Waste of talent

Rating: 3/10 (24 June 2006)

I was very disappointed in this flat, bloodless adaptation, in spite of the beautiful location and talented actors. Kira Knightlys Lizzie is too immature. She plays a teenager not a woman, and it is odd to hear here speak in that polite, polished and roundabout way sophisticated young gentle women used in the 18.th century. One would expect her to blow up her bubblegum or put up her middle finger. It is not believable that she is able to feel that great love this story is very much about. Mr. Darcy is too nice from the start on, only a bit sad. It is not a big challenge to impress such a nice, shy man, that's why there is not much going on between Lizzie and Mr. Darcy, the dynamics they have in the book are totally missing. Mr. Darcy is so sexy for generations of woman because he is so cold and haughty, jet one feels there is hot passion underneath it, and he is about to loose his self-control... (And what a pity the novel stops before he really does...) now, this nice, sweet little Mr. Darcy in this move is something entirely different. There is also quite a bit of new dialog written, which can by no means compare with Jane Austen's writing! It stands out like a sore thumb. I understand from the DVD extras that it is made a point to not play Mrs. Bennett as a comical figure. I don't see why? Jane Austen fully intended here to be comical! As to Mr. Bingly, he is played like he was half-witted, and one wonders what on earth a beautiful and intelligent women like Rosamund Pikes Jane want from such an unkempt, silly boy. It is true, all this characters are in there twenties in the book but that was a very much adult age in that time, (this young men had the care of families, estates and fortunes) and people then didn't had the pressure and desire forced upon them as we (and this move cast) have this days, to appear as teenager- like as possible.