Do not expect to be enthralled with this mild and 'aimable' version of Pride and Prejudice

Rating: 6/10 (17 September 2005)

A new screen version of the universally loved and favourite Jane Austen book is always bound to have a hard time with the critics. Pride and Prejudice, with the heroine, Lizzie Bennet (played by Keira Knightley), has to be compared with the book and also with the early 90's BBC adaption. The makers have tried hard, but this Pride and Prejudice is just not as good as the Colin Firth BBC TV Series. Despite being well adapted to fit a fairly long novel into a two hour production, the film lacks the dynamics and feelings which should be evoked by the tale. The chemistry between Lizzie and Mr Darcy (Matthew MacFadyen) is not believable. The Mr Darcy of this version is not seen often enough on screen and therefore his character is not so developed and loved by the viewers. Mr Darcy was portrayed as wooden, instead of shy. Other characters were wonderfully portrayed, such as Mr Collins, who was played with such empathy to the disastrous little man vying for Lizzie's affections. Keira Knightley was very good in the film, and honestly played Lizzie with a modern twist to her character and to the film. Donald Sutherland, playing (Mr Bennet), however was a disappointment, whose character was not developed and did not seem to be well cast.
Now to the actual film... As I've mentioned before, the film was well adapted and the scenes were lively and energetic. However, the whole film was very Hollywood and clichéd. An example is Darcy's first proposal to Lizzie in the pouring rain, as well as the image of Darcy striding up to Elizabeth from the mist of the moors at the end. The love scenes were also not gripping and believable. Personally, I did not feel like I was watching the best sexual tension moments of all time.
All in all, Pride and Prejudice is worth the watch, just to see a new version of the book. However, it is not the amazing and wonderful film which some may be hoping for. I think that those, like me, who are in love with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle and their story, should stay true to that version!