I have general disdain for period books and films like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I'd much prefer to watch Admiral Adama stick it to the Cyclons, as evident my my Netflix queue which is filled with Battlestar Galactia (great show by the way).
The other day, I found a movie called Lost in Austen. It looked like something my wife would like, since she LOVES period books and films like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Being the good husband I am , I added it to the queue for her. I also sat down and watched it with her...and guess what? I liked it. (3 out of 5 stars liked it so don't assume that I'm going to go period films 24/7 or anything).
It's the story of a modern day London girl who lives and breaths Pride and Prejudice. Dissatisfied with her life, and longing for the civility and charm of Jane Austen's love stories, she reads it all the time as a method of escape. A Pleasantville like twist occurs and she trades places with Elizabeth Bennet and enters the fictional world of Pride and Prejudice. She is afforded a new perspective on this world she loves so much, seeing the characters in a way that she had never experienced beofre. Also chaos ensues, and the story gets messed up. Mr. Darcy, Charles Bingley, and Mr. Wickham don't fall in love with the proper people!
My wife loved it. Apparently it was filled with inside P&P jokes. Most of them went over my head, but she explained them to me. My only complaint with this movie was that it was 3 hours long. However, I found it to be an acceptable way for me to learn about my Wife's favorite story without having to read the book, or watch the 6-hour BBC version.
2 comments:
What about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies?
It is my contention that the female obsession with Jane Austen parallels that of the male fascination with scifi. It is an escapist world where virtue has value and the hero prevails against great odds. Scifi populates this world with technology and strange creatures, Austen populates her world with balls, proposals and rich men.
Loved "Lost in Austen" and would compare it to "Galaxy Quest" in scifi terms.
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