Another movie review - Pride & Prejudice (2005)
The story opens with Elizabeth Bennet taking an early morning walk with her book. On arriving home, 2 of her younger sisters (Kitty and Lydia) are eavesdropping on a conversation held by their mother and father, Mr and Mrs Bennet. Mrs Bennet is greatly excited by news of the arrival of a single man "of considerable fortune" in the neighbourhood. Mr Charles Bingley has leased the estate of Netherfield to live in with his single sister Miss Caroline Bingley. After a short period, Mr Bingley goes on a short trip to London and returns with his friend, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Soon afterwards, Bingley and his party attend a public ball in the village of Meryton. At first, Darcy is admired for his fine figure and a rumoured income of £10,000 a year. Mrs Bennet is eager to introduce Bingley to the eldest and most beautiful of the Bennet sisters, Jane. Bingley proves highly agreeable, dancing with many of the single ladies in attendance and showing his decided admiration for Jane. Anticipating the benefits of this highly advantageous union, Mrs Bennet eagerly encourages this union, and attempts to push Jane and Bingley together at every opportunity.
Later when Bingley mentions how agreeable he finds both Jane and Elizabeth, Darcy remarks that Elizabeth is "perfectly tolerable...but not handsome enough to tempt me", and unknowingly is overheard by Elizabeth and best friend Charlotte Lucas. Lizzie gets her own back on Darcy; when he asks her what she recommends to encourage affection, she replies "Dancing, even if one's partner is barely tolerable".
Shortly after the ball, Jane receives a letter from Caroline Bingley, asking Jane to dine with her at Netherfield. Mr Bingley however will not be there. Jane is forced to go on horseback to Netherfield during an oncoming storm, catches cold and has to recover at Netherfield. Elizabeth visits her sister and finds that Bingley has returned with Darcy. When her mother and 3 other sisters pay a visit, they insist that the Bingleys have a ball. When the Bennet ladies leave, Elizabeth is surprised to find Darcy assists her into the carriage.
Mr Bennet announces to the family that a visitor is expected; their cousin, Mr Collins, a pompous buffoon of a clergyman whose idea of a pleasant evening is reading to his female cousins from Fordyce's Sermons. Collins delights in dropping the name of his great patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, at every opportunity. Following Lady Catherine's imperious suggestion that he get married, Collins immediately looks to his "poor cousins" to find a wife and make amends for his role in their frequently anticipated future impoverishment. Collins initially chooses the eldest and most comely daughter Jane, second only to Elizabeth in intelligence. Upon being informed that she is "practically engaged", Collins easily transfers his unwanted attentions to the lovely Lizzie.
Jane, Elizabeth, Kitty and Lydia are out in town the next morning and run into Mr George Wickham, a recently arrived militia officer. When they head home, the party run into Bingley and Darcy (both on horseback) who had been on their way to Longbourn, the Bennet home. Elizabeth notices an icy air between Darcy and Wickham and Darcy takes off without a word as Bingley announces a ball is to be held at Netherfield. Elizabeth later questions Wickham on why Darcy was so cold towards him; Darcy robbed him of his rightful inheritance from his father who loved Wickham like a son.
At the Netherfield ball, Lizzie is disappointed to discover that Wickham will not be at the ball and even worse, Collins wishes to stay beside her all evening. However, she agrees to dance with Darcy and attempts to find out more about him but is unsuccessful. She spends the rest of the evening hiding from Mr Collins and convincing Charlotte that her family members seem to be having a competition as to who can bring the most ridicule to the family. They all leave Netherfield early the next morning.
Mrs. Bennet greatly approves of the match between Collins and her second eldest daughter. Collins asks for some privacy so that he may ask for Elizabeth's hand in marrige but she rejects him. However, Mr. Bennet supports his favourite daughter's repeated refusals, telling her "Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr Collins, and I will never see you again if you do". Collins eventually asks Charlotte Lucas to marry him and she accepts, much to the astonishment of Elizabeth, and soon after this blow, Mrs Bennet is further discouraged by the sudden departure of Bingley. Jane is heartbroken and her mother's disparaging remarks about Bingley serve only to heighten her sorrow.
