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Pride and Prejudice - The Special Edition

Pride and Prejudice - The Special Edition

List Price: $39.95
Your Price: $29.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A huge Thumbs up!!
Review: Pride and Prejudice is a wonderful book and movie. What's there to say? The breathtaking Mr. Darcy and his sweet-tempered friend Mr. Bingley are the dream of every lady! As for Jane and Lizzy Benett, every girl wishes to be like them. We ladies are able to relate to their situation... (society,love,friendship,pride,and honesty). The movie captures the heart of the book. Read and watch it!!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: awaiting the Extra-special edition as well
Review: I have to agree with the previous reviewer about the quality of the special edition DVD of Pride and Prejudice. The colors were "off " and washed out and the whole movie seemed to have blurry outlines. I too, had to increase the brightness and should have lowered the contrast but was unwilling due to an already blurry picture. I was very dissapointed =( I watch the VHS version all the time when im cleaning downstairs and bought this edition to use on the computer upstairs in the same manner. Very dissapointed. I give the movie 5 stars. I give the DVD edition 3 =(

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Perfectly Perfect
Review: I very strongly reccommend this movie. I have watched it 5000 times and I havn't gotten tired of it yet!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: too bad I can only give it 5 stars...
Review: This may very well be not only the definitive adaptation of Austen's classic book, but it just might prove to be the definitive adaptation of ANY book, ever!
Never has a movie (in my mind) so wholly captured the feel, pace, atmosphere and original dialogue before. Although the film would have to be even longer than it is to include every single moment of Austen's masterpiece, one doesn't ever feel disappointed by any omissions. In fact, the ommissions seemed to improve the continuity of the film as a whole. While staying obsessively true to the original book, this movie is able to easily stand on its own as a masterpiece of acting and direction.

Don't be daunted by the length! I have watched this film more times than I can recall and been newly enchanted every time. Ehle and Firth's performances are masterful... the level of nuance and depth they bring to their characters creates the same kind of humanity and wit that Austen endowed them with.

As Elizabeth, Ehle portrays a strong-willed girl who is at once thoroughly respectable and intelligent while maintaining a sort of ahead-of-her time free-spiritedness and independence. When she refuses to cooperate with Lady Catherine, you can see a flash in her eyes that demands respect while daring opposition.

Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy overcomes the temptation of so many actors to merely be "brooding". The intensity of just-barely suppressed passion he brings to the role makes you see the man behind the enigma. Firth makes Darcy a real person, granted a cool, intelligent, self-possessed person, but a person capable of feeling humiliation, anger and exasperation. Some of his best scenes in the film are towards the end when he begins to let his guard down because he so desperately wants Elizabeth to notice him.

All of the supporting characters are impeccably cast. Alison Steadman and David Bamber as Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins, respectively, both steal almost every scene that they're in.

Regency England is so perfectly recaptured in this film, that you will have trouble visualizing the actors dressed in anything other than cravats and waistcoats. This is a film that will please Austen purists and new viewers alike. The characters are immensley likeable and familiar... some of the most natural comic acting I have ever seen is in this film.

See it by all means if you have the opportunity!
Oh, one disappointment: the DVD version has VERY few extras... one incredibly short "Making Of P & P" sort of thing that leaves one wishing for more. It's a shame there's no commentary or anything. Oh well!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: A sad transcription of a great performance
Review: Like at least one other reviewer I was disheartened to see how poorly this great mini-series was transferred onto DVD format. I, too, have watched my VHS version many times. I had excitedly expected the DVD to be better in both sound and video quality, but, alas, it is sadly worse. I had to fiddle with the brightness and color controls on my TV to even get a passable color rendition. How, how, did this travesty get released? I feel so stung by this experience that I think a "technical quality" rating of sound and video should be part of any DVD review, particularly transcriptions from VHS. It makes me leery about buying DVD versions of other old VHS favorites without renting them first or otherwise obtaining a preview of the DVD quality.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Magnificent Cinematic Production Of Jane Austin's Novel!
Review: Jane Austin's wonderful novel, of marriage and mores in Regency England, is faithfully adapted in this magnificent BBC/A&E production, directed by Simon Langton.

The film clearly reflects Ms. Austin's theories on the importance of marriage for women of the Regency period. Most women were not educated, except for the social graces; acquiring, at least, some proficiency in music, needlework and "acceptable" literature, and learning skills essential to running a household. Considerable pressure was placed on women to marry well, to obtain financial security and social position, not just for themselves, but also for their immediate family. Love matches were rare.

