Pride and Prejudice 1995 VS Pride and Prejudice 2005

Pride and Prejudice - War of the Versions

Pride and Prejudice, the ever popular novel also remains to be the most frequently adapted story on screen. In this post I am going to compare the main characters in the two famous adaptations, Pride and Prejudice 1995 and 2005.

There is a difference between the two, one is a four part mini series which means approximately four hours of screen time while the other is a movie, about two hours long, despite this fact, we can’t help comparing the two. Let’s start then, on the left are the characters from the ’95 version and on the right, the ones from the ’05 version.

Kitty Bennet

Kitty Bennet, Pride and Prejudice

One of the younger Bennet sisters, she is rich in stupidity and non sense. The ’95 Kitty looked more sensible than she ought to be while the 2005 Kitty is just like her character in the book, giggling and stupid.

Mary Bennet

Mary Bennet, Pride and Prejudice

The philosopher Bennet sister, who loves to play the piano forte and give (unwanted) sermons. Now, have a look at ’95 Kitty, she looks murderous, also a moustache, just see. The 2005 Mary looks friendly, may be more pleasing and friendly than her character allows, but better than the previous one.

Lydia Bennet

Lydia Bennet, Pride and Prejudice

The stupidest Bennet girl and the youngest. Lydia Bennet from 1995 Pride and Prejudice looks older and too loud, even by Lydia-n standards. The 2005 version Lydia looks just appropriate, consistent.

Charlotte Lucas

Charlotte Lucas

Lizzy’s best friend, Charlotte Lucas. You see, ’95 version Charlotte has a hard time changing her expressions, you can’t deny that. She delivers all her lines in the same, mono tone. The 2005 Charlotte on the other hand, is more expressive than she should be and I think a bit too old for twenty seven.

Caroline Bingley

Caroline Bingley, Pride and Prejudice

The proud sister of Mr. Bingley. I have liked both the actresses playing Caroline, both in 1995 version and in 2005 version. Both of them are remarkably unkind and sarcastic, though the latter is prettier.

Mr. Collins

Mr. Collins, Pride and Prejudice

Noble and not-so-humble cousin of the Bennets. This is one character, I wonder how Jane Austen created something so terribly irritating. Every time I see a new version of Pride and Prejudice, I find him more and more annoying. The ’95 Mr. Collins wins the battle in this regard, he’s just nauseating, whereas the 2005 Mr. Collins is still manageable.

Mr. Bingley

Mr. Bingley, Pride and Prejudice

Handsome and rich owner of the Netherfield Park. I like them both, though the 2005 Mr. Bingley is shown to be a little more ‘chicken type’ and makes rumbling sound while laughing, which is all so not true.

Mr. Bennet

Mr. Bennet, Pride and Prejudice

The head of the Bennet house and the father of all beautiful girls. I really hate the ’95 version Mr. Bennet, he looks so unkind and thief like, in his own house, however, the 2005 Mr. Bennet looks like Lizzy’s father and has some charm to himself.

Mrs. Bennet

Mrs. Bennet, Pride and Prejudice

Probably the most restless soul in the complete story. Mrs. Bennet, similar to Mr. Collins, is super nauseating. I didn't like the 1995 Pride and Prejudice's Mrs. Bennet, she didn’t quite look like, you know, equal in rank, with the Bennets, she might have passed well as a house maid, a comical one. The 2005 Mrs. Bennet was really good, her expressions and panic and all those false tears, she did a good job.

Jane Bennet

Jane Bennet, Pride and Prejudice

The sweet and romantic girl, eldest of the Bennet sisters. No offence, but the ’95 version Jane was NOT pretty at all, just that she delivered her lines sweetly. How could anyone say that she was “five times as pretty as the rest”, (Lizzy lies, you know). The 2005 Jane was exactly Jane Bennet, shy and beautiful, romantic and sweet.

Mr. Wickham

Mr. Wickham, Pride and Prejudice

Handsome and hungry stranger, who flatters Elizabeth. I liked them both although they are very different but there is one thing in common-both of them are attractive. The ’95 version Wickham was a bit more mature than required but very gentlemanly, the 2005 version Wickham, Rupert Friend is more boy-like and agreeable.

Elizabeth Bennet

Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice

The bold and pretty leading lady of the story. Casting of Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth sure did some good to the otherwise dim series, she is the saving grace of the ’95 version. The 2005 version Elizabeth, Keira Knightly is truly, deeply, completely, Elizabeth Bennet. Everything comes with a flaw so you can say that Keira Knightly was a bit more outrageous than the original character, but apart from that, she did really great.

