Well, she asked...

Jenn wanted to know which I preferred: the old P&P or the new. I started to reply in comments, but it became altogether too long to post there. This is not a complete review by all means, but it will suffice.

I have seen three versions of Pride and Prejudice. None are quite the version I see in my head as I read it, but all have things to recommend them. The first version, with Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier (before he was a Sir), holds up very well. Olivier is a very effective Darcy and very pretty in his younger years. Garson seems a bit old by our standards for Elizabeth, but she is a talented actress and carries the character quite well. The filmaker chose a different period for costumes and the like, setting it in frilly Victorian fashion. I prefer the Regency period of the original novel.

The second is the mini-series with Colin Firth (yeowrrrrr) and Jennfier Ehle. Ms. Ehle is by far the best Elizabeth of the bunch. She simply is Lizzie. Mr Firth is quite perfect, too, but I admit to a slight bias in his regard. The rest of the production is good, but I found it dragged quite a bit in the first half.

On to remake #3. I generally liked this version, with some reservations. I found Keira Knightley far too giggly at the beginning, but she settled down nicely and did a fairly good job as Elizabeth Bennet. Matthew Macfadyen, while not as drop-dead gorgeous as either Firth or Olivier, was acceptable as Mr. Darcy. His later scenes where he professed his love for Elizabeth were excellent. Actually, I found both actors really came to life in those scenes and from then on. The cinematography was delicious and the costuming seemed very true-to-life (although I had some issues with the dishabille that some of the ladies allowed themselve in the presence of men).

But by far the best element was the portrayal of the Bennet family. They were alternately appalling beyond belief and tremendously entertaining, both touching and real. Rosamund Pike is the first Jane I have seen that could honestly be considered "the beauty" when compared to Elizabeth. She was quiet, but never dull, and lovely to look at. The younger girls were remarkably silly and Brenda Blethyn turned in another stellar performance as Mrs. Bennet. This is a real family you see up on the screen and one has to acknowledge some terrific acting. There is a moment when Donald Sutherland, as Mr. Bennet, comforts one of his younger daughters. It is as true and touching a moment as you could want, yet it is just a tiny moment in the film with no relation to the main story. Details like this gave the movie life to me.

I would recommend it overall, unless you absolutely despise Keira Knightley, in which case, avoid it like that plague.