New Pride and Prejudice movie

[squirpy]

Ok, I'm really excited for this.

For any of you who haven't heard, there's a new Pride and Prejudice movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414387/) coming out in 2005. It's going to be period faithful.
Cast:
Elizabeth Bennet: Keira Knightly
Mr. Darcy: Matthew MacFadyen
Lydia Bennett: Jena Malone
Jane Bennett: Rosamund Pike
Mary Bennet: Talulah Riley
Mr. Bennet: Donald Sutherland
Lady Catherine DeBurough (sp?): Judi Dench
Mr. Bingly: Simon Woods
Mrs. Bennet: Brenda Blethyn
Mr. Collins: Tom Hollander
Kitty Bennet: Carey Mulligan
other cast: Penelope Wilton

Now, I love the A&E version as much as the next person, but I'm always up for seeing new versions of Jane Austen.

I'm glad that they've got someone pretty for Jane this time - in the A&E version, I just didn't think she was as pretty as Jane is supposed to be. Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth were very good in the A&E version, I hope that Keira Knightly and Matthew MacFadyen do a good job. Have any of you actually seen MacFadyen in anything?

I think Judi Dench will be hilarious.

What do you think of this?

[Droobles]

I cant really imagine Keira Knightly playing Elizabeth Bennett but I think it will be a good movie and might get into the Box Office.

[Morgan]

Sounds like fun although I don't know who Matthew MacFadyen is and I'm not a huge fan of Keira Knightly, what I've seen of her acting is moulded in the one shape, I think she'll play Elisabeth Bennett in the same way she played Elisabeth Swann and it won't fit in to well. Dame Judi Dench as Lady Catherine will be fantastic though, she's an absolutley brilliant actress.

I cant really imagine Keira Knightly playing Elizabeth Bennett but I think it will be a good movie and might get into the Box Office.

"Box Office" means the place where they sell tickets, it's not a chart as such.

[squirpy]

I think that she could be decent as Elizabeth, not great, but she's getting better as an actress I think.

[magical violet]

I read the book and didn't really like it that much. I do like Jane Austen and some of the movie adaptations of her work are good.
I can't remember but I think may have watched some of the Colin Firth version. I do remember watching an old movie version of it recently with Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson. It was okay, slightly different to the book.

I don't know what to think of Kiera Knightley, I enjoyed her in Pirates of the Carribean. I think she's okay, but I think she will be either really good in the part or really bad.

Judi Dench would be perfect for Lady Catherine DeBurough, she is a wonderful actress.

As for Matthew MacFadyen I haven't even heard of him.

[loony4moony]

I can't imagine anybody else playing Lizzie and Mr Darcy but Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth! It'll take some getting used to. I can't yet picture Keira Knightley as Lizzie.

But never mind- it's always healthy to be getting a new take on a good book. ;)

[Kimmetje]

I like Keira Knightley and think she'll do a great job playing Elizabeth Bennet...

[daronisgod]

I can't imagine anybody else playing Lizzie and Mr Darcy but Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth! It'll take some getting used to. I can't yet picture Keira Knightley as Lizzie.

Me too, I loved the BBC series and remember watching it on TV, when it first came out, but since Dame Judy Dench is in it, it may be worth watching, I don't think I'll be watching it for any other reason...

And the idea of Mr.Darcy not played by Colin Firth... :no:

Plus a film will be much shorter than a TV series, so they won't have as long to develop the characters and establish relationships and so on... not good.

[Morgan]

Me too, I loved the BBC series and remember watching it on TV, when it first came out, but since Dame Judy Dench is in it, it may be worth watching, I don't think I'll be watching it for any other reason...

And the idea of Mr.Darcy not played by Colin Firth... :no:

Plus a film will be much shorter than a TV series, so they won't have as long to develop the characters and establish relationships and so on... not good.

I agree, Colin Firth IS Mr Darcy! (btw, have you read the second Bridget Jones Diary? In it she gets to met Colin Firth aka Mr Darcy wich is funny as her boyfriend in the book is Mark Darcy who in the film Bridget Jones Diary is played by Colin Firth haha)

And you're right about it being shorter when it's a film, the series took ages building up all the feelings and complicated relationships. I wonder....not good...

[daronisgod]

I agree, Colin Firth IS Mr Darcy! (btw, have you read the second Bridget Jones Diary? In it she gets to met Colin Firth aka Mr Darcy wich is funny as her boyfriend in the book is Mark Darcy who in the film Bridget Jones Diary is played by Colin Firth haha)

And you're right about it being shorter when it's a film, the series took ages building up all the feelings and complicated relationships. I wonder....not good...

I'm not really into romantic films/books, so I'm not entirely sure why I like Pride and Prejudice, maybe its modern romantic fiction I don't like.

It does take time too develop the whole background behind what happens with Mr. Darcy and Lizzie, I'm not sure its possible to do in one short film, oh well, I guess I shouldn't really judge until I've seen the film itself. *lol*

[Chrysalis]

Oh dear. I'm really no fan of Keira Knightley, and feel that she is not picked to play these roles because she's such a great actress but because of some hype. And agreed, Colin Firth is and was the best person to play Darcy.

I dunno, can't picture Keira as Elizabeth. She's such a totally different personality.

[JasmineFlower]

Another Elizabeth for Keira Knightley to play...hmmm. (Like in Pirates of the Caribbean, I mean.) I haven't even seen the A&E version...I heard it was very good, so I better go and see it. I just saw this thread and went to it because I love the book...I just finished reading it for a summer assignment for school...it was on my booklist.

[Antigone Jones]

For those of you that saw "Die Another Day" (the latest James Bond film), the girl who played Miss Frost will be Jane Bennett in this production. I think she'll do a good job, even though the characters are wildly different in some ways...

