Rating: Six stars!!!
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= MOVIE THAT CHANGED MY LIFE.
This page is based around the 2005 version of pride and prejudice. I have other versions, so I will probably post them when I get a chance, but for now we'll leave it as it.
P&P is my all time favorite book and movie. There's no doubt about it. So when I sound incredibly biased, and ignore all the bad parts in the movie...that's why....especially since there are no bad parts.
I first watched pride and prejudice probably in...2008, I think. So the movie had been out for a little while. I was not excited about watching it. I was living in Virginia at the time, and my friend Jessica and I did not feel like going out to the bars that random Friday night. I think it was cold and rainy. Blah. So we stayed in. She was astounded that I had never seen P&P before. So without much discussion she put it in.
The first like twenty minutes of the movie, I was like...omg what is she making me watch. But then I got into it.
It starts with Miss Elizabeth Bennet and the story about her and her four other sisters. This was back in 1800s, and as they had no son to entail the family fortune to, it was all going to go to their cousin, Mr. Collins. Because of this Mrs. Bennet is obsessed with trying to get her daughters married before Mr. Bennet dies, and they lose everything.
Mr. Bingley rents a house in the neighborhood, and it is rumored that he makes 5000 pounds a year...which is a lot of money back then. So then Mrs. Bennet and all of her children are going crazy. Mr. Bennet doesn't have much time to deal with such foolishness. He likes Lizzy (Elizabeth) as she has the most sense about her.
They go to a ball and meet Mr. Bingley, who falls like instantly in love with the eldest daughter, Jane, who is very beautiful. Mr. Bingley is there with his sister Caroline (he has another sister and brother in law there with him in the book, but somehow they didn't make it into the movie) and then his friend Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy is taken immediately for being pompous and proud. He slights Lizzy, when he tells Bingley that she, essentially, isn't pretty enough to tempt him. Jerk.
Caroline is in love with Darcy, which doesn't seem to come out in the movie at all, I think, but she definitely does. Darcy pays her no attention though. Nearly as soon as he says Lizzy isn't pretty enough for him, he seems to change his mind. He all of a sudden notices her beauty, and starts to fall for her.
Afterwards, Jane is invited over to dine with Miss Bingley. Her mother doesn't allow her to take a carriage in the rain, and therefore she comes down with a cold as soon as she gets there. Lol. She is sick with fever, and after a few days time Elizabeth comes out and joins her. This means that Elizabeth and Darcy are staying in the same house.
Darcy keeps up with his proud ways, but obviously has eyes for Elizabeth, which annoys Caroline (again, not really played up in movie, but after reading a thousand adaptations of the novel, I know what's going on). Darcy thinks he's complimenting Elizabeth at times, and she only sees them as insults.
After a few days Elizabeth's mother and sisters come and check on Jane. Elizabeth is embarrassed as they all act ridiculous, but Mr. Bingley doesn't seem to mind. He's really quite cute, in an awkward sort of way.
So they take Jane back home (again, a bit different than the novel). Darcy, who helps Elizabeth in the coach, hides his emotions on his face, but as you see him turn around, he flares out his hand as a reaction to her touch.
Mr. Collins comes to visit. The entailed cousin, who will receive everything, pays a visit with the intent on marrying one of the Bennet girls. He sets his sight on Jane, and tells the mother this. The mother tells him no, because she believes she's about to be engaged to Bingley. Instead she suggests Lizzy. He agrees immediately. Ughh men.
Mr. Collins is arrogant, and certainly sexist. I realize most men were at the time, as it was culturally and socially accepted, but nonetheless Mr. Collins manages to make a complete ass of himself to all the girls, and all of the men. Lizzy of course sees nothing special about Mr. Collins.
Next comes Mr. Wickham. At first he looks all nice and endearing. He flirts with Lizzy, and seems to appreciate her for who she is. He is in the militia. Lizzy's younger sisters, Lydia and Kitty are really into the officers. I mean, they can be taken care of if they marry an officer...and you know...a man with a uniform. But Mr. Wickham's attention is clearly set on Elizabeth. So as they are walking down the river bank, they see Bingley and Darcy, who are on their way to deliver an invitation to a ball to the Bennets. Darcy is NOT happy to see Wickham. Wickham isn't happy either. Darcy charges away without a word. Elizabeth questions him about it later, and Wickham tell her his story, which is a LIE. Elizabeth however believes him, and decides to despise Mr. Darcy even more.
