This review is about the DVD "Pride and Prejudice". The movie is based on the lovely book by Jane Austen. I watched this movie in the cinema with a friend and we both loved it. That's why I ordered the DVD even on amazon.com even before the sale had started and I have watched it a couple of times.
1) The Story of the Movie ++++++++++++++++++++
The Bennets have five daughters: Jane, Lizzie, Mary, Kitty and Lydia. Mrs. Bennet targets to get her girls married as soon as possible. When young Charles Bingley moves in near them, with his sister Caroline and his best friend Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Bennet wants him to marry one of her girls. And really, Mr Bingley likes Jane - the oldest daughter - very much, when they meet at a ball. In contrast Mr. Darcy is very cold and dismissive. He doesnīt dance and regards Lizzie as not beautiful enough. The next time they meet each other more often, because Mr. Bingley is very interested in Jane. The Bennets have a visitor: The dreadful cousin Mr. Collins who will inherit everything the Bennets possess arrives and wants to marry one of the girls. But Lizzie refuses to marry him immediately. Thereupon Mr. Collins marries Chalotte, Lizzies best friend. Another enjoyment is coming: The regiment arrives. The five girls get to know Mr. Wickham, a charming, young infanteryman. But a letter destroys the good mood of the girls. Mr. Bingley moves away. ..
2) The actors / actresses ++++++++++++++++++
Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet Lizzie is a calm and natural person. Truth is very important to her and she doesnīt want to marry someone she dosenīt truly love. Her family is veryimportant for her, too. Kiera Knightley is a great actress. She is a natural beauty and fits great into this movie as Lizzie. This year she got an Academy Award nomination for her performance in Pride in Prejudice, but the Oscar
went to Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line. Other movies with her are "Pirates of the Caribbean", "Bend it like Beckham", "King Arthur", "Star Wars" and "Domino".
Matthew McFadyen as Mr. Darcy Mr. Darcy is a very cold person who seems to be very unfriendly and proud. He doesnīt let anyone look inside him. Matthew McFadyen was a great Mr. Darcy: good-looking, cold, but incredibly attractive. However, when I saw a picture of him not dressed up while filming, he doesnīt look that good. This was the first movie I have seen with him, exept for "Enigma" where I didnīt notice him at all. Other movies with him are "Murder Rooms", "Maybe Baby" and "Perfect Strangers".
Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennet Mr. Bennet is a loving and caring father. He doesnīt apprechiate his wifeīs ambitions in getting all the girls married so fast, but he accepts that he has to let them go. Donald Sutherland was a great choice as Mr. Bennet. You really notice how much he liked the girls while filming. Some movies with Donald Sutherland are "Cold Mountain", "The Italian Job" and "Lord of War".
A part of the rest of the cast ---------------------------------------
Talulah Riley .... Mary Bennet Jena Malone .... Lydia Bennet Carey Mulligan .... Kitty Bennet Brenda Blethyn .... Mrs. Bennet Claudie Blakley .... Charlotte Lucas Simon Woods .... Mr. Bingley Kelly Reilly .... Caroline Bingley
3) The Book ++++++++++ "Pride and Prejudice" was written in 1813 by Jane Austen. A lot of personal experiences got involved in this book. Her aim was to write a book for amusement and entertainment. I like the book very much, because it is written in a lovely style and the story is great. Of course they had to leave out some things in the movie, but the main story didnīt change and even the dialogs where the same. When you read it, you feel like you are in the 19th century.
4) The Director ++++++++++++ This was the first real movie for Joe Wright. Before he had only made two short movies and three TV mini series. His new project "Atonement" also starrs Keira Knightley and Matthew McFadyen. The shootings start this month.
5) The DVD content +++++++++++++++
a) The Politics of Dating Here some people tell you how hard it was oin the 19th century to get contact with the other sex and that balls had been the only opportunity to touch someone. I think it was really hard for them then. Even when you found someone nice, your parents were still watching you. But I like that the men had to do the work to get a woman. Though it would be terrible if a guy like Mr. Collins came and my parents wanted me to marry him.
b) The Stately Homes of Pride and Prejudice Here the houses Burghley, Chatsworth House, Basildon Park, Wilton House and Groombridge Place are presented. There is a movie for each of them and you can look at pictures too. I think they are all very beautiful and Iīd love to visit them. Especially the one where the Bennets live. In real it is even more beautiful then in the movie.
c) The Bennets This is a movie clip about the Bennets and how people like them lived. It is a very nice movie where a very sympathic woman talks about the family. After that youcan understandall of them even better and you feel nearer to them then before. d) Life and Times of Jane Austen Here you get a lot of interesting information about Jane Austenīs life and the time she lived in. She herself had trouble with a guy and when the romance broke up, she lived her life just with some family members. She knows all about it, when she writes about lovelorn. After this movie you understand how her own life influenced her books.
