2005 starring Keira Knightly and Matthew MacFadyen
vs
1995 starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth
Yesterday I was finishing off some things for this week’s shoot and it was a kind of sleepy rainy day, so it seemed a good idea to have a bit of a P&P festival. I have been watching Lost In Austen and reading Pride and Prejudice… so in true Pip style 5 hours of Miss Jane seemed to be the best thing for a Sunday afternoon. I am a bit intense like that. If I am in, I am all in!
So. I watched the BBC (1995) version again first. And then I re-watched the 2005 version. Gosh. It seems very mean to compare the two, but I feel duty bound to let you know that if you have only watched the 2005 version you have totally missed out on most of Jane’s story. You have to watch the BBC one. I fear I am cutting to the chase a bit early here, but it really is the very best one. Colin Firth is Mr Darcy and he is an extremely handsome, very stare-y, smouldering, socially awkward, damp eyed Darcy at that. The luminous Jennifer Ehle plays Elizabeth Bennett with much mischief, corners of her mouth ever threatening to upturn and principals firmly in place throughout. (Colin and Jen are recently reunited in The King’s Speech, don’t you know?!) There are other super favourite people in this, like Julia Sawalha as Lydia and Crispin Bonham-Carter as Mr Bingley.
The latter version is a bit like a boho synopsis of P&P. It’s sort of like Austen theatre sports with a very good cast. They are tearing around trying to squeeze it all in and they don’t really manage it, in my opinion. Not only that, but the costumes, hair and make up are sort of shabby-hip. Not very beautiful, sort of a bit messy and decayed. I prefer opulent and fancy. The sets on the other hand are gorgeous (yet also a bit decayed). I love those kinds of interiors, and even though it didn’t seem very authentic, it certainly felt accessible, as though you were invited over to the Bennett’s for a bit of tea and telly.
Have you seen either? Or both? Are you an Austen expert? What do you think? If you haven’t watched or read either… you really should. I know that the language can be a bit daunting when you first dip your toe in the P&P book… but maybe you could start off with the series and then the book might seem a bit easier? It’s really not cheating at all…
Do you want to read along? Or watch along? Or write along about P&P? You could even MAKE something P&P themed! You can sign up here if you would like to and we’ll be able to click over and see how you are choosing to P&P!
xx Pip
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Has ANYONE voted for the movie? I quickly scrolled through the comments and couldn't really see…
For the record, I'd probably pick the series, too. But who has the time to sit down and watch 6 full episodes (unless, of course, you skip forward to the wet shirt scene as suggested)?
I feel like the movie is being unfairly judged due to the fact that a) it's a movie, so of course you can't fit as much in and b) it doesn't have Colin Firth (which is a failing indeed). (By the way, c) for me is that it also has Keira Knightley, who annoys me immensely).
Having said all that, as a movie…it's pretty good. I like the artsy 'feel' it has to it….does that make sense? The light twinkly piano keys and misty countryside, the slightly more work-related/busy feel there is in the Bennett household. Also I greatly enjoy some of the shots….e.g. the appearance of mr Collins, where you can only see half his face? (Oh god, I hope I'm not getting my period dramas mixed up here!), plus the first proposal scene in the rain? So dramatic!
So I think that maybe a showdown is unfair. Try pitting one Austen series against another, rather than newer movie vs older series everyone probably saw first, which helped to shape their opinions in the first place. Or better yet, why not make either of them compete with the book? Surely everyone's individual mental images are far superior to those created through someone else's vision?
Just to be contrary, I vote them equal, but given the chance, I vote book!
I do see your point, but I would prefer to have a small portion of a superior product and enjoy it better than a lot of a lesser product. It's like taking a few slices of smoked salmon or half a kilo of seafood extender. I'd go for the smoked salmon. Once you have seen it a few times and read the book and know it back to front (I would take the book too by the way) you don't need to see it all in one go. You can fit in one episode in a shorter time frame than the movie too!
You'd have loved the exhibition in the costume museum at Bath (2004) – the costumes from the movies of Jane Austen's books. Not forgetting the clothes that were from her times. And definitely the BBC version
Oh – agree with you entirely! Book (classic!) BBC version (colin firth -dreamy!) is amazing and totally representative of the book, whilst the 2005 movie felt short dramatically as they tried to cram it all in. Did you see on u-tube that they made a different ending for the USA!! I was slightly out-raged. it shows lizzy and darcy smooching way too much (not that i'm against that) but I don't think Ms Austen would have approved!! Of course the bloody yanks can't help themselves at changing things as they see fit. Oh, now i might just go watch some fav scenes from the BBC series!
xx
oops, i forgot to add, that i added my link as i only just finished reading the book and the series and posted it on my blog un-beknowns to me that you were experiencing a little P&P indulgence as well!