Rating: 
Summary: Very addictive to watch...
Review: This adaptation of Jane Austen's classic is absolutely addictive. I bought this special edition DVD less than a month ago and have watched it at least 3 times and various different scenes more than a few times. The attention to detail with the settings, costumes and language that stays very true to Austen's novel is magnificent and part of the enormous charm of this mini-series. The actors are all wonderfully cast. Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth as Elizabeth and Darcy have an undeniable chemistry between them that it would be very difficult to imagine anyone else in their roles. The characters literally come to life on the screen, and it would be difficult to re-read the novel without imagining all the wonderful actors who portrayed them in the film. The DVD had a special "Making of..." feature that is very good, but not as interesting as the book version. I found it odd that the two main stars, Ehle and Firth, were not interviewed at all but Alison Steadman (Mrs. Bennett) and David Bamber (Mr. Collins) were instead. It was interesting to hear the production team and the producer, Sue Birtwistle, the director, Simon Langton and the writer, Andrew Davies, tell their own personal feelings about both the Austen novel and their film adaptation of it. This DVD is very much a valuable collectible for any Austen fan or any period film buff.
Rating: 
Summary: Colin Firth Is Perfectly Cast As Darcy
Review: Just as Colin Firth was amazing in Pride & Prejudice, he totally stole the limelight in "Bridget Jones' Diary". He's simply the epitome of the "strong, silent" type. Otherwise, good overall casting all around and it's fun to watch the DVD non-stop for 5 hours!!!!!
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Summary: Fabulous Addition to Any Collection
Review: I recently bought the Special Edition DVD set and I love it. Having owned the VHS version a couple of years ago, I was very happy to see a vast improvement on the clarity & quality of the movie. Furthermore, I like the "featurette" of behind-the-scenes footage, showing the making of this mini-series. Excellent buy! Too bad, however, that the "featurette" does not pay much heed to Jennifer Ehle ('Elizabeth Bennet'). She has done a wonderful job in the lead role, and without her, Colin Firth may have not quite worked as Mr. Darcy. As is, however, they make a great on-screen pair.
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Summary: Miss Austen's Book Is a Masterpiece; This Adaptation Isn't
Review: Pride and Prejudice is one of the world's Great Books. It's a timeless classic. But, this good and faithful BBC translation of Ms. Austen's vision gives us only good television. Good television is nothing to sneer at, of course; still, to experience the true genius of Pride and Prejudice you'll need to read the book. Perhaps the BBC have done the best that can be expected here. The acting, sets, costumes, screenplay, casting and music are pretty faultless--nonetheless, my viewing experience doesn't even approximate the intellectual & emotional pleasures I receive while reading the book. I suspect that viewers who have praised this miniseries so highly are people who have already read the book, and who are adding their remembered reading experience to whatever is missing in the tv viewing experience. There is a pleasure in knowing what should happen next, what the characters should do and say, and then having it more or less come true; if it doesn't, exactly, because our mental images are always more ideal and fuzzier than reality, our disappointment is tempered as long as what we see on the screen doesn't actually ruin what we remember from reading the book. Jennifer Ehle is a lovely, smart actor; still, I am never convinced that her Lizzy is so very smart, funny, good and beautiful as to have shattered Mr. Darcy so thoroughly. Perhaps this adaptation's prime flaw is that it skimps on its portrayal of Miss Bennet's and Mr. Darcy's interactions at Rosings Park: in the novel, they spend much more time together than is shown here, so that his eventual proposal is better understood. At Pemberly, too, neither the full scope of Darcy's astonishing and obvious partiality to Miss Bennet, nor the Gardners' amazed reactions, are truly shown. Also neglected are the very funny, revealing conversations between the two lovers which follow their engagement in the novel, where Elizabeth explains to Darcy exactly why he loves her so much: these are some of Pride & Prejudices best scenes, and their omission is barely tolerable. But, these objections (and others I've not mentioned) are by no means fatal flaws. This is very good television that sometimes rises to excellence; it's even better for someone who's read the book. Finally, though, had the book itself never been written--had this been an original screenplay--it could hardly be considered a work of genius. Still, I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful! (A special "sigh" for Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy)
Review: After seeing the movie adaptions for Sense and Sensiblity and Emma, I was anxious to see if this adaption of Pride and Prejudice was just as delightful. I was not disappointed! Everybody is perfectly cast and the costumes and settings were gorgeous. Jennifer Ehle's Elizabeth Bennet was cheeky and witty. Allison Steadman was hilarious as Mrs. Bennet. Colin Firth was the PERFECT Mr. Darcy--very proud and somewhat standoffish at first, but extremely dreamy. Altogether perfect and well worth the whole afternoon in front of the TV!
