Pride and Prejudice

I know I haven't written in a very long time but life has taken me away. I have seen a few movies but have forgotten them and the details of my thoughts. So I shall return to you, my two readers, with a story that I always am thinking about. This is by far my favorite story, in the book form or in all the many different movie forms. It is mothers day and this is my gift to myself, sitting in bed with my guilty pleasure, Pride and Prejudice.
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BBC must have realized that it was outdated because they made a newer one in 1995.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!

Young Victoria

I should have been British for I love just about all things British. That includes the royals. But in all fairness I love any story about royalty, French, Russian,... Anyway, this story is about Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert. I got really excited to go see this movie so read up on the net of what their "true" story was. I was amazed at how closely they followed. Queen Victoria was played by the first assistant in The Devil Wears Prada and Prince Albert was Mr Wickem in the latest Pride and Prejudice (why haven't I writen anything about that? stupid me). Now there is a 2 disc AandE movie about this couple simply called Victoria and Albert. I must say I loved this new story about the two more then the AandE but the AandE is longer and tells more of the older years. I like long stories. But the newer version gave a much better love story and the two were much more attractive and as I always say it is much more entertaining to see two attractive people fall in love then it is watching ugly people. I'm so supperficial I know. This movie isn't in all the theaters but if you can find it, I recomend it to all my fellow British at heart friends out there.

About a Boy

This is a wonderful movie. Probably in my top 10. It's a british film and also was a book. I need to read it. It's got Hugh Grant in it who's a grown man who really acts like a boy and a young kid who really has been forsed to grow up too fast. They are a terrible and not likely couple but they help eachother over come issues and learn to act their own age. I'm telling you it's sooooo good. It's got a little romance in it and I think it's really funny, but it's british humor so it might take a few watches to think it's funny. It was made in 2002 so it's out at the video store. Lindsey and Dan, if you haven't seen it you should, I think you guys would really like it. I'll say that to you guys because you're probably the only ones that read this, that is if you still are.

Sherlock Holmes

I loved this movie! It was so good. My sis, Kate, and I went for our annual new years day movie. My dad had read the reviews and told me that it wasn't like other Sherlock Holmes movies. It wasn't, IT WAS BETTER! There's a little romance, some action, great suspense, surounded by a great mystery. The ever so cute Jude Law is not the normal, boring, Watson and Robert Downey Jr. is much more comically rude then I normally picture Sherlock to be. You walk out looking at people and things differently, trying to find clues to a mystery that doesn't exist outside your head. I really enjoyed it and I think Mark would too. Great for a date. Go see it!

Dear Frankie

This was a great movie. I really enjoyed it. And yes that's the same Irish actor from "PS I Love You", such a cutie.
I have to add a little disclaimer to my enjoyment. I love British films and story lines. Also this is a drama, not a romance, not a comedy. Knowing this before hand might help you enjoy it more.
The plot is this. Frankie is a deaf boy growing up with his mother and grandma. He recieves letters from a father that he's never met who is a sailer. He get's really excted when his friend tells him that his fathers ship is coming to port in his city. The twist is that his mother made up the story of the sailing father and has been the one recieving and writing the letters to frankie.
That's about how much the trailer discloses so I wont say anymore. But it's a great movie to rent (it's been out for a few years).