Speed Austen in 2D

Rating: 6/10 (24 October 2005)

I went into this movie expecting much less than the BBC miniseries, and wasn't disappointed. However, half of this is the fault of the time constrictions to the film, it doesn't have the luxury of 5 or 6 hours as the miniseries did. As a result, this version is 'Speed Austen' - the book at warp speed 10.
We hardly meet Wickham at all, who is a huge part of the story, nor Lady Catherine, nor half of the family-there's barely enough time to develop Lizzy and Darcy. We see more of Kiera Knightly twirling round on a swing than any real Darcy-Lizzy relationship, and more random dancing than the best dialogue in the book, the repertoire between Lady C and Lizzy near the end.
The 'Pemberly' scene is one of the best in the miniseries, with all the piano playing and loving glances as Lizzy starts to see Darcy for what he really is, and starts to fall in love with him. There is no time for this in the movie. See the house, sneaky peak at Darcy through the door and all of a sudden she's head over heals for the man. He hasn't changed very much at all, which is the reason Lizzy falls for Darcy in the book - he gets over his pride and changes into a new man, caring, sociable and friendly (in front of Lizzy and the Gardiners anyway) all for her. Where's this in the movie? Who knows, maybe one of the pigs tromping through the house got into the cutting room and ate it. Jane gets proposed to, Lady C blusters through in the middle of the night and Darcy swoons Lizzy of her feet through nose-canoodeling in a space of 24 hours. How long did it take to travel from Lady C's estate to Longbourne, back to her estate, tell Darcy all about it and then race back to Longbourne on horseback? Certainly longer than 12 hours or so! E voilà, Speed Austen. This film jumps through the book quicker than kiddies playing hopscotch.
Matthew MacFadyen is no Colin Firth. He isn't a bad Darcy - quite dark, quite sulky...just not quite right. His 'drenched wet' scene is a good equivalent to Firth's dripping shirt, but not quite. He's not too bad, and a bit of a hottie, but doesn't measure up to Firth, who fully encompasses Austen's Darcy.
Everyone has been picking to bits MacFadyen, but Kiera is not all cheese on crackers herself. Jennifer Ehle perfectly represented Lizzy-healthy, intelligent, spirited, witty, and with beautiful sparkly eyes. Kiera is 2D - when she turns sideways she disappears she's so skinny, which seems ridiculous when she is walking past fully bosomed and ample thighed Sistine chapel style paintings. She seems a little silly, giggles a lot, has no more of a special relationship with her father than the other sisters and does not strike oneself as especially intelligent or witty, nor does she have 'fine eyes.'
But, Austen is Austen and no matter what its faults, this new version is quite entertaining due to the genius of Austen's story itself. It's hard not to like it, although it is no way near the A+ grade of the miniseries or the book. It's quite an entertaining watch, but it is difficult not to sit there criticizing and comparing it. My advice is, watch it to be entertained but not for any deep character development or superb acting. If you want the real deal, grab the miniseries, or better yet, read the book.