[Morgan]

What does A&E version mean?

[jasper]

Sure, Jane Austen is still doing well at the box office. I'm sure this one will sell tickets. Almost all of those actors names are unfamiliar to me.


Plus a film will be much shorter than a TV series, so they won't have as long to develop the characters and establish relationships and so on... not good.

I couldn't read this so easily in pink, but I agree with it anyway, Austen's longer book suffer on the big screen because so much has to be cut out of them.

I was comparing the movie Emma to the mini-series Emma and the story makes so much more sense in the mini-series. The movie was more colorful, had to leave out a lot of the story, but also had to add Emma doing stuff that she wouldn't do to put more action/ humor into the script. Both versions cut different things, and you get a better sense of the actual story after watching both.

The Sony Pictures Classics Persuasion movie is pretty good. It's a short book and so the screenwriter could fit all the significant parts into the script.

[daronisgod]

I couldn't read this so easily in pink, but I agree with it anyway, Austen's longer book suffer on the big screen because so much has to be cut out of them.

I was comparing the movie Emma to the mini-series Emma and the story makes so much more sense in the mini-series. The movie was more colorful, had to leave out a lot of the story, but also had to add Emma doing stuff that she wouldn't do to put more action/ humor into the script. Both versions cut different things, and you get a better sense of the actual story after watching both.

The Sony Pictures Classics Persuasion movie is pretty good. It's a short book and so the screenwriter could fit all the significant parts into the script.

Yes I'm beginning to think the pink was a bad idea.

With a mini-series, I guess you have pretty much all the time you need, but with a film there is a limit to the amount of time you can sit in a theatre to watch one film.

I think I may just stick with the BBC series, I'm having trouble imagining Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennet too.

[squirpy]

I wonder how long this movie will be. Obviously they can't make it five hours long again. But there's so much that happens - it would have to have cuts. I'm afraid that they would cut a lot of Mr. Collins stuff, since it's not exactly vital. It's so funny though.

I think that Donald Sutherland will be good.

daronisgod: I think the reason that P&P has such appeal is that it's more than just a romance. It's about the family and the characters, and growth, and people figuring out that they were wrong (which isn't easy). It's not a gimmicked romance like a lot of more modern ones are (not all, but a lot).

[shieldmaiden72]

What does A&E version mean?

A&E is an American cable TV station (short for Arts & Entertainment). The "A&E version" refers to the BBC production of "Pride and Prejudice" starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, which was shown in America on A&E. Hope this clears things up for you! :)

[squirpy]

was the A&E version BBC as well? There was another BBC version that wasn't as good.

[Honeydukes]

This film is being filmed at Groombridge Place, which is very nearby to where I live. Plus my friend's sister works there, so she'll be meeting all the cast and such. Well, a bit of local excitement :)

[daronisgod]

I wonder how long this movie will be. Obviously they can't make it five hours long again. But there's so much that happens - it would have to have cuts. I'm afraid that they would cut a lot of Mr. Collins stuff, since it's not exactly vital. It's so funny though.

I think that Donald Sutherland will be good.

daronisgod: I think the reason that P&P has such appeal is that it's more than just a romance. It's about the family and the characters, and growth, and people figuring out that they were wrong (which isn't easy). It's not a gimmicked romance like a lot of more modern ones are (not all, but a lot).

Donald Sutherland is an excellent actor, I just can't picture him as Mr Bennet, he might be a brilliant Mr. Bennet for all I know.

Yes thats true Pride & Prejudice is classic literature, something thats stood the test of time, and it deals with a lot more issues than the relationship between two people.

Romance generally doesn't appeal to me, I don't think I've ever watched a 'chick flick'.

[squirpy]

Honeydukes: That's awesome! Your friend's sister is lucky...

ok, I'm going to update my first post with this:
Simon Woods is Mr. Bingly
Brenda Blethyn is Mrs. Bennet

[daronisgod]

Brenda Blethyn's a brilliant actress, i can easily imagine her as Mrs. Bennet.

[squirpy]

cool, I've never seen her in anything, so that's good news.

[daronisgod]

cool, I've never seen her in anything, so that's good news.

Did you ever see the film 'Little Voice' it had Ewan McGregor, Micheal Caine and Jane Horrocks in it?
Well the character Jane Horrocks played, her mother was played by Brenda Blethyn.

[squirpy]

Nope, never even heard of it.

[nenya]

OK, now for a comment from the OLD.

I've been in love with Jane Austen since high school. I always enjoyed reading her and would laugh at loud at bits, which most of my classmates found totally insane. They mostly got the hang of it from the mini-series the teacher showed in class. I remember really liking it - it was a BBC production - but I saw it in English class in 1980! Does anyone know anything about this version - who the actors were, etc?

Most of you are truly appauled now - I still like the Colin Firth version, too.

[squirpy]

yeah, here it is: 1980 Miniseries (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078672/)

That was a good one - except, I didn't like something about the way it was shot. It felt like a play or something. I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

[SarahBetz1]

I love Jane Austen! I was excited when I found out they were going to make another P&P movie. But, the more I think of it, the more I am kind of dreading it. I would hate for my favorite parts to be left out, or scenes to become "hollywood". Emma didn't turn out too bad and I liked it, but I saw it before I read the book. I just hope it tries to stay true to the plot and characters.

I don't think Kiera Knightly will be a good Elizabeth, and nobody can take the place of Colin Firth! But, Judi Dentch will be great! :tu:

[Amadeus]

They're making a new movie of P & P? :wow:
That's awesome!
However, no one can replace Colin Firth as Mr.Darcy ;)

[Droobles]

What about Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier? I thought they were good in it.

[GryffindorGr]

Ok, I'm really excited for this.

