Rent Pride and Prejudice (2005)

Keira Knightley shines in this faithful adaptation of the novel - Pride and Prejudice review by Philip in Paradiso

This is a faithful adaptation of the novel, 'Pride and Prejudice', by Jane Austen. It takes place in England in the late 18th century. The story is centred on the Bennet family: Mr and Mrs Bennet and their 5 daughters – Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. They live on a relatively modest estate in rural England. Jane and Elizabeth are the eldest of the 5 girls. For their parents, the obsession is to find them suitable husbands, as they need to be provided for. (Women of that social status, at the time, are not expected or trained to work, essentially.)

The story focuses primarily on the interaction between Jane Bennet (Rosamund Pike) and Charles Bingley (Simon Woods), a wealthy bachelor, on the one hand, and that between Elizabeth (Lizzy) Bennet (Keira Knightley) and Bingley's friend, Mr Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), on the other. As the plot unfolds, the key characters are Lizzy Bennet and Mr Darcy, and how their dealings with each other evolve over time. Mr Darcy is a somewhat snobbish and awkward character, who can be aloof and exceedingly reserved: this aspect of his character is at the heart of the novel, and is prominent in the movie too.

Overall, this is a beautifully made period film. Matthew Macfadyen looks rather miserable and almost dull at times but, after all, Mr Darcy, in the novel, is hardly the life and soul of the party. The movie, in the last analysis, works thanks to the excellent performance by Keira Knightley: in the way that the film unfolds, it really is Lizzy Bennet's story and we see the chain of events through her eyes. In practice, she is the central, dominant character and, in fact, the narrator.

The film is never dreary or boring (it could easily have been, at 2 hours, and being the adaptation of such a novel...): on the contrary, it fizzes with energy and humour, making the most of the twists and turns of the story. The movie is well worth watching, more particularly if you like period films of this kind and are a fan of Jane Austen's.

Very good watch - Pride and Prejudice review by CP Customer

Yes very good watch - enjoyed very much.

True to the Book - Pride and Prejudice review by CP Customer

excellent film which has been kept true to the book. Keira Knightly makes a very good Elizabeth Bennet a romantic story of a middle class family trying to better them selves.

Simply Wonderful Adaptation of The Famous Novel - Pride and Prejudice review by GI

With stunning visuals recreating a pastoral and beautiful 18th Century England this is a wonderful adaptation of possibly the most famous romantic novel. Keira Knightley has her detractors but they are wrong, she is a marvellous actor and here she is simply wonderful and considering she's in scenes with the great Judi Dench and holding her own is enough to identify her as an actor of great range and depth. She plays Elizabeth Bennet, the second of five sisters. Her nervous and indiscreet mother (Brenda Blethyn) is desperate to see them all married off. So when the rich Mr Bingley (Simon Woods) takes an interest in the eldest Jane (Rosamund Pike) the family is thrown into chaos in the hope he makes a proposal. But it's in the relationship between Bingley's friend, Mr D'Arcy (Matthew MacFadyen), and Elizabeth that the narrative is concerned. This is a romantic drama about manners, about class and ultimately about true love that surpasses all social conventions. There have been numerous adaptations of this novel both in cinema and television but I really love this particular one. It's cast is fantastic with Donald Sutherland as the henpecked but wise Mr Bennet and Judi Dench as a Duchess, you'll also spot Carey Mulligan and the fantastic Tom Hollander as the ridiculous Mr Collins (an inspired piece of casting as the character in the novel is very tall!). If you love a good romance then please watch this it's a wonderful film, it has humour and warmth and if you're a total softie like me then it'll bring the odd tear to your eye too. Oh and read the novel it's magical.