Pride and Prejudice (Mini-Series) (DVD, 2001, 2-Disc Set, Special Edition Widescreen)

Review of Pride & Prejudice 2001 & 2005

Jane Austin’s book is of a fine of story as one will ever come across, lately I was unaware of the 2001 A&E movie production of Pride & Prejudice with Colin Frirth and Jennifer Ehle, so, was treated to a wonderful surprise.
Now, in 2005 Focus Features presented Pride & Prejudice with Keira Knightly, this film seemed to have a larger budget and was relised on the silver screen, the A&E version was five hours long and more of a minnie series released on Cable TV, the 2005 feature was an hour and a half. Both movies are out on DVD.
The differences are quit startling when you think of the two movies, I will try to set them next to each other in hope of seeing the differences. In the 2001 A&E film I was treated to a story that was rich with how I believe Jane Austin was trying to tell her story, the characters were very rich with personality that rang true. The name of the story is Pride & Prejudice, the A&E movie truly captured the essence of the immaturity and prejudices in Lizzy that she herself could not see and the true pride and arrogance in Mr. Darcee that may have stayed with him for life. Mr. Darcee was not a mean or bad sort of man, he we dealing with an affliction of shyness to converse with people which was taken as a sign of his pride. Lizzy was hard and unforgiving quit different from Jane her old sister that was good in her sole. Prejudice stood in the way of Lizzy as she try’s in her heart to deal with her hidden love for Mr. Darcee. Its funny how Elizabeth mocks Mr. Darcee two or three time in the movie about his comment, on, once he had lost someone’s good opinion he would never give it back, yet, It was really lizzy that could not forgive, that was part of her prejudices.
In the 05 version that is much shorter, I seem to have saw a focus on pictorial beauty, a refining of copied scenes from the 01 movie, a lot of the time I was left wondering what that scene was about because the director was just trying to make a better scene and in doing so he lost the natural way real people converse in the real word.
One particular thinking of the director and art director, that drove me crazy, was that because the Bennett family were not royalty, that they lived like un-kept pigs and they could not keep there house in good order, they showed the paint coming off the walls, worn carpet, pigs walking through the house, The Bennett’s were very wealthy in today’s thinking and English pride, dignity and excellence was the notion of the day, some times liberal directors think that reality is sloppy, the only thing that is sloppy and trashy is the directors feelings on how one lives in those times. Another sad fact of the new movie was the writer added a scandalous affair that was not even in the A&E movie, in the 2005 movie, Lizzy visits Mr. Darcee home and sees him in the arms of another women! Which turn out to be his sister!
Overall there are truly breathtaking scenes that have pictorial beauty and music that really will stir your heart. Like, when Lizzy stands at the edge of the cliff to reveal the beauty of the land that falls away. The wind glides past her as the music sets you into a memorable moment. Another is when she blows out the candle and the scene goes black instead of just the room. Another great scene is when she receives the dreadful news that her younger sister had run off with Mr. Wickom and she leaves in the carriage, the camera focuses on the distressed Elizabeth.

The essence of the story is the antagonism between Mr. Darcy, a wealthy single man who believes Elizabeth to be beneath him, and Elizabeth, who upon being insulted at a dance by the aloof Darcy refuses to associate with him in any manner. Austen evokes incredible tension with the wit and flirtation of the two characters, and director Simon Langton (who also directed Upstairs Downstairs) successfully translates the repartee and conflict in this six-hour miniseries. Dialogue, for the most part, is painstakingly replicated, except when fleshing out and smoothing for modern sensibilities was necessary. Darcy, for instance, is drawn out, giving his personality significantly more depth. The acting sweeps you away to Regency England: Jennifer Ehle (of Wilde) is convincing as the obstinate Elizabeth, who, despite her mother's attempts to marry her off, spurs the attentions of Darcy. And Colin Firth (of The English Patient) will have women everywhere longing for a Mr. Darcy of their own.

Actors: Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle, David Bamber, Crispin Bonham-Carter, Anna Chancellor
Directors: Simon Langton
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Special Edition, Widescreen, NTSC

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number of discs: 2
Studio: A&E Home Video
DVD Release Date: September 25, 2001
Run Time: 300 minutes
DVD Features:
Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
Newly remastered widescreen print
Behind-the-scenes featurette
Jane Austen Biography/ Bibliography

I absolutely love this adaptation of Austen's book. I read the book for a class on the British novel that I took earlier this year and was shown clips from it. I loved the book so much, and this adaptation of it was so highly recommended that I chose to take a chance and buy it here on ebay. I was was so thoroughly impressed with it that I watched it three times in the first two weeks after receiving it. It manages to beautifully execute the sentiment and action within the novel without blundering into the vapid "copy and paste" methods that some film adaptations do when translating a book. It is also wonderfully acted; Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth perfectly capture their characters (Elizabeth and Mr.Darcy)and their complexities, bringing them onto the screen in stellar fashion. You also get a very good picture of their society and the role that the British system of manners and divisions within the upper and middle classes played in courtship. This is all presented in a very light and entertaining manner. I was looking to see this beloved novel gracefully and faithfully brought to the screen and I think that this version is the one that does it. Absolutely a five star production!

For anyone looking for the definitive movie version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, this is it! The A&E miniseries is so complete and true to the book that you could (almost) get away with not reading the classic novel. Most movie adaptations are disappointing, but this miniseries has actually helped redefine the book. I can no longer read about Mr. Darcy or Elizabeth Bennet without picturing Colin Firth or Jennifer Ehle. Much of the dialogue is taken straight from the book although the director has taken a few liberties with the timeline and added an introductory scene not found in the original. A great addition to anyone's DVD collection.

Pride and Prejudice is truly one of the greatest love stories in history. Jane Austen's characters really come to life in this mini series. The movie does justice to the book. If you have never read the book, after watching this movie i am sure that you'll want to read it. The dialogue is not rushed through and the emotions of each character is very apparent and match the scene. Every line in every scene is extremely clever, and Colin Firth doesn't fail to deliver with his handsome looks. Jennifer Ehle is amazing as Elizabeth Bennet. She is definetly independent and a strong female lead, and i'm sure you'll fall in love with the strength she exerts regardless of her social class.
It is a great movie to watch with the family, alone on a rainy day with some hot cocoa, or with your beau (for the ladies). Every emotion will be experienced while watching, from laughing, to anger, to sadness, to love, to joy.
I truly love this mini series and have nothing negative to say about it. Just buy it and watch it for yourself. You won't be disappointed.