I like your review. I adore the 1995 BBC version, in fact I consider it the definitive. 'Adequate' probably best describes this version from what I've heard (uh...I probably shouldn't pass judgement since I haven't actually seen it). McFadden would make a good Heathcliffe, but considering Darcy is polished and posh I don't think he pulls it off too well.
Yes, McFadden is either hideously miscast or badly directed. Basically, I saw no point in this since the definitive version has been made less than a decade before this movie.
I've not seen the new one yet, but I've been rewatching the BBC version on A&E in the mornings. It is truly fantastic. The way they look at each other *sigh*. "Fiercely intelligent"--yes. Not exactly beautiful, but arresting: the more you look at her the more you want to keep looking. And Colin Firth...he's never really been a fav of mine, but as Darcy? *swoons* It's perfect.
Oh. Yes. Yes on every word. I really fell in love with Jennifer Ehle's Lizzy. You can see why any man, even if not dazzled by her at first, would want to spend his whole life with her after knowing her more.
The way they look at each other *sigh*.
Oh yes, must rewatch now.
Colin Firth...he's never really been a fav of mine, but as Darcy? *swoons*
Indeed. I like him well enough as an actor but he's never inspired huge enthusiasm. But as Darcy? I don't know what is it about that, but he brings me swooning to my knees.
Yeah, adequate was sort of my impression too. I thought I was going to HATE it, but it just sort of left me going "well, it wasn't bad". I adored Rosamund Pike as Jane though. She's gorgeous and kind, so you understand why Bingley would be knocked off his feet by her and also her rather limpid personality makes it understandable why Bingley would think she didn't like him.
It did turn into a bit of a Harlequin there at the end though, with Lizzy wandering around the countryside in her nightgown, only to run across Darcy wandering across the countryside in HIS nightgown and the utterly cheeseball last scene. The problem with Macfadyen is that he's more broody than arrogant, and Darcy was more arrogant. His voice though...good lor, I love his voice.
The overwhelming feeling about the movie though is, "why bother"? The BBC version sort of made all other ones rather irrelevent.
Trying to remember the voice. In all honesty, I thought McFadden was about as attractive as a (damp) brick in this one. Just horribly, horribly miscast.
with Lizzy wandering around the countryside in her nightgown, only to run across Darcy wandering across the countryside in HIS nightgown
It was like a Bollywood fantasy sequence only soggier and without dancing.
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The way they look at each other *sigh*.
Oh yes, must rewatch now.
Colin Firth...he's never really been a fav of mine, but as Darcy? *swoons*
Indeed. I like him well enough as an actor but he's never inspired huge enthusiasm. But as Darcy? I don't know what is it about that, but he brings me swooning to my knees.
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It did turn into a bit of a Harlequin there at the end though, with Lizzy wandering around the countryside in her nightgown, only to run across Darcy wandering across the countryside in HIS nightgown and the utterly cheeseball last scene. The problem with Macfadyen is that he's more broody than arrogant, and Darcy was more arrogant. His voice though...good lor, I love his voice.
The overwhelming feeling about the movie though is, "why bother"? The BBC version sort of made all other ones rather irrelevent.
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I was cringing. Cringing, I tell you. Ugh.
good lor, I love his voice
Trying to remember the voice. In all honesty, I thought McFadden was about as attractive as a (damp) brick in this one. Just horribly, horribly miscast.
with Lizzy wandering around the countryside in her nightgown, only to run across Darcy wandering across the countryside in HIS nightgown
It was like a Bollywood fantasy sequence only soggier and without dancing.
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That is exactly what I thought after seeing the film. Adequate, not bad, but not good either. The BBC is version is still the definitive one to me.
I wasn't expecting to hate this film, but I severe doubts about it, which is probably why I thought it was better than I expected it to be :).
I really liked Matthew MacFadyen in Spooks (MI-5), but in this film he was horribly miscast.
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