Swing and a miss

Rating: 1/10 (2 March 2006)

If you have not seen the original b+w version or the masterpiece that is the BBC mini-series you may very well enjoy this latest attempt to make Pride and Prejudice. Though exited to see this well received movie, upon watching I found myself very disappointed as I found the movie to be hap-hazard and sophomoric. There were many good actors through out and I fault none of them as the acting can only go as far as the director is willing or able to take it. This director seemed barely to understand the material or the time and place for which the tail is set. For my money, this movie was a dreadful mistake that only wets the appetite for the quality of storytelling that Austin's masterful and rich tale deserves. If one were to focus on this movies most obvious and glaring flaw it would be its abandonment of the roll of manners that colored every aspect of late 18th Century interaction and conversation. Such breeches of ethics and good manners such as getting caught ease dropping (a sophomoric 'joke' used several times in this film) would have devastated all involved. If you want to see what I mean, see the above mentioned mini-series for all the examples you could ever need.