For any of you who haven't heard, there's a new Pride and Prejudice movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414387/) coming out in 2005. It's going to be period faithful.
Cast:
Elizabeth Bennet: Keira Knightly
Mr. Darcy: Matthew MacFadyen
Lydia Bennett: Jena Malone
Jane Bennett: Rosamund Pike
Mary Bennet: Talulah Riley
Mr. Bennet: Donald Sutherland
Lady Catherine DeBurough (sp?): Judi Dench
Mr. Bingly: Simon Woods
Mrs. Bennet: Brenda Blethyn
other cast: Penelope Wilton, Tom Hollender
What do you think of this?

As some others have posted. Wow. I can't imagine Keira Knightly as Elizabeth. But if she's good at acting (I've seen a few of them and I wasn't too impressed with Pirates of Carribean and King Arthur with her in it...she's beautiful but somehow I loved her in Love Actually and she didn't do much in it.)
Maybe this one will be her great break through! Like Gwenyth Paltrow's performance in Emma was a great surprise! Many people didnt think she'd do it well.
Matthew Macfadyen as Darcy!? Ohh. I wonder how he'll do.
On stage, he's acted in Battle Royal, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Duchess of Malfi.
at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/faces/matthew_macfadyen.shtml

[Bouncing_Ferret]

Have any of you actually seen MacFadyen in anything?

He was in the BBC series 'Spooks' with Keeley Hawes, and I've also seen him in 'Perfect Strangers', where he had an extraordinarily hairy back. He's quite a good actor, but I'm not sure he's Mr. Darcy... I just don't think you can replace Colin Firth! Ah well...

As far as Keira Knightley for Elizabeth goes... Well, I'm a bit ashamed to say so, but I'm actually quite a fan of Keira Knightley. She's only young, so I think we can expect to see her acting range grow quite a bit more. I think she'll prolly make quite a good Lizzie. :)

[squirpy]

I'm definetly hoping Keira Knightly does a Gwenyth Paltrow and acts really well. She hasn't really been at the center of a movie so far, so we haven't seen her acting in the central role yet. Sometimes people rise to the role and do a lot better.

Hm... maybe I'll have to check out some Matthew MacFadyen stuff.

[Liselle]

I'm boycotting it I've just decided.....no no no no no, Hollywood tried to make a bigscreen version of it in the 40's with Greer Garson and it failed utterly in my opinion, the BBC version is the way to go

[Poison_Girl]

oh please dont boycott it people! one of my good friends, Tamsin, has just been cast as Georgiana Darcy and she is soooooooooo happy about it. we were rehearsing for a play in school and she came in in floods of tears because she is so over the moon! she is an amazing actress and i think that she will do really well in it!

but she's also very nervous as shes never done anything to this scale so im urging you all not to boycott it without a chance....although i must admit that it will be weird seeing lizzy (who i was named after-hurrah!) and darcy being played by people other than jennifer and colin...

[Fuchsia]

I'm a big Tom Hollander fan but I don't know. Kiera Knightely? Jennifer Ehle was so good. I can't see Knightely ever improving on her.

[bridg2ette]

Oh no! I'm devastated. Pride and Prejudice is my all time favorite movie/book, and Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle were absolutely brilliant in their roles. Keira Knightly, in my opinion, will never be able to fill Jennifer Ehle's shoes. I hate to say it, but she ruined the role of Guinevere in King Arthur(I always loved the movie "Camelot" with Sean Connery and Richard Gere). She also needs to put on some weight...I'm sorry, but she looks freaking anorexic, and anyways, Eliza Bennet is supposed to be rather plain looking in comparison to Jane, and Keira has always been the skinny model type. Please Keira, eat a hamburger for gods sake, lol
I'm sorry to be so negative about Keira, because she's not the worst actress, but I hold very high regard for the A&E version and all of the actors/actresses, and it will take A LOT for her, or any of the other actors, to follow in the footsteps of the last group.
It's also very hard for me to imagine a decent P&P within the time-limit of 2 and a half hours (the average time of a blockbuster movie)...One reason I love the A&E version is that it stays so true to Jane Austen's novel. They will have to take out huge chunks of the book, so like a previous person said, the characters will not be able to be fully developed. If there are any other die hard Pride and Prejudice fans out there, please agree with me when I say it will take sooo much to meet my high expectations for any new production of P&P. Colin Firth is, and always will remain my Mr. Darcy :)


Sorry Poison Girl...I mean no offense towards your friend. That's pretty exciting, congrats. I hope she does well. I always liked Georgiana in the book. I still am weary about Keira though. I guess we'll see... :)

[squirpy]

I don't see the point in boycotting something just because you liked another version of it. It makes me more curious. Why would it devestate you? Just don't see it, but boycotting is a much more extreme word (yeah, I just combined responses to two people there, same topic)

Eliza isn't exactly plain looking - she's just not as pretty as Jane. At least, that's what I've always thought. Mary is supposed to be plain looking. The rest are supposed to be varying degrees of pretty.

Poison Girl: What's her name? I'll add her to the list (unless she doesn't want her name floating around). That's really cool. Good luck to her!

Heh, I can't believe that this is being compared to the 40's version... that was during Hollywood's overdone romance phase. Of course it was ridiculous. People were still getting used to the subtlities of movie acting versus stage or radio. And that type of romance was popular. Now period movies with humor are more in style.

[RubberSoul]

I love love love the book and the A&E movie, and though I'm not against a remake, it's Keira Knightley's being cast in it that gives me a problem. To me, Pride and Prejudice is sacred territory, and Keira Knightley just hasn't shown enough talent to be part of it. Jennifer Ehle was so great in the role. She has that classic Regency beauty which is hard to come by.

