Pride & Prejudice 1995

I love the 1995 version of Pride & Prejudice!  Aside from the book, it is my favorite way to comfort myself and to be honest, my way of pampering myself.


Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle give a great and believable performance as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.  They play so well off of each other.


This movie is over 6 or 7 hours long and was aired in the UK on British television.  It was the talk of the country every week as everyone fell for Colin and his now immoralized wet shirt scene!  


Though Colin didn't want to do this at first, it is obvious as you watch the show that when he decided to play Mr. Darcy he went out of his way to make each scene and each line his own.  I think he may have even stunned himself in the process!!!  


I love that this version stays true to Jane Austen's book and it was so well cast!  Each character was spot on and did a wonderful job.


The writers were fantastic in giving you a glimpse of something Jane Austen never could or did, which was give you something of Darcy away from the Hursts, Caroline, Charles and the family.


Alison Steadman and Benjamin Withrow are awesome as Mr. and Mrs. Bennett.  They are funny and fun giving off the exact impressions that Jane wrote for them.  Affectionate towards their daughters and each other, though on occassion, driving each other nuts.  It was brilliant!


Crispin Bonham-Carter was awesome as Mr. Bingley and Susan Harker was great as Jane.  Perfect shy and adoring couple.


Anna Chancellor was great as Caroline Bingley and you could tell that she had not only invested her time to the character, but had her heart and blood firmly implanted in Jane Austen's world, for she IS a decendent of Jane herself.  I thought that was a wonderful little tidbit of information.  It gives me at least ONE reason to actually like Caroline!


Adrian Lukis as Mr. Wickham was another smart casting choice.  He pulls off the seediness of the character while being charming at the same time.  Mr. Lukis is a good actor as it is.


The scenery and costumes were wonderful and detailed.  It was like stepping back in time and finding myself in a great and amazing world.


There were a few deviations from the book, but they weren't intrusive or obviously meant to disrupt the entire film.  The additions only enhanced the entire film, and did not offend.


I love watching this movie over and over again.  It isn't because we see Colin in a wet  shirt, though that is attractive, but because the movie is very well made and very thought out.  You can tell a lot of love and effort was put into the making of Pride & Prejudice 1995.


~Enjoy

Lost In Austen

I love Lost In Austen.  I have seen it so many times, I have lost track!


I love the idea that Elizabeth Bennett and Amanda Price switch places and the fun that follows.


I guess every girl wants to escape from their existence and into another world.  For Amanda, and I suspect yourself and me it is into the world of Pride & Prejudice...and into Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy's arms!


The fun of this movie is the way poor Amanda, played by the fun and spunky Jemima Rooper, ends up screwing the story more as she tries to fix every mistake she makes.


I love this version of Mr. Darcy played by Elliot Cowan. He is stoic and unbending, more so than our dashing hero in the book, blowing Amanda's expectations of how Mr. Darcy should be.  I loved it and his lines were all so fun!


Hugh Bonneville does an amazing version of Mr. Bennett and let's you see more of the man than we should guess him to be. 


Christina Cole, from What A Girl Wants fame, is brilliant and shocking in her role as Caroline Bingley who shares an interesting and crazy secret, that would have Jane Austen herself spinning in their grave, but adds a lovely twist to the entire program.  I won't reveal it but I suggest you watch the movie!


Morven Christie plays a wonderful Jane and adds a lot to the plot.


Tom Riley is the one who came through and could almost make you change your mind and actually LIKE George Wickam.  I loved the arrogant air of the man as he played the worst character of the entire book!


And who could forget the Guy Henry playing a new and more disgusting version of Mr. Collins.  He isn't the stature or ideal Mr. Collins, but he does give a great performance here and adds a lot of flavor and spice to the movie itself.


All in all, this is a perfect "I wish I could trade places with Elizabeth" story and it is magical and whimsical and you cannot help but love Miss Amanda Price of Hammersmith!


~Enjoy