Pride and Prejudice discussion

Ha..Ha.. Lol. Even I had the same problem, the main reason disliking her for me was her hair style other wise she is really good looking and her acting is too good. Ok forget about Jennifer Ehle as Lizzy just concentrate on Colin Firth as Darcy :P he is marvelous. You've got to watch this BBC series if you are a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice.. otherwise your going to miss something really good!!

I didn't think Jennifer was that bad - she did a good job acting-wise, I think. And Vash, you are so right! Colin Firth did an amazing job! BBC did an awesome job at the production/adaption of the book.

I like Jennifer a lot more than Kiera Knightly- she gets progressively better throughout the movie. Thanks to the BBC version, I can't read Pride and Prejudice without picturing Colin Firth- which only makes me more giddy while reading it! BBC is definitely the best version of the novel- like Vash said, just pay attention to Colin Firth and you will be fine!

Sandy wrote: "I haven't watched the BBC version yet but I gave it up because of Jennifer Ehle. Persuade me to watch it please.
I'm a virgo, I'm picky whatever. I really dislike this Lizzy. :(
Her smile looked m..."

The reason Jennifer looked fat in some of the scenes is that she was pregnant at the time. In some scenes it's more obvious than others, and when you've watched it as many times as me, you can turn it into a preggers-spotting game!!

Annalisa wrote: "Sandy wrote: "I haven't watched the BBC version yet but I gave it up because of Jennifer Ehle. Persuade me to watch it please.
I'm a virgo, I'm picky whatever. I really dislike this Lizzy. :(
Her ..."

Oh my god, if that's the case, from my point of view, they should have waited until she laboured, or simply chosen another actress. Imagining Collin Firth pretended to partial to a pregant woman...... Poor man.

Dear All,
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http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/jane-aust...

Harsh.

I liked Ehle and found her completely believable (and very pretty) as Lizzie.

I don't believe "skinny and scrawny" were the fashionable looks of the time.

Loved her...thought she was great in the role and truly embodied the spirit of Elizabeth. She is THE Elizabeth I will always picture when I am reading, with Colin Firth, of course :)

I thought Jennifer Ehle was brilliant as Elizabeth Bennett. In fact, I thought the whole cast was really good except for the actress who played Jane. Thought she was very wooden and as Jane was supposed to be really pretty, I did not think she suited the part at all. Definitely think Jennifer Ehle is the best Elizabeth Bennett I have seen.

Sheila wrote: "Harsh.

I liked Ehle and found her completely believable (and very pretty) as Lizzie.

I don't believe "skinny and scrawny" were the fashionable looks of the time."

Exactly. Considering the dresses of the time were so low cut, I don't think a flat-chested Elizabeth would have caught Darcy's attention quite so much. "Fine eyes"? Ahem, I think he probably meant something else... In those days, curves meant you were upper class and didn't have to labor/work to make a living.

They say pregnant women are beautiful, I don’t want to cheat myself, I was the ugliest when I was pregnant. Having a pregnant woman to play a young girl role is definitely not wise and not professional and not serious to the audiences, it could ruin the whole series.
See the picture below, everything is artificial, the smile and the “girl”, was she reading the book or just posing?
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_j6mGTMWaQtw...

I thought she was beautiful -- in fact, I'm with the commenter above who thought the only implausible one was Jane, because she certainly didn't read as the prettiest of the sisters. And, FAT? For heaven's sake. I thought she looked very graceful, and an ample bosom was in fashion at the time -- Keira Knightley would have been unfashionably scrawny. All of the actors were older than they ought to have been, I think, but it didn't spoil the production for me the way it did with the Ang Lee Sense & Sensibility, where Emma Thompson was too middle-aged to be Elinor, Kate Winselt was too old to be a foolish, over-romantic seventeen-year-old Marianne, and Alan Rickman was an ANCIENT Col. Brandon. They're all fantastic actors, don't get me wrong, but I feel like the 2008 S&S was far more effective.

Jennifer Ehle IS my Lizzie Bennet and there is no other.

Sandy wrote: "They say pregnant women are beautiful, I don’t want to cheat myself, I was the ugliest when I was pregnant. Having a pregnant woman to play a young girl role is definitely not wise and not professi..."

