Superb

Rating: 10/10 (10 March 2007)

I have read every IMDb review of this movie. The Brits come down hard on it, splitting 50/50 between ZERO stars and about 9 stars. One has to respect that, since it is their literature and because the BBC did a legendary multi-part series not that long ago that was superb.
I viewed that miniseries. It is the sole reason that I undertook P&P, 2005. I found it a truly interesting story of its time. One gets a flavor how the laws of England regarding inheritance so profoundly affected the society (as well as the rise of the urban society over the rural society) so that "a man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife". My reintroduction to the story through this movie has caused me to start reading Jane Austen to better understand the socio-political setting (I suspect that another JA lives today in China or India, and will record their female-unfriendly situations for posterity, and in such a felicitous way).
As to the actual movie: Superb. Most of the themes in JA's book are either 'exactly' run out in the movie, or else are presented in brief or at worst, implied. This movie suffers because it is only two hours long.
Kiera Knightley is not the most beautiful actress. She was fun and steadfast in "Pirates". In this movie, however, she shows a range of emotion that is breathtaking, and I fall in love with her. Watch the scene in Mr. Darcy's house where they are inspecting the marble statuary. Then watch - what the heck, watch the whole movie. She deserved her nominations for Best Actress Oscar and other awards.
Matthew Macfadyen as Darcy grows on one. He is prejudiced and stiff and overbearing, and he becomes human and handsome as this saucy, intriguing young woman steals his heart.
Kudos to the rest of the ensemble. Rosamund Pike is so pretty in those first scenes as to overshadow - physically - Lizzy; but we come to see how Eliza is the pride of her father, and the equal of Darcy. Other portrayals make me turn to the books to better understand what's going on (the movie is only suggestive as to the deficiencies in some of the characters).
Bottom line: This is a historical treat and a red-meat love story - not a "chick-flick". Either boy or girl are ones you would have wanted to woo in your wooing days.
Heh.