Though I love that Judi Dench will be in it, and Donald Sutherland as well.

And another thing's to be said: the book has so many things going on that they'll have to totally butcher it to make it into a normal length movie. What will they have to take out?...

[ornjbreezy]

That's great that Keira Knightley's Elizabeth, I think she'll be really good for the part. I read the book once a couple of years ago, but now it's vague in my memory. And I haven't seen the first movie, so maybe this version will refresh my memory and put the book in a whole new light.

[RogueBludger]

but I saw it in English class in 1980! Does anyone know anything about this version - who the actors were, etc?
Yeah, that was the BBC version starring Elizabeth Garvie as Elizabeth Bennet and David Rintoul as Mr. Darcy (yes, I liked Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy very much, but David Rintoul played the character very well also). It does have a very "play" feel to it as most of the scenes are indoor. Unlike the A&E version, there are very few outdoor scenes. Most of the Masterpiece Theater stuff like that version of P&P was filmed in this manner because they did not begin to have the budget that productions like the A&E version had.

I'll be curious to see the new movie version of P&P. As long as they do a better job than the last movie version of it (the Greer Garson/ Laurence Olivier version). I don't even want to get started on all the things that were wrong with that movie. It was terrible! Fitting the story into 2 hours may not be so bad. Sense and Sensibility was done on the big screen very well in roughly two hours.

It's one of my all time favorite stories. I loved both the A&E version as well as the BBC one (they are both good for different reasons). Let's hope this version of it doesn't get screwed up on the big screen.

[Darynthe]

Who is directing the new movie anyway? That s important too. I am not sure I am going to watch this new movie, that Keira girl is nothing like Lizzy. The most important trait of Lizzy are the eyes and only an amazing actress could show through them all her intelligence, charming sweetness and playfullness. I doubt there is anyone that could surpass Elizabeth Ehle in this role, and I mean it. The P&P miniseries is my favorite movie ever. :)

P&P is a very complex book. Only a VERY long, well thought movie could make it justice IMO and I am not sure that a movie that would take in it all the original lines would sell so well in the post office. I do hope I am wrong about that, but the in current trend of movies quality is not equal to profit, meaning that an adaptation thought to make money probably wouldn't be so faithful to the book. ::shudder::

[nenya]

I agree with many of you - I love Austen and will hope for the best. I'll see it, and hope Kiera K. does well (but do think it's a stretch that in any family she will be the less pretty sister - I can accept moviemakers making people more beautiful, I guess). I reread either a couple or all of Austen's novels about every 2-3 years and love her humor and incredible observation of society. I love Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park and Persuasion, but after several years of debating it with myself, I must admit that P&P is probably her best - it has such depth. It will be hard to capture in a feature, but hey, if they do it well, as Emma Thompson did with S&S, then maybe it will just serve to lead more readers to the works.

Austen forever!

[toryvic]

There can only ever be one Mr Darcy for me...and it's certainly not this young pretender!!! Pride and Prejudice is my fave book, and I love the idea of a new generation of people being introduced to such a great story, although would far prefer reruns of the BBC version. Colin Firth IS Mr Darcy, and that was why the '95 BBC adaptation was so popular.

Having said that, Judi Dench would make a brilliant Lady Catherine (although does seem to have a recent habit for playing cantankerous old baggages)
And Brenda Blethyn should be brilliant as Mrs Bennet, imho Alison Steadman slightly overdid Mrs Bennet in the BBC version and would be keen to see what BB can bring to such an interesting role!!

[RogueBludger]

I looked up the guy playing Darcy in this new version because the name sounded familiar to me but I couldn't remember where I had seen him before. He was in The Way We Live Now (also a BBC production), playing Sir Felix Carbury. He was very good, though it is difficult to determine if he can do a good Mr. Darcy because the "Sir Felix" character is very different from Darcy.

I don't think the fact this movie will not be as long as the A&E (Ehle/Firth) or the earlier BBC version (Garzie/Rintoul) will automatically mean it can't be as good. I was a huge fan of the earlier BBC production of P&P and was convinced that another version couldn't possibly be as good as that one was. Then the A&E version came out. It took me a while to like it, but now I like it every bit as much as the earlier one. They are both good in different ways.

There have been productions of other Austen books that have storylines every bit as complicated if not more so than P&P that have turned out well. Sense and Sensibility was good. So was Emma (and that one was done twice in the two hour movie format - I prefer the one with Kate Beckinsale over Gwyneth Paltrow). Mansfield Park was also good (though they took more than few liberties with the story). So I think P&P can be done well in a two hour movie as long as the screenwriter doesn't suck.

I know this will sound petty, but I hope Keira Knightley isn't a blond for this movie. Elizabeth Bennet is just not a "Barbie" doll kind of character. In both of the good versions of P&P, Elizabeth is a redhead in one and a brunnette in the other. In the rotten version of it, Greer Garson is a bubble-headed blond.

[owl post 1992]

There's another version called Bride and Prejudice its suppose to come out this year and its a Bollywood version. To be honest I aint gonna watch this neither cos Keria not really a good actress in Love Actually or Priates of the Carribean. It would be nice if the other books got this attention, I personally would love a mini-series or film version of Persausion

[squirpy]

There are a couple of films of Persausion. The books have had almost equal attention in terms of how many films made about them (with S&S and P&P in the lead, but the rest are about the same). It's just that Persuasion wasn't very popular.

About the problem of Lizzy being the prettiest (I'm sorry, I know I just read someone saying that, and now all of a sudden I can't find the post): I definetly thought that Ehle was prettier than whoever played Jane in the A&E version. That was my biggest (and shallowest) problem with that movie. Jane wasn't pretty enough. She's supposed to be the prettiest girl in town. They got around that though by just ignoring it, and pretending that Jane was prettier.