I think from an actor/job point of view, that's discrimination. Would you like to be sacked from your job for being pregnant?

I actually think she was perfect for the role too.

Yes, yes, I loved her! Although I had my doubts at first-- but then she totally made up for the first impression with her acting! Besides, I agree with those of you who said that the standards of beauty have changed with time. To be beautiful implied having your bones well covered!

Annalisa wrote: "The reason Jennifer looked fat in some of the scenes is that she was pregnant at the time. In some scenes it's more obvious than others, and when you've watched it as many times as me, you can turn it into a preggers-spotting game!!"

Pregnant, seriously? Didn't Jennifer Ehle have an affair with Colin Firth at the time? And where is that baby now? I know of two children with her husband, both born considerably later.

And while I liked the version as a whole, I found my favourite scene - Darcy's first proposal - sadly lacking in both chemistry and passion.

cloudyskye wrote: "Annalisa wrote: "The reason Jennifer looked fat in some of the scenes is that she was pregnant at the time. In some scenes it's more obvious than others, and when you've watched it as many times as..."

Oops, I've been spreading rumours - it was Suzannah Harker (Jane) who was pregnant :-D

Annalisa wrote: "Oops, I've been spreading rumours - it was Suzannah Harker (Jane) who was pregnant :-D"

You're good! Look how many people believed you! ;-)

cloudyskye wrote: "You're good! Look how many people believed you! ;-)"

Lol!

cloudyskye wrote: "Annalisa wrote: "Oops, I've been spreading rumours - it was Suzannah Harker (Jane) who was pregnant :-D"

You're good! Look how many people believed you! ;-)"

LMAO! There's always a reason, Jennifer Ehle made us believe Annalisa.

I am thoroughly depressed at how Hollywood's insistence on extremely slender actresses like Keira Knightley and Anne Hathaway and Natalie Portman, the last two of whom had to be near starvation for roles that demanded them to be unnaturally thin (the dying Fantine in Les Mis and the ballerina in Black Swan), has led people to perceive Jennifer Ehle as "chubby", for no better reason than a full bosom and a rounded face.

Dana wrote: "I like Jennifer a lot more than Kiera Knightly- she gets progressively better throughout the movie. Thanks to the BBC version, I can't read Pride and Prejudice without picturing Colin Firth- which ..."

Completely agree with you! The best advice;) Colin Firth will always be the Darcy.

Julian wrote: "I am thoroughly depressed at how Hollywood's insistence on extremely slender actresses like Keira Knightley and Anne Hathaway and Natalie Portman, the last two of whom had to be near starvation for..."

But I'm also depressed by Jennifer Ehle's fine lines under eyes which, a young girl in her most beautiful ages (early 20s) shouldn't have, their faces should be shining with youth. Imagine Audrey Hepburn's face.
http://www.derbyshireuk.net/jennifer_...
http://www.gonemovies.com/WWW/Drama/D...

Sandy wrote: "Julian wrote: "I am thoroughly depressed at how Hollywood's insistence on extremely slender actresses like Keira Knightley and Anne Hathaway and Natalie Portman, the last two of whom had to be near..."

I'm sorry you seem so hung up on looks. As well as your child.

I'm sorry you seem so hung up on looks. As well as your child.


Sorry, but the book says Lizzy was gorgeous, doesn't it?

Sandy wrote: "I'm sorry you seem so hung up on looks. As well as your child.


Sorry, but the book says Lizzy was gorgeous, doesn't it?"

Actually, Jane was described as the gorgeous one. Lizzie was described as being pretty.

Actually, Jane was described as the gorgeous one. Lizzie w..."

Unfortunately, she still wasn't pretty in my opinion.
Sorry, I'm actually struggling, being disappointed with the movie (which I once liked very much) and the miniseries (which I'm reluctant to watch) when I keep reading the book.

Sandy wrote: "Actually, Jane was described as the gorgeous one. Lizzie w..."

Unfortunately, she still wasn't pretty in my opinion.
Sorry, I'm actually struggling, being disappointed with the movie (which I once..."

Movies just can't live up to the book :) I'm usually disappointed by the movie version of my favorite books as well.

Movies just can't live up to the book :) I'm usually disappointed by the movie version of my favorite books as well.