At the ball, she looks forward to dancing with Wickham. She is disappointed to find out that he is not there. She is then approached by Mr. Collins, who asks her to dance, and in the middle of the dance informs her that he wants to stay close to her all night. It's creepy, and super awkward. Elizabeth doesn't seem to know what to say, and therefore says nothing.
Darcy, follows Elizabeth and sums up the courage to ask Elizabeth to dance. She says yes, but then is upset with herself for agreeing. As they dance, they share awkward conversation that leaves both of them upset.
The following day...I guess...(it's not the following day in the book. Sigh) Mr. Collins asks for some privacy with Elizabeth at breakfast. Elizabeth's mom makes everyone leave the kitchen, and Mr. Collins does one of the worst proposals known to mankind. Again awkward, and assuming. Elizabeth says no, and starts running. Her mother, furious with her, runs after her and demands she marries Collins. When she realizes she will lose that battle, she has Elizabeth's father talk to her, who actually ends up telling her...not to marry Collins or he'll never speak to her again (because he's freaking ridiculous).
Elizabeth is happy, but then she hears the bad news. Mr. Bingley has left Netherfield(The place he was renting). Jane is distraught. It's sad. The letter is sent from Bingley's horrible sister, Caroline. She eludes to Mr. Bingley actually being in love with Darcy's sister, Georgiana, and that they must go meet her, and they don't know if they'll ever be back. Elizabeth convinces Jane to go to cheapside in London to stay with her aunt and uncle. She believes that Bingley does love Jane, and that if he finds out she's there, he will seek her out. So Jane leaves.
Elizabeth is a bit blue at losing her favorite sister, but it's nothing compared to what happens next. Mr. Collins, a whole two days after his proposal to Lizzy, proposes to her best friend Charlotte. Charlotte is a whole 27 years old (ugh) and is a burden on her family, so she feels a lot of pressure to get married ASAP. So she flirts and agrees to marry Collins (again some of this info I know from the book, it's not really portrayed in the movie). Lizzy is upset that her friend could marry such a horrible man, just so she could get married, but she supports her in the end.
She goes to visit Charlotte once she's married. Mr. Collins is a clergymen at the church near Rosings park, which is owned by Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Might have spelled that wrong. But anyway, Lady Catherine invites them over to dinner. Lady Catherine is played by Judy Dench, who does AMAZING. She nails it. So just imagine Judy Dench looking wicked, and you got the picture. So rude, arrogant, way to proud, and vain. While there, Elizabeth sees Darcy, who she finds out is Lady Catherine's nephew. Her other Colonel Fitzwilliam is also there. He and Darcy are good friends, as well as cousins. Fitzwilliam is surprised to hear that Darcy was rude when he went to Longbourn (where Lizzy is from). Later at church he states that he is the most loyal companion.
Before that however, they all have dinner in which Lizzy backtalks Lady Catherine, which is hilarious. Darcy almost looks ashamed of his aunt, and envious at Elizabeth for being so brave. The next day Darcy walks into the Collins' cottage, when Mr. and Mrs. Collins is out. He refuses tea, and won't sit down and is clearly agitated. However, he says little, but attempts to make some small talk. He then leaves as soon as Mrs. Collins comes home. Weird.
Then Elizabeth finds out....
Fitzwilliam tells her one of the reasons he considers Darcy to be a loyal companion. He came just in time to rescue his good friend Mr. Bingley from an "imprudent" marriage. Elizabeth realizes immediately that it was Darcy's plan that separated Jane from Bingley, leaving Jane heartbroken.
Angry, she storms out in the rain. She hides under a pavilion, but she is followed by Darcy. Darcy tells her, that despite her inferiority of birth, and her terrible family that he loves her, and....proposes.
Elizabeth says...no.
She blasts Darcy for his treatment to Wickham and separating Jane from Bingley. He blasts back, and it turns into a rather big fight, with obvious sexual tension. Both leave hurt.
Before she leaves the Collins, he delivers her a letter. The letter explains the truth about Wickham, and shows that Wickham is really an addicted gambler...and womanizer. He tried to elope with his sister, and when he realized he'd get no money out of the marriage, he left her. Awww. He tried to say that even though you don't think it's good enough reasons, I separated Bingley from Jane, because I didn't think she loved him enough. It was in the service of a friend. ....mmmm. Not a strong argument, but okay.
Lizzy changes her mind about him at that time. You can tell, she realizes that perhaps she was wrong.
She goes back to Longbourn, and finds Jane has returned. The two are sad together. It's a bit depressing.
Elizabeth are invited by her Aunt and Uncle to join then in their tour of the Lake District. Elizabeth agrees to go.
