I'm in love with the new Pride and Prejudice movie

and so I want to tell you about it. I think it's not out in the US, right? Then once it gets out, you must all see it and tell me what you think. I'll try not to give anything major away, but if you don't know the story, you might not want to read this. In fact, if you don't know the story, you should go out and read the novel by Jane Austen immediately. Put down your muffin and go to the library. I see you. You're still holding your muffin!!

Or doesn't anyone else eat breakfast in front of the computer? I don't do it all the time, but sometimes... It's your fault, Rebecca.

Ok. So, Pride and Prejudice. So much better than I had dared to hope. In my opinion, so much better than the A&E version. But let's talk about this. My problem with the A&E has always been that it's fairly true to the letter of the Austen novel, but not really that true to the spirit. Lizzy isn't feisty enough, Jane isn't nearly pretty enough, and much as I love him, Colin Firth is far too sweet-faced from the start to make a convincing Darcy. Also, it should be avowed (just to lay all my cards on the table) that I am of the P&P-is-very-similar-to-Jane-Eyere-because-they're-both-based-on-Pamela school. And I do think that Darcy is at core pretty Rochester-like, and Mr.-B-like, come to think of it, although not nearly the rake Mr. B is. BTW, as a side note, I read Tess for the first time this summer and thought, wow, the first volume of Tess is really Pamela except the Mr. B character doesn't back off when she's unconscious... Creeeepy!!!

Ok, returning from Victorian Litland.... sorry.

Even though I certainly have caveats, both historical and literary, with the new film, I feel as if it is really true to the spirit of the novel, and it reproduces many of my favorite scenes word-for-word. And it's just so beautifully shot and designed! The texture is gorgeous. I felt that from the very first few scenes--the balls are awesome, so many details of the set and props are right (although as I have discovered in my Production of Texts class, Mr. Bennet could not afford to own a quarter of the number of books that are shown in his study in one scene, they are gorgeous books, so I forgive the producers), and so many of the shots are awesome. I mean, it does go over the top at a few moments (there was some giggling at one shot of gorgeous English countryside with Lizzy standing on a cliff--although it did make me lean over and whisper to Stephanie, "We must go there!"), but on the whole....

And can I just say that what's-his-face-who-plays-Darcy--ok, I have to google him because he's way too good to get just that epithet--Matthew MacFadyen, was incredibly awesome. I really feel that he got the balance in Darcy of pride and sensibility spot-on. He didn't make the mistake I feel Colin Firth made of making Darcy likeable from the get-go. Although if you know Darcy's explanation of events at the very close of the novel, you can easily read that storyline in the film. But I think that someone seeing the film who hadn't read the book (or seen the A&E) would not be sure of Darcy's actual character until late in the game. Which is as it should be, if you ask me. Which you didn't. Details.

And Judi Dench is awesome as Lady Catherine. And I really think that Keira Knightly does an excellent job as Lizzy. She really has the fire and self-satisfaction and subversiveness that I think Lizzy is all about. The scenes where Lizzy and Darcy engage in battles of wits are phenomenal--and for the most part straight out of the novel.

And both proposal scenes are awesome, although they did veer from the book a bit--I think the preview included the line "You have bewitched me, body and soul," which I'm almost positive was not in the book--but it's so Gothic. And it should be gothic, if you ask me... I mean, look at Northanger Abbey.

Ok, I'm pretty much done geeking out. Although I'm going to go see if I can find images to do a desktop collage now...

You guys have to let me know what you think when you see it.