Pride & Prejudice

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

The timeless love story of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, played by Keira Knightly and Matthew Mcfadyen, is once again brought to life. Set in the early nineteenth century, the film follows the story of the five Bennett sisters as they try to find husbands and take their rightful places in middle-class society. However, the task proves more than a little difficult for the strong-willed and stubborn Elizabeth as she meets her match in the wealthy and noble Mr. Darcy.

For any Jane Austen fan this film is a definite must see!

Lauren Howard

But the BBC adaptation was so good! Why have they remade it! I love Colin Firth! I don’t want to watch this film! I was pretty stubborn when it came to watching this film, which in the end I was dragged along to. I love the BBC adaptation and thought it was blasphemous to even suggest a film should be made. However, director Joe Wright with his first major film has created a beautiful piece that can quite happily sit alongside my favourite, Jennifer Ehle. Adapted from the classic by Jane Austin, it seems a crime it has been 65 years since this story last appeared on the big screen. In highly class-conscious Georgian England lives gentleman Mr Bennett and his family; his shredded-nerves overbearing wife and five very different daughters – beautiful Jane, intelligent Elizabeth, bookish Mary, immature Kitty and wild-child Lydia. With the threat of losing their estate to a distant cousin after Mr Bennett’s death, his wife sets about finding her daughters that most important asset in life – a rich husband to secure their futures. The family’s life is thrown into turmoil for better or worse with the arrival of wealthy bachelor Mr Bingley, his sister and brooding (much richer) friend Mr Darcy.

To much relief, Kiera Knightley as Elizabeth is actually very good and she proves for, in my opinion, the first time, that she is able to carry a film. Matthew MacFadyen is never going to smoulder the way Firth did but he plays Mr Aloof as well as can be expected stepping into such big shoes. The rest of the cast are great, especially Sutherland and Blethyn in their roles. If you haven’t seen the BBC version then you will love this outright and deservedly so. If you have seen it, there maybe some begrudging viewing but it’s definitely worth watching.

This story is the original romantic comedy providing the formula for every romance you have ever loved. Forget your hang-ups and resentment and give it a chance.

Jean Rostron