Nothing will ever beat the -95 version

Rating: 5/10 (24 June 2008)

When I first saw this new version of Pride and Prejudice my immediate response was that no-one who has not read the book or at least seen one of the two longer adaptions would leave the theatre completely confused and have no idea what the story is really about. All of a sudden in comes Kitty crying because she was not invited to go to Bath with Lydia and Mrs Forster. First question to the confused: Who is Mrs Forster?! That information is left out. Also, there is very little Whickham, very little everyone really. In short, one cannot do this wonderful book justice by squeezing it into a 2 hour film. One needs time to get to know the characters in order to get the story, since it is too complex and contains too many important incidents with each of them. As for the casting.... Well. I do understand that some think Keira Knighltey is too pretty for this part. She is a beautiful young lady and it might not seem all that credible that some man might not find her pretty enough to "tempt him." This is more the case with Jennifer Ehle and Elizabeth Garvie, whose looks one isn't perhaps stricken with at first glance. Also, their faces seem to fit the period more than that of Keira Knightley. What bothers me most about this though is the locations. Longbourn is too shabby. The Bennet family had servants, and as it seems in here they more live in an abandoned barn than a house. Mrs Bennet is also too shabby-looking. All in all they seem too poor. I did not get that impression in the book. The -95 version seemed a lot more true in that sense and was I think more of what Jane Austen had in mind. Darcy is OK, but seems more lost and shy than proud. In the case of the -95 version he managed to look like he despised the whole world. Always with a look on his face as if there was a constant smell of something rotten in the area. This Darcy mostly just looks scared. Though as a woman one does feel strong sympathy for him when he is rejected, especially considering those puppy eyes.... One does want him to get Lizzy. No, if one wants to get the true feeling of Jane Austen, read the book or see one of the two TV adaptions. I recommend the -95 version.