Problems I Have With Pride & Prejudice 2005

I am not a negative person by nature, but I would like to present these thoughts of mine for your reading pleasure. Let us see on whether or not we agree!
I did a rather old post kind of like this awhile back, but my opinions have changed a little, so I wanted to update from a fresh perspective. So here you go.

Disclaimer: These are my own personal opinions, they are not meant to bash anyone who might think differently than me. Let's keep this fun, peeps.

To begin.

~It's too short

This story is not one to be taken in a small amount of time. The story requires a good deal of thought and pondering to enjoy it thoroughly. When watching P&P '05, we cannot do that. It's too painfully short. It's so short it hurts my brain to watch it.
I really wish they would've:
1. Made the movie into a miniseries, or at least
2. Made the movie super long.
This would give us much more time to spend with the movie's beautiful aesthetics and appreciate things such as acting talent. *sigh* But alas.

~Elizabeth Bennet's makeup isn't accurate- and it just bugs me in general

This "I love you" rainstorm scene in particular (completely setting aside the fact that this scene in this setting wasn’t supposed to happen anyways) just bugged me because of how dark and sultry Elizabeth’s makeup was. I am not a ‘costume’ expert, but I do know that back in these times, makeup was very faint, natural, and light. The only people who wore makeup enough to see was women of ill repute, or... (dare I say it on this clean blog…) prostitutes, who were essentially outcasts.
Not to mention dark, smudgy eyeliner bugs me in general. But that’s just me.
(Also, this is off the makeup biz, but why is Elizabeth such a ragamuffin in general? Certainly neat hair and ironed clothing were a must, even for someone of her class?) (Help me out, history peeps.)

~The costumes aren’t accurate either

This one I can’t say much about, as I am not a ‘costume’ expert, as I said. But in spite of my thoughts on this movies’ costumes, I have been in the discussion of other people who know much more of the subject who also think the costumes are historically lacking. And who am I to argue with a history person?
Plus, I just don’t understand Caroline Bingley’s dress in this ball scene at all??? In the 19th century, I always figured that women didn't wear night gowns to balls...
But perhaps I'm wrong... anyone?

~Mr. Darcy is the opposite of attractive (*whispers* aka he's ugly)

I know, I know. Some women think otherwise. This is my personal opinion (and no offense to the actor as a person), but I do not care for this Darcy’s looks. He’s supposed to be handsome, right? Isn’t that what the book suggests? Help me here, people. It’s been awhile since I read the book. P&P 05’s Darcy is not how I imagine a handsome-suitor-with-a-gazillion-pounds to look. Also, his hair is weird.

~The Bingleys are weird

Caroline does alright at acting high-and-mighty and all, but her costumes are horrid (again with the nightgown ball dress), but she's not even in the story enough for me to even have an extensive opinion about her.
That scene when Caroline was supposed to have caused her brother to leave town to keep him away from Jane? Like, for real that scene just happened so fast and without very much explanation at all. If I hadn’t read the book already, I would’ve been completely confused, as my mom was because she hadn't read the book. *frustrated groan*

And I haven’t even gotten to Charles Bingley yet. Let me just say this; I think Hollywood/other movie making people are getting confused about what the term ‘handsome’ means. He’s friendly enough (I rather think his personality is on the ‘ok’ side), but he’s just not attractive. At all.

~Mr. Collins isn’t ridiculous enough to make me hardly notice his existence at all

This Mr. Collins is just kind of there. Like, hardly anything happens with him until he proposes to Elizabeth and gets rejected, and even then he’s still not much of anything when it comes to ‘personality’. As I remember it in the book, Mr. Collins was supposed to be somewhat ridiculous and comedic, while he tries his best to be serious. You could take this Mr. Collins out entirely and it would effect the movie very little.

~The Bennet family isn't ridiculous enough either

In the true spirit of Jane Austen's writing, the Bennet family (apart from Jane and Elizabeth) are supposed to be ridiculous enough to make you laugh to yourself, and even out loud. P&P '95 captures the hilarity splendidly, but in 2005... I honestly can't remember laughing once, to myself or otherwise.

