A nicely watchable adaptation of the Jane Austen novel.

Rating: Null/10 (18 March 2006)

It has been well-established that a 2-hour movie can contain only a small fraction of the novel it is based on, so I suspect the various versions of "Pride and Prejudice" over the years have different significantly in their "focus", all the while attempting to be true to the spirit of the novel. I am not a great fan of this genre, but wanted to see it for the acclaim received by its star, Keira Knightley. In real life she seems to be quite a sharp wit, so this was a perfect role for her, the sharp-witted and independent Elizabeth Bennet. I enjoyed the movie very much.
The basic story involves a family with 5 daughters, and the mother (Brenda Blethyn in one of her patented roles) is eager to marry them off to men of at least some wealth. Four of the daughters are fairly compliant, but Liz is too independent and strong-willed to marry someone she doesn't love, a concept which amuses her father (Donald Sutherland).
While mum tries to facilitate the union between her daughter Jane (pretty blonde Rosamund Pike) and the wealthy suitor, Liz happens to meet sullen Mr Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) and they hit it off badly from the very beginning. Liz finds out other things which make her even less eager to ever see Mr Darcy again. So the rest of the movie has all the main characters visiting here and there, the mysteries of courtship in the middle of it all. It seems that the whole preoccupation of the young ladies is finding a husband and living that life. I suspect it was back then.
The SPOILERS FOLLOW. Liz eventually and gradually finds out that much of what she first learned about Mr Darcy were exaggerations or lies and that, in fact, he is a very generous person. Also he is shy and, after he knows someone, breaks out quite a bit. Add to that, he has fallen deeply in love with Liz. As she also falls for him, we see the mechanics of their working it out and the movie ends with them married and sharing small talk.