Elizabeth is invited to visit the newlyweds. While she is staying with them, Darcy visits his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, at her adjoining estate, Rosings. Elizabeth and Darcy are thrown daily into each other's company. During a church sermon, Elizabeth finds out from Colonel Fitzwilliam, Lady Catherine's other nephew, of Darcy's interference in Bingley and Jane's relationship; Darcy did not believe Jane a suitable match for Bingley because of her own seeming indifference to him and because of the embarrassing behaviour of the Bennet family.
On her way back to the Collins', Elizabeth is forced to take shelter from a storm. Darcy appears, declaring his love and his desire to marry her, in spite of her objectionable family. Surprised and insulted by Darcy's high-handed method of proposing, and learning that Darcy made Bingley sever ties with Jane, Elizabeth is appalled by Darcy's declaration and refuses him. Darcy is hurt and surprised, and a brief argument follows, during which Elizabeth informs Darcy that, owing to his nature and his treatment of Bingley, Jane and Wickham, he is "the last man in the world I could ever be prevailed on to marry".
At Charlotte's, Darcy leaves a letter explaining everything; Elizabeth is forced to admit that he makes valid points about the embarrasing behaviour of her relatives and about Jane's reserved nature, which makes it difficult for strangers to read her true character. She is further shocked when she discover's Wickham's true character as a womanising cad and opportunist underneath his many charms; he spent his fortune left to him by Darcy's father in a few weeks. When Darcy refused to give him any more money, he attempted to elope with Darcy's younger sister Georgiana in an attempt to steal her fortune and spite him.
Later, while on holiday with her aunt and uncle, the Gardiners, she is persuaded to visit nearby Pemberley, Darcy's estate, though only agreeing after discreetly finding out that the owner is away and not expected back anytime soon. While on a tour of the grounds, she is therefore mortified when she bumps into him unexpectedly. However, his altered behaviour towards her - distinctly warmer from their last meeting - and his polite and friendly manner towards her aunt and uncle begins to persuade Elizabeth that underneath his pride, lies a true and generous nature. Her revised opinion of Darcy is supported through meeting his younger sister Georgiana, a gentle-natured and shy girl whom Darcy lovingly dotes upon.
Elizabeth is horrified by news that her headstrong younger sister Lydia has run away with Wickham. In Elizabeth's absence, 16-year-old Lydia attracted Wickham's attentions and she elopes with him. When the family investigates, it is learned that Wickham resigned his commission to evade gambling debts. When told of this by Elizabeth, Darcy takes it upon himself to find Wickham. When Lizzie returns home, Lydia and Wickham visit, as man and wife. Elizabeth accidentally learns of Darcy's involvement from Lydia's careless remarks; Darcy was the one who found them and forced them to marry by bribing Wickham.
Mrs Bennet, Jane, Lizzie and Mary (the 3rd eldest Bennet sister) are in town and discover that the Bingleys are to return to Netherfield. Elizabeth is concerned regarding Jane's feelings about this but her older sister insists she is over Bingley. That afternoon, Bingley and Darcy pay a surprise visit to Longbourn. They leave but Bingley returns again, proposing to Jane who happily accepts his offer. Darcy watches the house from a distance and leaves alone.
That night the house is awoken by Lady Catherine who has come to see Elizabeth. She has discovered Darcy's feelings for Lizzie, threatening her long cherished ambition for him to marry her own daughter. She attempts to bully her into giving him up and insults Elizabeth, who will not refuse Darcy should he propose to her again in the future. Lady Catherine leaves fuming. Lizzie can't sleep that night and when dawn comes, goes for a walk.
She meets Darcy in the fields, also out for an early morning stroll as he can't sleep either. He knows about the encounter she had with his aunt the night before, apologising for his aunt's words. He realizes her feelings for him have changed and declares his love for her. When they arrive back at Longbourn, he asks Mr Bennet for permission to marry Elizabeth. When Lizzie enters his study and declares her love for Darcy, her father is astounded, thinking she had hated him, but heartily gives his consent.
The last scene sees Darcy and Elizabeth outside Pemberley at night, with Darcy asking her what she wants him to call her when they are married.
Screencaps from here by wickedripeplum.
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Fave quotes/scenes etc:
- Mr Collins having to dodge Darcy's elbow when he turns round to acknowledge him (Collins) at the Netherfield ball. XD
- Georgiana Darcy: (to Elizabeth on playing the piano) "Do you play duets Miss Bennet?"