Mrs. Bennet is okay. Not funny, but okay. Mr. Bennet I probably like the most. But the rest of them are filled with many non-laughable moments (or perhaps they ARE laughable, but the moment is too short that I can't notice / enjoy it?) that leave me more bored than amused. Sad, but true.

~*~

Well, that's about it. 
Let's end this barrage of negativity with some positive notes:

A Few Things I Do Like:
~Jane Bennet (I love Rosamund Pike in this role)
~The soundtrack (I live and breathe the music from this movie no joke)
~The sets and props and aesthetics (such a beautiful movie really)

~*~
There you have it. My true thoughts on a movie controversial among period drama lovers around the world. I did re-watch this right before I wrote this so that I can remember all of my thoughts (gotta be accurate, you know?), and was not entirely bored, because in spite of it's flaws, I do enjoy watching it.
It's not terrible by any means.

On another subject, I feel like I've been posting a lot of period-drama related posts lately? Or is that just me? I certainly enjoyed the period drama tag all the bloggers did awhile back. :)
But if I'm not careful, I might end up one of 'those' period drama-obsessed blogs.
*shivers*
Anywho.
Let me know which of these sentiments you agree or disagree with. :)

See ya.
-Amaris

A Period Drama Tag

I was tagged by Rachel over at A Girl's Place, and by Miss Woodhouse at Notes From a Hartfield Girl (both lovely blogs, btw) for this lovely Period Drama tag!

Thank you, ladies!

Rules: 
1. Answer the questions.
2. Link back to the person who tagged you. (I shall point you up there ^^ for that)
3. Tag at least one other blogger to do the tag. (See the end of the post, please!) 

Just a side note before I begin: I have not watched a legit "period drama" movie or series for almost a year, except Poldark (which I just discovered but I love it). So bear with me as I TRY to remember my favorite this and thats of period dramas.
In any case, I love these questions!
Let us commence.   

1. What was the most recent period drama you watched? Share what you thought of it.
As I said, I just discovered the show Poldark a couple of weeks ago. While I am only just starting Season 3 (out of...4 I think?), I am really loving it. There are a couple of things in the *ehem* content department, but other than that I wholeheartedly recommend!
(Note: After this was written, I did watch another period drama. The Young Victoria (2009). My opinion? Beautiful.)

2. Do you generally prefer period dramas in the form of a movie or a TV series/mini-series? Why? 
Most good period dramas are good no matter what form they are, but I think I would choose TV/mini series. There are generally more good cliffhangers that way, not to mention the story is longer.  
 

3. What is your favorite musical period drama?
I...actually... severely... dislike musicals.
So.
I guess none.

(unless u count the greatest showman. then that's my favorite.)

4. Read the book first or watch the movie first?
I have enjoyed it both ways, actually.
Pride & Prejudice I read first, but North & South (2004) I watched first.

5. What is a valuable life lesson you learned from a period drama? 
Uuhh... "Reject all the proposals"?!

Just kidding. I wouldn't say I've learned a 'valuable life lesson' from a period drama, but I would say that watching/reading period dramas has improved my writing in some ways.

6. Which period drama hero would you likely to fall in love with in real life?
That's not hard at all. Definitely this guy: Dr. Enys from Poldark. He's noble, loyal, faithful, brave, and selfless. 
And I love him.
(He's the guy on the right)

7. Do you ever like to binge-watch a period drama series?
 I think I binge-watched North & South BBC the second time around, but I usually prefer one or two episodes at a time (yep imma boring fangirl).

8. What things go best with watching a period drama?
Being wrapped up in a fluffy Sherpa blanket.
Whilst drinking tea.
Scooted way up close to the TV.
Whatever says 'comfort'.

9. Which period drama do you think you would fit into best?
Probably a setting from one of Jane Austen's novels. They are usually so bright and airy. Perfect for me, I say. Also, Prince Edward Island sounds lovely in Anne Shirley's time. Oh, and don't let me forget Barney and Valancy's home from The Blue Castle! It sounds great.

 
10. If you could have any period drama character for a best friend, who would it be? And why?
1. I would not change my current 'real-life' best friend for anything, but
2. If I had to, I would probably choose Margaret Hale from North & South BBC. That girl needs a female friend.
3. I would also probably choose to be George Warleggan from Poldark to be my other best friend, because even though I hate him and he's disgusting and terrible, being my best friend means that I have an advantage because he's not my enemy, plus he's super rich so he can throw me an epic birthday party, which is way more than he would do for his enemy.

