Jane Austen Movie Fans

I have a copy of the Jennifer Ehle/Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice which I adore ardently and watch every so often. I really don't ever get tired of it. This is the version which is most faithful to the book, which runs some 360 pages or so, and chronicles the finer details which Austen renders so skillfully-- the dinner and chamber conversations are especially laden with satire and yes, I could go on...

I also enjoy the 1940 offering with Greer Garson and Sir Laurence Olivier, although I think his Darcy is far less yummy. They still maintain the wit inherent to the intention of the satire. As for the Kiera Knightly version... boy, I really wanted to like it, but the end of it just killed me. Freaking (!!!)fireworks(!!!) over Pemberley as they kissed? Egad. I just keep thinking that the "real" Mr. Darcy would have found something like that quite vulgar. Did they not get who that character was? Cute movie for teen girls, but really NOT for the purist.

Doris: I saw Harriet Walter recently-- Lark Rise to Candleford, I think. I have that one too, BTW. :)

The ONLY Pride and Prejudice version I like is the one with Colin Firth. It's just wonderful! The girls' mother did an amazing job in her role. And the father in this version was so much better than Donald Sutherland. I like Donald Sutherland as an actor so much, but was SO surprised that he was so ineffective as an actor in this role.

Keira Knightley acted so immature as Elizabeth. Jennifer Ehle was so much more believable as a gentleman's daughter. And of course, Colin Firth handled the role of Mr. Darcy SO well. Matthew MacFadyen just didn't have the same fire at all.

I did like that some of the explanations in the book were better discussed in the second movie - for example, Keira's conversation with MacFadyen about Jane being shy was more direct. I don't know why they didn't make that more clear in the first movie, since so many people haven't read the book.

I also love Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet. Wasn't Fanny a piece of work?!! Harriet Walter, the actress who played Fanny, was great in that role!

The BBC miniseries with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, hands down. None of the others even come close. But even *better*? The book.

I second the Colin Firth version.

The Colin Firth version hands down. IT is my all time favorite movie. It is my pick me up movie because it always makes me feel happy. The Keira Knightly version doesn't even come close.

I love the Colin Firth version too. I actually did like the Kiera Knightly one too, but not as much as Colin Firth's.

Another vote for Colin Firth. It's one of the few movie versions of books that I've been able to enjoy without pointing out every single departure from the story.