Lydia is invited by her friend who is married to an officer to join the officers in their move New Kent? I forget. Kitty is outraged that Lydia, the youngest and craziest gets to go. Elizabeth pleads with her father not to let her go. I think he just wants to get rid of Lydia though. She's a bit boy crazy. So she goes. Probably not a great idea.
One of the great estates on the Lake District, happens to be Pemberley. When they get near, her and Aunt and Uncle suggest the visit the place. Lizzy, realizing that this is Darcy's estate, begs them not to go there. But they say he's probably not home, so it's okay. Lizzy agrees to go.
As the tour the BEAUTIFUL house, she of course bumps into...Darcy and his sister. She runs immediately when the spot her. Darcy catches up with her, and she apologizes for intruding, realizing how bad it must have looked. He looks very windswept, and the look in his eyes spoke his true feelings. He was still in love with her. He offers to walk her back to the inn, but she turns him down, saying she'll walk. Well by the time she walks back, he's there talking to her Aunt and Uncle and inviting them over for lunch. Both her Aunt and Uncle seem to think he's a very nice, polite, pleasant and sincere gentlemen. They were shocked after the stories he's heard from the Bennets.
So Lizzy is left in awe, but goes along with it. They go and meet Darcy's sister Georgiana. Elizabeth definitely recognizes the compliment of him wanting to introduce her to his sister (again this is from the book). They meet, and you can see how good and lighthearted Georgiana is.
They seem to have a good day together, but when she gets back to the inn, she is met by a letter. She reads the letter and starts bawling. Leaving Darcy to...not know what to do with himself. That part's funny. But she comes in and states the bad news...Lydia has run away...eloped...with Mr. Wickham.
Darcy leaves immediately, and Elizabeth fears that it's because she is now tarnished because of her sister.
Lizzy goes home immediately to help out her family. Her mother is in panic now, for having her daughter lost, and a ...well probable whore. I guess that's what you'd call it nowadays.
After a little while though, they get a letter from their uncle in cheapside that states that they found her, and that they will get married. They realize though that the uncle would have had to pay a HUGE commission in order to get Wickham to marry Lydia...so he could payoff his gambling debts.
When Lydia and Wickham visit after they are married, Elizabeth found out that it was DARCY that found them, and paid Wickham to marry Lydia. Awwwwwww. So sweet of him. He didn't want her to even find out. He was doing it out of the good of his heart....so Elizabeth would be happy.
Elizabeth is pissy with both Lydia and Wickham still and doesnt even say goodbye to Wickham. She turns a cold shoulder.
A few days later. Mr. Bingley is said to be back in town! He comes over to the Bennets, before he is called on (which is strange in those days). He comes back and Mrs. Bennet being crazy, makes it awkward, so Bingley can't even say anything.
They leave and then he practices with Darcy what he's going to say, which is SO ADORABLE.
Then he comes back, very randomly, and asks to speak to Jane alone. Aww. And of course he proposes, and of course, she says yes. :)
Then that night Lady Catherine stops by Longbourne PISSED. She comes in and demands to speak to Elizabeth alone. She yells at Elizabeth, suspecting that she has started a rumor that her and Darcy are about to be engaged. Elizabeth is very frank with Lady Catherine, but does NOT blast Darcy, and refuses to agree not to marry him. Pissing her off even more. She leaves outraged.
At dawn, before people are awake, she sneaks out for a walk. Who meets her? Mr. Darcy. In a very emotionally moving scene, Darcy comes walking through the tall grass with his shirt unbuttoned at top, and again, windswept. He comes over and tells her he loves her still. from there, it seems to be some understanding that they are engaged. Idk...that part is confusing....however romantic. The book might a little worse in that area.
Overall the movie did REALLY well. It covered a lot of important parts...
Now what I would change, is I would make Caroline more obviously jealous of Lizzy, as she is in the book. I would put Bingley's other sister and brother in law back in. ....and....Pemberley. I LOVE Pemberley in the book. It's the BEST part of the book....when Lizzy seriously falls in love with Darcy. BUT the movie doesn't capture that well. The focus a lot on the first and last proposals. All significant and well done, but they seem to fail at Pemperley.
So....longest recap ever.....but this is as short as I could make it. It is my fav. book, movie, tv series etc. I have watched several other versions, and have like a whole bookcase of adaptations. I do plan on writing my on version at some point....
I may have missed a point or two writing this....I watched it two days ago, and I seriously did this all by memory...Yeah......
So if you made it through all of this...good job....you practically just read a short novel. You probably could have gotten through the movie quicker. Oh well.
Love!!!!
LJ
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