11. Show us a picture of a period drama costume you wish you could wear in real life
I'm not into costumes as much as I used to be (pun intended), but here are a few that I like.

-I love pretty much all of Elizabeth's gowns in Poldark.

-Then we have the airy, breathtaking beauty of Belle's dancing gown from Beauty and the Beast.

-I love Trixie's style in Call the Midwife (that's a period drama... right? I think?). 

-As a child especially, I loved this dress of Maria's from The Sound of Music.
0

-I also love the color of blue with this dress from Amazing Grace. It would have to be less low-cut to suit me, however. :) (Also, I don't think I could dye my hair red enough to look as good as Garai in it).
(Tbh I've always kinda liked the hairstyle here too).

I've shown a lot here, but there are many other outfits besides this. :)

12. Are there any period dramas you like to watch during a particular season or holiday?
I like to watch Bleak House BBC and North & South BBC during the winter, and the more light-hearted, airy dramas like Pride & Prejudice during Spring and Summer. I also like watching Call the Midwife Christmas specials during Christmastime. :)

13. Which period drama has your favorite soundtrack?
Definitely Poldark has my favorite opening theme. Pretty much all of that show's music is my favorite. I love all of Demelza's songs. I have been enjoying Pride & Prejudice (2005) music as well lately.

14. Dream cast your favorite actor and actress in a period drama of your choosing; tell which parts they would play and why.
I'm going to be boring with this question; I never really thought about switching any actors in my favorite period dramas, because I like the actors who play the parts already. As far as books go... I have no ideas. :)

15. Are there any period dramas you like more than one version of?
Actually, no. (I know; boring again)

16. What are the top three period dramas that you haven't seen on your to-watch list?

• Wives & Daughters
• Sense & Sensibility 
• The Crown

17. Show a picture of your favorite period drama hairstyle.
It's hard to pick a favorite, but I've always liked Elizabeth's hairstyle from the ball scene in P&P 2005. 

18. What was your favorite wedding in a period drama?
Actually, none of them really stood out at me. P&P '95 was ok, except for the weirdness caused by it being a double wedding. I kind of liked the wedding in The Young Victoria too, now that I think of it. :)

19. What is your favorite biographical period drama?
If either The Imitation Game or The Greatest Showman count as period dramas, then I choose one of those. If not, I do not have one. :)

20. Which historical novel will you forever recommend to anyone and everyone?
I loved reading North & South, by Elizabeth Gaskell and Bleak House by Charles Dickens (for a more hefty read). They were both so good. 
For beginners to period dramas, I would recommend Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austin. :)

Thanks for tagging me, Rachel and Miss Woodhouse! I loved answering these. It's been awhile since I've done any sort of Period Drama tag. So it was fun.

I tag:
Natalie
Hayden
Lissa
Cordy

If any of you guys have done this before, I'm sorry I didn't notice! Feel free to pass me by...or do the tag again if you wish. :)

Here is the list of questions!
1.What was the most recent period drama you watched? Share what you thought of it.
2.  Do you generally prefer period dramas in the form of a movie or a TV series/mini-series?  Why?
3.  What is your favorite musical period drama?
4.  Read the book first or watch the movie first?
5.  What is a valuable life lesson you learned from a period drama?
6.  Which period drama hero would you be likely to fall in love with in real life?
7.  Do you ever like to binge-watch a period drama series?
8.  What things go best with watching a period drama?
9.  Which period drama do you think you would fit into best?
10. If you could have any period drama character for a best friend, who would it be?  And why?
11. Show us a picture of a period drama costume you wish you could wear in real life.
12. Are there any period dramas you like to watch during a particular season or holiday?
13. Which period drama has your favorite soundtrack?
14. Dream cast your favorite actor and actress in a period drama of your choosing; tell which parts they would play and why.
15. Are there any period dramas you like more than one version of?
16. What are the top three period dramas that you haven't seen on your to-watch list?
17. Show a picture of your favorite period drama hairstyle.
18. What was your favorite wedding in a period drama?
19. What is your favorite biographical period drama?
20. Which historical novel will you forever recommend to anyone and everyone?