RubberSoul: I also wonder what will be cut. I bet a lot of Mr Collins stuff, and some of the scenes of general silliness with Lydia (they'll have to keep enough of that to establish her character, though). They might collapse some scenes together, like they did with Mansfeild Park.

I bet it will end up being more like the adaptation of Mansfeild Park. I thought that movie was great - but it had a lot of stuff that was different than the book. I love both, but there are a lot of plot differences. They managed to keep the feel of it though.

The director is Joe Wright (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0942504/), the screenplay is by Lee Hall (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0355822/).

[mevam]

Keira Knightly as Elizabeth Bennett?

You've got to be joking.

All I can imagine now is the cheapening of one of the most cherished characters of literature by the rampant half-nakedness and lack lustre acting abilities of film's newest fads. What's next, Justin Timberlake as Fitzwilliam Darcy? Obviously, I am skeptical that a barely mature actress like Keira, if you can call her an actress, could potentially ruin my favourite Jane Austen character.

Pah. We'll see how this turns out.

[Bouncing_Ferret]

oh please dont boycott it people! one of my good friends, Tamsin, has just been cast as Georgiana Darcy and she is soooooooooo happy about it. we were rehearsing for a play in school and she came in in floods of tears because she is so over the moon! she is an amazing actress and i think that she will do really well in it!

That's great - I wouldn't worry too much about people boycotting it. Curiosity will get the better of everyone! :D

One thing I'm a bit nervous about - Hollywood does have a tendency to make characters on screen far more beautiful than in books etc. I'm ok with an overly pretty Keira, but it's going to annoy me so much if poor old Mary, the plain one, ends up looking just as pretty. I thought Lucy Briers was great in the BBC P&P as Mary - she was exactly as I thought she should look. In fact, everyone one looked normal and authentic, which to me is far better than having every character looking as if they've just stepped off the catwalk. Hollywood tends to do that with period films, which just results in the whole story being over-romanticised and a bit silly at times.

A very obvious example is the portrayal of the Middle Ages in big movies - knights in polished armour and great shiny jewel-encrusted swords, and fair maidens racing about in the middle of an English winter with nothing but a slip on. Obviously this isn't going to happen in P&P, but you get what I mean - movies tend to glam up history a bit too much, and make out that everyone was beautiful with great skin (even if they were 'plain'). Very irritating.

[wrigley]

P&P is a particularly favorite book of mine, and a big screen film version will undoubtedly generate more interest in the book (as was the case with Paltrow's Emma). So, although for me Colin Firth is the ultimate Darcy (after all he was Elizabeth's Darcy and Bridegt's Darcy too!), I think this new version is generally a good thing so long as it remains true to the spirit of the novel. That will be a challenge if it is only 2 hours long, but not impossible. I admit I am surprised by the casting of Knightly, but I am open minded about it and looking forward to seeing how it all turns out. And when I get home from the theater, I'm sure I'll pull up a couch and pop in my BBC P&P DVD (for the 3rd or so time) and wonder how I ever could have strayed.

[squirpy]

I read an interview with Keira Knightly, and she said something about how she didn't want to be an butt-kicking, pirate-whupping character all the time. She'd like to actually act.

[GreenEyedGoddes]

Keira Knightly as Elizabeth BRILLIANT! Okay now I have to findout as much as I can about this move as soon as possible! This is the best news I've gotten all day!

[ArmaDeuS]

Kiera Knightley playing Elizabeth Bennet hm... i don't think she was the best choice. If they wanted a big name in , atleast they should have cast her as Jane not Lizzy its a much less complex character to play. Besides Jane is suppose to be the pretteest girl in town and I think Keria looks much better than Rosamund ah well... We wil just have to see!

OMG! Jena Malone as Lydia Bennet?!! Shes an American!! God.. talk about bad casting..! Hmm.. I could see Donald Sutherland as Mr Bennet which should be interesting :p !

[HannahStarr]

I can't see Kiera Knightley as Elizabeth. :shrug: But this role is a bit different from most of her other roles, so I'd like to see how she does.

This movie is going to have to be really, really good in order to be better than (or as good as) the miniseries with Colin Firth. :D

[squirpy]

What's wrong with an American? They're actors - they pretend to be other people. I'm not British, so I don't know how it looked over there, but I thought Gwenyth Paltrow was really good as Emma (and in Shakespeare in Love) and she's not British.

BouncingFerret: I know what you mean. Everyone and everything is always prettied up for movies. But it's not just historical movies - it's pretty much all movies. Unless they're trying to make a social point - in which case there are the obligitory scarred/dirty/plain people. ;)

Hm, I'm not hoping for something that is better than the A&E version, nessesarily. But I can't wait to see something different. I love to see how different people interpret books.

ok - Tom Hollander is Mr Collins.

[RogueBludger]

What's wrong with an American? They're actors - they pretend to be other people. I'm not British, so I don't know how it looked over there, but I thought Gwenyth Paltrow was really good as Emma (and in Shakespeare in Love) and she's not British. I didn't really care for Gwenyth's version of Emma, but that's a personal preference. I didn't think she did a very good job with the accent, but then I also find it funny when I've watched films where an English actor is trying to do an American accent (it usually sounds equally bad).

I'll be curious to see what Keira Knightley does with the Elizabeth Bennet character. She's actually pretty close to the age of the character (unlike some of the others who have played Elizabeth). I just hope the writers know what they're doing, and don't write Elizabeth as a flirty, coquettish type - that would be all wrong (that's one of the many things that was so wrong with the Greer Garson/Laurence Olivier version) .

