Excellent adaptation but kinda Jane Austen "Lite"

Rating: 10/10 (5 March 2006)

Director Joe Wright has created a visual and musical enchantment. Keira Knightley deserves her Oscar nomination. She captures the movie's essence and the movie revolves around her persona. The English country side photography and set designs are beautiful. The big ballroom scene is classically done with the camera following the main characters each in their own little world perspective.
I later watched the BBC version and I can understand why the BBC stalwarts are defensive. Colin Firth is Mr. D'Arcy so anybody would have big feet to follow those footsteps. The BBC version at 5 hours is 90 minutes too long and the movie version is 45 minutes too short. The 5 TV hours allows for character development but is quite draggy in many parts. In the movie version it is very difficult to pick up the nuances especially if you don't know the story. The movie D'Arcy doesn't hold up as well and the pride doesn't show up as much as self doubt and hesitancy. I also agree that the movie Bingley is a bit too floppish and idiotic while the movie Mr. Collins is far superior to the TV version. Boy, this is getting confusing.
The bottom line for people could be; do they like a 20 year old Lizzie Bennett or a 27 year old Lizzie Bennett. Mature or college age.
Overall a beautiful story well made in both the movie and TV versions.