 ~*~
 -Amaris

How I Feel About Halloween...

Hello, friends! 

~*~ 

(Wow. You are quite the tolerant one, considering the fact that I have started at least 50 gajillion posts with the words 'hello, friends').

Anyways. I hope you are having a good Fall, and for those of you who celebrate Halloween, I hope you had a good one! 

I've been thinking lately about Halloween, and each year it becomes more clear to me my opinion of it, so I thought I would share. 

Photo Credit: Me

1. I love the ghosts and bats.

Ok. This love/hate is kind of random. When I say "ghosts", I'm talking about the cute little white ghosts with a little smile and two little eyes. Possibly cartoon, or the ones homemade.
I just really like those. See?

I also love cute little bats. Not the evil, bloody looking bats with horrid fangs, but little bats (made of paper or cloth or whatever) with cute little faces and tiny little wings. Also the cartoon ones.

So adorable.
If I had to choose at least two decorations for Halloween, it will be little ghosts and little bats everywhere.

But mostly I'm just not a Halloween person at all.

2. I hate the bloody limbs.

Are you kidding me? You're going to decorate your house with severed limbs? I just have such a hard time wrapping my brain around this.

Let me ask you this: Do you actually like it when you hear on the news that someone's arm or leg or head got severed? (Wow. Great image to put in people's heads, Amaris. Good job.)

Well then why the heck would you literally play with that idea? Decorate with it? Make fun with it?
 ~

Me try to make sense of it, but...

me no understand.

3. I love everyone's costume ideas (the nice ones, anyway).

I really do enjoy going onto YouTube this time of year, because there are soooo many cute ideas for makeup, costumes, and more. The idea of costumes and dressing up just makes me excited. Maybe because I like creating things, or maybe because I just like being Someone Else for a little bit.

Some of my favorite Halloween Costume Videos are:

Mermaid Makeup. (There are a ton more mermaid tutorials out there, I just picked this one because it's one of my favorites).

Dean from Supernatural (A female version. Even though I don't watch the show, I like this tutorial).

Ancient Greece (I think I like this outfit more than the makeup. But both are pretty cool).

Spiderwebs (I don't really like the other makeup looks in this video: if you're like me, you can skip to 3:16 for the webs).

Basically, costumes are great. In fact, if we could just have a holiday that was literally nothing but costumes and candy with nothing else, I would be ok with it. Anybody else? No? 
Let's move on.  

4. I hate that Satan, evil, and death are glorified.

Aren't most people afraid of death anyways?

Why would you make celebration out of it?
It kind of brings me back to the question about the severed limbs thing. 
Why? 
That is the question:
whyyyy?  
I just. 
don't. 
under. stand.  

Wouldn't most people (even non-Christians) agree that Satan is evil and terrible and Not-Something-To-Be-Made-Fun-Of?

Then why is he given so much... glory? Unnecessary attention, even?

*bangs head on table because why*

5. I love hearing about people's plans.

There are some people who really live for this time of year. They wait for it and plan for it all year long just so they can have a good time on the Big Day, work on costumes, and make videos.
Some people do a thing on YouTube (#vlogoween I believe it's called) where they do a vlog-style video every single day in October.

I don't know if you all watch Grav3yardgirl, but I have really enjoyed her videos specifically this year (FYI, her channel is 99% clean except for her profile pic. #shame on you, bunny). 

I love hearing about everyone's plans, I love to see who's going all out with the costume, and which ones are planning on doing parties, or if they're just doing the neighborhood trick or treating, or you know.

I just love to see everyone's excitement. Seeing people happy an anticipating about something, in turn, makes me excited and upbeat, even if I am not joining in the celebrations.

6. I hate all of those temporary cheap Halloween stores that pop up everywhere.

And I have to be honest: I've never been inside one.

You might ask, "But, Amaris, if you've never been in one, how do you know it's so terrible, and how do you hate it so much?"

Believe me, it's not hard. 

1. I've seen vlogs on YouTube of people inside of them (such as Grav3yardgirl),
2. If it's Halloween-related, it's going to be something evil and scary in which case I would not be interested anyways, and
3. The signs and billboards, from which I can tell pretty easily if I don't want to go in. As I'm sure most of us can.