The film opens in a small community in Hertfordshire, England. Word is out that the empty Netherfield estate has been leased to a new occupant - a wealthy bachelor. Mothers and daughters suddenly upset their daily routine, and shatter the local tranquility - buying dress material, sewing, embroidering, planning and fantasizing about balls and marriage, and, of course, gossiping. Nowhere is there more excitement than at the Bennett home, where five very marriageable daughters anticipate news of their neighbor. The Bennett's have a particular reason for wishing their girls settled. The Bennett estate, Longbourn, is entailed. It can only be inherited by a male successor. Since the Bennett's have no son, their entire estate will go to Mr. Bennett's cousin. The girls must be married well and settled, so they will have a secure home when their father dies. If their mother should outlive her spouse, they will have to provide for her also. Marriage is a serious business in this period.

There is a ball in honor of John Bingley, Crispin Bonham-Carter), the new resident at Netherfield, and for the friends who accompany him. Bingley is very taken with Jane Bennett, the eldest daughter, and a lovely young woman with a sweet disposition. Susannah Harker is perfectly cast in this role. The feelings are reciprocated and the two form an attachment. It is at this ball that Elizabeth Bennett (Jennifer Ehle), the family's second daughter, meets Bingley's friend, the aristocratic Fitzwilliam Darcy, (Colin Firth). Darcy, is much wealthier than Bingley. He is a handsome, intelligent man, and the Lord of Pemberly, a large, sumptuous estate in Derbyshire. Darcy, however, is the epitome of haughtiness when he arrives on the scene and looks down his nose at the local gentry. Elizabeth Bennett, is quite different from most young women of the Regency Period. She has a strong intellect and her father had encouraged her to become literate, and to enjoy fine books and literary conversation. She is bright, with a sharp wit, more independent than her sisters, and very pretty with "fine eyes." Darcy is attracted to her immediately, but snubs her unknowingly. She responds in kind, thinking him to be boorish and far too proud. Thus she is prejudiced against him from their first meeting.

Elizabeth and Darcy's strong mutual attraction, and the conflict between them, which prevents them from forming a potentially rich relationship, provide an interesting tension throughout the film. Darcy's proud arrogance in his social class and position, and Elizabeth's prejudice against such haughtiness, seem to inhibit all promise of romance.

Ms. Austin's delightful characters, are brilliantly cast here, including: George Wickham, (Adrian Lukis), a handsome military officer who further prejudices Elizabeth against Darcy with tales from their mutual past; William Collins, (David Bamber), a pompous clergyman, cousin to the Bennetts, and probable heir to the family holdings; Charlotte Lucas, (Lucy Scott), a young neighbor and dear friend to Elizabeth and Jane; and Lady Catherine De Bourgh, (Barbara Leigh-Hunt), the quintessential aristocrat. Jennifer Ehle is the perfect Lizzy Bennett. She sparkles with wit and intelligence, and is just beautiful enough to be believable. Colin Firth brings the proud, but feeling, Mr. Darcy to life. And he is so handsome.

The scenery is breathtaking, the settings and costumes accurate to the period, the dialogue is faithful to the novel. Watching the film, it is almost impossible not to feel transported in time, back to Regency England, and become very involved with the loves, foibles, problems, and adventures of the wonderful Austin characters, brought so realistically to life, in this amazing production. A 5 Star BRAVO!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Pride and Prejudice
Review: It is the best! The scenery is breathtaking and the acting is fantastic. You'll love it!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Family Favorite
Review: As the only female in a family of four, getting the chance to watch this series wasn't easy. When I finally convinced "the guys", they figured it would be sappy and sentimental and not something they would enjoy. Well, lo and behold, they all loved it! I'm talking Dad, a 17 year old and a 12 year old here! Seriously, this is a great adaptation of Jane Austen's wonderful novel and is not to be missed!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the best versions of Jane Austen
Review: This is one of the best interpretations of Pride and Prejucice. Everything about it is wonderful - the acting, the sets and costumes, the attention to historical accuracy. And then there's Colin Firth. He's reason alone to buy the set. I recommend it highly.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: AWESOME!
Review: P&P from A&E-- beautifully adapted-- fabulous script, glorious acting, beautiful to look at and comforting to watch. Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle lead a stellar cast that keeps me watching this DVD set again and again.


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