Elizabeth Bennet: "Only when forced."
Georgiana Darcy: (to Darcy) "Brother, you must force her."
- Lizzie's frantic attempts to Jane and her father to stay with her when realising she has to face Collins' proposal alone.
- Jane Bennet: "Oh, Lizzie, if I could but see you happy. If there were such another man for you."
Elizabeth Bennet: "Perhaps Mr. Collins has a cousin." (they both laugh)
- (talking about Darcy)
Elizabeth Bennet: "He looks miserable, poor soul."
Charlotte Lucas: "Miserable he may be, but poor he most certainly is not."
Elizabeth Bennet: "Tell me."
Charlotte Lucas: "10,000 a year and he owns half of Derbyshire."
Elizabeth Bennet: "The miserable half?"
- Lizzie's smirk at the beginning of her dance with Mr Collins.
- Mr Bingley: [to Jane, about to propose to her] "First, I must tell you I've been the most unmitigated and comprehensive ass." XD XD XD
- The scene with Darcy & Elizabeth dancing by themselves.
- The very last scene (for the US viewers, for UK viewers it's separate on the DVD) with Lizzy remarking that Darcy may call her 'goddess divine' lol!
- Mr Collins: (talking about boiled potatoes) "It's been many years since I had such an exemplary vegetable."
- Jane and Elizabeth giggling under the quilt after the local dance after first meeting the Bingley's and Darcy.
- Netherfield Butler: "A Mrs. Bennet, a Miss Bennet, a Miss Bennet and a Miss Bennet, sir."
Caroline Bingley: "Oh for heaven's sake, are we to receive every Bennet in the country?"
- Mr Bennet's "Good heavens, people!" on seeing all 5 of his daughters eavesdropping outside the door.
- The scene in the morning mist:
Mr Darcy: "You must know... surely, you must know it was all for you. You are too generous to trifle with me. I believe you spoke with my aunt last night, and it has taught me to hope as I'd scarcely allowed myself before. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes have not changed, but one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on." ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
The kind of speech that every woman wants said to her, no? ;)
- Mr Bingley: "But her sister Elizabeth is very agreeable."
Mr Darcy: "Perfectly tolerable, I dare say. But not handsome enough to tempt me. You'd better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles. You're wasting your time with me."
Charlotte Lucas: "Count your blessings Lizzie. If he liked you, you'd have to talk to him."
Elizabeth Bennet: "Precisely. As it is I wouldn't dance with him for all of Darbyshire, let alone the miserable half."
- Lizzie's wee smile/smirk after pwning Darcy with her 'barely tolerable' comment (7th pic from the top) and the way Darcy is silenced by it as she walks away. ;)
- That little moment during the rain/first proposal scene after Elizabeth tells Darcy she wouldn't marry him when it looks as though they're going to kiss. ♥ O.O
- The women's costumes. ♥
- Jane's reaction to Bingley's proposal; I adore how she is so happy she almost starts crying and laughing at the same time, and her comment to Lizzie later about if it is possible to die from sheer happiness (or something like that). :D
- The scene when Darcy visits Elizabeth at the Collins' house, is a bit flustered like he wants to say something but can't and quickly leaves and Lizzie's expression when Charlotte asks her "What on earth have you done to poor Mr Darcy?"
- Darcy taking on the role of Jane when Bingley is practising proposing LMAO!! ♥
- Lizzie challenging Lady Catherine - bitchfight! XD
- The music, specifically during the scene with Lizzy & Darcy dancing and everyone else 'disappears'.
- Wickham bowing to Elizabeth, only to have her turn away from him and stare out the window just before he leaves Longbourn with Lydia. Come on, he deserved it! :P
- When Mr Bennet gives his consent for Lizzie & Darcy to marry - I loved Donald Sutherland's performance in this bit!
- Lizzie's inability to express in words just how much she loves Darcy when she stumbles over her words just before the "we are so similar" line.
- Elizabeth staring at Darcy whilst talking to Colonel Fitzwilliam in church when he suddenly looks up straight at her & she quickly looks away.
- Lizzie's facial expression when Darcy tells her he doesn't dance if he can help it.
- The sun rising between Darcy & Lizzie's faces in the second proposal scene. ♥
♥