Pride and Prejudice (DVD, 2004)

Faye Weldon's script is so true to the actual text that the book truly comes alive in this version. The characters are splendid all around - Elizabeth, Darcy, Mr. Collins, Lady Catherine, but most especially Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. One only realizes how good the latter two are when one watches the versions that came after this one. This is easily the best production by a mile of what Anthony Trollope called the greatest novel written in the English language.

My teenage and older girls and I love this movie and the book. Jane Austen wrote with color and vivacity. Her characters are real with their quirks, morals, vices, etc. while granting us a look into her day with humor. My youngest daughter is currently reading the book for literature so we bought this DVD so we could see how closely it follows the book. There are some direct quotes, and although it must combine scenes and alter the story somewhat, it appears to be fairly accurate. We thoroughly enjoy the story and the values it represents. What a refreshing thing to read of a time when manners meant something, were highly valued, and respect for one another and one another's reputations was honored. I think everyone should see this.

I found this version to be somewhat tedious at times. The character development was better for some than others. My favorite characters in this one were Mr. Collins, Jane Bennet, Mrs. Bennet and Lady Catherine. The rest seemed to try too hard at being just one emotion for each scene.

The style of movie making is different than typical modern movies, which is fine. This version appears more like a theatre skit being taped and put onto the screen, for the indoor scenes anyways.

I found it to be mostly true to the book. (I don't recall Kitty coughing all the time in the actual story.)

If you are a fan of Jane Austen this version is worth watching. If you are looking to compare to the most recent Hollywood version you will not care for this one.

I am a great "Pride and Prejudice" fan and have seen about 5 versions of it and enjoyed them all. This one, however, was a struggle to really get into because Mr. Darcy is so stiff and severe for so long. I thought he and most of the actors were poorly directed, at times I felt I was watching a neighborhood play production. If you're an Austen fan you might want to see this anyway, but if you're not, this isn't going to make you one.

First I saw the A&E version, then the version with Keira Knightly, then the version with Greer Garson. I found this version on eBay and knew I had to see it, so I checked it out at the library. The first few minutes I thought were very different because it was presented more like a play (for I hadn't seen any other older BBC versions before this), but after watching it a little longer I began to like it! Now I am absolutely avid about it, and it has become my absolute favorite version of this Jane Austen classic!!! It is also very clean yet I hear still stands faithful to the book, so that is a nice part about it as well!! Elizabeth Garvie and David Rintoul are wonderful as Lizzy and Darcy, and Irene Richard (Elinore in BBC's 1981 Sense and Sensibility) also stars in this all time classic!!! Althouh the version with Colin Firth is also very close to the book, I believe that the character of Lizzy is much more accurately portrayed in this version. She is much younger and prettier than Jennifer Ehle(in my opinion). Lizzy's change of heart towards Darcy is quite evident, and her thoughts are often expressed as they are in the novel. I have also seen all four versions and found this to be the cleanest most well done version of them all (even compared to the A&E version)!! I own it on dvd now!!