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Reviews
Unleashing Mr. Darcy (2016)
So-so at best, could easily have been much better
If you're a Jane Austen fan, you may not like this movie, because it deviates from the book in ways that have no purpose, and make no sense.
For example, the names. 'Donovan' Darcy? Why not 'William' Darcy? Jenna's (not Jane's? We don't have 'Jane' these days? It's the 77th most popular female name in the U.S.) love interest a 'Henry Robson', while there's a token 'Mr. Bingley' character? Why 'Scott' instead of Bennett'? I can see modernizing the names (probably not many 'Fitzwilliams' these days, at least in the U.S.). But what's the point in making them more different than necessary, or switching them to different characters? Why have a 'Mr. Bingley' at all, if he isn't to be Jenna's (Jane's) love interest?
Why Elizabeth's sudden one-scene-to-the-next turnaround about Darcy? In one scene, Darcy cleared up the problem at her school, getting her job back with a raise, for which she said "Thanks, but no thanks", then in the very next scene, she's desperately in love with Darcy, calling him again and again, even moving to New York to be close to him. No transition scene? After all, it's the pivotal point of the whole story, don't we get to see even one scene about it?
Simplifications are necessary in most book adaptations, particularly a long book like Pride and Prejudice. I have no problem with the dog shows, only two sisters, etc. But why change what isn't necessary? Do these producers and directors not 'get it' that Pride and Prejudice has survived for over 200 years for a reason, that it's the most widely read novel in the English language for a reason? Jane Austen was a legendary author, "don't 'fix' what ain't broke".
I love the book 'Pride and Prejudice'. My favorite adaptation is the 1995 BBC production, but I also love the 2005 movie, as well as the 2003 movie and the 2004 'Bride & Prejudice', both modernized adaptations that maintain the heart of the story. So I'm not a Jane Austen purist snob.
I was really looking forward to seeing 'Unleashing Mr. Darcy'. But, unfortunately, this movie is far short of what it could have been, with just a little more thought and care, and without blowing the budget.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
Ending so disappointing it made me angry!
I've seen a lot of movies (I own over 1600 DVDs), but this is the only movie I ever saw with an ending so disappointing it actually made me angry, prompting me to write my first ever comment here. No problem with the production quality. The acting, special effects, etc. were fine. But the most sympathetic character in the movie, the one character whose every action was for others rather than himself (Will Turner; Orlando Bloom) was killed, his heart cut out and was sentenced to an eternity of doing Davy Jones' old job, and can only visit his wife one day every 10 years. That's 7 1-day visits, then she's dead. I wasted all my time, money and attention on POC #2 and #3 for this?!? I may NEVER see another Jerry Bruckheimer movie! Grrr!