Landscape was only beautiful part of the movie

Rating: 5/10 (12 November 2005)

The landscapes and architecture are the best part of the movie. Too many moments wasted with nothing being said. Too many looks at Elizabeth. Too much spinning around with her in the swing. They clearly tried to make this a one-person perspective movie - watch it through the eyes of Elizabeth Bennet. The problem: the book was not written in first person. So many of the characters were never properly introduced or given their time to shine (which couple exactly were her Aunt and Uncle Gardner that play such an important role in th book??) The mother was too mellow and therefore could not be laughed at properly. The father was cast as overly negative rather than sensible.
This movie was for P&P Fans only. Someone who has never read the book or seen the previous screen adaptations would be lost and have 100 questions afterward (What was it Lydia did? What is up with Wickam? What happened to Jane & Bingley?) But when Netherfield is first shown, it took my breath away. It's just too bad they didn't use that extra time they spent seeing bright spots on the screen as you're viewing the sunrise through Elizabeth's closed eyes on the breathtaking grounds of Pemberley.
I was all ticketed up to see this several times but excepting a friend who has no one else to go with, I won't be returning. I'll spend my money on a second copy of the A&E version to replace the one I've just about burned out.