The following are actual lines of dialogue from the recent movie remake of Pride and Prejudice. The lines are remarkable mostly for their ability to yank the viewer completely out of the 19th century and plunk him or her into the middle of vapid 21st century mall culture.
These are the best two examples--there are more but I refuse to rewatch the movie--because they're completely out of line with the mores of the time, disrespectful in the extreme, and when included in speeches lifted directly from Austen, totally jarring.
And that was my main problem with the film--its inability to commit to the time period it was set in. If you're doing a period piece, the audience will accept different patterns of speech and mannerisms in the characters. If you feel that Austen's story needs to be tampered with to make it more "now," then maybe you shouldn't undertake the project. It was like the director wanted to "modernize" P&P but still remain faithful to the original. This cannot be done. If you want to modernize P&P, then don't set it in the 19th century. Do a Clueless, instead, which was a modernized "version" of Emma, and was actually kinda cute.
My other main problem with the film was the insistence on "instant chemistry" that the director kept forcing--P&P is about two people overcoming unfavorable first impressions, for crying out loud! Plus it takes them a YEAR to figure it out! Darcy didn't have enough time to go from "not nearly handsome enough to tempt me" to touching Lizzy's hand when she left Netherfield with Jane. And that weird almost-kiss between Darcy and Lizzy immediately following the botched proposal at Rosings--I'm sorry, but WTF? That argument was full of repressed passion, sure, but not the kind that has you tearing your clothes off in the rain! I know we only had two hours, but it still felt rushed and wrong.
And WHY are the characters spending all their time standing in the rain, and striding manfully across the moors with their coats open, and visiting inappropriately at all hours of the day and night? What is this, Wuthering Heights does Meryton?
Urg. Just, urg. I'm going to have to go back and watch the A&E version to cleanse my brain.
Posted by Big Arm Woman at July 19, 2006 09:19 AMMy main problem with _Pride and Prejudice_ is that it was written by a woman, and everyone knows dames can't write good. I think Thurber said that.
Posted by: marc at July 19, 2006 09:39 AMAre you channeling Ron?
Posted by: BAW at July 19, 2006 10:24 AMThanks for the review, BAW. I had considered watching this but now I won't.
Posted by: Laura(southernxyl) at July 19, 2006 01:37 PMMostly I was just looking for an excuse to use the term "dames".
Posted by: marc at July 20, 2006 11:10 AMI prefer "mouthy broads" myself.
Posted by: BAW at July 20, 2006 12:34 PMOh, but everybody else I have spoken to about the film has just loooooved it. Even, and in some cases, especially, the "additions" such as you mention. They make me want to gag. As well, are Keira Knightley and wosname in any way comparable to Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth? I think not.
Posted by: Andrea Harris at July 21, 2006 11:55 PM