Pride and Prejudice must be one of the most adapted novels to the big and small screen (not to mention the spin-offs!). Rather than boring us, all these movies and series make us await their release with great expectation. The last one to reach the theatres was Joe Wright’s 2005 version with Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen starring as Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy.
All Lizzy and Darcy’s fans have an ideal mental image of how these characters should look like, this time we felt that, somehow, the cast was rather unexpected and the liberties taken with the story made it lose some of its magic thus marking in a less favourable way what could have been a wonderful adaptation.
First of all, rather than showing a proud Mr Darcy we ended up with a misunderstood one and that’s not how we see the character in Jane Austen’s novel. MacFadyen’s portrayal seemed more on the shy side than the arrogant and proud Darcy we imagined. And Knightley seemed to fit the modern pattern of beauty too much to be a real 19th century Lizzy. We clearly miss Mrs Hurst and her husband, even if they are minor characters in the novel. Actually, our favourite characters were Jane and Mr Bingley, they were really good.
Aesthetically, this movie was a success but what stands out immediately is the music, all composed by Dario Marianelli. Watching Lizzy at Stanage Edge (Peak District) while listening to “Lizzie on the Top of the World” was, without any doubt, one of the most beautiful moments of this movie.
We couldn’t finish without mentioning one of the most outraging liberties taken with the story – the American ending, somehow over there they felt the need to see an extra scene with Lizzy and Mr Darcy, never mind Jane Austen’s version. If you haven’t seen it yet, take a look on your left.
What about you, did you like the 2005 adaptation of P&P? Was this ending really necessary in your opinion? Did it add anything crucial to the story? Or were you satisfied with the normal ending?
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m from New Zealand, we didn’t see this scene and this is the first I’ve heard from it. Frankly, I don’t get it! I don’t understand how it adds to the story and I think Austen did a perfectly fine job ending the story as she did!
I’m in the US, so this is the only ending I’ve seen. Did the other version end just like the book?
I would’ve been fine with that ending. Although, I could listen to Matthew MacFadyen say just about anything over and over with that deep yummy voice. LOL. I wish they would’ve put both endings on the DVD so we could choose which ending to see – I’m greedy I suppose. I want to see both :)
I haven’t seen this adaptation yet, and it’s the 1st time I’m hearing about different endings.
I always hate when they make up things for the movie adaptations, and I don’t see in what this final scene adds anything to the story!
Dee, I agree!
Tina, I believe the other version ends right before that scene starts. I didn’t see that scene at the movies and it’s not in my DVD. I think they just added it at the end. Someone correct me if I’m wrong!
Fantasma, we are in agreement! So, you don’t read historical fiction but you like period dramas? :-)
I’m not a fan of that extra scene either. For me it doesn’t bring anything to the story, who was already perfect.
Yes, you are right, Ana T. This scene begins when Lizzy, after talking with her father, goes out to tell the news to Darcy. In the french dvd, the american end is in the extras as alternative ending.
Yes, at the movies I like it :P Go figure!!! ;)
(well, just some of it…)
Story goes that the extra scene was made especially for US audiences. It seems that Mr. Bennett was enough for the likes of us European.
And in my humble opinion, it really was. It ends the movie with the ironic, witty tone that’s so famous in Jane Austen.
On the other hand I have to admit that it’s always a (guilty)pleasure to have a little peak at the intimate life of the Darcys :)
I didn’t see it. I really really don’t like the actress and the idea of one of my all-time favorite heroins being played by her was a big no no for me.
And the extra scene is criminal! I mean, they have to be allowed certain liberties when making a movie out of a book, but inventing new things really isn’t one of them. Or shouldn’t be.
So I didn’t see it and I don’t plan on doing it. I refuse.
Hey Witchie! Who would you like to see playing Lizzy? And Darcy? :-)
Well, there’s only one Darcy for me. The true and only ;)
As for Lizzy… I don’t know, but a younger Emma Thompson would be nice. Or Kate Winslet, although she is a bit too smiley. A younger Maggy Smith, perhaps? Tough one, this Lizzy…
I tottaly agree with Xana. The original end was enough for me but it’s always a (not guilty at all) pleasure to have a little peak at the intimate life of the Darcys.
*sigh*
:P PA
I didn’t have any problems with the ending although I preferred the ending of the BBC mini-series with them all getting married. I had a few problems with the rest of the movie, Lady Catherine de Burgh showing up in the middle of the night, the pigs running through the house. Although the scene in the rain where he proposes was kind of hot.
Vi esta versão (que não conhecia) aqui há um mês e este fim de semana resolvi rever a da BCC.
Pronto! Está explicado porque é que nesta versão as mulheres “estão todas de costas”, completamente flats!
;)
I thought it was a very well done adaptation. I liked MacFadyen’s Darcy and Rosamund Pike was absolutely perfect as Jane, and Tom Hollander’s version of Mr Collins was brilliant. The miniseries is ‘better’ in the sense that because it’s longer and therefore not obliged to leave out characters or plot points because of time constraints, but as a film this one was excellent.
I think most of the criticism this adaptation has attracted is unwarranted and has to do more with people not liking Keira Knightley (who was good, if not phenomenal as Lizzie) rather than anything actually wrong with the movie