Pride and Prejudice
Last night my family and I went to see the new film version of Pride and Prejudice, starring Matthew MacFadyen (formerly of Spooks) and Keira Knightley (who we all know to be wonderful in Pirates of the Carribean). And some other people who’s names I can’t recall, apart from Penelope Wilton (Mrs. Gardiner) and Dame Judi Dench (Lady Catherine de Bourgh).
First the disclaimer: I am a huge fan of both the book and the BBC adaptation of it, although my introduction to the joy of the book came through the BBC series. Therefore I’m biased to start with. And surely, I told myself, how well can they tell the story in so little time? One reason the BBC did so well is because they had six hours in which to do it.
Well really, the film wasn’t too bad. They got the important bits across. Mr. Collins was very well-handled indeed. A slightly difference stance on his character to the BBC version, but that’s not at all a problem, as their stance was also good. He wasn’t as slimey or odious, but he was socially useless and incredibly embarrassed by the whole thing.
And very short. There was a lot of camera work which emphasised that.
Keira Knightley giggled too much. It seemed a little out of place, for Lizzie is supposed to be one of the more sensible sisters (alongside Jane). and okay, so she was, because the sillier ones were even sillier than I would have thought necessary. Still, for a mainstream audience I suppose you have to drum things into them with a very large stick sometimes.
They changed the ending. I’m not entirely sure that was good, but it was okay. The outcome’s the same, but it’s done a little differently. They did handle Mr. Bingley proposing to Jane quite well, and Rosamund Pike looked rather lovely in that role (as Jane, not as Mr. Bingley).
They dropped Mr. and Mrs. Hirst entirely. I can’t say I blame them — including them would have wasted some valuable time and they’re not really essential to the story. But they are fun.
Umm… I liked the choice of house for Longbourn. Chatsworth doesn’t make a good Pemberley, but that’s probably because I’ve got my heart stuck on it being Lyme Park, as the BBC chose. That just seems more right.
They didn’t include the famous ‘wet shirt’ scene, but that’s not very surprising given that the BBC added that one themselves.
Mrs. Bennet was generally good, but the listening at doors things was a little too obvious and indiscreet. Many things seem to have been exaggerated in it.
The music at the assemblies and balls was good. Not so keen on the rest of the soundtrack, and also not sure that they would have necessarily had groups of musicians that large to play at that sort of gathering. It did sound good though, so I’m not too upset by that.
Oh, and the choice of house for Rosings Park… wow. That’s impressive indeed.