Pride & Prejudice - 2005

See Larger Image	List Price: £19.99 Our Price: £4.98 Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Manufacturer: Universal Pictures Video Starring: Keira Knightley, Matthew MacFadyen, Brenda Blethyn, Donald Sutherland, Tom Hollander Directed By: Joe Wright Average Customer Rating:


Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Audience Rating: Universal, suitable for all Binding: DVD EAN: 5050582391251 Format: Anamorphic Label: Universal Pictures Video Manufacturer: Universal Pictures Video Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Universal Pictures Video Region Code: 2 Release Date: 2006-02-06 Running Time: 121 Studio: Universal Pictures Video Theatrical Release Date: 2005
Related Items Sense And Sensibility (Collector's Edition) [1996] Pride And Prejudice : Complete BBC Series - 10th Anniversary Edition [1995] Emma [1996] Becoming Jane [2006] Northanger Abbey [2007]
Editorial Reviews: Rightly winning wide acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic, this latest take on Jane Austen’s classic Pride & Prejudice is a real, all-round triumph. The age-old story still holds real resonance, and it follows the tale of five sisters dealing with love, and the many trials and tribulations that brings. There are so many delights to director Joe Wright’s take on the story, and his direction is a strong place to start. In spite of having to condense the tale to fit a movie running time, he nonetheless injects a real energy and intelligence to his retelling, and he’s served supremely well by his cast. Backed up by strong support by the likes of Brenda Blethyn and Donald Sutherland, it’s Keira Knightley in the lead turn who’s a real surprise here. Her performance is a real joy, and very much at the core of the film’s success. The film inevitably draws comparison with the superb 1995 BBC adaptation, and while arguably it doesn’t quite scale the same peaks, it’s to the credit of the filmmakers that their version still holds strong. For this is a tremendously enjoyable drama, and one that should continue to find an audience for a long time to come. An excellent film.--Simon Brew
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Beautiful vision Comment: At the time of writing, I am the 315th to review this DVD, so here's my twopennyworth. There is no need to relay the story, for if you don't know it by now ... There is an amazing long opening take in this film. In fact there are a number of several long takes. On a technical level, there are a number of fresh and exciting scenes to ponder, such as Lizzie twirling on the farmhouse swing as the seasons pass around her. Or the window-work of Lizzie's own home as the family settles down to its night-time occupations room by room. Or Lizzie staring in the mirror at the home of Mr Collins as day turns to night. And here Mr D'Arcy arrives and leaves his letter, departing in the half-light. In the commentary that accompanies the DVD, Joe Wright expands on his vision of the film - he rightly invokes Constable - and it is refreshing to hear a director being critical of his own work, even though he is almost always wrong at these moments. As well as the vision, the music is marvellous, not only the use made of Purcell's composition in the dance scene, but Dario Marianelli's score as a whole is a joy (as usual) to listen to: thankfully, Joe Wright had him compose much of the music before filming, which always produces better results in my view. As for casting, well this was almost perfect. Keira Knightley spars wonderfully with Matthew MacFadyen. Brenda Blethyn and her other daughters are a joy to watch either separately or in ensemble. Poor Tom Hollander gets to play the jilted man (again), but the star for me is Donald Sutherland as the kind and put-upon Mr Bennet. When tears form in his eyes at the end of the movie, I was much moved. There are plenty of short extras with the DVD, including the etiquette of eighteenth-century dating, the life and times of Jane Austen, the stately homes of Pride & Prejudice, and the alternative US ending (ugh!). Customer Rating: Summary: Disappointing Comment: Having watched the BBC serial and been an avid fan since it was produced, I was intrigued to watch the film. However, it was really disappointing. The most frustrating thing about it, is it doesn't stay true to the book. There are so many parts which are totally inaccurate. It does get better as it progresses with some beautiful scenes, although these are totally fabricated to appeal to the viewer, rather than tell the true story. Customer Rating: Summary: Brilliant!!!!! Comment: how can people possibly say this is better than the bbc version??!! having seen both many times i can safely say that this movie is a real treat, with all characters (except maybe georgiana and mr collins) played true to the novel. keira knoghtley gives a great performance as the spirited heroine and matthew macfadyen- the true darcy! he gives a subbtle performance that melts the heart. we are left with feeling that darcy really has brought down his barriers and is no longer the rather popous chap we thought he was. the supporting cast ddo a great job too- brenda blethyn, donald sutherland and rosamud pike all give great performances. soundtrack is great too - dario marianelli never fails to disappoint. such a good film :)!!! Customer Rating: Summary: absolute hogwash Comment: I'm not going to mention the acting etc - it was utter tripe but everyone else has already said that. And the casting was truly uninspired. But it was the screenplay itself that really deserves the full wrath of mankind for its woeful inadequacy. Everyone knows that condensing a full size novel into a relatively short film is not an easy task. It will require considerable imagination and lateral thinking. Now Emma Thompson's Sense & Sensibility isn't like my fave film ever but she had clearly spent a considerable amount of time and thought working out what was essential to the story and what wasn't, what ideas worked well in both media and what could be scrapped/replaced. This attention to detail resulted in a film that worked both in its own right and as an adaptation of the novel. THIS film needed a person at the helm with wit, intelligence and the confidence to fiddle about with what is loads of people's fave story. Instead they must have employed scared mouse people whose motto was "Ooh we can't do it like the BBC version". So we got this odd hodge podge of story flying at us at 50 miles an hour so that they could get all the bits in (plus some that the BBC didn't do) This succeeded in rendering even some of Mr Bennett's most biting lines unfunny. When I was young I was taken on a school geography trip to Corby to see how not to do town planning (sorry Corby but it's true). I felt as though i was sitting through a similar exercise for budding screen writers. God it was dire. Utterly without merit. And Darcy's not even fit... Customer Rating: Summary: OK, but the BBC version is better Comment: I was eager to watch this film after reading the book, and also loving the BBC adaptation of the story. However, I was slightly dissapointed with this. Maybe it's missing a certain Colin Firth as Mr Darcy. More Reviews