[Poison_Girl]

Poison Girl: What's her name? I'll add her to the list (unless she doesn't want her name floating around). That's really cool. Good luck to her!
No sorry-i dont think she'll want it released yet. do you mind waiting until its officially released? thank u!

[bridg2ette]

Wow, Jena Malone as Lydia? I just realized that she was the girl from "Saved"...it will be pretty interesting to see how she does in this film. I liked her in "Saved", so I'll go ahead and give her the benefit of the doubt. As for Kiera, I'm still saying they could have done better. Lets hope they uphold the dignity of one of the greatest books of all time! :)

[Snowthorn]

I LOVE P & P! It's one of my all-time favourite books. And while I love the A&E version, it isn't perfection. I only love Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth as the title characters. I can't imagine Keira being able to pull off the subtleties of Eliza Bennett's character. She seems a bit ... um dare I say it?... shallow in her emotions. I know *gasp* low blow! Don't get me wrong! I Like Keira. She's adorable. But I've always envisioned Elizabeth Bennett to be more complex, multi-faceted... more of a thinker than a react-er. Oh well... I'm sure 2 1/2 hrs won't be able to match up to 6 hours of character development. Besides, Cousin Collins was perfectly cast! His portrayal kept me in stitches.

On the other hand, I WILL like watching Donald Sutherland and Judi Dench sink their chops into their roles.

And just to be fair, like I said, the A&E version is far from perfect. It will be a relief to see the sisters' roles fleshed out with more suitable actresses. I didn't like Jane's and Kitty's actresses. Nor Mrs. Bennett, she was a bit overdone. That's all my peeves, I think. Oh yeah, Lizzie's uncle too... greasy.

Sorry about the post, I'm jumping all over the place. I guess it shows that i'm schizo! :rolleyes:

[squirpy]

No sorry-i dont think she'll want it released yet. do you mind waiting until its officially released? thank u!

sure, that's understandable. :)

[ArmaDeuS]

I'll be curious to see what Keira Knightley does with the Elizabeth Bennet character. She's actually pretty close to the age of the character (unlike some of the others who have played Elizabeth).

But its okay if the actors are a bit older.. because Elizabeth is already bit more mature for her age.

[Catgirl]

Two words: Colin Firth. You can't improove on perfection, so why even try?

This new film sounds too Hollywood for Jane Austin anyway. I think that it won't be better than the BBC's version.

[squirpy]

I think it'll be a fun movie more than a perfect adaptation.

Carey Mulligan is Kitty Bennet. I don't know who she is.

[squirpy]

well, here are some pics: http://www.thezreview.co.uk/news3/prideandprejudice.htm

[squirpy]

An Article about it (http://www.erasofelegance.com/entertainment.html)

Another Article (http://www.djdchronology.com/prideandprejudice2005.htm): With really good pics, including Judi Dench as Lady Catherine

I just search this every so often to see what's up. It's looking good to me.

[Aquaria]

But Colin Firth needs to play Mr. Darcy! :upset:

[stormcat_5000]

But Colin Firth needs to play Mr. Darcy! :upset:

I Agree!
I have not seen the T.V movie as it has not yet been shown in my country but i did see a couple of scenes,The two minutes of the movie footage were extremly convincing to me. I dont think anyone can play Mr Darcy like Colin Firth!

[squirpy]

:sigh: Yes, the lack of Colin Firth is probably the worst thing about this movie in my mind. I really hope that this guy does a good job. He's got big shoes to fill.

[Sorcha]

Yeah really. I think Colin Firth is Mr. Darcy, end of story. I'm not a big fan of Keira Knightly as Elizabeth either. She just doesn't fit the part I don't think.

[reddawn]

I just can't see anybody but Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy... it's just impossible. I really do think that it takes 5 hours to explain everything... I liked the A&E version... especially the end(and Mr. Collins, of course) it was so amazing at how well the movie followed the book. Almost down to every line...

I love that.... 'your arrogance, your deciet, and your selfish disdain towards the feelings of others...' sounds kinda like James Potter and Mr. Darcy are the same, doesn't it?

[Kneazle]

Even though I'm a huge fan of the BBC/A&E version, I was rather looking forward to seeing how this turns out. I saw some pictures from production, though, and now I'm not so sure. I enjoy watching these period dramas for the costumes almost as much as the story, and the A&E version is hard to improve upon in that category. I'm not impressed with what I've seen so far of this production. . .

Still, I'm trying to stay optimistic. They've pulled together a really great cast. Rosamund Pike is a wonderful choice for Jane! Keira Knightley is an interesting choice for Lizzie, but she may well be able to pull it off. Matthew MacFadyen is a really good actor. I was really surprised to see that they'd cast him as Darcy, but I can easily see him in the role. (It's interesting to note that the two leads are more closely matched to their characters' ages than Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth were.) It seems they're keeping the production centered in England... I think it's being filmed on location in Derbyshire.

At any rate, I think it'll be okay as a movie. I don't really expect it to hold up in comparison with the miniseries, but might as well give it a chance and let it be it's own thing. :)

[jordmundt6]

Horror, horror, horror. You folks know that cramming Pride and Prejudice into two and a half hours is going to result in serious slash and burn (a la the Potter flicks) don't you? As for the castihng--YAAAAH! Rosamund Pike was HORRIBLE in Die Another Day. Madonna was better and she was sleepwalking through a single scene. And SHE's going to play Jane Bennet? As for the Lizzie role--I like Keira as much as the next person but I just don't see her pulling this off. She's never had to portray a character with this much depth before and she's never had to drive a film herself. She might be able to do it but I'd prefer that she not cut her teeth on a Jane Austen classic. There are enough flashy bad box office versions. We don't need another.

reddawn--JP and FD--Sorry just can't see it. Maybe because by and large the negative opinion of FD was slander and falsehood while JP deserved every ounce of censure he got.

