Friday, September 1, 2006

"PRIDE AND PREJUDICE"

Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Rosamund Pike, Donald Sutherland, Brenda Blethyn, Jena Malone

"Sometimes the last person on earth you want to be with is the one person you can't be without."

Mr Darcy and Ms Bennet


I remember vaguely watching a BBC mini series of Pride and Prejudice. It starred Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle in the lead roles. Yet it didn't really create such an impact on me. Either it was simply forgettable or my poor memory is catching up with my age.

This 2006 version of the Jane Austen book is certainly a film that I would remember for a long time. So I'm glad I bought it for my private collection so I can watch it everytime I am in the mood for some angst ridden romance.

I won't venture into the now familiar storyline. I'm pretty much sure everyone has read the novel at some point in their lives. Whether it was required for some school theme report or simply to peruse one boring rainy day. But to summarize - Mr and Mrs Bennet have 5 daughters who were raised in humble surroundings. Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia. All of them of marriage age and so Mrs Bennet is having sleepless nights trying to find them suitable husbands. Much of the story though focuses on Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bennet, a strong level headed girl who I like to believe thinks 'out of the box'. She encounters the arrogant stand offish Mr Darcy. Thus begin their little 'game'. Elizabeth is being prejudiced against because of her inferior circumstances while pride keeps Mr Darcy from actively pursuing the feisty Miss Bennet. Such drama and witty banter ensues and it is all so good to simply soak it all in!

This film is certainly a very good concise adaptation of the novel. It captures all the sharp witty dialogue. There is a good repartee among the actors. The plot develops at a steady pace. But most of all the gorgeous cinematography was top notch. Wow that simply blew my mind away. Most of the scenes looked like it was part of a very vividly bright painting. Such vibrant colors of lush manicured lawns, bright blue skies filled with clouds, the brocade design of the edifices, the magnificent shots of the balls in lavish mansions and the appropriate costumes befitting that era.

Keira Knightley portrayed a very convincing Lizzie Bennet. She delivered her lines effortlessly. Matthew Macfadyen as the pompous Mr Darcy came across as a more aloof version of Colin Firth which is just perfect if you ask me. Colin Firth was too charmingly handsome to really despise. There is this scene in the film where Mr Darcy is standing in the pouring rain and he confesses his love for Lizzie Bennet. It was really an intense moment you can feel his eyes piercing through the screen. It felt like he was actually pulling at your heart strings. Phew that was really powerful. He also delivered all his lines in such an impeccable fashion, you would think he really talks like that in real life. *Swoons*

I will end this piece by recommending you watch this film. It is worth it because in this fast paced life when we are constantly running after time to do a million things all at once, it is good to simply kick back once in a while and get lost in a period piece from another era which makes you wish life was simply one long fancy free romantic adventure.

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