Bridget Jones's Diary

Rating:
Summary: Absolutley amazing...please can i have a darcy??
Review: I haven't actually read the book, but went to see the film, not thinking too much of it, because of the immense hype about it. I thought it was brilliant. and have now read the book.

At first my attention was focused on Hugh Grant playing Daniel Cleaver, Grant is so much better in these love rat, charming but dangerous roles..more please! I watched in amazement as i found myself fancying him, i barely gave Mark Darcy (colin firth) a glance, although i did find him a superb actor.

It wasn't until i watched it second time round (it was that good..)that i found i was infatuated by Colin Firth, his potrayal of Mark Darcy was almost perfect, probably helped by playing the origanal Darcy in Pride and prejudice. I watched in envy as his love for bridget became clear, why couldn't someone love me like that? The way he looked at bridget, the way he helped her with her TV interview, the support over the blue soup...my heart melted.

But i'm getting so sidetracked over the fabulous firth, back to the film. Superbly cast, superbly acted and so funny. You leave wanting to see it again, and i don't know a woman who can't relate to something Bridget does.

I would reccomend it to everyone, men,women, married, singletons...you will all love this film. I also think that Pride and prejudice fans will especially love this, as it shows Firth playing the character that won the hearts of so many woman (yes, mark darcy and Mr darcy are that similer...he was based on him after all.)

A truly fabulous film.

PS, i also thought Renee Zellweger was really good as Bridget, her accent was top notch, and her acting was terrific. Although i admit, apart from relating to her, my attention to her was limited...

Rating:
Summary: A waste of time and money...
Review: Bridget Jone's Diary has to have been one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Renee Zellweger's performance was weak at best. The only time the film was the slightest bit funny was when Bridget was being made a fool of and when Hugh Grant was being a male showvenist, which isn't all that funny. Don't waste your time or money on this terrible film. The genre of the british love comedy has been done to death.

Rating:
Summary: Somebody throw me a rope !!!
Review: As I am still floating from watching Colin Firth swanker through the snow to 'claim his woman', every man should own a full lenght cashmere coat like that, shouldn't they ?. Not only was Bridget Jones brillant as a diary but is absolutely fabulous on the big screen, giving hope to all thirty something 'singleton's' that there is hope for them yet!

Although I could not fault the performances of the actors I could not help feeling that some of the original 'Britishness', if there is such a word, was missing from that of the book. But still none the less this was a truely five star performance by Renne Zellwegger, as well as the stunning Hugh Grant and the delicious Colin Firth who had never appealed to me before possibly because of all those tight trousers and bushy side-burns he had to adorn in the many period dramas that he starred in, but I certainly left the cinema (the British 'movies') feeling all warm inside. I have seen the film twice now and if anyone wants to go again then give me a shout !!!

Rating:
Summary: Quite fun actually.
Review: I had a horror of enduring yet another Richard Curtis/Hugh Grant soft sell of bright New Labour England, but this is surprisingly agreeable, less for its prosaic filming than its insight into character - e.g. the steely cruelty behind Bridget's nice dad when he takes her mother back. The diary form obviously couldn't have been reproduced without being cinematically stilted - the film finds an equivalent by colouring the film's world with Bridget's subjectivity, so that every scene is brilliantly over-exaggerated from her point of view, negatively and positively. The result of this is that the hapless Bridget is always in control, shaping and telling her own story, to the point where she becomes the active, normally male, agent, in this romantic comedy. Hugh Grant is dastardly good fun, Colin Firth is strikingly wooden, but the great surprise is game Renee Zellweger, proving once again that only Americans can really play British women. Ahem.

Rating:
Summary: Bridget Jones just as much fun on screen as on the page
Review: After having read the book and sequel more than once I was very anxious to see this movie. For the most part I was not disappointed. The movie was really funny, and I thought Renee Zelweger did a wonderful job as Bridget. I can't imagine anyone else doing the part. Hugh Grant was great as the cad, Daniel Cleaver. So much better than as the bumbling, nice guy Englishman he usually plays. You can see why Bridget was attracted, yet you also wonder why she doesn't see through his excuses and those emails! The best part was Colin Firth as Mark Darcy. The casting was brillant, as Helen Fielding basically wrote the part with him in mind. He grows on you more and more as the film goes on. Loved the fight scene and how sweet he was at her apartment while stiring the blue soup. However, I wonder why so many changes were made that weren't in the book. Such as changing Mark's parents names. They were mentioned several times in the book (You remember Mark Darcy, darling, Malcolm and Elaine's son?)Also I didn't like the part about Mark going to New York, showing him in the airport. This part didn't make a lot of sense. The movie wasn't very long and I wonder why so many funny parts were left out? I could have watched another hour! I loved the kiss at the end, it showed Bridget just what she had been missing out on because of a bad first impression. Of course I know that no movie is ever exactly like the book it is based on so you just have to accept the changes. On the whole, I thought it was a v. funny movie with a wonderful cast and I can't wait for the sequel!