[AHPDQ]

Well, I've been a P and P fan since I read the novel in Grade ten. However, I am not feeling dismay or concern right now, mainly because I was originally told that Brad Pitt was going to be playing Darcy. So now I'm just relieved. I wrote an essay to my best girlfriend upon recieving this faulty information, which predominantly shot down Hollywood, Brad Pitt, and script writers in general.

I'm just elated now. I don't exactly agree with Keira as Lizzie, but at least Brad Pitt won't be playing Darcy. Sorry to any Pitt fans, but can you imagine?

Anyways, to chip in with the group, I loved the A&E version, and Colin Firth is number one on my list of desirable male celebrities. I even saw 'What a Girl Wants' to see him in it, which I am MUCH too old to be watching. We'll have to see how the movie is. Once again- my extremely open attitude is mainly a product of Brad's absence.

[esmerelda]

Horror, horror, horror. You folks know that cramming Pride and Prejudice into two and a half hours is going to result in serious slash and burn (a la the Potter flicks) don't you? As for the castihng--YAAAAH! Rosamund Pike was HORRIBLE in Die Another Day. Madonna was better and she was sleepwalking through a single scene. And SHE's going to play Jane Bennet? As for the Lizzie role--I like Keira as much as the next person but I just don't see her pulling this off. She's never had to portray a character with this much depth before and she's never had to drive a film herself. She might be able to do it but I'd prefer that she not cut her teeth on a Jane Austen classic. There are enough flashy bad box office versions. We don't need another.

I couldn't agree more! There's no way the whole story can be condensed into a single film, and I just don't see any way that Keira Knightley can do Elizabeth Bennett justice. I know everyone's saying that Colin Firth IS Mr Darcy (and of course I agree 100%), but I think the same is true of Jennifer Ehle as Lizzie. I can't imagine any actors doing better jobs than those. I wonder who decided to take on this project? They must have known they'd have to improve on the BBC version, which is pretty much perfection.

[red_fairy]

Yeah. I loved the book, and I had to read it for school. One thing was how it was so long! So much will have to be cut. And I don't know if Keira can pull off a character as complicated as Elizabeth.

[squirpy]

I think she can do it. I was just rereading P&P and it sounds like she actually fits the few physical descriptions of Elizabeth better than Ehle. There was obviously something about Knightly (haha, wouldn't it be funny if she played Emma... Knightly... anyway..) that the casting people liked. From what I read, it wasn't a "Oh, and lets get Keira Knightly for Lizzy" thing, they almost picked someone else.

I agree about stuff getting cut though, that really worries me... what can be cut in that book? They could probably get away with a longer-than-2.5-hour movie, since there's been a trend of longer movies lately, and people are more used to them. I bet they could get away with a bit over 3 hours. I don't know if they'll go for that though...

[stormcat_5000]

Oh by the way there is another version of Pride and prejudice coming soon I think maybe the Brits may know, its Directed bythe female who directed "Bend it like Beckham",since she is an Indian she decided to Indianise the book now its called Bride and Prejudice,its a musical,with Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai and a New Zealand actor plays Mr Darcy.The Benetts family is Indian in this verson and a whole lot of marriages are going on instead of parties.Its up to you to shudder or revere.

[jasper]

Oh by the way there is another version of Pride and prejudice coming soon I think maybe the Brits may know, its Directed bythe female who directed "Bend it like Beckham",since she is an Indian she decided to Indianise the book now its called Bride and Prejudice,its a musical,with Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai and a New Zealand actor plays Mr Darcy.The Benetts family is Indian in this verson and a whole lot of marriages are going on instead of parties.Its up to you to shudder or revere.

Directed by Gurinder Chadha :D

trailer (http://www.greenroom-press.com/clients/Pathe/theatrical/Bride%20and%20Prejudice/movies/trlr_hi.mov)

[squirpy]

yeah, I heard about that.

"Bride and Prejudice"

Interesting.

[silvery orb]

Oh dear. I'm really no fan of Keira Knightley, and feel that she is not picked to play these roles because she's such a great actress but because of some hype

I know, right? I'm mystified why she gets all these roles (Guinevere, Elizabeth Swann). She was good in "Bend it like Beckham", but I think that's the OUTER LIMITS of her acting talent (spunky). She just doesn't have enough depth or sensitivity. Some of my guy friends think she's hot. Ugh. Another painfully skinny woman to make the rest of us feel over-nourished.

Elizabeth Bennet!!! Come on!!! Who cast this movie? I have tried many times to come up with the perfect Eliza Bennet - the closest I've gotten is Emma Thompson...and she's a little beyond that age range. But she's smart, has a great sense of humor, unusual beauty, great sensitivity and IS AN INCREDIBLE ACTRESS. Keira is a sad choice.

[true_heir_of_slyth]

I'm keeping an open mind about this new version of P&P until I've seen it, but I don't think they'll ever be able to improve on the mini series. However it turns out, people will always be comparing it to it. *shrugs* Personally, I don't think Keira Knightley was... a smart choice for Elizabeth. I could be wrong. Oh well. We'll have to wait and see...

[squirpy]

what's this? new pics? I'm actually only interested in the one of the guy. Is that Darcy (I don't know what McFayden looks like well enough to tell)

http://www.djdchronology.com/prideandprejudice2005.htm

if you click on their link you can see more images, but they're all kinda similar...

[Stellamedusa]

I know, right? I'm mystified why she gets all these roles (Guinevere, Elizabeth Swann). She was good in "Bend it like Beckham", but I think that's the OUTER LIMITS of her acting talent (spunky). She just doesn't have enough depth or sensitivity. Some of my guy friends think she's hot. Ugh. Another painfully skinny woman to make the rest of us feel over-nourished.