I pretty much hate every Halloween store, and every Halloween section in every store. It's just... icky. :P

7. I love the time of year.

Halloween happens during the greatest time of Fall: before it's too super cold, but just cold enough to be comfortable in a costume, and the leaves aren't completely gone yet, so it's still pretty out, plus, it's pumpkin season.
So basically there is a lot to love.
Weather, costumes, pumpkins.... parties. You know.

Oh. 
And candy.

Me loves the candy.

Anyways, that about wraps it up (hehe.. 'wraps'... just like a Halloween mummy, right? Get it? Ok, I'll stop). I was going to post this LAST Monday, it being the day before Halloween, but I did not get all of my thoughts (and pictures) together in time. :P
You know how it is. At least, if you have a blog you know how it is.

Well. I hope you all had a good Halloween, if you celebrated it! 
If not, I hope you continue to enjoy Fall (provided you're a Fall Person. If you're not, I'm sorry).

HAVE A GOOD DAY, FRIENDS.
-Amaris      

 

Do any of you celebrate Halloween? If so, what was your costume? What is your favorite and LEAST favorite thing about this holiday?

Bye!

Pride & Prejudice 2005 and 1995: MY Opinions

Ahem. And now, dear readers, I come to one of the most conflicted subjects from around the internet: Pride & Prejudice.

To begin, I would like to say that I like the 1995 film version best of all. But, I don't think that the 2005 (Keira Knightly) version is entirely bad, it just has some issues... with accuracy, and that sort of thing.
So this is a little post I wanted to do to share my opinion on the movies. Perhaps you will agree with me, perhaps you won't.
Thus I begin.

I started the whole thing by reading the book, and found that Jane Austen is a great story-teller. The only problem I find with any of her books is that it takes me so long to get through one. Even though they aren't super long (Like Dicken's Bleak House!), they are written in such a way that I have to be in the right mood to read them, or else I just don't absorb it. And even though the chapters aren't very long, it still takes me awhile to get through them.
British people talked weird in those days, let's just say that. Elegant, sure, but weird. Anyways, I eventually got through P&P, and I really enjoyed it.

I saw the 2005 one first. We found it for $5 online, so we just went ahead and bought it and watched it. And then we rented the 1995 one, because the 2005 version sort of left a void in my expectations, and I heard it was better.

I couldn't decide how to write this post, I wondered if I should just do a whole review on each movie, but that sounded kind of boring. So, here is what I'm going to do. I shall name a few of the biggest things in each of the movies (like characters and events), and tell what I think from each movie. There. Now you know what to expect, including looong descriptions. I hope you can bear it.
BTW, if you haven't seen the movies or read the book, I wouldn't recommend reading this, as this is NOT a review, and it would probably be hard for you to compare your own sentiments with mine if you're not familiar with the story. Just throwing that out there.

Elizabeth Bennet:
1995: I think we can all agree, Jennefer Ehle is perfect as Elizabeth Bennet. She pulls off the sweet yet wise element of her character from straight out of the book. Mrs.  Bennet claims that Jane is the prettiest in the family, but I completely disagree with her and would venture to say that Elizabeth is definitely the prettiest of them all.

2005: There's no doubt of Keira Knightly's acting ability. She definitely pulled of that cute/fun side of Elizabeth Bennet. I was surprised, however, to find her not as wise as the Elizabeth was in the book. True, Elizabeth is supposed to be prejudiced, and misunderstanding, but Keira's Lizzy just seemed a little more... not stupid, exactly, but almost naive. She also looked like a ragamuffin a lot of the time, which is an interesting touch, I suppose, but unlike how I imagined her in the book.

Mr. Darcy:
1995: Ahh, everyone's in love with Mr. Darcy, and I agree with the rest of the world when I say that Colin Firth definitely did the best job being this proud Englishman. The role actually made him a popular actor, and anyone can see why. He's quiet, has a deep attractive British voice, and he's handsome. That's pretty much everything you need in a Darcy. He also did a good job being proud. When I watched this version the second time around, I noticed how often he got up and looked out the window whenever he was embarrassed or shy. It's something I missed the first time. *shrugs*

 

I like windows too, buddy.

