Pride & Prejudice

Probably Jane Austen's best work, Simon Langton (also director of Jeeves and Wooster) has captured it on screen like no other. Excellent acting; Colin Firth does a resplendent job as Darcy...even more so than Laurence Olivier in the earlier version. It is unfortunately compared to the other two versions. They are not bad, but this is better.

Each of the characters are so distinct and memorable:
Mr. Bennet: The "Father of the story. He has an amusing sense of humor, making him my personal favorite character. He bears, with good humor, the silliness of the other characters in the family. When things go wrong, he remembers that it will soon pass. When his wife fusses over nothing, he rolls his eyes, presents some comforting sarcasm, and wisely leaves the room.
Mrs. Bennet: A hilarious character, with the most violent mood swings: one moment she will be sobbing and angry at everyone, making thoughtless angry statements; the next moment she will be laughing, loving, and excited. For example, their new neighbor, Mr. Bingley, is very rich, so she expects her husband to to go visit him, in the hope that one of her daughters will marry him someday. Her husband decides not to make the visit, and she gets angry, cries, and says, "Don't talk to me about Mr. Bingley. I am sick of hearing him" etc. Mr. Bennet replies, "I'm sorry to hear that. If I had known that this morning, I should never have called on him." Instantly Mrs. Bennet is all joy, love and laughter.
Jane Bennet: The eldest Bennet girl. She sees only the good in other people, and cannot believe any negative reports of anybody. When someone does something bad, she is convinced of their good intention. She has the biggest heart and the kindest smile. She is also determined not to fall too deeply in love with Mr. Bingley...
Elizabeth Bennet: This is her story. She is the more realistic and intelligent family member. A very polite social woman, with strong opinions; but she keeps her opinions to herself unless she feels it is absolutely necessary to speak them. Also a good sense of propriety. She loathes Mr. Darcy...why does he keep staring at her?
Mary Bennet: The family philosopher and scholar. Not pretty, but then the doesn't try to be so. She irritates her younger sisters with her constant proverbs and holy criticism. An amusing character, in her own way. Mr. Collins is the only man she really admires, but he never looks at her.
Kitty Bennet: Strongly influenced by Lydia, Kitty almost fails to have her own distinct personality. She is mostly unappreciated, and never gets her own way. Unfortunately she feels sorry for herself. A good person, but too envious of Lydia's popularity with the soldiers.
Lydia Bennet: The family flirt. She has a contagious laugh, and an undying love for men in uniform, practical jokes, balls, friends, being ahead of Kitty, and just about anything else secular.
Another hilarious character, as long as she's in a story.
Mr. Darcy: Strong and silent. When he is introduced, he does not dance, speak, or mingle. Later he grows a little more genial. Very rich, and the owner of the magnificent Pemberly Hall. Suddenly he pops the big question on Elizabeth...
Mr. Bingley: "There's nothing I love better than a country dance!". Curly brown hair, blue eyes and an eternal bright smile. Like Jane, he sees the best in everyone. Constant cheer, despite his sisters' snobbiness and his friend's coolness.
Mr. Collins: Yet another hilarious character; the Bennet's cousin. He is in love with Elizabeth, who would probably be willing to marry anybody else. Collins cannot stop talking, except out of tespect and admiration for Mr. Darcy's imperious aunt, Lady Catherine. He will follow any suggestion of her's. At one point, Mr. Wickham says to Elizabeth, "Mr. Collins's conversation is...wholesome." Elizabeth replies, "and there's plenty to be had of it!"
Mr. Wickham: The man in uniform. An officer who Elizabeth greatly admires. He is very cordial, and tells Elizabeth of his past, when he was "Treated ill" by Mr. Darcy. What can Elizabeth do but believe his story? Then, when he is sent away with his regiment, he tells her, "There is one woman from whom I shall be very loathe to part". How could one guess he was speaking of Lydia?!

A&E/BBC. 300 minutes long, superb acting, interesting story, Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice is a masterpiece not to be missed.