Couldn't agree more. :)

I thought she was not only the perfect Elizabeth but gorgeous too. Far, far better than Kiera Knightley.

Finished watching the BBC miniseries last weekend, she even didn't know how to kiss Collin Firth! Does anybody smile when kissing? It means there was no chemistry at all.

yes, Jennifer Ehle is perfect for Lizzie and then Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy...*squeal on the lake scene!:D
I missed Pemberly hall!:)

You might want to read Austen's P&P again, as well as keep in mind the standards of the time.

Lizzie was pretty, but she was well-liked because of her friendly disposition and her wit. When you read the novel, you love Elizabeth b/c of her personality - there isn't ever a really clear description of what she looks like.

And from the way that Darcy dismisses her when he first sees her, it isn't very clear how pretty Lizzie really is. Is she pretty? Is she just young?

Darcy falls in love w/ her b/c of her personality rather than her looks, dress, or family (with the latter two traits being decidedly against her).

Also, as some people have already pointed out, being skinny wasn't fashionable. It was considered much more beautiful, at the time, to be curvaceous, showing that you had enough to eat and were healthy.

I think a lot of us picture a beautiful Liz when we read the novel b/c we love her personality so much, and the media often relates beauty to goodness/likeability/heroine status. In a similar way, it is always difficult for me to remember that Jane Eyre is plain.

When I watched the mini-series, I thought that Ehle was a good fit - pretty, without being too pretty, energetic, likeable, and becoming more likeable as the mini-series progressed.

I love Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennett. She was perfect in the role. I thought she portrayed the character, the times and the reserved nature of a landed gentry family with amazing results.

Any men here? I want to hear your comments please.

showing that you had enough to eat and were healthy.


One thing, the other sisters were much thinner, the wealthy ones, Miss Bingley, Mrs Hurst, Miss Darcy were all fine.
She had to be pretty to actract so many men. Mr Darcy didn't fall in love because of her beauty, but what about Mr. Wickham, Mr. Collins, Collonel Fitwilliam? Weren't they attracted by her SIKMPLY because of her beauty? Doesn't the book mention her beauty was next to Jane's?

I didn't say she had to be very thin, she just need to be average.
Please note, the actress herself is very thin NOW.

Jennifer Ehle did not look like a young girl, but I still loved her as Lizzie. Jennifer Ehle was also not fat at all. If you think she is fat then you must think being anorexic is normal. I agree with the person that said the first proposal lacks any passion. I was not moved by it at all. Matthew MacFadyen's version was passion filled. I enjoyed both versions of P&P for different reasons. Both versions have strengths and weaknesses, but Jennifer Ehle is my favorite Lizzie to date.

hehe

I thought Jennifer Ehle was brilliant as Elizabeth Bennett. I thought her acting was great and she had a certain twinkle in her eyes when she was talking to Mr Darcy and you can understand why he thought she was trying to charm him when she was in fact being facetious during their interactions. I really liked the first proposal. The great thing about Collin Firth’s portrayal of Mr Darcy is that he didn’t over act. The best part in that scene was when she said that he behaved in an un-gentlemanly manner. All he did was blink in response to it, but it was so powerful because you could see how deeply that statement had affected him. The BBC version got it right on so many levels, especially the casting. I thought that Mr Collins, Lady Catherine De Bourgh, and of course Lydia, were the perfect choices for those parts. I haven’t seen the Kiera Knightly film but to be honest I don’t think the BBC version can be topped.

This thread is very revealing about human duality thinking. It is no wonder women in general have such low self esteem and why eating disorders are so prevalent.

Xenia wrote: "This thread is very revealing about human duality thinking. It is no wonder women in general have such low self esteem and why eating disorders are so prevalent."

Exactly my views Xenia!!

I really liked the first proposal. The great thing about Collin Firth’s portrayal of Mr Darcy is that he didn’t over act. The best part in that scene was when she said that he behaved in an un-gentlemanly manner. All he did was blink in response to it, but it was so powerful because you could see how deeply that statement had affected him.

I would agree. It seems that a lot of people don't really understand that these were different times, and RESTRAINT was the norm of the day. It wasn't about exhibiting and extrapolating every single emotion just because one was feeling it at the time.

