| Pride & Prejudice | 
 enlarge | Director: Joe Wright (iv)
Actors: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Carey Mulligan
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $6.85
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Avg. Customer Rating:  883 reviews
Sales Rank: 199
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 129
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: MCAD28072D
UPC: 025192807220
EAN: 0025192807220
ASIN: B000E1ZBGS
Theatrical Release Date: November 23, 2005
Release Date: February 28, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: BRAND NEW, Factory Sealed items direct from the Studios. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Quick International Airmail!
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Amazon.com
Literary adaptations just don't get any better than director Joe Wright's 2005 version of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice. The key word here is adaptation, because Wright and gifted screenwriter Deborah Moggach have taken liberties with Austen's classic novel that purists may find objectionable, but in this exquisite film their artistic decisions are entirely justified and exceptionally well executed. It's a more rural England that we see here, circa 1790 (as opposed to Austen's early 19th century), in which Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) is one of several sisters primed for marriage, with an anxious mother (Brenda Blethyn) only too desperate to see her daughters paired off with the finest, richest husbands available. Elizabeth is strong-willed and opinionated, but her head (not to mention her pride and prejudice) lead her heart astray when she meets the wealthy Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), whose own sense of decency and discretion (not to mention his pride and prejudice) prevent him from expressing his mutual affection. They're clearly meant for each other, and as Knightley's performance lights up the screen (still young enough to be girlishly impertinent, yet wise beyond her 20 years), Austen's timeless romance yields yet another timeless adaptation, easily on par with the beloved BBC miniseries that has been embraced by millions since originally broadcast in 1995. Individual tastes will vary as to which version should be considered "definitive," but with a stellar supporting cast including Judi Dench and Donald Sutherland, this impeccable production achieves its own kind of perfection. --Jeff Shannon
Description
One of the greatest love stories of all time, Pride & Prejudice, comes to the screen in a glorious new adaptation starring Keira Knightley. When Elizabeth Bennett (Knightley) meets the handsome Mr. Darcy (Matthew MacFadyen), she believes he is the last man on earth she could ever marry. But as their lives become intertwined in an unexpected adventure, she finds herself captivated by the very person she swore to loathe for all eternity. Based on the beloved masterpiece by Jane Austen, it is the classic tale of love and misunderstanding that sparkles with romance, wit and emotional force. Critics are calling it "Exhilarating. A joy from start to finish" (Carina Chocano, Los Angeles Times).
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| Customer Reviews: Read 878 more reviews...
 A fine romance, but not an 'Austen adaptation' November 30, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I love Austen and have read the book and seen the BBC adaptation more than once. Since this movie is so much shorter, I knew there would be compromises, but I had still hoped that the film would bring Austen's loving, amused, witty and razor sharp view of the British society in the late 1700's across. The book is not just about two people who go through personal changes and external adversities to find each other in the end. Their romance is a case in point of the silliness, pretentiousness, the pride and the class-orientation of those times and how its inhabitants struggle with or submit to it.
This film is a rounded romance that the American audience will love, fast-paced, with strong characters and a satisfying plot, dialog and ending - I appreciate it for that. Compared to the BBC version it also brought welcome realism and grit to the imagery with plainer costumes, dustier scenery and sweatier faces. But to be called an Austen adaptation I would have needed the characters to be much truer to Austen's originals:
Lizzy is fun-loving, caring, witty and confident. But society calls for gentle females that know and appreciate their station - which of course is below that of men. Lizzy knows that and keeps her intellect hidden, bowing to society's expectations and revealing her insights only to Jane or her father, not to the public. Knightley's version of Lizzy is still a delightful individual, but too self-assured, candid and rebellious.
Jane, according to Austen is very sweet and good-natured, always trying to believe the best of people. She is also very delicate and coy, keeping her public dialog completely innocuous and her eyes mostly downcast. Rosamund Pike makes Jane by far too confident and strong. Her deep suffering from Bingley's supposed rejection doesn't come across at all.
Mr. Bennet's chief entertainment is his private amusement with his' wife's and his three younger daughter's silly preoccupation with men, fashion and gossip plus his delight in his two older daughter's beauty and sense. He is truly funny, but that is appreciated only by Lizzy and Jane, the rest of the family either doesn't catch his quips or misinterprets them. Donald Sutherland only gets to play a kind but boring head of family, resigned to his life in an all-female household.
The BBC version of Mr. Collins is wonderfully oily. His stilted but eloquent dialog, his complete acceptance of the rules of societal ranks (total submission to Lady de Bourg and belief in superiority over the Bennets) are satisfyingly repulsive. Tom Hollander's version is only that of an ignorant idiot.
I love Judy Dench as an actor, but here she is too regal, too charismatic. Austin gives Lady Catherine de Bourg superiority only through her riches, position and through a strong enough intellect and inbred confidence to manipulate everyone around her. Austin makes her meddling and truly undeserving of the reverence offered her, especially by Collins.
Finally Darcy. According to Austen he is smart, brooding, very proud but caring and generous. He is genuinely struggling with his own affection for Lizzy. His sense of propriety doesn't allow this connection especially in light of the disastrous impressions he gets from the rest of the Bennets. But his emotions are too strong to ignore. Colin Firth brought Darcy's contradicting feelings brilliantly to life in the BBC production, particularly in the key scene where he proposes and Lizzy rejects him. He is uncharacteristically nervous and fidgeting; he is hopeful, and vulnerable but also angry and confused. Matthew Macfadyen doesn't bring more than the anxiety that would be part of any marriage proposal - none of the underlying battle shows. The rest of the film doesn't see many emotions from Darcy beyond superiority and boredom - way too flat for what Austin had in mind.
In summary, if you expect a delightful romance, you'll be satisfied, if you want Jane Austen's vivid and multi-layered characters, social insights and scathing dialogs, you'll be disappointed.
 Doesn't measure up to the BBC version November 27, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
If you love the BBC version with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, you'll be disappointed with this one.
Romance's convoluted course November 13, 2008
Saw this with my girlfriend. She cried at the end. This is a well made film. There is one breathtaking shot of Keira Knightley's character posed on the edge of a cliff, with a magnificent backdrop. I would love to have a poster sized print of it up on the wall. An excellent stay at home date movie. Very humorous too.
 Lovely film adaptation. November 8, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I own the mini-series version of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth, which is more true to the book, but I think this is the more entertaining film. Other reviewers have discussed the difference in performances by actors who are closer to the actual ages of the characters in the book and the more realistic setting. One difference between book and movie that I appreciated was the director's take on the relationship between the Bennet parents and his expansion of the minor characters. Here, Mr. Bennet is both exasperated by and in love with Mrs. Bennet; Mr. Collins is as annoying as ever, but we also sympathize with his vulnerability and social awkwardness. Elizabeth's sister Mary is still a preachy bluestocking, but the film doesn't just make fun of her; we also her as the awkward teenage girl who sobs in her father's arms after being embarrassed at the ball. The five girls are very convincing as sisers and their embarassing mama loves them dearly. Bingley is as shy as Jane and here we see Darcy helping him rehearse his marriage proposal to her. Darcy and Elizabeth seem a little more raw and REAL here. The director has really gotten at the humanity of all of the characters here in a way that adds a lot to the film. That, and it's not six hours long, which should appeal to anyone who doesn't have the patience to sit through the mini-series.
One of the Best October 27, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is one of my favorite films of all time. It has a lot of charm and brings Jane Austen's wonderful story to life. The acting was great and highly enjoyable. Knightly plays Elizabeth perfectly and Mr. Darcy's character is also done very well. This movie is a classic!
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