Pride and Prejudice

I love Jane Austen! I think she, unequivocally, kicks tremendous amounts of ass with cutting dialogue and superb creations and deconstructions of class. However, despite my love of Austen, I was not raised on her novels. Instead I suckled from the breast of the various BBC/Fox/A&E adaptations of her novels. I, of course, came later to her novels and her words. But my first introduction and experience of Austen's self came from the flickering images and witty words of amazing actors giving even more life to her creations. Pretty cool childhood, eh?

Therefore, I am a complete snob when it comes to adaptations of Austen's works. I really think nothing can even approach the greatness of the 1995 A&E mini of Pride and Prejudice along with the multitudinous versions of Sense and Sensibility and Emma from Miramax, BBC, A&E, and Ang Lee (Ang Lee???? Damn right, Ang Lee). Suffice to say, I looked on with extreme prejudice as Keira Knightley prepared to play Lizzie. I laughed outright when I saw various pictures of Knightley poised on on rocks in the English countryside. I certainly don't dislike the damnably young and successful woman as an actor, she is delightful. What significantly weirded me out was the simplicity of the incredulousness of her casting. I mean, really. As a another knell, a few months ago I sought out the most recent trailer and was horrified at how loud and abrasive everything was. I am quite used to subtlty and intrigue when works of Austen and others are worked with as films. The music, the noise, all of it was invasive. I couldn't shut the damn thing off quickly enough.

Good thing I got over my prejudice. Thanks, against, go to the girl's sister for giving me some hope. Bravo, you served me well with combative, supportive thoughts of Knightley and well-wrought sexiness.

Indeed, I loved this 2005 Pride and Prejudice. I have yet to see Bride and Prejudice so I cannot lay judgment on its worth. Yet for a decade of movies, books, songs and political guffaws, 2005's Pride and Prejudice bubbled with the life of Austen and the passion of England as no other movie I've seen since 1995. Colour me amazed, my love of the 1995 mini is now supremely matched by 2005's version. Truly, I mean amazed.

Keira Knightley, the sexiest beanpole on the planet, deserves every credit for bringing to life the greatest heroine of the limited literature I have read. My father calls Jennifer Ehle the "running Lizzie." So, with some liberty, I daringly call Knightley the "longing Lizzie." Such a title might seem odd, and indeed it is. But I think even odder might be to call her the "eye Lizzie," as I naturally am of want to do. Longing is expressed by the eyes. By the body too, of course. But longing is by its very nature evocative of the heart and there is no greater portal to the heart than through the eyes. So longing=eyes. Knightley's eyes were truly startling in laughter, in sadness, and in love. Often, it can be said that actors are vapid and souless. Regardless of truth, Elizabeth's eyes evoke pure life force in such a way that Knightley's superb acting is manifested and bolstered by such expression. Eyes are a big thing for me. I pride myself on looking someone dead in the eyes, within reason, whenever I talk to them. (This is especially helpful in today's age of plunging cleavage. ...the girl's eyes, if I do say so myself, are like kaleidoscopes of fire and sea.) So to see every emotion poured out through not only her voice and body but also her eyes was a delight and reason alone to see this movie. Yet, giggle, friends, giggle -- for there are many reasons to go for Pride and for Prejudice.

(Keira Knightley is a tomboy, out and out. Granted, a gorgeous one, but still a tomboy. Let it not be said that I am a breast man, for, truly, what breasts? What breasts?)

The director Joe Wright and the cinematographer Roman Osin masterfully recreate Austen's world of Darcy and Elizabeth with colours, scenes, and sounds that leave nothing to the imagination whilst never limiting it. The girl's sister said it best with

its quite an interesting study in the art of movie making if nothing else

I so freakin' concur man, I concur. Almost every scene came to life as a masterfully created painting leaps off the canvas. This movie is wonderful, sexy, and brilliantly lovely. In one word, with thoughts of acting, direction, and photography, SEXY.

I cannot wait to see 2005's Pride and Prejudice again.

(...how cool is it that Emma Thompson performed a special, uncredited rewrite of the script?)