2005: I'll just be brutally honest and clear about this: I don't really like Matthew McFadyen as Darcy. I don't HATE the man, he just doesn't do a single thing for me. I didn't find him very handsome, and he talks too fast. WHY DOES HE TALK SO FAST. TELL ME THAT. I could barely process what was happening during several scenes, because he just talks so fast and low and... British-in-a-non-attractive-way. I think they tried to make him look all sexy and manly, but to me he just ended up disgusting. For the record: I hate THIS picture.

Jane Bennet:
 1995: I know it is strange, but Jane Bennet is one of the only things I didn't care for in the older version. I think Susana Harker did an ok job as Jane, I just didn't find her very pretty. She had a small head and a long neck, but she did had nice eyes, and her voice was nice and sweet, just like Jane is supposed to be.

2005:On the other end of the spectrum, I absolutely love Rosamund Pike as Jane in 2005. She's so sweet and pretty, and perfect for the part. She's got a real nice friendly face, and she looks and talks and behaves almost exactly like I imagined her in the book. If we could just pluck her out of 2005, and stick her into 1995, everything would be perfect and dreamy, don't you think?

There. 1995 Jane gets no pictures, and 2005 gets two, what do you think of that? Mwuahahha.

Mr Bingley:
1995: To be honest, Mr. Bingley was never among my favorite characters. He's perfect for Jane's husband, of course, but besides that he's just too perfect. Always too happy, not much happens with him. 
Usually the kind of character who is most loved by the reader is the one who has problems. I'm not saying Jane Austen failed with Bingley just because I don't like him, he isn't even supposed to be the main character, so it's all right. 
Anyways, 1995 did a better job out of the two. He actually looks like someone I know.

2005:As for THIS Mr. Bingley...
 *cough* Really, people? Really?

Moving on.
Mr. & Mrs. Bennet:
1995: Ok, let me just say I looooove Mr. and Mrs. Bennet in 1995! Mrs. Bennet is HILARIOUS. I mean, really. She did a great job complaining and criticizing people, and being the matchmaking mother that she is. I think Mr. Bennet was great too, and gave me much reason to like him. After all, he's the only one who seems to have any sense in the Bennet family, besides Jane and Elizabeth. I always liked his tender relationship with Lizzy. 

2005: Meh. This is another shrug moment for me. Mrs. Bennet was ok in 2005, but not GREAT. She wasn't hilarious, and she didn't have a lot of screen time. Mr. Bennet was ok too, but I didn't like his hair, and he didn't seem to have AS MUCH sense as the Mr. Bennet in 1995.
 I feel like the entire 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice would be better all around if they just hadn't tried to mush everything into 2 hours. One reason I think that the older 1995 series is better is because characters actually have significant TIME on screen to make us love them. In the movie, we're pretty much rushed along, and there's no time for us to care about anyone. :(

There now. I think that covers most of the characters. Now onto everything else!

Darcy's First Proposal:
1995: To be honest, neither film version captured exactly what I had imagined in the book during this scene. But, that's no matter. 1995 was the most accurate, all the same. I do think that Darcy showed feelings LESS in this version than in 2005. But, this scene is one of my favorites in the series, and I just think their whole discussion is quite interesting.

That wallpaper tho. XD

2005: *sigh*. You're going off the trail again, 2005! You're not being very much like the book, and not everyone likes that! Shame, shame, shame! Seriously though, if you're the type of person who likes the mushy, romance-y, young-adult-romance-type scenes, then you'll probably love this one. I, for one, think it's entirely unconventional. What are the chances that two people walk through the rain, and take shelter under a pavilion thingy, and that those two people just happen to be crossed in love, "and so the stage is set for a dramatic argument in the rain..." It just seems almost cheesy to me. 
Why should Darcy all of a sudden exclaim his feeling for Elizabeth out of the blue? In the 1995 version, and in the book, Mr. Darcy went to visit Elizabeth ON PURPOSE to express his feelings. But in the '05 movie, they just HAPPEN upon each other, and Darcy just HAPPENS to tell his true feelings then and there. What if that chance had never come? Do you see what I'm saying? I just found the whole thing weird. :P
Plus Keira Knightley's eye make-up drove me crazy in that scene. PEOPLE DIDN'T WEAR EYELINER LIKE THAT IN THOSE DAYS DON'T YOU GET IT?!?!

