Pride and Prejudice (Mini Series) (Special Edition) (1996)

Home Theater Info 10 of 10
There are some works of fiction with themes so human that they transcend the years and can be presented time and time again in film and television. One such literary work is without a doubt Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. In 2005 there was a very successful adaptation done for the movies. Ten years prior to that the BBC presented this work as a six part television mini-series, no less than the sixth time this novel has been presented on British television. While each of these variations of the classic work provides its own interpretation none can match the sheer scope and attention to detail as this six part series. After all, there is one thing that the BBC does better than anyone else, bringing English literature to the small screen. Instead of cutting back on the story to fit the usual couple of hours available for most films, having this novel presented as a mini series provided the BBC the opportunity to remain far truer to the book than previously possible...This is the definitive version of Pride and Prejudice, it is doubtful that the bar set here will ever be surpassed...Many actors have taken on the task of portraying the young lovers, Darcy and Elizabeth, but none have achieved the true feeling of the book as is done here. Colin Firth is well known on both sides of the pond and for good reason; he is an excellent actor capable of nudging every last bit out of the characters he portrays. He is able to play the snobby Darcy while still making the man attractive to every woman watching. Jennifer Ehle is the perfect counterpoint to Firth and the rest of the cast. The way she presents Elizabeth is nothing short of wonderful to watch. Ehle captures the character as if she as lived the life herself.
 
ReelViews 10 of 10
At over 270 minutes in length, Pride and Prejudice (shown as a TV mini-series rather than a theatrical release) has a running time which exceeds that of Persuasion and Sense and Sensibility combined. Without the pressure to trim subplots and condense scenes, screenwriter Andrew Davies (Middlemarch) has allowed the full texture of Austen's novel to emerge. Nuances and details that would be lost in a shorter version add strength to this one, so that, even at over four and one-half hours, Pride and Prejudice rarely loses momentum...The acting is uniformly flawless. Jennifer Ehle, a stage thespian with minimal film experience, is enchanting as Lizzie. With a countenance resembling that of a young Meryl Streep, and talent to match, she acts as much with her eyes and features as with the rest of her person. One of the most difficult aspects of adapting a classic novel is imparting the thoughts and feelings of characters to the audience without resorting to intrusive internal monologues. Ehle's expressive face and carefully-controlled body language make this a surprisingly easy task...Colin Firth, a more familiar face to movie-goers, compliments Ehle perfectly. Like her, he does much of his best acting without dialogue. We understand Darcy's inner turmoil as he grapples with his feelings for Lizzie long before he speaks a word about his love. Firth also delights in playing up the ambiguity of the character, making us wonder whose opinion of Darcy is the correct one...With its gorgeous costumes and settings, superlative acting, and engaging script, this latest adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is easily worth the investment in time. A more rewarding 280 minutes will be difficult to come by. - James Berardinelli