I should start by confessing that I have never read a Jane Austen novel.  I have a stack of her titles waiting to be read and I think I’ve seen all of the movie adaptations, but I have never sat down and read one.  I have no excuse.  I’ll make it my goal to get one read before the end of the year. 

I saw the most recent Pride & Prejudice with Kiera Knightly and liked it very much, but I had heard and read from many that the BBC miniseries was the very best adaptation to date.  So, as my husband has been out of town for a few days, I thought there would be no better time to check out the dvd set from the library.

It was wonderful and I highly recommend it.  I have a soft spot for Colin Firth (not sure why, but it can’t be helped) and I thought he was a perfect Mr. Darcy.  I thought a few of the dancing scenes in the beginning were a little too long, but that is my only slight complaint.  If you have only seen the 2 hour movie you really should rent this version.  I understand the story so much better after having seen it.  The characters that were only mildly annoying in the film became only more stridently so in the miniseries, but in a mostly entertaining way.  The relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy  became much more clear.  The actors were great and it was a much less ‘hollywood-ish’ movie. 

Great miniseries, but don’t expect your husband or boyfriend to sit through it, unless he really, really loves you.  But, beware, you never know what he may expect you to watch.