Pride and Prejudice - romance at its best (13th May 06, Sat)

I just finished watching a BBC production of Pride and Prejudice (1985). It ran for a whole 226 minutes. Too long, you might say, but not so for a hopeless romantic like me. Nothing can beat Eliza's initial hatred of Mr. Darcy and then her subsequent realization of her folly in thinking so. What struck me throughout the show was the behaviour of Eliza's mother, Mrs. Bennet and her younger sisters. The disgusting eagerness they show in getting married as soon as possible and then finding horrible ways of finding husbands. It seemed in this novel's situation that the middle class unmarried women had nothing to do except hunting husbands. But yet I think it was good that Mrs. Bennet was continually engaged in doing that, else perhaps Eliza and Mr. Darcy would have never met and never would such novel be written :D. Many versions of this classic have taken shape but nothing beats this version. The lady acting as Elizabeth Bennet shares the same first name as her character and goes by the last name of Garvie. She has well expressed herself, except at some scenes, where I judged her to be overacting, but that's insignificant. Other notable characters in this classic are Mr. and Mrs Gardiner - a very thoughtful couple in relation to the Bennet family. Its a wonder how some vastly differing characteristics are tied in relations within a family - it happens too often in life to be ignored in such a classic. Its no wonder that a sensible girl such as Eliza prefers their company to her own mother. Austenian classics are never fulfilled without comical characters. In this one, it is provided by the all - apologetic Mr. Collins, cousin of the Bennet girls. Mr. Bennet, too, offers comic relief in his indifference towards his wife's plans. Nothing can beat when he says in exasperation that "Mr. Bingley is always here. He comes before breakfast and never leaves until after supper", when his wife announces the arrival of Mr. Bingley (Bingley is by now enganged with the eldest of the daughters, Jane). To say it all, Pride and Prejudice - romance at its best :D.