Pride and Prejudice
discussion
Which of the two do you prefer? The Series with Colin Firth or the 2005 Movie?
BBC series no doubt, Colin Firth kept up to the expectations of Darcy's character. The movie was a total disappointment.
Both. I love Collin Firth, but I also like Kiera Knightly a-lot, and the chemistry between her and Mathew McFaddyen was mesmerizing.
I was in love with the Colin Firth adaptation as soon as i first watched it. I prefer the actress who plays Elizabeth too. Although I did enjoy the newer version, I have not watched it more than once. However, I watch the Colin Firth version at least once a year. I am in love with his interpretation of Mr Darcy.
Definitely the series!! Colin Firth is undoubtedly THE Mr. Darcy, besides Keira Knightley isn't convincing as Elizabeth Bennet.
From a male point of view since we are sorely outnumbered in the comments I loved the BBC series because of Jennifer Ehle's Elizabeth. I went gaga over her and searched all her movies and found a treasure trove with my favorite "Possession" with Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart. Then the River King where she gives a sexy performance.
The Ovation cable channel has been running the 1995 BBC series...I see that it will be on again tomorrow afternoon.
I love them both! The cinematography was wonderful in the movie; it was like being in a museum and looking at works of art, but I do agree with Caz (above), that Matt MacFayden, while yummy-licious, lacks the Darcy-esque quality of Colin Firth.
BBC series definitely. Colin Firth, in my eyes, IS Fitzwilliam Darcy. However, there's a lot to be said for the 2005 version showing a more accurate view of everyday life for regular people. But yeah, BBC, Colin, you have my heart.
The Series with Colin Firth, they didn't have to squish everything into a 2 hour time limit.
YOU ARE CRAZY!!!! Matthew is AMAZING. He is the greatest Darcy EVER. The only time he isn't is when he smiles. It's just wrong. Also the 2005 version is my favorite movie. I agree that it doesn't follow the book, but it is mind blowingly amazing.
All the Colin Firth people obviously haven't seen the last scene of the 2005 movie.
movie...i did like it a looot
Well I didn't see the film but I did see the series and that would get my thumbs up anyway, a series lasts longer than a film.....Mr Firth is a real moody Mr Darcy.......brilliant!!!
I actually like them both, because they are different and represent different aspects of the story...the series is much more traditional...
No contest. The BBC mini series with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. I'm not a fan of Keira Knightley and the few previews of saw of the movie with her in it, seemed untrue to the book.
The Keira Knightly version changed so much of Austen's wording! The Colin Firth movie stayed closer to the book, and didn't change stuff that shouldn't have been changed.
Just read the David Shapard annotated version of P&P and then re-watched the BBC version. Soooo true to the book! Absolutely fantastic. The movie got many things wrong. I usually love Keira Knightly, but I think Jennifer Ehle is the best Lizzy ever.
I appreciated the Knightley film very much. It gave a more realistic feel to the family dynamic and the tension that would have built between Darcy and Elizabeth. The cinematography was incredible, especially the scene where the camera peeks into the windows of the house as it goes up the floors showing a sweet intimate moment between Mr and Mrs Bennet, the sisters, and even a maid humming a tune: it just felt real, like this story could have really happened. Focus Features is an amazing production company with constantly great lighting, scenery and camera work. Oh and the time lapse as she is in the swing- stunning.Still, prefer the BBC version though because the film goes so quickly that if you aren't familiar with the story already the characters seem rash and rushed.
i love them both. the bbc series is more like the book and the film is not as detailed but some pictures are just so beautiful and i love the film mr darcy ^^
The BBC version - it is so much more accurate than the movie.
Which Mr Darcy was best ?
Deborah wrote: "Which Mr Darcy was best ?"Personally, Colin Firth.
I think so to,Colin Firth .....
Colin Firth & Matthew Macfadyden were both brilliant in their roles.J. Ehle was very good, but in my opinion, Keira was a very good match.
I loved Dame Judy Dench as lady Catherine. The one in the series didn't seem to have that air of fear around her.
Except for Jane, the other sisters were very much the same both in the series & in the movie. Flirtatious, rude, immature.
Rosamund Pike made a great Jane Bennet.
A lot of people keep saying that the series were faithful to the book. I agree, but you have to take in the consideration the fact, that the movie is about two hours long, whilst each of the episodes lasts more that one hour. Of course they could keep most of the lines in, when there are 6 episodes. I think the director of the movie, Joe Wright just worked best with what he could.
Nobody seems to notice that stunning soundtrack from the movie. I advise you to check it out on youtube. It is just magnificent, hair-rising...I haven't noticed that kind of music in the series.
Asia wrote: "Hello Everyone, I liked the movie and have watched both several times. Nevertheless I prefer the series because I think it portrays Mr. Darcy's initial "hatred" and final love better than in the m..."
I agree the soundtrack from the movie was great
BBC- every step of the way.
The great charm of the miniseries was that it was most faithful to the novel. Personally I did not think Jennifer Ehle was cast well as Elizabeth Bennett, lacking a kind of archness and strain of cynicism (however humorous) that are such elements of Elizabeth Bennett's character. And I am probably in a minority in considering Colin Firth's portrayal of Mr. Darcy as adequate but not exactly stellar. On the other hand, the character who portrayed Mr. Collins did a fantastic job in my opinion.I just finished watching the 2005 movie and am very surprised: I thought it did a really good job portraying the romance between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy; but it cut out almost all of the comedy in the novel. The three most comedic characters-- Mr. & Mrs. Bennett, and Mr. Collins-- were all stripped of most of their comic material, especially Mr. Collins who is almost unrecognizable as compared to the novel. I liked the casting in every single role except maybe Caroline Bingley-- and liked the portrayal of the romance-- and loved the cinematography-- but could not believe that the movie entirely ignored the humor found in the novel. So I think that it did a very nice job with half of the story.