Elizabeth Bennet!!! Come on!!! Who cast this movie? I have tried many times to come up with the perfect Eliza Bennet - the closest I've gotten is Emma Thompson...and she's a little beyond that age range. But she's smart, has a great sense of humor, unusual beauty, great sensitivity and IS AN INCREDIBLE ACTRESS. Keira is a sad choice.

That is so true! She's much more suited to being a model than an actress, she just portrays every character in exactly the same way. I actually didn't think she was too bad until I saw her playing guinevere...football, anyone?

And no one can replace colin firth.

[Matt F]

I think the problem they will have is that all the dialogue about how plain Lizzy looks compared to Jane will seem ridiculous give the actresses playing them.

Lizzy has to be plain enough so that Darcy doesn't immediately fall for her, but gradually comes to love her more for her forthright personality than her looks. I mean, can you imagine:

Mr Darcy (looking at Elizabeth): She is... tolerable I suppose.
(Shot of Kiera Knightly)
Audience: What the F....? You're out of your gourd, Darcy.

[agpotter]

Yeah, I have my two knuts to contribute...

I think the reason they shouldn't make this into a movie anymore is because the A&E version is the most perfect adaptation anyone could hope for. The cast, the acting (that includes Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins--they were perfect for their outrageous characters), the sets, the costumes, the dialogue/adaptation, the music, EVERYTHING. Why try to improve on perfection? Add the poorish acting skills of Kiera Knightley (and her very prominent teeth) and you will have a mediocre version of a great story.

I just think it's silly to try and remake this again already. How many versions are there now? Seven? Eight maybe?

Kiera as Lizzy... Blech.

[InnocentEyes]

Are you serious? Finally a good movie of Pride and Prejudice will be made! Hopefully. Remember that one that came out in 2001 or I think it was 2003 or something. Just plain horrible. I didn't like how they made it modern. ~Sarah

[Dragonmaster]

I agree in that this new film has some pretty big shoes to fill. I think the last film was good because most the actors were not necessarily well-known, but they fit the part extremely well. Plus, the movie was good in that in 5 hours, they covered the whole big and kept it entertaining (which is obviously why so many people love it). If this movie has to shorten the script to be in theaters, (like they have to do with HP), then it won't be anywhere near as good as the '95 version.

[agpotter]

Are you serious? Finally a good movie of Pride and Prejudice will be made! Hopefully. Remember that one that came out in 2001 or I think it was 2003 or something. Just plain horrible. I didn't like how they made it modern. ~Sarah

FINALLY a good movie of Pride & Prejudice?????..... :huh: Have you SEEN the A&E version? That thing is an absolute masterpiece. Not to mention the 1940 version with Greer Garson and Lawrence Olivier. Sheesh.

As for the modern retelling, I presume you're referring to the 2003 version with Kam Heskin and Orlando Seale? At least they did something new and different with it. A totally different reinvention (such as putting it in a modern time, which I actually thought related pretty darn well to current single society...) is a MUCH better option than just rehashing (or trying to) the same time period in a story that's already been perfectly made into a film.

Bottom line: The A&E P&P is a perfect period piece in almost every way. I'm just crossing my fingers that a lot of teeny-boppers start to like P&P now just because lame Kiera Knightley is horribly miscast as Lizzy.

[Dragonmaster]

Actually, the first Bridget Jones is somewhat of a modern P and P. Especially with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. And did anyone else who is a P and P fan see Mr. Bingley as an extra in Bridget Jones? I swear I saw him at the part where Bridget quits and tells off Daniel Cleaver.

Yeah he was- I just checked it out online. Crispin-Bonham Carter (Mr. Bingley) plays an extra in the office of Daniel Cleaver- I always thought that was funny.

[agpotter]

Oh, that's right, Bridget Jones's Diary is definitely a modern spin on P&P. But again, that's okay because it's a different spin on the story, not just rehashing in a poorer quality something that's already been done perfectly (like this newest version threatens to do very ominously).

[InnocentEyes]

FINALLY a good movie of Pride & Prejudice?????..... :huh: Have you SEEN the A&E version? That thing is an absolute masterpiece. Not to mention the 1940 version with Greer Garson and Lawrence Olivier. Sheesh.
.

No I haven't. I have seen the 1940 version with Greer Garson and Lawrence Olivier. I didn't remember it when I was typing it in my last post. I did like that one a lot. They captured the scenes exactly how I wanted them. I haven't seen the A&E version and now I'm upset that I didn't. ~Sarah

[agpotter]

Oh, yes, you should definitely see it. The 1940s one is good, but it doesn't really get the time period quite right (the costumes and hair are completely a different era), but the acting is quite good. All in all, I totally recommend the A%E one. At least see it before you see the new one...

[Goldberry]

Hmm...I'm glad they're making a new one, but I'm not sure about the casting. I've only seen Keira in Pirates and Bend it Like Beckham, so I don't think I can really place judgement on her having only seen two of her movies. I'll give her a chance, though, definitely. Matthew McFayden...haven't heard of him. Time to head over to IMDB, I guess. It won't be the same without Colin, though, but I'll see it all the same.

[misslovegood]

I think the reason they shouldn't make this into a movie anymore is because the A&E version is the most perfect adaptation anyone could hope for. The cast, the acting (that includes Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins--they were perfect for their outrageous characters), the sets, the costumes, the dialogue/adaptation, the music, EVERYTHING. Why try to improve on perfection?
Kiera as Lizzy... Blech.

I couldn't have said it better myself. I agree completely. I don't dislike Kiera, but she isn't right for this part. The cast was perfect in the A&E version, as was everything else. Poor Jane Austen! I really hope this new version doesn't butcher her wonderful story!