Outrageously disappointing

Rating: 4/10 (5 March 2006)

As this has been one of my favourite books since I was 12 and the BBC version starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle - perfectly casted and wonderful - I put off seeing the 'Hollywoodesque' version until yesterday. I promised that I would give it a fair chance in light of how it had already been done to perfection by the BBC. I knew I wasn't going to like it the minute Matthew McFayden walked on set. Respect to him for taking a part that Colin Firth immortalised and he is a good actor but he sounded like he was reading the script out loud to himself. There was no emotion or interaction - he was utterly lifeless. No No No! I don't normally like Knightley but found her to do the part justice and I thought the actress playing Lydia to be unwatchable and generally horrendous. Judi Dench and Donald Sutherland were marvellous as always but I felt utterly betrayed. I tried to give it a chance but the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice is the only version of this truly wonderful book that should ever be made. No wooden TV actor or bone protruding teeth baring wimpette will ever replace Ehle and Firth as Darcy and Elizabeth. Not recommended at all.