So Jason and I rented the newly released, "Pride and Prejudice" starring Keira Knightly, who in my opinion has a very large head teetering on a very tiny body. Wow, that was mean...sorry about that (I think my husband thinks she's hot so I have to immediately take a shot at her).
Anyhoo, I have yet to see a film adapted from one of Jane Austen's novels that I have not liked, and this film was no exception. I love the innocence of Jane Austen. I thoroughly enjoy delving into the world of 18th century England; the clothing, the social rituals, the elegance, innocence, and the romance of every day life back then (unless of course you were below the poverty line, then there was nothing romantic about it). I often wonder what women from those days would do if they came to see us here in the year 2006. Just taking a stroll through myspace.com would cause many fainting spells and no doubt, vomiting. I know that the ceremonious life of men and women in the 17th century may seem a bit dull and hoity-toity for some, but to me it seems so lovely and ideal. That world seems like such an impossible dream nowadays, and I love to lose myself in it for 2 hours every time I get the chance to watch a movie set in this era.
So, Pride and Prejudice was really nice, with some very subtle yet highly effective romantic moments that made me swoon (and want to fan myself). To me, the most romantic things in life are the most innocent things; an accidental touch of the hand, a blushed cheek, the batting of an eye...the art of subtlety is completey lost in todays society where everything is flaunted and garish (just my opinion).
Mathew MacFadyen did a nice job playing Mr.Darcy, (the lead love interest) in this film. I've never seen this actor before, and I doubt I'll see him again, but he was quite nice in this role. Donald Sutherland plays Mr.Bennet in this film; I'm always happy to see Donald Sutherland in a quality film, because it happens so rarely and he's such a fine actor. Actually all the actors in this movie were really great, some I'd seen before, some I hadn't. Judy Dench makes an appearance in this film; it's rare to see a film of British actors without Dame Judy showing up. She's marvellous.
This story, like most Jane Austen stories, is about romance, humour, family, secrets, interesting characters, and lost love. I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and I'm glad I saw it before the Oscar's on Sunday night, because now I've seen pretty much every film that is up for an Oscar!
The plot-as I've said, it's basically a movie about romance, love, humour, secrets, family and life in England in the 18th century.
So anyhoo, I'd give Pride and Prejudice 

. A very enjoyable romantic costume drama with a touch of humour.
Of all the Jane Austen big screen adaptations I've seen, I enjoyed Sense and Sensability the best (directed in 1995 by Ang Lee, who did an amazing job). The cast was amazing: Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, just to name a few. Sense and Sensability is a movie not to be missed!
Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire comes out on Tuesday, I can't wait!!!