e) Pride and Prejudice Family Trees Through these trees you can refresh your memory or in case you didnīt understand everything, you can understand who is related how with whom. Sometimes it gives you little information, but it could have been more.
f) Galleries of 19th Century Here you can see some pictures of clothes, jewellery and furniture. I think there arenīt really nice things where you say "Wow" and there could have been more pictures. But itīs a nice feature.
g) On Set Diaries Here they talk about their usual day on set and how they work together. Most of them feel like a real big family, just Mr. Darcy is always excluded he cmplains. It is a nice feature of this DVD.
h) Alternative Ending (US) This is an alternative ending for this movie. It is more concluding and it contains more thingsthat are in the book, but it is aboulutey riddiculous and just wrong. It doesnīt fit in. I wonder why they showed the US this ending, but no one else. Maybe they knew all the other people would hate it or they thought the US people need such an ending or theyīd think this movie is silly. I donīt know Well, I donīt like it and donīt exspect something nice.
i) Commentary by director Joe Wright I havenīt looked this commentary yet, because I usually think they are boring, but I still want to look this one. Joe Wright talks about things in his movie.
6) Movie Facts ++++++++++++
director: Joe Wright based on: the novel "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen runtime : 127 minutes Certification: U France/UK 2005 English Dolby Digital
7) My final opinion +++++++++++++++ "Pride and Prejudice" is a wonderful movie with great actor and actresses who let you dive into the world of Jane Austen and the Bennets. The story is fascinating. My mother thought it was a boring movie, but my father liked it and I think it wasnīt boring at all. I really recommend this DVD for people who like those stories. The DVD menu is created lovely and always music is playing in the background. I espescially liked this tension between Darcy and Lizzie. You could feel this beween them. The best scene was when Darcy confessed his love to Lizzie. The music was perfect for that. Also there are some funny things like Mrs. Bennet who is just amusing but not in a stupid way. She is caring a lot about her daughters. I donīt know any other movie or series by Joe Wright but he did a great job and I am looking forward to see his next movie. Some people might complainabout things left out in the movie, but I think most of it is there. I would have liked to see some outtakes and additional scenes on the DVD, but unfortunatly we have to be pleased with those galleries and set movies. I wishthere had been an outtake with Darcy and Lizzie kissing when he confesses his love, I mean, maybe they did, but we canīt know Also after a while the movie starts all by itself when you are in the main menu. And this sucks. But all in all the DVD and the nice extras are lovely made. I love this movie.
Thank you for reading!
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Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 2003 - Drama - Director: Michael Winterbottom - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Tim Robbins, Samantha Morton, Om Puri, Jeanne Balibar
great review i'm reading the book and i've nearly finished it and now i can't wait tot get it on DVD!
post-it-note 14.06.2006 23:50
I cant bring myself to watch a different version to the BBC one, im a bit bridget jonesish about Colin Firth im afraid! Nicely written review though.. try the BBC version sometime!
d1ceman 13.05.2006 19:02
Great review. Have added you to my alert list....I still prefer the BBC version..but hey. Respect. D1ce
Rightly winning wide acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic, this latest take on Jane ... more
Austens classicPride&Prejudiceis a real, all-round triumph. The age-old story still holds real resonance, and it follows the tale of five sisters dealing with love, an...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Rightly winning wide acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic, this latest take on Jane ... more
Austens classicPride&Prejudiceis a real, all-round triumph. The age-old story still holds real resonance, and it follows the tale of five sisters dealing with love, an...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
A romance ahead of its time... The five Bennet sisters - Elizabeth or Lizzie (Keira ... more
Knightley) Jane (Rosamund Pike) Lydia (Jena Malone) Mary (Talulah Riley) and Kitty (Carey Mulligan) - have been raised well aware of their mother's (Brenda Blethyn...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
The five Bennet sisters have all been raised by their mother with one purpose in life - ... more
finding a husband. However, the second eldest Lizzie can think of 100 reasons not to marry.When Mrs Bennet hears the exciting news that a wealthy bachelor and his c...
Advantages: VERY TRUE TO JANE AUSTEN'S ORIGINAL - Natural and Unpretentious - Glorious Scenery and very "Down-to-Earth" Disadvantages: It stopped before Jane Austen stopped, and I wanted MORE!
Advantages: Alive with a beating pulse, music, naturalistic settings, excellent portrayals, electric chemistry between leads. Disadvantages: A superfluous ending scene (US version only?); otherwise nil.
zerbine28 25.11.2005 (25.11.2005)
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Review of Pride And Prejudice (DVD)
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May 8th, 2006
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