Sandy, I hope you do not have a daughter to ruin her self esteem and make her anorexic. You are quite ridiculous, and I feel for any girls your son may date. They will also be afraid to gain any weight and make him gag. I cannot believe you are going on and on about how "fat" she is. She was probably a healthy size 8.

it doesn't help that the style of dress at the time - the high waisted/right under the boobs tends to make women look fatter in general - because you don't see the hips and the waist, there is just lots of excess fabric

Hi Sheila – You’re so right. It was a different time and the BBC really captured the essence of the characters and the times.

Hi Wai Lan – I agree with what you’re saying about what they did with their eyes. I once said to my friend that Colin Firth didn’t smile at all in the series until at the very end and she said that he smiled all the time – but with his eyes. And she is so right. One of my favourite scenes was when they were at Lady Catherine De Bourgh’s house and Elizabeth was playing the piano with Colonel FitzWilliam and Mr Darcy comes to watch her play and they have a little exchange. He is kind of smiling then and it’s really funny when Lady Catherine De Bourgh calls him and he looks really annoyed. I honestly can’t praise the series enough. I may just watch it again now you guys have got me thinking about it again :-)

Devon wrote: "Really disappointed to see nasty comments about Miss Ehle's looks and body. Clearly some didn't learn the clear message of Pride & Prejudice!

Now remember, the mean-spirited Caroline Bingley (of ..."

Lol. That comment really made me laugh, Devon:-)

Devon wrote: "A.D. wrote: "Hi Sheila – You’re so right. It was a different time and the BBC really captured the essence of the characters and the times.

Hi Wai Lan – I agree with what you’re saying about what ..."

It’s so true. Enough can’t be said about just how good they were. And I disagree with what people are saying about Jane being wooden. I thought she portrayed her character so well and I thought the actress was very beautiful. The comments about Jennifer Ehle being overweight (which she isn’t) are so irrelevant. It was such a good series and it’s surprising that that is what people are focusing on.

Ehle was perfect. I know folks drool over Firth, who was amazing, but Jennifer carried the entire story. Elizabeth is the center of it how could she not and 6 hours worth. And while I think Jennifer is pretty, I think its like Meryl Streep, a sort of intangible beauty you need to look at more than once to appreciate, its the lively expressions and eyes they both have that makes them beautiful. I always understood how Darcy overlooked her initially. For the times they lived in, Jane, yes even the Jane in the 1995 version, had the more "classic english rose" looks.

What bothers me is the idea she's fat. Did anyone see Ehle in The Chamomille Lawn where she was nude. The woman has a fantastic slim figure and incredible breasts. Weren't women with breasts the most preferred during regency times. Frankly I now get why girls today have such self image issues when the standard of size is size 0 Keira Knightley, Anne Hathaway. Bravo to Jennifer Lawrence who seems to have a more robust figure, yet still slim. My husband by the way thinks Ehle is gorgeous and Knightly too skinny. So there is one mans opinion

I think the 2005 version was fine and had a more contemporary youthful vibrance to it and less theatrical. But it was less Austen and more Bronte like to me. One of the things that makes P&P so wonderful is not just Darcy and Elizabeth, its the wit and irony and satire Austen filled into the characters and the book. Its what was missing in the 2005 version. Lady Catherine was portrayed as mean and evil where in the book she was cantankerous and as ridiculous as Mrs. Bennet and Collins. And by the way where was Collins in the 2005 version. I guess thats why in terms of adaptations of the book(not the quality of production), I'll still place the 1940 version of P&P even with its inaccuracies over 2005 because it retained some of the satire and humor from the book, not perfectly no. And while Greer Garson was too old, I thought she was a perfect Elizabeth also.

I loved Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth and I detested Kiera Knightly in the same role. The '95 BBC version is my favorite as it is most true to the novel and I think the casting was spot on. My thoughts on the casting of the Knightly version is quite the opposite...I love Judi Dench but thought she was terrible as Lady Catherine and I could never understand how Mr Bennet was nominated for an award. The only actor I would switch into the '95 version was Jane.

Thanks all for the comments.
I'll just stop here. Some people extremely like Jennifer, just like some (not just me) extremely dislike. So we cannot persuade each other.

here's a question for you - since you disliked her so much - who do you think would have better suited the role of lizzie? out of curiosity