Fitzwilliam Darcy

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Pride and Prejudice

The all time heart throb, the most charming man that ever existed (if only in books) and the most agreeable of all partners, the character of Darcy has become that torch using which girls find their partners, sort of a must-have list (sorry for being over dramatic and stupid, you see what Darcy does to me). Finally, this is to declare that the 2005 version Darcy is the IDEAL Darcy for me, and always will be. I don’t know what makes girls go crazy after Colin Firth’s Darcy (is it something about those really clingy pants), I mean he is too rude, no charm (apart from money of course!). Mathew Macfadyen for Darcy, through and through!

I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I did while writing it. There are bound to be clashes, of course, over the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice and the 2005 version, but we can’t help it, can we?

Do write to me about your pick out of these two versions, I won’t mind even if it’s the 1995 mini series!

Lost in Austen

Lost in Austen (2008) is TV miniseries which is loosely based on Jane Austen’s ever popular novel Pride & Prejudice. The story is written by Guy Andrews and directed by Dan Zeff. It stars Jemima Rooper, Hugh Bonneville, Gemma Arterton,Tom Mison, among others.

Lost in Austen (2008)

The story begins with Penguin Classic PRIDE & PREJUDICE in view along with the famous opening line delivered a bit differently, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that  … we are all longing to escape..”. The protagonist, Amanda Price (Jemima Rooper) is a young woman working and living in London, and of course an ardent Pride and Prejudice fan. She reads the book and suddenly starts imagining Austen’s world, as is the case with most of us, Austen fans. 

Morven Christie (as Jane Bennett)
 and  Jemima Rooper (as Amanda Price),
Lost in Austen

One day, while reading the book, she hears some disturbance in her bathroom and finds out, to her immense surprise that Elizabeth Bennett has somehow entered into her flat. Miss Bennett points out a door and tells her that it was through this door that she found her way. Amanda Price climbs through the door to the other side, which is, Longbourn, Bennett’s place. The door then shuts up and Amanda gets stuck in Pride and Prejudice plot. Everything that follows is a platter served with confusion, characters, chaos and of course sprinkled with lots of comedy. Look out for the one liners because they are funny. Especially, Mr. Bennett’s (Hugh Bonneville) lines are full of sarcastic wit, my favorite.

Hugh Bonneville
(as Mr. Bennett),
Lost in Austen

In the first episode, the plot is set and progresses a bit too. I think of it as the best of all the four episodes. You get the taste of the great confusion coming in the consequent episodes, here itself. The second episode brings along Wickham. He’s cute (and ought to be cute, I wouldn't have liked him any other way) I am sure, but Bingley (Tom Mison) is definitely the cutest of all (at least by my standards), but you’ll find that Wickham is full of GAIETY. The good thing about this miniseries is that, though its four episodes long, the story never loses pace; there is always something up and coming. In the third episode, well, there’s a cut on entertainment, I think. It definitely helps in the progress of the plot but a little dull on entertainment. Don’t think that I am describing the story plainly, there’s a lot to say actually but it would all be spoiler. There are a number of one liners that I would like to quote here and scenes I would like to describe, but it will ruin the story for you, so just keep your patience and read along. The fourth and the final episode, the “things” don’t seem to get settled until at least the very end – an end designed with good deal of imagination and beauty!   

Tom Mison (as Mr. Bingley)
and Elliot Cowan (as Mr. Darcy),
Lost in Austen

Jemima Rooper has done a great job as the shocked, out-of-place yet helpful girl, Amanda Price. One could even say that at many places throughout the series she has carried the scene away on her shoulders alone, despite of other characters. As always, Hugh Bonneville has done amazingly well, the character with the best lines and has delivered them with full justice. The rest of the ensemble has done a good job in keeping the series in good fun. I know I must not write it all, but I am really itching (although ladies are strangers to the itch) to give some of my opinions which are sure to delight you yet ruin the series watching for you, still –

Wittiest Character- Mr. Bennett

Most Handsome -    Mr. Bingley

Most Beautiful -      Jane Bennet

Most Evil -              Caroline Bingley

Sweetest Couple (ever) – Mr. Bingley and Jane Bennett              

Queen Bee -           Amanda Price

I was a little disappointed in Darcy, until of course I witnessed the line in the scroll, which wiped out all the demerits, if only I could tell you what was written.

Amanda Price and Darcy, Lost in Austen

So, that’s about Lost in Austen, very nice, well written and comic TV series to watch, especially if you’re an Austen fan. The best part of the series, the “unspoken assumptions” behind Jane Austen’s story. I would suggest you this one, all ages and moods and I know most of you would love it, just like me.

Do tell me how you liked it.