FYI, on a separate note, my favorite (failed) proposal scene EVER in ANY FILM that I've seen up until now is from North & South, BBC. :) 
 
The Balls and Dances:
1995: Ok, I like what happens during the balls in 1995. The first ball, when Mr. Darcy is first introduced to us all, and the ball at Netherfield when the Bennet girls are embarrassing the daylights out of Jane and Elizabeth, it's all very well done. The dance between Darcy and Elizabeth was certainly intriguing, too, and another one of my favorite moments. I also like how you heard more of people's conversations during these dances. In 2005, the balls went by so quickly, you could hardly have the time to get to know people by what they are saying to each other. You know what I mean?

What nice eyes, eh Darcy? *snicker*

2005: Due to modern lighting and cinematography, I do think the balls are a bit prettier in the movie version, even if they are so short. I don't really like the first ball, when Bingley and Darcy first come in, because it looks like a bunch of peasants dancing around. I realize that that might be more accurate historically, but I didn't like it very much. I also like it when there aren't so many people. Besides, why would people like Darcy and Bingley show up at a crowded, scummy place like that anyways? Aren't they supposed to be rich people who wouldn't dare rub elbows with the lower class?

"I hear such different accounts of you which puzzle me exceedingly."

Longbourn:
1995: The Bennet Household in the 1995 version is exactly like I imagined it in the book, which gave me great pleasure in watching it. The house is not super fancy, but it's not a barnyard, either. It's just nice. The Bennets aren't supposed to be peasants on the streets, even if they are lower classed people.

2005: On the other hand, I liked nothing about Longbourn in the newer version. It's a pig pen. I'm not sure why the makers of the movie found it necessary to make it a junk heap. I don't know, it just wasn't like I imagined it at all.

Couch: Wrong.
Windows: Wrong.
Blue walls: Wrong, wrong, all wrong.

Pemberly:
I looooooved reading about Pemberly in the book. I loved it when Elizabeth goes to see Pemberly, and how she is embarrassed, but she finds that Darcy isn't quite what she imagined him to be. This is an important part in the story, because it is when Elizabeth's opinion of Darcy begins to improve, and THAT'S important.
1995: The Pemberly scens are done so well in this version. I love how Elizabeth slowly walks around the rooms with her aunt (who I like better in this version too, by the way), and solemnly gazes at the vast and majestic glory of the man she rejected. This, my friends, is when the story gets good.

I really like that hat too.

2005: I must admit, the Pemberly scenes in this version aren't so very bad. Like everything in this movie, though, it's so short that we aren't given enough time to enjoy it. Like I mentioned with the balls, the filming and lighting is very good. And I feel like they did a good job with the locations. I love gold trimming in a mansion. I didn't, however, care for the scene when they were looking at all of the statues. That part just bugged me. :P I liked it better when they were in the hallways, or with Georgiana in her piano room (Parlor... I think that's called a parlor...). Which reminds me, I kind of like Georgiana in this version better. She plays piano better, and she's prettier. I like the brother/sister relationship she has with Darcy in both versions, though.

I just love all the Pemberly parts in all the versions and the book. :)

Costumes:
1995: I really think the dresses are cute in the 1995 version. A little too revealing at times, but cute. I especially like the white one that Elizabeth wears with the yellow-ish flowers all over it. Her pink dress is a favorite of mine also, and I think it looks the best on her.

2005: I think the costumes are definitely historically accurate in this movie. I wish they were nicer though. I mean, especially in the Bennet household, everyone pretty much dresses like a ragamuffin. I like a few of Lizzy's dresses, however. The green one is pretty nice on her, and I also like the cream striped dress that she wears when she is looking around Pemberly. Overall, the costumes aren't bad in either version.

Soundtrack/Music:
1995: Meh. Ok. The music in this series is nothing special. 


