Don't Compare P&P 2005 to P&P 1995

Rating: 9/10 (4 March 2006)

I must say that I love Jane Austen and any fruit from Jane Austen's works. I tend to be more than willing to enjoy a movie based on one of her books. I was very curious as to how successful a 2-hour version of Pride and Prejudice could be and ended up being delighted. I think the best approach a viewer could take to watching the 2005 version is to not compare it to the longer, truer-to-the-book BBC version from 1995. This is two hours of delightful, romantic and humorous diversion with some great lines not previously found in other movie versions of Pride and Prejudice. To streamline the story and reduce this huge and detailed work, the writers chose to limit the Collins role and almost eliminate the Wickham role. This is unfortunate and causes the movie to lose some of its insight into human character. However, the sexual tension between Elizabeth and Darcy is palpable in a way one senses in the book but is not as easily or deliberately conveyed in previous movie versions. Knightly and MacFadyen have chemistry that brings the movie alive. Mrs. Bennet is subdued compared to her character in the book...not faithful to Austen, but more enjoyable to the viewer. Mr. Bennet is also more gently, but not faithfully played by Donald Sutherland.
So, watch this movie and enjoy the beautiful music, excellent cinematography, witty dialogue (even if not always completely true to the book--it stays true to the characters) and beautiful conclusion. The European version ends before Darcy asks for Elizabeth's hand from Mr. Bennett. The American version continues on to post-marriage. Which ending would you have preferred?