Bride and Prejudice 2004
Jessica’s Thoughts - Sahid from Lost can dance! Plus he’s gorgeous. And so is our Mr. Darcy (though I wish they’d had him living in New Zealand instead of the U.S. so that he could have used his real accent). This adaptation is so much fun. I love seeing the story told through a different culture - especially when it works! Definitely not my favorite Mr. Collins, though he’s accurately annoying. Mary and her snake dance is creepy as hell, and I loved it. I was annoyed by a couple of the songs - they go on forever - and the love montage was more laughable than romantic. But I love the family’s relationship and how the girl’s bond (and sing) together. Plus the cast is amazing. Definitely a favorite.
Watson’s Thoughts - This is definitely one of my all time favorite adaptations! And that is only a little bit because I’m in love with Naveen Andrews. Setting any Austen adaptation in modern day can be tricky, because not all the plot devices still work. By putting the story in a culture that practices arranged marriages, many of the pressures on the characters for marriage and life still make sense. And I find myself constantly in awe of the amazingly colorful costumes and set design...and the songs...and the Naveen Andrews...sorry, I’m back now. It’s by the same director that made Bend It Like Beckham in 2002, which I also highly recommend.
Emily’s Thoughts - I’m with Watson. This one had me immediately at Bollywood and is a great example of why I love Austen so much. The stories, much like Mrs. Bennet’s universal truths, work beyond regency England and stories of heart, miscommunication, and ambition are something everyone can relate too. While we’ll be debating our favorite Darcy is a post to come, SPOILER, this is my second favorite. It’s close, very close, but much like my admiration for the adorableness that is Naveen Andrews, Martin Henderson just has a spark abou thim. I found myself feeling very empathetic toward this particular Mr. Collins who is just trying so very hard and, despite being a tad bit annoying, seems genuinely thoughtful and kind. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is a gorgeous and feisty Elizabeth Bennet, and the costumes, music, and dancing just steal the show. A must see.
Jessica’s Thoughts - So I love musicals. I really do. But this...this was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen. The singing was average, but the lyrics were ridiculous. The Elizabeth character kept telling us everything that we’re supposed to figure out on our own as she narrated IN SONG. Show not tell, people. That’s one of the most basic rules of storytelling. I’m not even going to start on the costuming. Ugh.
Watson’s Thoughts - Did you know that someone made a stage musical of Pride and Prejudice? They did. You can go watch it. I am in no way saying that you should. But you can. I recommend consuming some adult beverages first. We only lasted about 15 minutes into the show, and the last 10 minutes were mainly because we were trying to figure out if the actress playing Jane was actually pregnant or if it was the costume (let’s be honest here folks, empire waist dresses don’t do anyone any favors).
Emily’s Thoughts - Hard pass. I wanted to like this. No. I wanted to LOVE this, but in the end I had neither of these warm and fuzzy feelings. Seriously, we did not make it very far into this very interesting interpretation before bailing for Theo James which is basically a perfect excuse ALWAYS to quit something. The only real redeeming quality was Mary Bennet narrating with one-liners, just walking on and then off the screen. Maybe one day, with a few more adult beverages, I’ll give it another world, but I’m not holding my breath on this one.
Pride and Prejudice 2005
Jessica’s Thoughts - I originally avoided this movie like the plague. I loved the Colin Firth version and refused to believe that anything else could do the story justice, but when I finally watched it a couple years ago I was pleasantly surprised. Kiera Knightley does a beautiful portrayal of Elizabeth, and Jena Malone is a fantastic Lydia (and Joanna Mason in Hunger Games ❤️). And the scenery is breathtaking. Now I watch this version on repeat, and I have my own P&P ‘05 Pandora station.
Watson’s Thoughts - I know that everyone loves the 1995 mini series with Colin Firth, and I do too. But this adaptation did a fantastic job at keeping the spirit and the story, despite the fact that it was literally 200 minutes shorter than the miniseries. (Yes I looked it up. The miniseries was 327 minutes long and the movie was 127 minutes) I love Matthew Macfadyen as Mr Darcy. I think he did amazing at showcasing his awkwardness. This movie also has one of the sexiest movie scenes ever, despite it not including any sex...or even kissing. One little close up of Darcy flexing his hand after helping Elizabeth into the carriage and I am swooning! And the soundtrack for this movie ranks in my top five instrumental soundtracks of all time.
Emily’s Thoughts - I remember dragging my mother and best friend to the theater for this one. Apparently I’m a sucker for period dramas. There’s so much to love about this adaptation. The soundtrack is beautiful and a favorite for background music in my house. I always appreciate a heroine who speaks her own mind, likes long, dirty walks, and lives her life with a book in her hand, and Knightley portrays said heroine pretty well. And then there’s Matthew Macfadyen. I don’t consider him a super handsome dude, but his vulnerability and awkwardness are so endearing that you find yourself getting emotionally attached despite his rather surly manner. Sorry, Jessica - I really wanted to punch Lydia in the face everytime she appeared on screen :)
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