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Summary: Fidelity to Jane Austen book
Review: Mr Darcy and Miss Bennet are exactly like they must be . And if you read the book again after have seen this film you are simply charmed .
Rating: 
Summary: I had to return it!
Review: I love this movie - it's one of my all-time favorites. I was so looking forward to owning this as my very first DVD. However, this DVD presentation is very poor. The images are washed out - the actors' faces are white with very little color and the whites of the dresses sometimes merge with the light backgrounds! And the music sounds a bit muted. There is a "Making Of..." piece included on the DVD in which they use full-screen video images where the color is normal - faces are pink, not white, and the scenery is rich. The contrast with the movie presentation is astonishing - you really see what your missing! I don't recommend you buy this DVD. I'm going to wait for another version which will hopefully have corrected color.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely wonderful!!!
Review: No words can express what this movie has meant to my mother, sister, and I. Every weekend for the last 6 months, we sit and watch the entire magnificent cast! What makes it so wonderful is everyone is good in this movie! I can watch it forever! Highly recommended!
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Summary: Pride and Prejudice, VHS version\
Review: First, I read the book, then I watched the video--and watched it, and watched it, and watched it: fast forward, reverse, pause, slow, and started all over again. Then I watched a segment, read the corresponding version in the book; reversed that, listened only, watched with the sound off; then sent for a companion book: The Making of Pride and Prejudice by Sue Birtwistle and Sue Conklin and found it invaluable. The story captivated me but seeing Jane Austin's work brought to life gave the story an added dimension that has given me many happy hours of enjoyment. I was so very pleased with the casting that I honestly couldn't recommend any changes but some performances demand extra comment. I always thought that although the book is written from a woman's point of view, the character of greatest interest was Darcy and I simply couldn't imagine anyone improving over Colin Firth's performance so I rented the version with Sir Lawrence Olivier. I found his protrayal weak and insipid next to that of Colin Firth. I know jlind555 (another reviewer) has strongly disagreed but when I read the book--I saw and imagined Darcy would be just as Firth performed. As a shy, taciturn man, Darcy has to come off as aloof and very controlled. I imagine that must be so difficult for an actor to do--convey a great deal of depth without much dialogue or, in many scenes, not even much action to assist him/her along. By watching the Darcy scenes in slow motion, I saw things that I missed at regular speed because changes of expression were gradual and very controlled--the lift of an eyebrow here, the shifting of eyes there, the habit of turning the ring on his left pinkie which was a subtle way of showing his nervousness. Olivier, by contrast, was just too "bouncy". Jennifer Ehle was very beautiful, had wonderfully "fine eyes," and did an excellent Elizabeth; Crispin Bonham-Carter was so likeable and perfect, it was as if he had just walked out of the book. Mrs. Bennett was a delight and I liked Lady Catherine de Burgh in spite of herself! I didn't trust Wickham from the moment he stepped before the camera which was a fine line for Adrian Lukis to walk since he was supposed to be so agreeable. The Making of...book had some wonderful surprises for me including the background on costumes etc. (which is something I will look for in future viewings) but it shows Lady Catherine, Mr. Hurst, and Mr. Collins as they really are and I loved their performances even more!
Rating:
Summary: my favorite
Review: Who can resist? I've never seen a movie receive such a large number of positive reviews. And I can well understand why. I, too, was captivated by P&P from the first time it aired. I knew Jane Austen, had even kind of read some of her works. Since then, I have become a dyed-in-the-wool fan of hers. What can I say? Almost everyone has raved on about the wonderful qualities of the movie, and they're absolutely right! The casting, setting, costumes, character portrayals, etc. is all divine. Highest compliments to everyone involved. As soon as I could, I bought both the VHS set and the soundtrack. Let it be said, I'm infamous in my family for this movie. I've quite literally seen it hundreds of times (wore out my first copy, working on the second, will soon need a third) and will continue to do so! It's quite possible you'll sit down, watch the entire thing, then go back to the beginning and start again. So, schedule some free time, sit back, and enjoy a truly dazzing production! PS. My personal favorite is episode #4 (in the tapes, don't know about the DVD) beginning with Darcy's letter explaining his behavior regarding Wickham, right through to Darcy and Lizzie's surprise meeting, "Mr. Darcy!"
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