I think the BBC series was much better. Colin Firth's Darcy is a much stronger and formidable character. The casting and the acting are far superior!
Ginger wrote: "I think the BBC series was much better. Colin Firth's Darcy is a much stronger and formidable character. The casting and the acting are far superior!"Totally agree with you! :)
Hi!I prefer the series with Colin Firth. I think the other version with Keira Knightly was also good, but what kind of bothered me in the last was exactly Keira or better say the choice of Keira for this role.
When reading the book I saw Elizabeth as more serious in her appearence and more strict if I can say so, but Keira's looks are too "smiley" and pleasant even when she's not smiling. I really like Keira, but not for this character definitely.
Also Matthew MacFadyen, i have to agree with Katrina that at first he seemed like an abused puppy instead of at first proud and arrogant Mr. Darcy I perceived from the book.
So, all in all - BBC series were better :)
I love them both as they both added different dimensions to the character. One very formal, tidy and uptight, the other still as uptight, but somehow more believable and human - if that makes sense!
I love both, but the movies so much, Colin Firth is perfect for Mr. Darcy!
Colin Firth for sure.
My vote goes for the series. Colin Firth, deinitely. I like how he portrayed Darcy. I was not a big fan of the movie- I guess I was just to smitten with the series.
I have read the book eight or ten times, it is my favorite book. I abhor the 2005 movie version, details were just plain wrong, and it didn't follow the excellently written text of Jane Austen as well as it could have - I was bothered by the entire production (sows roaming through the house – really? A gentleman father which is what Mr. Bennett was would not have had farm animals roaming through the house). I love the Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth version - it stayed as close to the original text as possible, and was excellently acted, which beautiful views of the English countryside.
Mary, have you ever seen the BBC version made in 1979? I own both BBC versions as well as the movie. I've seen all three multiple times and like them all for different reasons, the 1979 version is the best at presenting the novel accurately. I think Colin Firth is terrific, but Austen's gentlemen never smolder like that. The characters in the 1979 version seem to step right out of the book and Darcy is utterly perfect.
Toni wrote: "Mary, have you ever seen the BBC version made in 1979? I own both BBC versions as well as the movie. I've seen all three multiple times and like them all for different reasons, the 1979 version is ..."I haven't seen the 1979 version. Who is in it?
Toni wrote: "Mary, have you ever seen the BBC version made in 1979? I own both BBC versions as well as the movie. I've seen all three multiple times and like them all for different reasons, the 1979 version is ..."Thanks for sharing, where can we watch the BBC version made in 1979? Thanks a lot.
Toni wrote: "Mary, have you ever seen the BBC version made in 1979? I own both BBC versions as well as the movie. I've seen all three multiple times and like them all for different reasons, the 1979 version is ..."Toni, I don't think I have seen that version. And although I am a huge Colin Firth fan, I agree with you he played the role too moody until the very end. I think he should have lightened up in the middle when in scenes with his staff (played it more like a benevelovent father), since the Housekeeper sang his praises in that regard. I just adore Jane Austen.
Toni wrote: "Mary, have you ever seen the BBC version made in 1979? I own both BBC versions as well as the movie. I've seen all three multiple times and like them all for different reasons, the 1979 version is ..."Thanks Toni, just watched the BBC version made in 1979, that Elizabeth is indeed much better than Jennifer and Keira!
I adore Jane Austen and find her very visual to read. I didn't see your earlier posts or I would have directed you to Amazon which has the early version. I enjoy seeing the different ways her work is transferred to the screen. I reread P&P recently and pictured the 1979 version with every character. Her descriptions are extremely vivid and this version just captures them for me so well.
Colin Firth. Colin Firth. Colin Firth.Janeites, the Cambridge Companion to Pride and Prejudice is now out. I'm heading to the library right now to get on the list.
Shelley
Rain: A Dust Bowl Story
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I hated the 2005 with Kiera Knightley. She is so annoying! my favorite of the two would be the one with Collin Firth, but the one that I REALLY love even tho its super old and in black and white is the 1940 one. The casting is amazing and they found a perfect Elizabeth and a very handsome and good portrail of Mr. Darcy.
I'm biased in favor of the 2005 one since it's the one that introduced me to Pride and Prejudice in the first place. Morning after I watched it my brother-in-law gave me his copy of the book and I read nonstop.I later got the 1995 version (after reading the book about 5 times and watching the 2005 movie about 1000 times). It's definitely more accurate and I love it, but I'm more attached to the 2005 because it's what started my addiction in the first place.
1995, Colin Firth, no ifs ands or buts!
Flora wrote: "1995, Colin Firth, no ifs ands or buts!"Reasons please? Or no reasons! :p
The reason that I like the colin Firth version of P and P is that it is the long version spanning the whole book over many hours of viewing. The much earlier movie takes poetic liberty and totally misses many of Jane Austen's wonderful dialog and subtleties.
The BBC series is the ultimate winner. I think because it was a television series it had more time to capture every aspect of the novel. Character development was at its best (even for minor characters) and nothing was left out. The series still amazes me after watching it 4 times! Just thinking about it makes me what to rewatch!
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and i really enjoyed watching Jane played by Keira.