Pride and Prejudice - the Keira Knightley one

[Noellefielding]

I watched this again this week and really enjoyed it. Does anyone else like this version?
When I first saw it I hated Keira K - thought she was all wrong for Elizabeth - but I've changed my mind now, she's won me over.

But Wickham is not great casting imo. Very wooden and stiff necked. Implausible as competition for Darcy I think.
Wickham should have some dark magnetism shurely? A bit of Alan Rickman's charm with someone's looks who is gorgeous, can't think of who!

No I didn't like it at all. Mr and Mrs Bennett were the biggest disappointments for me after the BBC version.

I actually liked the Mr and Mrs Bennetts in the film version
but Keira K and that false cheesy grin and no sign of Colin Firth = disappointment IMO

I refuse to watch it - would never be unfaithful to dear Colin in this way

The BBC version is the most wonderful comfort blanket - I love it, love it, love it. And yes I love Colin too.

Great music.

Generally an excellent cast. Donald Sutherland gets Mr Bennet wrong though IMHO, playing him as rather weary and resigned. He is supposed to be a great wit. The source of Elizabeth's own wit and liveliness.

Yes I agree about Donald Sutherland. Benjamin Whitwell (?) got him absolutely right - just as I imagine him from the novel.

I thought Brenda Blethyn was excellent as Mrs Bennett. She had such an air of desperation behind the awfulness and you really felt that she was truly terrified of Mr Bennett dying and leaving them destitute.

When I re-watched the BBC version it made Alison Steadman seem a bit shrill, though still wonderful. Donald Sutherland wasn't right imo though.

I went a bit funny for Matthew Macfadyen, loved that he spent most of the film looking like he was about to burst into tears, but he has got the most enormous forehead.

LOL welliemum!!!!!

Agree about Donald Sutherland - he's not energetic - and he delivers his most famous first line (about her nerves) in a shockingly bad accent.

Brenda Blethyn v A Steadman - such a tough call - we are supposed to hate them aren't we? But I think I prefer BB to AS owing to the shrillness.

But Keira did grow on me and yes M Macfadyean has a massive box like head and yet he gave good Darcy imo. Watching the BBC one, Colin seems too standoffish (true to book perhaps though)

Wickham was rubbish, but the part was so underscripted anyway that the 'competition' element didn't even come into it. IMO if you had never read the book/seen another version you would be wondering what Darcy's letter to her was all about! Wickham in the Firth version was good, all charming and attractive (who played him?). Think, over all, I prefer the Firth version to this one.....

I did watch and enjoy it, but still no comparison to the BBC series

Colin Firth phwoaaaar

Hate it!

Keira K is terrible, Darcy pent the whole time looking like a lost puppy and it was just generally rubblish! For one thing since when did they live on a farm with animals running through the house? I know they only have a small estate but it still an estate not a farm!

I was brought up on the earlier BBC version (David Rintoul and Elizabeth Garvie) and that is still the best IMO. That moment when Elizabeth tells him her feelings have changed and his entire demeanor changes and his voice softens but I do like the Colin Firth one too. I think most people love the one they know best as for them those actors become the characters.

I do agree that Keira does keep baring her enormous gnashers a bit too much but she has grown on me with subsequent viewings.

It's true that wickham's part is totally underscripted... you should feel BABOOM - check him out in his uniform yummy... shouldn't you? And in comes this utter weedy lad with a pony tail and the acting abilities of a chair!

I loved the Elizabeth garvie one too but have almost forgotten it.

My copy that I studied for my english o level had them on the cover though... HOW OLD MUST I BE?????

About as old as me then - it was on telly (SUnday teatime) when I was doing mine

She was a lovely Lizzie wasn't she?

She was, but he always came across as a bit stuffy to me.....(must rescue video from dps office...)

yeah he didn't do it for me, just a bit too stiff and not in a good way!!!! !!!!

I like the grubbiness of the film. The BBC version seems very dated now, and the sets and costumes so clean! The chemistry of Colin and Jennifer ( ?? ) combined with the grubby realism of the film would be great, although I do absolutely adore Matthew McFadyen in Spooks.

Much prefer the BBC one. Couldn't get used to Matthew Macfadyen after Colin Firth but agree that he was fabulous in Spooks.

dyalike matthew with a beardy?

My vote would be Sean Bean for Whickham - in his Sharpe trousers.......... very very bad .............

yes, Sean would have some clout at least, Wickham needs to be a credible threat at least in terms of charm/sexiness.

Alan Rickman crossed with John Malkovich crossed with someone truly handsome like...........um........can't think of anyone truly handsome!!!

Noelle - re Matthew's beard: Prefer cleanshaven men but wouldn't kick him out of bed for the sake of a few whiskers! (Strictly fantasy only, of course, we are both happily married people!!!!!)

I think Hugh Grant is as good a Wickham as any. After all he did play the 'Wickham' role in Bridget Jones' Diary. Elizabeth would think him attractive on first viewing and then his shallowness would come across like Daniel Cleaver's did.

I HATED the Elizabeth Garvie one but liked the Greer Garson/Laurence Olivier one until the Colin Firth one - none could ever beat that.

I think celery is right, the keira one is filmed well, but it's got to be the BBC one for the casting, and the score, god I love it!

HUGH GRANT!!!!!

NO NO NO NO NO!!!

(sorry, but really, no!)

But then i dislike him for being too wet and puppy dog like in all those rom coms he does.