Captivating in style and characterisation

Rating: 8/10 (19 September 2005)

I have never seen the "Colin Firth version" (I was nine at the time) which I would see as an advantage. Matthew MacFadyen is an excellent Darcy, and the chemistry between him and Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet worked well.
I agree that Darcy's painful attempts at small-talk with Elizabeth in Mr Collins' house is one of the best in the film. I was captivated by MacFadyen's performance, and although there is only so much you can do with the two hours worth of film, I think he showed the change in Darcy's character very well. And, on a shallower note, I think he looks best in the film during his dishevelled, coat-billowing walk through the dawn mists.
Knightley is charming as Elizabeth, which honestly surprised me. She sort of sparkled in places, and came across as intelligent, if a little too sharp for her own good. At times she was the personification of feisty, and the way she showed Elizabeth's changes in mood were done subtly, there was no huge flash of emotion, which fit well with the character's independent and self-contained streak.
Kelly Reilly (Bingley's sister) and Judi Dench also add weight to this film, with great sense of character in quite small roles. The other Bennets in this film are not really given much development, apart from Jane, and I think this is a waste.
There were some dazzling scenes in this film that would not come across anywhere near as powerfully on the small screen. The scale of the story itself is also one that benefits the full cinema treatment. The locations chosen for the main houses in the film were very good, and as a general fan of ball scenes there were enough to delight me.
Overall, I really enjoyed this film. I suppose it helps that I'm a hopeless romantic. A very very good adaptation, although die-hard fans will probably find enough to pick at. And move over Colin Firth - there's a new master of Pemberley.