Far under my expectation. But not really bad.

Rating: 6/10 (27 July 2016)

To be noted, I've read the novel but never watched any adaptation of it, except this version.
When I read the novel, I thought this was a great story. I fell in love with Mr. Darcy, absolutely. And, I had my own imagination of Mr. Darcy in real life. I started to imagine a charming Mr. Darcy, though not in a really clear image. When I see the glimpses of Mr. Darcy in this movie, I thought it was Mr. Darcy totally brought into life. Actually I imagined Mr. Darcy was slimmer and younger than Matthew Macfadyen was and had no idea of Mr. Darcy's hairstyle in my imagination. So, Matthew Macfadyen wasn't a total resemblance to my imagination of Mr. Darcy but I thought he's far better, physically, than my imagination of Mr. Darcy. I felt so enthusiastic, couldn't bear myself to wait to watch the movie.
But, when I watched the movie, all my expectations were ruined. The main actor and actress, Matthew Macfadyen and Keira Knightley, were far from personality-resemblance with Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett. I couldn't feel the admiring-and-loving sense of Mr. Darcy toward Elizabeth that were repressed by the sense of pride. Even I didn't know at which time in the movie he started to admire Elizabeth. (Anyway, I'd been informed that Matthew Macfadyen had never read the novel, he only read the script, which really lacked of originality; and it's proved by his poor playing of Mr. Darcy's role) And, about Keira Knightley, I thought the director's opinion not to place her in Elizabeth role (which I'd been informed by an article before watching the movie, but I felt sure that Keira Knightley could still nail it) was true. I didn't feel the liveliness of Elizabeth in her. Instead, she looked much giggling like a freak. (Sorry, Keira. Perhaps, it's true, the role wasn't for you.)
Next, the plot. Really, really, ruined. What I really loved from Pride & Prejudice were the awkward but lovely moments of sudden meetings of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. But, the scriptwriter just did trims and changes everywhere, unfortunately, at my favorite scenes of such meetings. 1. At Collinses Parsonage. When Mr. Darcy came there to find that there's only Elizabeth. There ought to be more to the conversation. There ought to be more fun awkward moments. And the next days, when Mr. Darcy often came to the Parsonage just to meet Elizabeth, such scenes weren't presented in the movie. 2. When he proposed to Elizabeth for the first time. The proposal should had been preceded by Mr. Darcy rushing to inquiry the Elizabeth's health. Instead of showing such scene, the movie presents such proposal-and- quarreling scene under the rain. I didn't know what's going on the scriptwriter's mind. She, perhaps, thought it'd be so dramatic but for me, it made the story looked so poor. 3. At Pemberley House. You know the scene's totally different from what it ought to be. It'd be amazing if Elizabeth got a total astonishment of meeting Mr. Darcy, just like how the novel told. Instead, the movie used a really ordinary way of their meeting in Pemberley.
Then, about the deepest things about the story, Elizabeth's and Mr. Darcy's characters (the pride and prejudice) and relationship. The pride and prejudice weren't described well by the story (whereas, "Pride & Prejudice" title clearly told how the story ought to be). About relationship, I could hardly see true love between them. I couldn't see the depth in the relationship. You know, there were just too many scenes. The movie, though had been much trimmed, seemed to be still long, seemed rushing from one scene to another, and failed to reach the heart of the relationship.
And, there were a lot more details that weren't really good. I just couldn't tell each of them here. My review would be to long.
However, I could tolerate it because the movie only had 2-hours duration, which definitely wasn't adequate to present the span and the depth of the original story.
I tried to tolerate the lack-of-originality of the story. Perhaps, the scriptwriter, the director, or whoever behind this lack- of-originality, wanted to focus much on mere love story and want to make it much easily accepted by modern audience.
It would be unbalanced if I only told the negative sides. So, I'd tell what I liked from the movie. 1. Of course, Matthew Macfadyen. Instead of being failed in playing Mr. Darcy's role, He's physically the perfect version of Mr. Darcy. And, I loved his silky voice. His voice sounded like so perfectly romantic. With these such perfect physical animation of Mr. Darcy, perhaps, if the script-writing was perfect, he could explore more in Mr. Darcy's character, and he'd do much better in his role. 2. Pianoforte-playing that became the soundtrack of the movie. It really engaged me to the story, brought me to the very situation of the story. 3. The settings (especially in the balls) and the costumes really entertained my eyes. 4. The Bennetts. The opening scenes framing them really entertained me. Throughout the movie, it's always fun to see the Bennetts. One of the most amusing is Mary. She looked really ignorant and indifferent in many things, yet so funny. 5. The beauty of Bennett sisters, just like what the novel told. 6. When Mr. Darcy took Elizabeth's hand when accompanying her to get on the carriage. So awkward yet fun. 7. Despite the negatives and positives, I always admired old-time-setting British films.
So, I decided to give 6 out of 10 stars for the movie. And, I decided to watch the 1995 mini-series version for seeking out more original film adaptation of the story.