This movie is so well directed, acted and written, it is almost impossible to find fault; unless of course you are an Austenfreak who expects every character and every scene in the book to fit in an 2 hour movie.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Everyone knows this notorious line as the beginning sentence for Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The beloved novel about Elizabeth Bennet falling in love with the man she had sworn to hate, has captivated readers for over 200 years through its classic themes of love, humor, and early 19th century English culture. Many have tried to capture the story's magnificence through film. From 1938 to 1996, there has been over ten movies and television shows based on the novel. There has even been parodies of the story such as "Bride and Prejudice" and "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies." Nevertheless, the 2005 movie, featuring Keira Knightly and Matthew Macfardin, is by far the best film version of the novel that perfectly transports from paper to television the wit and emotions of the characters and the beauty of the setting. Jane Austen has written many novels about women, love, and domestic life in England during the turn of the 19th century. Pride and Prejudice is particularly one of her best works. The story follows the ladies of Longbourn estate, namely the second oldest of the five daughters, Elizabeth Bennet. She learns the wrongness of hasty judgment when she meets the incredibly wealthy and seemingly ill-mannered Mr. Darcy. Jane Austen is able to depict the fawning and flattering of a neighborhood full of young eligible women when a man from an affluent society comes to town during the British regency. Such an iconic novel has left Hollywood trying copy the story's delight. Only Joe Wright, director of 2005 Pride and Prejudice, was able to bring the novel justice.One reason the the film is so superb is the characters. The movie was cast to such perfection that I thought characters jumped right out of the book and onto the big screen. The stubbornness, poise, gracefulness, intelligence, and beauty of Elizabeth Bennet is flawlessly personified in leading actress Kiera Knightly. The arrogance, egotism, and kindness of Mr. Darcy is wholly seen in leading actor Matthew Macfardin. The silliness, chaos, and affection of the Bennet family- Rosamund Pink as Jane, Cary Mulligan as Kitty, Talulah Riley as Mary, Jena Malone and Lydia, Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennet, and Brenda Blethyn as Mrs. Bennet- is achieved to such perfection that the movie scenes that take place in Longbourn Estate, the Bennet's house property, will make you cry and laugh out loud. Even the performance of Tom Hollander makes you want to cringe as his character Mr. Collins, the awkward and silly cousin of the Bennets, proposes to Elizabeth. Without such a cast, the movie would be just another Hollywood producer tIn addition to the cast, the music perfectly sets the peaceful and calm mood of early 19th century English countryside, and it embellishes the ever-changing emotions of the characters. The soundtrack is an arrangement of classical piano and orchestra music, composed by Dario Marianelli. The movie starts off with Elizabeth Bennet walking and reading in an empty field while a piano piece by Andrew Lapp, titled "Dawn," plays in the background. This opening scene immediately captivates the audience. Due to the music, the watcher is immediately set in the beauty and serenity of the English countryside and in the peaceful thoughts of the protagonist, Ms. Elizabeth Bennet. The music has also enhanced other powerful scenes in the movie, including Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth's dance and field scene, in which the two admit their feelings for one another. Marianelli's work for the film has even gotten him an Oscar nomination for "Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures" and two World Soundtrack Academy nominations for the film. Nevertheless, the filming is by far the best part of the movie. When reading a novel, the author is able to explain and clarify the thoughts and feelings of the characters. However, on film the director does not have the luxury of doing so. Despite this, Wright flawlessly rendered Austen's writing. His vision and creativity has made it both clear and mysterious to the audience the thoughts and emotion of the characters at moments where others have made it ambiguous. For instance, during the scene in which Darcy and Elizabeth dance together at the second ball, the scene suddenly changed from the two dancing together in a crowd of people to the two dancing together in an empty ballroom, showing how they are focused only on each other despite the multitude of people around them. I am particularly fond of the way Wright showed the passage of time: Elizabeth spinning on a swing watching the seasons go by. Such originality and artistry has made this film the best version of Pride and Prejudice. Even though you can choose to watch many different film versions of the novel Pride and Prejudice, I recommend the StudioCanal 2005 film featuring Kiera Knightly. Unlike the others, it has been nominated for 34 awards, and has won six: Boston Society of Film Critics for 'Best New Filmmaker', British Academy Film Awards for 'Most promising Newcomer', Empire Awards for 'Best British Film' and Best Newcomer', London Film Critics' Circle for 'British Director of the Year' and "British supporting actor of the year". Many say the book is better than the movie. However after watching this magnificent version of Pride and Prejudice, one would argue the movie is better than the book.

after you read the novel, after you see the adaptations, it is the basic question. because each adaptation propose the vision of director and the novel is almost perfect. so, reading it is enough. but... the virtue, basic virtue of this film is far to be the best adaptation. but it is courageous, inspired and useful. because Mr. Darcy by Matthew Macfadyen is not exactly the ice man, his delicacy, vulnerable actions being a seductive surprise. Keira Knightley has the gift to be , more you expect, Elisabeth. like Rosamund Pike, who does an admirable Jane. the flavor of novel. this is the gift of this honest, inspired and profound beautiful adaptation. but the motif to see it is, maybe, the feeling after its end. who seems be, maybe only in my case, like the old feeling after I finish the book.

I think ones tastes depends on which movie was seen first. I am a huge fan of Austen and the Bronte Sister, and yes, I have read the books.I had no interest in seeing any adaptation, as I was never sure I would come to like them. The book, a commentary on the treatment of women, whose lives and social status depended upon having a suitable husband and marriage. It is also a book about perception, prejudices based on first impressions.This movie was passionate, and lush, with beautiful cinematography. Keira Knightly was outstanding, as was Matthew McFayden as Mr. Darcy, the towering man of wealth, suffering unrequited love of Elizabeth Bennett, who despises him. The entire cast was stellar, and Rosamund Pike as Jane was lovely, and her acting superb. This was a very well-rounded cast. Mrs. Bennett was as shrill and nervous as expected, and Mr. Bennett as indifferent and dismissive as I expected him to be.Keira delivered her lines with such aplomb, I can watch this movie over and over again. I would have loved to her with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy,, can you imagine how outstanding that would be? That said, Matthew McFayden is EQUALLY fantastic as Colin Firth in this role. But far more sympathetic to me than Firth's Mr. Darcy. McFayden's Mr. Darcy almost seemed too vulnerable and lovelorn, but his performance makes up for the liberty taken with this aspect of Mr. Darcy's character.My thoughts on the 1995 version... Ehle smirked too much. And at inappropriate times. And her eyes wandered, she often looked away from the other actors when speaking to them in scenes. Almost like she is lost in thought. And that bothered me. Elizabeth is a fiery spirit, and Ehle was far too passive in her depiction. I feel that Keira embodied everything I imagined Elizabeth Bennett to be. I felt that Ehle's acting was below average. But she was the first to tackle our beloved Elizabeth, so she receives more credit than she deserves for the role. I also found the final proposal from Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth a bit perfunctory, and unromantic. But I blame the director, not the actors. They didn't even look at each other. Ehle spouts her dialogue, like an 8th grader in a school play. Though, in some scenes she excelled. Firth was everything I expect of Mr. Darcy. Jane, from the 1995 version, was not the beauty the book wrote of, and I found her face and smile off-putting, if you'll forgive me for saying such a rude thing. She's fine, but not what I imagine Jane to look like, Ehle was much pretty when Jane was supposed to be the prettier of the sisters. I felt 2005 got this right, while managing to cast a stunning beauty like Keira in the role of Elizabeth, muting her attractiveness just enough so that Rosamund Pike could truly shine.