OK, I'm prejudiced but not proud of it.

Rating: 5/10 (1 November 2005)

If you can sit through the first mindlessly boring half hour of dancing crowd scene (and stomach a few others; this director really gets his moneysworth from the extras) then you may find a spark of interest in P&P.
Not though if you know anything at all about the manners and traditions of 18th century England.
The whole premise of Austen's writing was based on certain elements which are totally lacking in this movie. For instance, the Bennetts were a respectable, well-heeled family of good stock but in that society, riddled with class awareness and false values, far below anything Mr Darcy could have been expected to marry into.....unless the object of his affections was so totally captivating that he couldn't help himself.
It was Elizabeth Bennett's unusual charm and unconventional ways which totally captured him and made him flout what were the very, very strong conventions of the day.
However, what we were given were Bennetts who looked little better than street people (uncombed hair, shaving stubble, no periwig when company called, and a dress code which bordered on the barbaric)with no manners whatsoever (and manners were everything in Austen's day).
Elizabeth was far from charming with virtually nothing to recommend her to the hide-bound Darcy - and a mouth so full of teeth it was a wonder they didn't all fall out on the floor when she smiled.
So where was the winsomeness? Where the prejudice or the pride for that matter, except that exhibited by the wonderfully tart Lady Catherine (Judi Dench).
Close your eyes and listen to Keira Knightley in this role and you'll hear Princess Diana; Mr Bingley could double for Jamie Oliver (complete with weird hair) and am I the only one in the whole world who does not see Keira as "stunningly beautiful"? She is, as Darcy first states, 'tolerable' but only just. Forever-open, pouting mouth (which, in Austen's society would have spoken of abject stupidity) and constantly scruffy appearance betrayed absolutely the smart, funny, and witty Miss Bennett Jane Austen portrayed.
There was so much wrong with this movie that it hard to remember that it was made for fun and entertainment and not meant to be (like the book) a dissertation on 18th century manners, just a wildly inaccurate bit of froth for the overseas market (Americans will love it I suspect)which made little or no attempt to stick to what Austen intended.
Yes, I'm a grumpy old curmugeon but I went into the movie expecting some attempt at least would be made to show us what P & P was all about and how love can conquer even the most rigid and iron-clad tradition. Alas, the disappointment and hence the grumpiness.