BBC Suggestions

[knitwit45]

I think so, too, Fer...the dresses are gorgeous. The pale makeup and teased hair on the models is definitely 60s. Highclere Castle has really had some interesting events, hasn't it?

[feaito]

I began to watch "Little Dorrit" (2008), a 14 episode series based upon Dicken's book. I've seen only three episodes -in a row!- and I'm "captured". Matthew McFayden is very good as Arthur and since I haven't read the book or seen any other movie-TV version, I'm completely caught by the mystery....Very well done. My younger sister recommended it to me very heartily. Thank heavens for the BBC!

[JackFavell]

He's a good actor, Fer. He's one of the two things I liked about the most recent version of Pride and Prejudice.

[feaito]

I agree Wen. I must say I enjoy both versions very much, the BBC series with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle and the MacFayden-Knightley film (with more physical impetuousness). And yes, the Olivier & Garson pairing too, notwithstanding the change of period costumes from Empire to mid 1800s and turning Lady Catherine into a more benevolent character with Elizabeth

[JackFavell]

Oh, I like the 1940's one, it's what I grew up with, and they get the tone right.

As for the Mafayden version, I thought he was extremely good. It's a more Darcy-centric version, but the cuts in the story bothered me. They are pretty huge. The movie makes sense, so it has that going for it at least. I know they can't get everything in... but it's wrong what they left out. It's beautifully filmed though. I thought the directing was very good. I did not really like Keira's version of Elizabeth and that's a major obstacle for me. She is gorgeous to look at though.

[charliechaplinfan]

I haven't watched that one, I can't see Keira Knightly as Elizabeth Bennett, she's not an actress I can take to at all and playing one of my favourite literary characters, it's too much for me to take in.

[knitwit45]

It's funny, but KK's Elizabeth is growing on me. I am a dyed in the wool Jennifer Ehle - Colin Firth fan (still the best version ever), but the Knightley - MacFayden version is good. The actors give the story a contemporary feel to it, they seem very real, rather than the stiltedness of the 1944 version. You feel what they are feeling...does that make sense? It makes for a good comparison to the Ehle - Firth version. Brenda Blethyn is the best Mrs. Bennett I have seen. She is silly and neurotic, but she's also down to earth about finding husbands for her daughters.

[feaito]

Nancy, your opinion reflects exactky mine; very well put. I like very much the 1940 version though; but it's true that it looks stiff compared to the newest version.

[JackFavell]

I agree, that's something I like about the movie in general, it's flows in an exceedingly natural way, there is absolutely nothing arch about it and it's beautifully done.

However, that 'reality' that is brought to the film bothers me in the context of Elizabeth Bennett's character. Knightley is very naturalistic, she acts just like any girl would now, faced with such situations. It makes her seem like she's at the prom, giggling and laughing with her sisters over dumb stuff, and not a whit smarter or more interesting than any other girl, or her sisters. She could be anyone, a girl who lives down the street from me. I don't actually see any of what I think Elizabeth Bennett should be, which is miles above everyone else in intellect and good sense. Yes, she's pretty. They've tried so hard to find a modern audience, to relate the feelings in the story to the way anyone might feel in such a situation that they took the specialness, the smarts out of Elizabeth. I just don't see Knightley as exceptional, which for me anyway, negates the whole premise of the book. I'm not saying Knightley is bad, what she does is well done, but to me, she's not Elizabeth Bennett, it's a different story.

[knitwit45]

wow! you are so right. She does seem giggly, and I don't think Miss Elizabeth would giggle. For someone who doesn't know the book, this version would be a romantic movie, nothing special, just 'sweet'. For those of us who know and love the Austen books, I think (now that you have shed some needed light on the matter) that this is a complete miss as far as the content. Pretty people, pretty sets...empty heads.


sure am wishy washy today.....

[JackFavell]

Oooh, and I am too, cause now I feel bad.... I don't want to ruin anyone else's enjoyment! Especially of movies!

[Rita Hayworth]

Oooh, and I am too, cause now I feel bad.... I don't want to ruin anyone else's enjoyment! Especially of movies!

This is nothing to do with your quote here ... but your clock avatar is got to be the weirdest clock I ever seen in my life!

[JackFavell]

It is weird isn't it? I'm about in that point in my life where that's what time feels like.

[Rita Hayworth]

It is weird isn't it? I'm about in that point in my life where that's what time feels like.

This may sound like a stupid question ... but, I'm going ask anyway ... is that clock actually works?

[JackFavell]

I have no idea, kingme, but they do have ones for sale that are sort of like it, only they have just one set of hands, right in the middle, which makes it easier to read.

I honestly don't know what this picture is from, I simply liked it. It reminded me of Vertigo, and The Big Clock and Proust. Although it looks like its from a movie, I can't find any reference to one, nor can I find out where this particular clock is from.