THE 1995 PRIDE & PREJUDICE SUCKS!

Okay, so it doesn't suck. I actually do enjoy the 1995 version of Pride & Prejudice, directed by Simon Langton. However, I believe that the 2005 version, directed by Joe Wright, is the superior version! And although I should just be able to say "it's better" and this be the end of the article (because it is just factually correct), I will provide my evidence now as to why 2005 Pride & Prejudice is better than 1995 Pride & Prejudice.

Accuracy, To Both Book and Time

Firstly, I will admit that '95 does have a few things that could be seen as lacking in '05. This being, that it is more true to the book, and more true to the time period, especially in the costumes. Now, I am a (possible stickler, or) lover of when film/television adaptations stay as true as possible to their source material. But of course '05 has to deviate a little bit and leave somethings out- it's a 2 hour movie -and when compared to the 6 hours that the 1995 version has to go over the same story, I think the 2005 version does a great job. Honestly, I was rewatching the 1995 version last night (which is what influenced me to write this) and at points felt as if they were unnecessarily dragging parts of the story. In short, I think the brevity of the '05 version (something I cannot say I myself have) is a pro, and that is does well to be as accurate as it can be in a shorter run time.

As for my mention about '95 having more historically accurate costuming- now this might be controversial to say but it's true -if there is one period that I am okay with films not doing accurate costuming for it is the Regency era. Empire waistlines are just not it! At least most of the time, I do think Emma directed by Autumn de Wilde changed my mind a bit about this because it has some beautiful dresses (but still).

The Writing

How could we talk about Austen adaptations without talking about the writing! We all know Jane Austen was an amazing writer with some pretty killer lines that it makes sense for adaptations to just take dialogue and other lines straight from her books (maybe something the 2022 Persuasion adaptation could've learned). And while '05 includes many an iconic lines, they are also not afraid to add in their own fiery comebacks and original lines that have become iconic as well. A well known example, I think, is at the first ball after Darcy slights Elizabeth by calling her "barely tolerable" (something that does happen in the book) he asks her, "So, what do recommend to encourage affection?" To this Elizabeth responds, using Darcy's words against him, "Dancing. Even if one's partner is barely tolerable." And then she just walks away, as the greatest mic drop of the 1810s.

Another modern adaptation that does something similar is Little Women (2019) written and directed by Greta Gerwig. A lot of the popular quotes from this movie aren't from the books, think Amy's speech about not being able to own anything as a woman and also when Jo says "wOmEn!" and does her subsequent speech. But they encapsulate messages, themes, and the overall tone of the story just reimagining it for a modern audience.

As someone who has studied creative writing A LOT, if there was one thing I could bet on a teacher saying in a writing class it's "show, don't tell." And I think this is something that the '05 version does but the '95 version doesn't. We get a lot of telling in the 1995 version, something that I think adds to the feeling of the story dragging because there is just so much talking and information all at once. However, there is one moment that I wish the 1995 version hadn't shown (or at least not in the present) and that is Darcy finding Lydia and Wickham. I guess it doesn't matter if you know the story but I think Darcy's part in getting Lydia married is much more impactful for the audience when it is as much a surprise to us as to Elizabeth.

Aesthetics

You can't argue that Pride & Prejudice 2005 is not cinematically beautiful. Simply can't be done. In comparison, '05 reigns supreme. Of course, it is newer, it's ten years younger. I guess it just has the advantage there. (Although I do feel like adaptations like Sense & Sensibility also from 1995 directed by Ang Lee has more attempts at some great cinematography... so maybe there can be argument that '05 is better not only because it was more modern).

Similarly, the music in 2005 is so beautiful and something that stands out and adds tremendously to the whole experience of the movie. Whereas, I couldn't hum you a single note from 1995 because it just fades into the background and is so unimportant.

THOSE Scenes

Finally, how could we have this discussion without talking about THOSE scenes. You know the ones. I would argue that "The Hand Scene" from '05 is better than "The Lake Scene" from '95 but I don't think they're as easily comparable as "The Lake Scene" to "The First Proposal Scene" from '05. Look they're both wet. Seriously though, as I was rewatching the 1995 version I was very prepared from Darcy's dip in the lake because I definitely used to agree that it was a... hot moment. But after seeing the almost kiss in the pouring rain after yelling insults at each other in Darcy's first proposal to Elizabeth... oof. But maybe that's a personal taste thing that I don't have time to dig into here.

The Hand Scene is superior though, of course.