Pride and Prejudice the New vs. A&E

Well, last night I watched the new version of "Pride and Prejudice" and thought I might do a post on what I thought about it. Now so as not to hurt anyone's feelings who likes this movie, let me put this in context. I think it is an enjoyable movie. What I am doing here is comparing it to the A&E version which I grew up with and is longer, so I of course I liked it better (Who would not like more Pride and Prejudice anyway?) So here it goes!


In the new Pride & Prejudice, because it is so short, it does a very bad job at explaining everything and hardly introduces someone before kicking them under the rug. (if it introduces them at all) And so the movie as a whole is a bit of a blur of people showing up and disappearing. It also jumps from place to place, so that if you had not seen the A&E or had not read the book you would most likely have no idea where anyone was. Example: Elisabeth comes back from visiting the Collins and she is told that her aunt and uncle are there, yet they are never introduced. The next thing you know is that some people suggest to Elizabeth that perhaps she might enjoy going with them to some place, and before she even says yes they are off and she is suddenly standing on the edge of a cliff. Now of course most people can later sort out what happened but while your watching a movie you should not have to be sitting there trying to figure out who on earth is that person and how do they fit in. Some of the other things I objected to was the way they changed the characters of certain people. Take Mr. Bingley for example. In the A&E version he may not be the brightest, but he was fairly well spoken and gentlemanly. In the new version he is a complete bumbling idiot that looks like he just stepped out from a Dr. Seuss movie. And his proposal was terrible! Could they not think of anything better for him to say if they were going to make you listen to it? And then having him go in to visit Jane when she is sick! GOOD GRIEF! She was in her nightgown! Gentlemen did not go into ladies rooms when they were in there nightgowns! Not to mention he did not even knock! Speaking of men not knocking, what was that when they had Mr. Darcy blow in upon Lizzy when he went to propose for the first time and couldn't? Or worse when they had him slip into her room to deliver his letter while she was in her nightgown!? I mean that is also a big no, no! Going in to a room of a house that you just arrived at, is not yours, and you are not currently staying at, and then bursting in upon a lady without being announced or even knocking! I loved the way the A&E Darcy perfected looking cold and aloof in the beginning and later ''all ease and friendliness'' as Mrs. Gardiner put it, mixed with warmth and love for Elizabeth. Whereas the other Darcy perfected looking asleep, drowsy, and bored. Another thing I must say I did not like as well was the dancing. It like much of the rest of the movie lacked the grace, charm, and elegance of the A&E. I think by now y'all have got my gist that I think they could have done a better job on the movie. An extra thirty minutes would not have hurt, so that they could either explain more or at least let the actors slow down there lines a little so that you can understand what they were saying. Oh! And they could have cut out all those disgusting statues at Pimberly that they threw in! But I am getting side tracked again. It could be a very enjoyable movie if you did not do like me a keep up a running commentary up the whole time with your sister while watching it. Comparing it in every little way and detail to the A&E version. There are a lot more things I could say about my likes and dislikes of the movie but I shall not make you put up with that now. Oh! I must say that I loved the music though!

The Texan~