2005: THIS is the section I've been waiting to write about! The 2005 version seems to have very little going for it, except THE MUSIC.
 THE MUSIC IS SO GOOD. It's sweet and touching and romantic and emotional and I just love it.
 *hugs soundrack*
I went to a wedding a few weeks ago, and they had a real live piano player, who played the soundtrack music from Pride & Prejudice 2005. After the ceremony I asked to see her music books, and there was the soundtrack sheet music, plain as day. I went home and promptly ordered my own book on Amazon. :) 
I'll tell you one thing, if I ever get married, whoever does piano is going to play two things for sure: This soundtrack, from Pride & Prejudice in 2005, and the soundtrack from Cinderella, 2015. And that's THAT.
Whoever is going to play piano at my wedding better be taking notes!
Seriously, even when we first watched the movie, the music struck me as the one completely perfect element in the story. I love picking out the notes on my own piano, but to imitate such perfect emotion and harmony and romantic soul in the music, I cannot. 
Yes, to be sure, 2005 WINS with the soundtrack. 

Conclusion:
One last scene I must compare is the "Conclusion" scene. *clears throat*
1995: THIS PART IS JUST SO SWEET. Lizzy and Darcy finally set each other's mistakes, judgements, and rejections behind them, and it reminds us that all humans make mistakes, but it can turn out alright in the end if we're just not so picky with everyone. At this point, we're all thrilled that everything's cleared up between Lizzy and Darcy and we can take a deep breath and finally be happy, and this version set us up for that feeling really well.
This scene is not mushy or kiss-y or sexy, just like a CERTAIN OTHER VERSION I'm talking about. They don't even kiss, they wait till they're MARRIED, which makes me ecstatic, because you don't often see that happen in movies. Plus, this part is almost word-for-word from the book, and THAT'S something too.

"Dearest, loveliest Elizabeth."

2005: Okayyyyy the 2005 version of this scene is not-so-much-my-favorite. Honestly, the whole scene just annoyed me. First of all, it's a chance meeting again! Just like the proposal scene, they just HAPPENED upon each other, and what comes next drives the story along to the conclusion. That gives me the feeling that nothing ever happens in this movie except by chance, which is NOT a good feeling for me. 
The whole thing was mushy and weird and Darcy is disgusting with his shirt down (was I supposed to think he was handsome? Because I didn't find him that way...) and Lizzy's makeup is ONCE AGAIN unrealistic, and the fog looks completely fake.
Just look at it:
 

 
Weird and fake, fake and weird.
 

I kind of like this pic though. *shrug*

And So:
My overall opinion of the two movies is this: 1995 is the absolute best version you could ever hope for. But, 2005 isn't completely rotten. It has good points, truly. It's just not as accurate as some period drama fans would like it to be. Personally, I'm not bothered by a movie, any movie, being different from the book. I do have my limits, but I think that some movies can be more interesting if the story or the characters are played with a little bit. One needs to switch things up a bit occasionally, wouldn't you agree?

Here's a small conversation between my friend and me about the inaccuracy on Pinterest: 
   

Really cute and adorable, but not really accurate. Yes, I think that describes Pride & Prejudice 2005 pretty well. The question is, whether it bothers you or not.

 
I feel like perhaps the 2005 version would be the best choice between the two ONLY IF you didn't have a lot of time on your hands, and you just want to remember how the story goes. Like, if you didn't want to dedicate yourself to 6 hours of watching the 1995 version because you don't remember why Elizabeth loathes Mr Darcy, or something like that. 
If you think about it, 2005 isn't all that inaccurate with the overall plot, it's just not very accurate within certain scenes. Like, the last scene, when Darcy and Elizabeth go on their little walk. That definitely happens in the book, just in a different way. It's not like they changed things around so much that someone dies, or Elizabeth cusses, or Darcy is a thief, or something outlandish like that. The movie is not exactly poorly-written, I just feel like if the whole movie was SLOWED DOWN just a little, it would be much improved.
Basically, if you don't really mind inaccuracy in movies, and if you don't even think about the book AT ALL while you're watching it, and keep your mind completely open, 2005 is a fairly decent movie, as far as movies go in general.

Still, even if you consider the fact that 2005 CAN be a good movie, that doesn't mean that it IS, or that you should like it. I know some of you think it's TERRIBLE, and that's ok. These are only my opinions. Do you see what I'm saying?

I guess my final word is this: I own both versions, and like them both.
But the only version I LOVE, is Pride & Prejudice 1995, and I would say I have good reason to. :)

Goodbye, my lovely people. :)

 What do you think of the two versions?! I'd like to know!