Colin Firth vs. Matthew Macfadyen: The P&P Showdown

I just finished back-to-back viewings of two film versions of Pride and Prejudice. Darrell and I have spent the past few days watching the BBC version, but hadn't yet finished it, so last night while he was at the Fathers and Sons campout I did what every self-respecting woman would do. I watched the end without him! My daughter was crying because the boys were going camping without her, and I quickly decided that my sweet tomboy needed a girls night. I pulled out the nail polish and painted her toenails while we ate chocolate and I introduced her to the chick movie of all time. OK, so she ended up painting her own fingernails while I fed the baby and put him to bed and then she fell asleep before the movie was over, but I think she had fun, and it stopped her from crying.

Well, when the BBC version was over, it was only 9:30, and both my kids were asleep. With my kitchen a wreck, and after a day of not really accomplishing anything, I again did what any self-respecting woman would do, and spent the next two hours watching the Keira Knightley version of P&P. This was purely for comparison purposes, of course, and has nothing to do with any sort of a longing to see Mr. Darcy win Elizabeth Bennet's affections one more time.

I admit that prior to these back-to-back viewings, I had few objections to this shorter version, but now I have to say that hands down, the BBC version is better overall. I like the casting better, and I've decided that this is a story that *needs* the character development of the full version.

OK, as much as I would like to further analyze the differences, the time constraints of being a mom force me to simply summarize by saying that unless you're short on time, go for Colin Firth!!!