Renée Reads Romance: Weekend plus misc. stuff

Monday, March 27, 2006

Weekend plus misc. stuff

I watched the new Pride and Prejudice movie with Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen and while it didn't totally suck, I was disappointed. I can't help comparing it to the A&E version with Colin Firth and the new version did not hold up in the comparison.

MacFadyen's version of Darcy's brooding looks was more like a pathetic puppy and wow, I hate his nose. I think Keira was too beautiful for the part, Jane was not shy enough and Lydia was horrible. Mrs. Bennet was not grating enough delivering her lines in a soft spoken manner completely destroying their meaning. I liked Donald Sutherland but he's always magnificent. The furniture on the set looked more Victorian than Regency (although I'm no expert). I suppose I could go on tearing it to shreds but Keira and Matthew actually started to grow on me and I liked them both in the last quarter of the movie. The outdoor scenes were beautifully dramatic, especially Elizabeth standing on the edge of the cliff with her cape blowing in the wind. I especially liked the end scene with the sun's rays shining through before they kiss.

In other weekend news....

I started Every Breath You Take by Judith McNaught and got about halfway through and realized there was McNaught's usual big misunderstanding and I just wasn't in the mood for it. So I'm taking it back to the library unfinished. I know this is a trademark of McNaught's and have loved Paradise, Perfect, Something Wonderful and many others with a Big Mis. But this time I wasn't in the mood for a rich millionaire seducing his way into the sweet heroine's bed then calling her a slut whore (the bastard) when he finds out about her supposed betrayal. (Spoiler: He gives no thought to birth control and of course she gets pregnant). Spare me.

GOOD BOOK ALERT: So I randomly picked out In the Cold by Jeanie London from my TBR. It is fabulous and I'm not even halfway through. I actually thought about calling in sick for work :) but restrained myself. It is a romantic suspense that I think Anne Stuart fans would love. I'll let you know if it's worth searching for when I finish.

6 comments:

Suisan said...: Don't hate the new P&P, but A&E P&P totally rocks over the Kiera Knightley version.

New Mr. Darcy looks to me to be a pale imitation of Heathcliff. WIld and ragged on the moors, all Bronte. Lizzy + Heathcliff seems odd.; 3/27/2006 2:56 PM
ReneeW said...: Good description of why the new Mr. Darcy didn't work for me ;) It will be hard for anyone to compete with Colin Firth.; 3/27/2006 4:20 PM
Tara Marie said...: I haven't seen the new P&P, I was afraid it would live up to the A&E version, which I know need on DVD since I've almost worn out my VHS tapes.

Don't you think Judith McNaught could possibly come up with a new plot device, she's used the same one now for 20 years, and boy, it's getting old.; 3/27/2006 6:47 PM
CindyS said...: 1. In A&E's movie do they at least kiss? I'm afraid of a movie that will be 8 hrs long without a kiss in sight.

2. Did I hear Stuart's name in connection to another author? Must know more! I will take notes.

3. McNaught and the Big Mis. Maybe it would be like reading the train wreck that is Diana Palmer with her PC heroes now. Ugh.

CindyS; 3/28/2006 12:59 AM
Rosario said...: Jeanie London wrote a romantic suspense that's reminiscent of Anne Stuart? Interesting, I'll have to check it out. All I've read by her are a couple of Harlequin Blazes (which were pretty good, BTW).; 3/28/2006 10:31 AM
ReneeW said...: Tara: The new P&P does not live up to the A&E version but still enjoyed it somewhat. I don't think JM will ever change so I'm going to take her off my list.

Cindy: Yes, they kiss but at the very very end and it's a lovely screen shot. I'll do a quick review of ITC when I finish.

Rosario: I have never tried JL before. She's a good writer with potential.; 3/29/2006 3:57 PM