to opine that the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is not very good?

[ScribblyGum]

Watching it with dd1 (15) as evidence of what constitutes a great romantic story after sitting through the utter shite that is the Harry Styles fan fiction movie After.

I know P&P is lots of other stuff but I wanted to show her something that I believed was excellent telly.

Four episodes in and I’ve come to the terrible realisation that actually it’s really dated, boring, badly acted and all in all a bit crap.

Far, far too much dull mimsy dancing.

Colin Firth is hot but doesn’t bring much to the part apart from posh snooty emotionally constipated hotness.

Alison Steadman's acting is just silly.

The music is too loud. Are the costumes a bit crap too? Not sure, there’s some bloody weird turbans going on on Caroline Bingley's head.

God it’s so BORING. Neither of us can be arsed to finish it.

I bet the Keira Knightly version is better

Another useless fact from the BBC version is that Emilia Fox (Georgiana) is the daughter of the actress (whose name escapes me) who plays Lizzie's Aunt Gardiner.

Can't believe no one has mentioned Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

I'd rather watch that than Keira (acts with her teeth) Knightly.

The garden confrontation scene in the BBC one with Lady Catherine and Lizzie was sublime.

Of course, Austen’s original dialogue is fantastic which helps!

“I send no compliments to your mother. I am most seriously displeased”.

"Are we to be murdered in our beds?"

YABU and yo know it OP

Heresy, OP

I love the BBC version. It's far superior to any other version if for no other reason than David Bamber is the definitive Mr. Collins.

Joanna David is Emilia Fox’s mama.

YABVVVVVU!

Firstly, it isn't a romance. It's a satirical story that includes a romance. There's a difference.

It's only boring if you don't listen to and appreciate the sparky words used. Sadly, too many people think the language should be modern and include dreadful modern abbrevs. etc.
People WERE a bit stilted 200 years ago.

The film is a lightweight romance BASED on the book. Thus it is trivial, superficial and very, very boring (imho). It lacks the nuances and subtlety of the BBC version (and certainly the original novel)

If you read the original novel, you'd see the difference.

David Bamber is the definitive Mr. Collins.

In terms of personality, he nailed it. In terms of physical appearance, sadly no. In the novel, Mr Collins is a large ungainly man, which would also have been pretty funny.

YABVVVU. 1. For saying the BBC version isn't good. 2. For even suggesting that the keira Knight one is better.

Can't believe no one has mentioned Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
Hugely entertaining. With no pretensions to be anything other than a very entertaining romp. I enjoyed Clueless too for much the same reason.

The Keira Knightly film was a badly acted, annoying rip-off of a much-beloved story.

The BBC adaptation of North and South is better in every way from the romance right down to the message. Loved it.

I think you are being very unreasonable to use the word 'opine'.

If you read the original novel, you'd see the difference.

Yawn again at the literary snobbery which assumes that those of us that don't worship at the altar of a BBC series don't do so because we are too woefully under-read to be able to appreciate its nuanced interpretation of the text, and only genuine Austen devotees can get it.

To paraphrase Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I have a degree in Eng Lit from Cambridge, I've been teaching English for over twenty years and I still love the film, so bite me!

I love Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. The graphic novel is excellent.

I enjoy using the word opine a lot and I plan on continuing to do so. It’s got a nice mouth feel to it.

For clarification I said I bet the film is better. I’ve not seen it for an age so cannot (yet) make a firm position that it is indeed better. It can’t be half a dreary as the BBC version. I do remember good cinematography, mist, Keira on a swing with a dodgy fringe and the proposal scene in the rain. I regrettably do not remember Donald Sutherland’s giant teeth. These are now the prime motivator to rewatch it.

The music in the BBC version is not great. The theme tune is overused. Someone was very pleased with themselves for composing it and the producers shove it in every which way repeatedly and far too loudly. It has also given me an irritating earworm.

I appreciate the sparky words very much but not so much when they are delivered within a bloated, dreary production.

Teddy North and South!! Nobody had better diss that Richard Armitage in top super-sexy stern grumpy form

Alison Steadman was fantastic. I cannot believe there are people who do not appreciate her performance.
The proposal in the rain in the KK film was good, but I couldn’t come at Keira as Lizzie. Too slender to be a regency beauty.

I think KK is horrible and it was a travesty to have her play Lizzie, a character I'd loved since childhood. I hated the film with a passion. I do have a very soft spot for the BBC series partly because we loved it so much at the time, the waiting each week, we were entranced. Having said that I think it stands the test of time.

Yes to the PP up thread who mentioned the Emma Thompson Sense and Sensibility. Wonderful.

The BBC version is the gold standard. The script is so true to the original and the characterisation is spot-on. And I personally would rather watch the wonderful late Benjamin Whitrow and David Bamber doing a Cillit Bang ad on a loop than most offerings on the cinema.

@SenecaFalls totally agree on David Bamber! Love him in this!

Colin Firth is hot but doesn’t bring much to the part apart from posh snooty emotionally constipated hotness.

But that describes Darcy perfectly!

My favourite Austen adaptation is the Amanda Root & Ciaran Hinds Persuasion. Perfection.

The film is great . Then again Matthew Macfadyen has always done it for me and I have never understood why Mumsnetters dislike Keira Knightley so (nor can many
spell her name it seems, pedant ). Rosamund Pike, Tom Hollander... so many wonderful performances.
I agree BBC version is very dated now; in its day it was absolutely wonderful, truer to the novel etc (yes I’ve read plenty).
People forget in its day it was just a bit of fun as well, the book wasn’t exactly deep and meaningful either. It’s not sacrosanct and I love the way modern interpretations evolve and develop.

PS bravo New Cross, I agree completely

My favourite Austen adaptation is the Amanda Root & Ciaran Hinds Persuasion. Perfection.

Oh my goodness me, yes to this. Talk about definitive performances. Ciaran Hinds as Captain Wentworth. My favorite acting performance of a Jane Austen character of all time.

Yes! I love the Persuasion adaptation too, it’s my favourite. Ciaran Hinds is the ultimate leading man.