collins sounded more emotional with his offer! Elizabeth didn't help matters either. She talked in the same cheerfully ironic manner to Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, her relations or anyone else - there was very little to signify "her feelings are quite the opposite". I could understand that Mr. Bingley and Jane were left in the background (well, they are exactly there in the novel), but I would have liked better development for the main couple. It seems lots of people disagree, but there it is. It was a nice series to watch once, but the 2005 adaptation still remains the best for me.I p

JLRVancouver Lengthy (5½ hours) but outstanding adaptation of Jane Austen's classic 1813 novel about romance in Regency England. Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle are outstanding as Mr. F. Darcy and Miss E. Bennet respectively, the central 'pair', as are the actresses playing the other four Bennet sisters and the actors playing Mr. Bennet and Darcy's compatriots Messrs. Bingle and Wickham. The other principal character, Elizabeth's mother Mrs. Bennet (Alison Steadman) was (IMO) a bit shrill and hyper-reactive, providing much of the straight-out comic relief but unfavourably contrasting with more 'dignified', measured delivery of the of the other adult characters. The film differs considerably from the 1940 Laurence Olivier/Greer Garson version: the entire story is told, the costumes are true to the period, the clergyman 'Mr. Collins' is much more obsequious and foolish (mocking religion was frowned on by the American Hays Code) and, most noticeably, the final confrontation between the viciously class-conscious Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Elizabeth Bennet is truer to the book. Presumably 'Hollywood' wanted to wrap up the story with every one smiling, as the 1940 version has a domineering but understanding Lady Catherine ultimately approving of Elizabeth's decision, rather a haughty, condescending women insulting Elizabeth and her family, and leaving the scene in indignant fury. All in all, the miniseries is an excellent rendition of one of the world's most popular novels and a production that set the bar for subsequent costume dramas.

Red-125 "Pride and Prejudice" (1995) is a BBC TV mini-series directed by Simon Langton. Pride and Prejudice is probably Jane Austen's most popular novel, and it comes to life in this film. (If you haven't read the novel, I would try to find a synopsis. The plot is complicated. Characters appear and you're not always certain where they fit in, or to whom they are related.)Jennifer Ehle portrays Elizabeth Bennet, the second of the five Bennet sisters, and the one with the most intelligence and the best grasp on reality. Susannah Harker plays Jane Bennet, also intelligent, but more gentle and loving than her younger sister. There are three other sisters, but only one of them figures prominently in the plot. Alison Steadman portrays Mrs Bennet, who is extremely foolish, but, in truth, is sometimes right.Important male characters are Benjamin Whitrow as Mr Bennet, who has not an ounce of romance in him, but respects his two older daughters.The male characters include Colin Firth as the brooding, fabulously wealth Mr. Darcy. Crispin Bonham-Carter portrays Mr. Bingley, also rich, but under Darcy's spell. Adrian Lukis is Mr. Wickham, who is able to charm everyone, until they know him better. David Bamber is the insufferable Mr. Collins.No one can deny the greatness of Jane Austen's book, and I think it will be considered a masterpiece as long as people read English novels. For IMDb, we reviewers have to review the film version of the novel. How well did the director and the actors reflect Austen's written word?I think that this version is a wonderful interpretation of the novel. The plot revolves around Elizabeth, and I think Ehle's portrayal is masterful. In the novel, she is considered attractive, but not conspicuously beautiful. (Jane is considered the great beauty.)What makes Ehle's acting wonderful is the expression in her eyes, and her beautiful smile. That smile tells us of her character. It's not a full cheerful smile--it's the smile of a woman who knows what is happening to her, and around her, and smiles in understanding.Colin Firth is an excellent actor. Maybe he broods a little too much, but who can say whether Jane Austen had that much brooding in her mind when she wrote her novel. One of our friends told us that the moment when Firth emerges from swimming in the lake, with his elegant white shirt clinging to his body, represents one of the great iconic moments of BBC television. I can accept that.We saw the film on the small screen. It was made for television, so clearly it should--and does--work well. However, if it's ever shown in a theater, I'd go to see it on the large screen. That's because the BBC production values are so high that the colors and scenery of the countryside would be shown to better advantage on a large screen.This 1995 P&P is a longer and better version of the 1980 version that I've also reviewed. However, the earlier version also has a great many good points. My suggestion--see them both.

Rachel Park Who dreads having to be forced to read a novel for English class? Most students would be nodding their heads yes right now, but how many times are you forced to read a novel only to find yourself falling in love with it? Now most students would be saying zero times. However for me, when I had to read Pride and Prejudice I caught myself falling in love with the novel by the end of it. Being so enticed by this novel, I began to look up adaptations of it. I then came across the 1995 TV series of Pride and Prejudice. It contains six episodes, about an hour long each, which were broadcasted by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The main roles were played by Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. I absolutely loved this adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. This TV series hit everything right on the nail. I only wish it never had to end because I enjoyed it that much. Pride and Prejudice is about a family of five daughters that are in search of suitable husbands. But most of the attention is on the rich, prideful Mr. Darcy and also the prideful, yet cunning Elizabeth Bennet, the second oldest of the daughters. Both overcome their pride and prejudice and fall in love with each other. The 1995 TV series adapted this well-known novel the best. Because it was a TV series each episode had time to be precise on every single detail of the novel and with this the series was very accurate to the novel. I appreciated the fact that for the majority of the series exact lines were said by the actors and actresses. And that made the series even more like the novel itself. I can just remember reading the novel and then pinpointing out the lines in the series when it was said. By doing that you can tell that the TV staff and cast really cared about vitalizing the novel into something visual and audible. Also because this was produced in the 1980's the series had that classic touch to it, something that a modern film/series would not have been able to capture. Furthermore, the selection of the cast was chosen very well. I felt that each actor/actress truly expressed their character to the max. Also a plus was that all the main characters had genuine British accents which accentuated the fact that Jane Austen wrote this novel in England. This TV series met and exceeded all of my standards of a well written adaptation of a novel/book. This TV series of Pride and Prejudice is by far the best adaptation I have seen of a novel or book. Events and lines were so accurate from all the episodes it certainly felt like I was reading the novel again. All six episodes were meticulously planned and written out that I never would have thought that I'd be excited to get to class to watch it again. If you love the novel as much as I do, the 1995 TV series of Pride and Prejudice will positively provide you with a lovely supplement.