indygrass Reviews

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

A complete scandal

[1/10 · 29 January 2006]

After seeing the BBC miniseries version of this, I am completely taken back by this version, and not in a good way. They jumped from storyline to storyline, added too much drama, strayed from the book too much and even COPIED the BBC miniseries version! they copied it in ways such as: the nether field ball - Mary is supposed to be so accomplished, not bad at singing at all. the BBC miniseries version added that part in for interest, and then this current version COPIED that, which wasn't in the book at all. Also, a lot of the wording wasn't taken from the original book, but just the previous TV version. They crammed everything into too short a space of time and got the architecture all wrong. they skipped characters out (such as Mr and Mrs Hurst and the Gardiner's' children) and added humor into the story where the book did not indicate it. This is a minor detail, but I couldn't believe it when i saw it: Caroline actually wore NO SLEEVES only thin straps! i have researched the era of Jane Austen thoroughly and i can tell you that they NEVER did that. NEVER. it would be seen as so rude. i thought the acting woeful. Keira knightly copied Jennifer Ehle thoroughly and was hopeless. the Mr Darcy in it was arrogant, but not proud at all, which was his main problem! everyone rushed through their lines and were so plastic that i could be sick. i give the makers credit, they did contain feeling. but it was the WRONG feeling. EVERYTHING was DRAMATISED.

overall, the whole thing was hopeless. it was such an insult to the immortal Jane Austen's writing and i shall always remember the makers of the movie and the actors in the movie, ESPECIALLY KEIRA KNIGHTLY WHO WAS TERRIBLE with the utmost anger for ruining this completely harmless, sophisticated and magical story and turning it into a SHAM. I do not recommend ANYONE to watch it. it was woeful.

Jane Eyre (1983)

Excellent - very much to the book

[7/10 · 17 April 2005]

The Jane Eyre mini series was sensational. It was well acted and written and is very enjoyable.

Timothy Dalton I thought very much like Mr Rochester - physically at least with a tall body and strong and dark features. However, I think he acted a bit too fierce and violent at some points, when in the book at these points, it was mere desperation - not vengeance. I think that the actor of Jane Eyre was good physically as well - very short and quite innocent looking. At times, I thought the expression in her voice a little too shallow but very well played nevertheless.

The script was very much like the book in most parts which is quite unusual for television productions of classical novels. However, I think there should have been more time spent with Mr Rivers and his sisters and get a better understanding of his character, which is supposed to be cold and hard. We saw little of his resistant nature in this mini series. The two best scenes in the book, from my point of view, were somewhat ruined in the television version of Jane Eyre. While they were supposed to be the most touching and meaningful parts of the book, they seemed to me a little colder than in the book.

I think overall that it is an excellent production, despite these few faults and that other television series or movies are nothing compared to this. Again, I think it wonderful to see a television 'Jane Eyre' stick so much to the book and recommend it to all Jane Eyre lovers such as myself.