A great movie, but rushed for time

Rating: 7/10 (16 November 2005)

The problem is, we were spoiled by the excellent BBC version which in five hours time was able to follow the book rather closely. Thus, the dialogue in this new movie version feels very rushed and condensed, as though the script had been written for the Readers Digest. It just seems that in their hurry to get their lines in, the actors' elocution in many scenes is clipped, and thus difficult to understand. Aside from the two older sisters, the three younger sisters have little opportunity to distinguish themselves or to develop their characters. There simply isn't time. I kept waiting in vain for my favorite conversations and confrontations to take place. Most were there, but shortened almost beyond recognition.
Two other problems: The propensity of the Bennet family members to eavesdrop together on private conversations was extremely annoying. Also, the casting of Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennet was a bit misguided. He seemed, at 70, more like their grandfather than their father.
However, one of the many redeeming features of this movie (the beautiful locales being one of them) is the casting of Keira Knightly as Elizabeth. She was superb and radiant throughout. Her scene with Mr. Darcy at the end of the movie, where they meet by chance at dawn outside her home, has to rank as one of the most romantic scenes in cinematic history.