P and P

Rating: 8/10 (18 February 2006)

I thought this version of Pride and Prejudice was by far the best; I've seen other versions. I thought the actors Knightley and Macfadyen played their parts well, although I think Ehle and Firth aren't bad actors, I didn't think the 1995 version was true to the social, historical and cultural context. The costumes in the 1995 version weren't as good in comparison and quite revealing. The 2005 enactment of Pride & Prejudice was more sympathetic towards Mrs Bennet, I recall Mrs Bennet saying something like "You don't what it's like to have 5 daughters to provide for/marry off." It's the first time she was portrayed as a harassed and worried woman rather than a toadying, match making mama. In the book she is depicted as a woman of little sense, who can be vulgar and inelegant. Lydia is amusing and a credit to Jena Malone's acting skills. I was disappointed that a lot of Wickham's (Rupert Friend's) scene's were missed out but it was balanced by the general excellence to the film. The clothing, particularly the pashmina scarfs were more genuine and representative of women's fashions than the 1995 version. Do watch it, it's out on DVD.