Friday, November 7, 2014

Pride and Prejudice (1995)

Compared to the Jane in the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice I forgot just how different the Jane is in the 1995 adaptation. The Jane in the 2005 version is much more sympathetic. The version of Jane in the 1995 version reminded me just how naive Jane really is. I found myself constantly annoyed with Jane and her ability to trust people so easily, especially after she receives the second letter from Caroline Bingley. She gets the letter saying that Bingley has left and probably isn't coming back and she still rushes to defend Caroline. NO. She's a b-word and she's been playing you all along. Wake up and smell the roses Jane. Please. I'm begging you. However annoying she may be, after reflecting on how Jane is written in the novel I can't help but feel that this portrayal of Jane is an accurate one. In the novel she is always rushing to see the good in people and refuses to believe that anyone could be untrustworthy or have ulterior motives.
One scene that I thought was adapted really well in the film was when Elizabeth and the Gardiners visit Pemberley. As they pull up in their carriage and view the house for the first time, I kept playing the line from the book, "...and at that moment she felt that to be the mistress of Pemberley might be something" over and over again in my head. Jennifer Ehle's portrayal of Elizabeth in this scene was, in my opinion, excellent.

Discussion Question:
I said that Jane in this adaptation was annoying but an accurate portrayal of the Jane that is described in the book. Do you agree or disagree?

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