Rating:
Summary: Endearing Performance By Zellweger
Review: Dissatisfied at age 32 with the direction her life is taking, a young woman vows to make some changes, and to keep herself on track she decides to start a daily journal, hoping it will make her toe the line, in "Bridget Jones's Diary," directed by Sharon Maguire and starring Renee Zellweger. Bridget (Zellweger) begins with some New Year's resolutions that include no more drinking or smoking, not being paranoid about her weight, and developing poise. And-- last, but not least-- to avoid any romantic attachments to alcoholics, workaholics, peeping Toms or perverts. Of course she promptly falls for the one man she knows who embodies all of those characteristics: Her boss, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant). In the meantime, her mother, Pam (Gemma Jones), continues to play matchmaker for her daughter. At a holiday gathering of friends and family, Pam nudges her in the direction of an old childhood chum, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), now a respectable attorney, and recently divorced. Their initial meeting, however, proves to be a less than monumental event, further complicated by the fact that Cleaver was Darcy's Best Man at his wedding, and has some tales-out-of-school to tell about the subsequently ill fated marriage that puts Darcy in a rather bad light. But Bridget could care less; she thinks Darcy is rude and a bore, and anyway, Daniel is her guy. Work is good, her life is going well and-- as she is about to wake up and realize-- she hasn't kept a single one of her resolutions. And, oh! she should have.

First time director Maguire proves with this auspicious debut that she certainly knows her territory and how to negotiate it. She has the touch and the eye for detail of a seasoned professional, and her sense of timing is impeccable. She successfully avoids a major pitfall that do in many rookie directors right out of the chute, by never fishing for the cheap, forced, disdainfully pretentious or concocted laugh. Everything in this film, especially the humor, flows freely and naturally from the circumstances of the characters and the story, which makes it all real and believable and allows it to be readily embraced by the audience. This is a funny, often hilarious movie, but it's also very warm and at times poignant, and for handling it so sensibly, and with such sensitivity, Maguire deserves to be granted even more kudos. It's quite simply an exceptionally well made film, presented with a style and grace that reflects that of the director herself.

Of course, having a superlative leading lady was certainly not disadvantageous to Maguire's efforts, either, and Renee Zellweger has never been better than she is here as Bridget. With her quirky good looks, personality and charisma, she is endearing, and she invades Meryl Streep territory by affecting a perfect British accent. Whether she's lip-syncing to a Celine Dion song, doing karaoke at an office party after having a bit too much to drink, or battling with a blender, it's easy to believe that someone would like her just the way she is. Even with her hair mussed, or in a somewhat disheveled state, she's alluring, and it all has to do with who she is deep down inside; Zellweger makes it clear that this is a woman of substance, and it's easy to like her. There's a down-to-earth honesty and accessibility about her that makes her appealing, and she's someone to whom many in the audience are easily going to be able to relate. For her portrayal of Betty in "Nurse Betty," Zellweger received a Golden Globe; "Bridget" should land her smack in the middle of Oscar territory.

As Bridget's smarmy boss, Daniel, Hugh Grant turns in a noteworthy performance, putting a rather tarnished sheen on his natural charm that works so well for this character. It's a nice departure from his usual bumbling, reserved Mr. Nice Guy routine he perfected in such films as "Notting Hill," and "Four Weddings and A Funeral." With this role he challenges Greg Kinnear's part in "Someone Like You" for the top spot in the Boss-You-Should-Never-Date category. And Firth does a memorable turn as Darcy, fairly reprising his role of the same name in the PBS miniseries, "Pride and Prejudice," from which this story is loosely derived. Initially appearing a bit sullen, he gets the chance to develop his character as the story unfolds, and he does it quite nicely, ultimately revealing Darcy's true nature.

