Overall very agreeable.

Rating: 9/10 (28 November 2005)

As a Jane Austen fan since high school lit class, and a great fan of the BBC 6-hour production, I was not inclined to see yet another P&P production. I was more than agreeably surprised. The changes made to accommodate the two-hour screenplay were in keeping with the overall feel of Austen's writings. I feel this adaptation more nearly represents the class division between the Bennett family and the esteemed rank of Darcy and Bingley. I had also been somewhat uneasy about the BBC production as to Jennifer Ehle's age, vis a vis Elizabeth. She was perfect in execution of lines and to some degree the spirit of the character as portrayed in the book. However, her performance was easily eclipsed by the fresh and girlish Keira Knightley. She absolutely glowed. Stealing the movie was Matthew MacFadyen as the aloof but smitten Darcy. WOW! His performance is bound to bring moviegoers back to this movie for second and third viewing. Any Jane Austen fan will immediately mark this Darcy as the best of any who has attempted this character. I did lament the loss of more character development for Wickham and Mr. Collins but this is a small price to pay for the breathtaking locations, sets and performances of the principle characters. After two viewings I am looking forward to going again.