Pride and Prejudice: 2005 Film Version vs. 1995 TV Version

Meta 2022-04-21 09:01:22

Two hundred years ago, when Jane Austen began to paint the manor life she was familiar with, she might not have imagined that the subtle observations of the squire men and women around her would be carefully studied by later critics and artists with a magnifying glass. Her description is undoubtedly limited: in terms of class, she always writes only the class she belongs to: the squire and the new bourgeoisie. There is neither the petty bourgeoisie such as shopkeepers and employees, nor the proletariat such as merchants and pawns, servants and farmers, and there is very little description of the life of the nobles. However, it is such a perspective mirror with a limited viewing angle that has set off a storm in the rural life. When she first wrote the novel, I guessed that she might just have wanted to write a few love stories and family novels with a playful and ironic brushstroke, yet, even spontaneously and not willingly, her novels became poignantly realistic novels: The faces of the noble ladies, the flattery of their lackeys, the absurdity of the British marriage and inheritance system, and the increasingly serious social contradictions between the emerging bourgeoisie and the declining aristocracy, all depicted vividly and interestingly; It is because of this spontaneity that it feels more natural and interesting to read, because that is her own life.

This is also the biggest difference I have seen between the 1995 TV series "Pride and Prejudice" and the 2005 film version of "Pride and Prejudice". In short, the 1995 edition faithfully turned the original into a realistic work; while the 2005 edition can only be regarded as a romantic romance novel.

The 1995 edition of the character interpretation, exaggeration, drama, we can see the readers who imagined Jane Austen when she wrote it will smile. The cadence of Mrs. Bennet's lines and Mr. Collins's hair that looked like it had not been washed in hundreds of years gave the impression. Elizabeth is sunny and healthy. Although it does not conform to the modern aesthetic figure, the whole person is pleasing to the eye. The new Keira Knightley's scrawny Elizabeth, staring at Mr Darcy with wide eyes, instantly transports me to romance dramas like "One Kiss"; Madame de Bauer, played by Dee Dench, is also deliberately suppressed, trying her best to return to the state of dialogue in daily life. Which of the two performances is superior or inferior cannot be judged rashly, but looking back on the original book of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's writing is actually a play, from the first few conversations between Elizabeth and Darcy to Collins The absurd marriage proposal of Mr., and the visit to Madame de Bauer's house on the trip, each scene has strong dramatic conflict, and it is one after another, with almost no pause. When I watch movies and TV, the biggest emotion is that the screenwriter is really easy to do. Here, the characters' sharp personalities and language play a big role, which is why the actors in the '95 version don't feel surreal even when they say their lines in exaggerated dramatic language.

The 05 version of "Pride and Prejudice" has a unique use of lens language, and has the beauty of literature and art. Elizabeth stands in the wilderness of England and looks into the distance, the white tablecloth thrown up by the servants in the air after Mr. Bingley leaves, Darcy and Elizabeth at the end of the dance, looking at each other and forgetting the eyes of others, these transitions are almost a Wordsworth Idyll. The pastoral life of the eighteenth century was so wildly photographed, with the farm animals, the green hills, the lively dances, the filthy streets, and the scattered geese croaking when Mrs. Bennet ran after Mr. Collins. However, when it comes to scenes with characters, this version is not as good as the 95 version of the TV series. The two met by chance at Pemberley Manor, and Darcy came out wet from his own pond. The two met in the most primitive and natural state, and their hearts were pounding; in contrast, In the 05 version, when Elizabeth saw Darcy through the crack of the door, she looked less noble; and Elizabeth received a letter from Jane saying that her sister had eloped. In the 95 version, Darcy's eyes were red and he left with his fists clenched, which was in line with his style. Character, but also in line with the next suspense of Elizabeth's misunderstanding described in the book; and in the 05 version, I don't know if it was to save time, Darcy said "I'm here to help" on the spot, which not only did not conform to his reserved and implicit identity in the original book, It is simply the rich and handsome of modern TV dramas.

The central idea of ​​Pride and Prejudice is a work of realism, albeit a realism viewed through the eyes of the upper classes. As the author of the book said through the words of Elizabeth: "He is a gentleman, and I am a gentleman's daughter." This is a marriage of the right match, not a romance film in which a domineering president falls in love with me. The 95 version of "Pride and Prejudice" doesn't look outstanding at first, but it is a rare good drama with smooth flow, first-class acting skills and a high degree of script reduction.

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Extended Reading

Pride & Prejudice quotes

  • Mrs. Bennet: Mr. Bennet, you must introduce him to the girls! Immediately!

  • Sir William Lucas: Mr. Bingley, my eldest daughter you know. Mrs. Bennet, Miss Jane Bennet, Elizabeth, and Miss Mary Bennet.

    Mrs. Bennet: It is a pleasure. I have two others, but they are already dancing.

    Mr. Bingley: I'm delighted to make your acquaintance.

    Sir William Lucas: And may I introduce Mr. Darcy of Pemberley and Derbyshire.