In a supporting role, Gemma Jones gives a performance that deserves mention, doing a good job of fleshing out Bridget's mother in the brief time she is allotted. Rounding out the supporting cast are Crispin Bonham-Carter (Greg), Jim Broadbent (Colin Jones), James Callis (Tom), Sally Phillips (Shazzer), Honor Blackman (Penny), Embeth Davidtz (Natasha), Shirley Henderson (Jude) and Celia Imrie (Una). A warmly humorous, uplifting film, "Bridget Jones's Diary" is a delightful and satisfying experience with more than a touch of magic in it. Not only is it an entertaining showcase for Zellweger's many talents, but heralds the arrival of a director from whom we can expect great things in the future, Sharon Maguire. A well crafted, reality based comedy/drama that is enjoyable and refreshingly devoid of inane nonsense or gross jokes is a rare find these days, and this is one of the best to hit the screen in a long, long time. It's a film to be heartily embraced, and one I guarantee you'll want to see more than once.

Rating:
Summary: Different from the book, but fun.
Review: If you have read the book, do not go into the movie with any expectations about it. I'd say that it was "loosely" based on the book. "Barely" based, actually. The characters were the same, but the events in the movie definitely were not. They either made up completely new situations, or condensed about six months worth of entries in Bridget's diary into one scene.

Bridget's neuroticism (which sort of makes the book so funny) is replaced by a sort of down-to-earth quality, which was very strange for me to come to terms with. Bridget in the film is really determined to become a strong individual and has a few ephiphanies. It's very much at odds with Bridget-in-the-book's whole superficial self-help obsession. Bridget in the film is charming. Renee Zellweger plays her as a funny, charming woman who doesn't realize how appealing she really is. There is not a hint of Bridget's quirky self-obsession after the cringe worthy opening credits.

Bridget's mom in the film was a frumpy hostess on an on-air shopping channel as opposed to being a talk show host, and there was nothing about her legal trouble either, which is a pretty important part of the book. It just wasn't the same at all. I guess I liked the book a lot more than I realized, to feel so strongly about this.

Colin Firth was amazing. I'm not one to fall for characters or movie stars, but he just knocked me out. His Mark Darcy was incredibly appealing and likeable.

I guess the major problem I had with the film is I *liked* the characters. I could sympathize with them, which I could not do while reading the book. I wasn't ready for them to be happy on screen.

Anyway, if you go see it, and have read the book, beware. It's definitely worth seeing, but there are some huge changes.

Rating:
Summary: Just terrific
Review: I had great expectations for "Bridget Jones's Diary, and, boy, were they met. I absolutely loved this it! In fact I saw it on Saturday evening with my mom, then the next day, when I already had plans to see a movie with my aunt, the natural choice was to see good ol' Bridget again. I think this performance by Renee Zellweger ranks right up their with her's in "Nurse Betty." And, of course, their are two more huge attractions in it. Those being, of course, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. Hugh makes a fabulous bad-boy and should play one more often. I must admit that I've had a crush on Colin Firth ever since he played Mr. Darcy in P&P, and I'm happy to say my affection for him has only grown after seeing him as Mark Darcy. "Bridget Jones's Diary" is the funniest movie I've yet seen this year. Truly.

Rating:
Summary: this is the best movie so far this year?
Review: I can't belive some of the reveiw's here. This is the best and most intelligent romantic comedy to come along since noting hill and four wedding's and a funeral ironic that hugh grant stars in all three. Rennee zwellger who was good in jerry maguire and great in last years barly seen and extremly underrated nurse betty is even better here if that is possibile. She's nail's the accent just perfect. all the men out there who normally hate this kind of stuff will like it, am not a big fan of these type's of movie's with exception of the title's noted above and shakspeare in love, I hate sense and sensblity and howard's end, and can tolerate the g paltrow emma not the minisereies Yuk. So if you think this movie is not your cup of tea go see it and you will most liklely be very suprised. Watch for atleat a few oscar wins next year, maybe even best picture.

Rating:
Summary: Miss B
Review: I was worried, going into the movie, that it would be a flop. I had heard someone else's opinion of it and it was not good. Contrary to the bad review, I loved the movie. It was funny and sweet and I would recommend it to anyone that likes any of the actors. I personally have a hang-up for Colin Firth whose eyes are breathtaking, but the point is to identify with one of them so that you can follow the story. Even my parents enjoyed the movie (yes my Father, too) and they did not have any actor for which they wanted to see. The movie is a good, romantic laugh. Go see it!