November 5th, 2005
Earlier on in the week I saw Pride and Prejudice, it has been out for some time in the UK and will be out on November 25th in America. Nice to get something first for a change, we are mostly behind for films, and always behind Japan with all things electrical. Anyway it might have something to do with the Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice being such a quintessential part of English culture.
Actually, saying that, the TV adaptation with Colin Firth as Darcy and Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth has almost become as entrenched in English culture as what the novel has, or that’s how it would seem reading the Firth supporters’ take on the new film. I haven’t seen that series though, so I don’t have any preconceptions of what Pride and Prejudice should be like.
The main criticism seems to be aimed at Matthew MacFadyen and the way he plays the stoic Darcy. There’s a very fine line between stoic and wooden, but I think mostly MacFadyen carries off Darcy well. He plays a similar sort of character in the British TV series Spooks (MI-5 in America) and since he acts so well in that series I guess I was expecting more of the same and not looking for anything to the contrary.
I’ve heard a lot about Kiera Knightly but I can’t quite believe this is the only time other than in Star Wars Episode I I’ve seen her in a film. Needless to say I now know what all the fuss is about as she definitely made for an alluring Elizabeth. At the start her dialogue did seem a bit stunted, the script no doubt being hard to learn, but it progressively got better.
Elizabeth Bennet: Do you dance, Mr. Darcy?
Mr. Darcy: Not if I can help it.
The scenes she shared with the undesirable Mr Collins, and the first glimpse she has of Darcy’s love for her were particularly impressive. But rallying against Lady Catherine de Bourg (Dame Judi Dench) was something else! Rosalind Pike plays Jane Bennett making this the second film she has featured in alongside Dame Judi Dench, the first being Die Another Day. She has definitely warmed up a bit since then.
The film is always going to be compared to the series, and no doubt from what I have heard the series will come out on top, but for a film adaptation I think it can definitely hold its own. This is just one of those films that are genuinely nice to see. It isn’t stuffy at all, and the cast are noticeably enthusiastic (well except from the corked Mr. Darcy). So if you haven’t seen the series, all the better, as you’ll have nothing to compare it to when you see it.
November 5th, 2005 at 11:20 pm
You haven’t seen Pirates fo the Caribbean?! Shame… shame-shame…
November 6th, 2005 at 10:20 am
Can you believe it!
November 6th, 2005 at 6:49 pm
I can, but I almost refuse not to. Go watch! ::shoves off towards the television set::
nice little picture on the top with the fireworks… very cool.
November 6th, 2005 at 7:15 pm
Cheers, I set my camera up on a tripod and used the slow shutter to get the effect.
I take it you’ve seen the Goblet of Fire trailers down at Apple.com?
November 7th, 2005 at 9:47 pm
Hell yha… I’ve seen every GoF trailer there is… and I’ve got some clips downloaded on my computer. ‘Cause I’m special like that… heh. ^_~
November 8th, 2005 at 12:15 pm
Being almost two weeks since I last saw Pride and Prejudice, I must say that once this new production, the details and what not sink in, the impression improves. But things are all about first impressions, no? Anyhow, as you probably know, I’m seeing it again Sunday, and I have high hopes this time. But no, I don’t think MacFadyen could pull off Darcy as well as Firth. He doesn’t look as dark or powerful as Firth.