Only I of all people would write about all the movies of P&P. Yes, I've seen them all and own all but the old black and white early talky version, but my parents own it on VHS so that's got to count for something.
This early version is fun but doesn't follow the book well at all. It ends with everyone happy and cheerful which isn't the way Jane Austin intended it to be. I shall spoil some of it for you. Lady Catherine DeBourg, Mr Darcey's Aunt, gives her blessing for Darcey to marry Elizabeth Bennet. This didn't happen in the book. This movie is fun for those who need a happy ending.
The next version is the 1985 BBC version of the movie. The telling is pretty accurate but the movie is just out dated. I do still enjoy it from time to time. One thing is always true with all P&P movies, Mr Darcey is always impressive. Although I don't love this version they got that one most important part right.
BBC must have realized that it was outdated because they made a newer one in 1995. Once again, BBC got it right as far as story line and Mr Darcey. One thing that I will complain about is that I don't love the way that the girls look. The woman at that time may have been considered beautiful a little more solid back then but they could have tried to make their faces more beautiful. Lizzy is pretty but Jane who is written to be more beautiful then Lizzy isn't even close. The other sisters are not even close to cute. However I still love the movie because of how well they portray the book. Also Colin Firth is not one that I would have called gorgeous before but after seeing him in this roll I will forever say so. He plays Darcey perfectly.
Some of you may not know this but there is a Baliwood made a musical of the story called Bride and Prejudice. I love this movie. It is a fun international play on the story and proves that Jane Austin didn't just make a timeless classic but one that any nationality can identify with. They changed parts of it and one thing that I noticed was that Lizzy and Darcey never kiss (kids love this movie, even young boys, and the girls who hate cooties and kissing). I think that the acting could be better at times but very entertaining. I don't mind lending it to anyone who wants to see it.
Another adaption of the story is the LDS version. This is also entertaining but again isn't very accurate. Mr Darcey again is very handsome, I just will never get sick of the character of Mr Darcey. It was filmed in Utah and is made to not be super LDS preachy. One thing that is in this version and the Boliwood version is the change in the Lydia character. These versions are both modern day adaptations. This irritates me because it makes it seem as if the ditzy, silly minded girl who only wants to get married is different today then they used to be. I don't think this is true because I know plenty a girl exactly like Lydia who never learned her lesson and married a man for all the wrong reasons and many a time when the man married the girl for all the wrong reasons. Oh well, I'll stop interpreting, I read into silly things with little consequence (I can't help but start to talk like them when watch or reading or talking about it).
Finally the last version is 2005 feature staring Keira Knightly and Matthew Macfadyen. I went to see this movie with my little sister wanting to hate it. I went simply to see it and have the proof and the knowledge that Keira could not be a Lizzy and that Hollywood could not do it justice. I walked away dieing to see it again. There are things I would change, for instance, how poor they make the Bennet family to be. They weren't as wealthy as Bingly or Darcey but they were still well to do and the family of a gentleman and I don't beleive that gentlemen lived that way. I also didn't love how annoying Lydia and Kitty were but then again they aren't really supposed to be lovable. I do thing that Jane was casted just right and Keira did do a good job as Lizzy. Mr Darcey is so perfect in this. I want Matthew to be in more movies, I haven't seen him in anything else. I LOVE the music and the cinematography. There are so many breathtaking shots of the British country side. The best part in all the movie and I will even go as far as saying my favorite love scene ever is when Lizzy sees Darcey walking towards her in the field in the morning. I am often doing something else while watching the movie until that scene. I am stopped right then an I get lost in the movie and for that moment I am Lizzy and he is walking to me. I know that is by far the corniest thing you have ever heard but it's so true. Stops me every time.
Anyway, if you haven't seen any of the movies, take your pick. Or better yet, read the book, timeless!
And yes I know I'm a nut! Thank you!
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