Bridget Jones - book vs movie

[SusanH]

For those who have finished the novel and seen the film, I was curious what you thought of them both. Did you prefer one over the other? Were there parts of one that you thought were better done in the other?

I loved both, but I appreciated the film for creating more of a plot (which it had to, naturally.) I also preferred the ending of the film, which left out the subplot of her mother needing to be rescued by Mark. That plot was heavily borrowed from Pride & Prejudice and since I've read P&P about 100 times, I was kind of bored with it. http://www.storknet.com/boards/wink.gif I thought the casting was excellent, particularly the coup of casting Colin Firth, the most famous Mr. Darcy, as Mark Darcy. And if anyone is really into the BBC/A&E production of P&P, did you notice that the actor who played Mr. Bingley has a (non-speaking) cameo appearance in the film?

All in all, I think it was a great adaptation of a great novel. Renee Zellweger was surprisingly good as Bridget and I hope they make the sequel soon!

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Susan, proud mama of Susanna Jane (http://users.adelphia.net/~harkavy/), 2/3/00
Co-moderator of Attachment Parenting and The Waiting Game
Childhood has it's own way of seeing, thinking and feeling, and nothing is more foolish than to try and substitute ours for theirs. - Rousseau

[Caryl]

We rented this movie last weekend, and enjoyed it! Susan, I thought the changes they made in the plot worked well for the movie, too. Please describe the scene where Mr. Bingley makes his cameo appearance. I'm going to be watching P&P again soon, so maybe I'll remember when I see him, but now you've got me curious!

I liked the confrontational scenes in the movie between Bridget & Mark Darcy. His quote, about liking her "just as you are," was great, especially when it was repeated to Bridget by her friend Tom in front of Mark at her dinner party. http://www.storknet.com/boards/smile.gif

The casting was perfect. After watching the movie, I looked up where Renee Zellweger is from, because her British accent was so believable (to me, anyway). She was born in Texas! Hugh Grant was the perfect actor to play slimey Daniel. Ish!

And Colin Firth... just wonderful! I loved it when she first meets him and he turns around to show his reindeer sweater -- too funny! His stiff manner and awkwardness when talking to her were perfect. And that big warm coat he was wearing at the end. http://www.storknet.com/boards/smile.gif Sigh. I was rolling my eyes at the beginning of that scene, with her running out after him, but I ended up loving it, with the snow falling, and the wide-eyed older women looking on, and the two of them so cute together. Perfect, really.

Thanks for starting this thread, Susan! I look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts. http://www.storknet.com/boards/smile.gif

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Caryl
Mom to Charon, 7/19/99
Co-Moderator for the Reading Circle and Heart of the Home Forums
"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."
--Annie Dillard

[Lisa Jo]

I really enjoyed both! They definitely tightened up the plot for the movie, and made it flow in a more more linear fashion. I laughed so hard I cried at the scene where she slides down the firepole!

I thought the casting was fabulous, though I had my doubts about casting an American as Bridget. Renee Z really did do a terrific job though.

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Lisa
My two precious kids:
Corey 4/15/93
Natalie 6/21/00 Barefoot beauty in her party dress (http://www.babiesonline.com/imagegallery/gallery_image.asp?p=%2Fbabies%2Fn%2Fnatalieelizabe th%2F700774%2Ejpg)

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[SusanH]

Oh, I loved the "Just as you are" scenes. http://www.storknet.com/boards/smile.gif I'm not normally a huge Colin Firth fan, but after seeing him as Mr. Darcy and now Mark Darcy I'm beginning to change my mind.

Caryl, Mr. Bingley appears in the literary launch scene. He's one of the men talking to Salman Rushdie when Bridget walks up and asks where the toilets are. You can also spot him in one other scene. I think it's when she quits her job, but I'm not certain.

Speaking of the literary launch, I think it may be my favorite of the film. "One of the greatest books of our time ... oh, except for yours, Mr. Rushdie." I also adore Colin Firth's expression after he introduces Bridget to Natasha with "thoughtful details".

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Susan, proud mama of Susanna Jane (http://users.adelphia.net/~harkavy/), 2/3/00
Co-moderator of Attachment Parenting and The Waiting Game
Childhood has it's own way of seeing, thinking and feeling, and nothing is more foolish than to try and substitute ours for theirs. - Rousseau

[Caryl]

Yes, that firepole scene was hilarious, Lisa! http://www.storknet.com/boards/biggrin.gif

And I thought the literary launch scenes were great, too! When she asked about the loo, I said to Pete, "Is that Salman Rushdie??" And Pete's favorite part of the movie was her introduction of the book.

Susan, do you know that they are planning a sequel? I think I'm going to have to give Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason a try.

Caryl

[SusanH]

Caryl - I've been following the sequel news through many "Will Renee Zellweger gain the weight again or not?" controversies. I know Andrew Davies is working on the screenplay and Colin Firth has said he's game. I think Renee Z has said she will be in if she doesn't have to gain too much weight since it was hard to put it on and take it off again. Can't really blame her.

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Susan, proud mama of Susanna Jane (http://users.adelphia.net/~harkavy/), 2/3/00
Co-moderator of Attachment Parenting and The Waiting Game
Childhood has it's own way of seeing, thinking and feeling, and nothing is more foolish than to try and substitute ours for theirs. - Rousseau

[goofygirl]

i've read both books and seen the movie (and still don't know where to put the trash can in my home).

colin firth was picked to play mark darcy on purpose because of the whole mr. darcy connection.

however - there will be a problem if they make The Edge of Reason into a movie. see - in the book - bridget gets an interview with none other than colin firth and makes a fool of herself because of she can't separate colin firth, mr. darcy and mark darcy in her mind.

i guess they will have to leave that whole section out of the movie...

[AquariJenn]

I saw the movie before I read the book and found the movie to be very funny. Renee Z. did a great job, but too bad they couldn't have used a real Brit...that's Hollywood for you. I liked the way that the weekend getaway was handled in the movie a bit better than in the book. Much more tension with Mark and Natasha being the only other non-wedding party guests at the hotel with B. and Daniel.
Other great scenes were already mentioned.

When I read the book, all the characters were already "cast" for me. It made the whole Mark Darcy/Colin Firth scene quite ironic for me, but enjoyable. http://www.storknet.com/boards/wink.gif The diary format was interesting, too. I was imagining Bridget walking around with her diary, writing in it every 5 minutes when she was tense, sitting in the loo hiding from everyone. There was some scenes when I thought it would be odd to write in your diary, like when she would come home drunk. But overall, an enjoyable book. http://www.storknet.com/boards/smile.gif

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Jennifer
Co-Moderator Time for Mom: A Reading Circle

Mom to Katelyn Eileen (http://personal.lig.bellsouth.net/lig/j/e/jenneric/NovDec.html), since June 2000
Be the change you want to see in the world.
-- Mohandas K. Gandhi

[Caryl]

I just realized there's another connection between the two films: Bridget Jones's Diary and the BBC/A&E production of Pride and Prejudice. Andrew Davies wrote both screenplays.

Actually, the screenplay for B. Jones appears to have been a collaborative effort with Helen Fielding and Richard Curtis, also. (I just checked on Richard Curtis, and it looks like he is also responsible for Mr. Bean and Blackadder as well as Four Weddings and a Funeral.)

Can you tell I'm loving this? http://www.storknet.com/boards/wink.gif

Caryl