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Romance never grows old, and the most classic romances will certainly remain timeless. This is true of Jane Austen's novels which continue to be as popular today as they were in the late Victorian period. They continue to be reinterpreted into films and television productions, and most popular among them are the various adaptations of "Pride & Prejudice". No title of any of Austen's works is as recognisable as that of this classic tale about how love can transcend social differences.

The 2005 production of Pride & Prejudice directed by Joe Wright is nothing short of excellent, especially in terms of cinematography. The creative direction and filming techniques employed in this version far surpass those of the 1995 BBC television production. Slow pans and zooms take viewers through the corridors, past sitting rooms and straight into the heart of a whimsical and romantic 18th-century England. The soundtrack, composed by Dario Marianelli and performed by pianist Jean-Yves Thibauldet, adds a subtle but beautiful touch to the film. The opening sequence of the film is a simple shot of the sun rising over a meadow but the warm colours and the gentle tinkling of the piano in the background make it one of the most gorgeous scenes one is likely to ever see in a movie.

In terms of acting, the cast is superb. Brenda Blethyn portrays the hysterical Mrs Bennett brilliantly and manages to evoke both the amusement and dislike that readers feel for the Mrs Bennett in the novel while Donald Sutherland plays an endearing role as the long-suffering Mr Bennett. For the main roles, Keira Knightley is not particularly unlikeable as the proud but playful Elizabeth Bennett (Lizzie), but her interpretation of the character has been subject to both praises and criticisms. Hardcore Austen fans and fans of the 1995 BBC production tend especially to dislike Knightley's portrayal of the character, often deeming it too emotional. A friend of mine found Knightley's rendition overly “lovesick”. Regardless of whether you prefer Lizzie to be staunchly rational, however, it is difficult to deny that Knightley fits well into the period context, at least in terms of appearance.

It is hard not to like Matthew MacFadyen's Mr Darcy, either. It is difficult to dispute that Colin Firth's sultry, dashing portrayal in the 1995 BBC version essentially immortalised the character of Mr Darcy as the epitome of romantic men, but one must laud MacFadyen for a job well done, too. He masterfully brings across the discomfort and awkwardness of the socially inept character as he struggles with the overwhelming affections he feels for Lizzie. Most memorable is the first confession of love he makes to Lizzie and the utter obliviousness of his character to the extensive hurt his words cause as he lambasts her for the status differences between them.

It is indeed true that there are certain differences between the movie and the novel itself, but the ability of the movie to captivate and immerse you in a stunningly romantic world is enough to keep you yearning for more. In the end, it is difficult to fight that warm, fuzzy feeling that builds up in you towards the last scenes of the movie, Pride & Prejudice (2005), and which, despite how cheesy it may sound, makes you believe in the power of love all over again.

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If any guys intending to give any typical girl a big scare, this is the show for you. AVPR: Aliens vs Predator - Requiem (2007) is a movie that will most definitely make the cinema a noisy place filled with screams and sounds of shock.

The storyline of the original Aliens vs Predator (AVP) that was released in 2004 left many hanging out their tongues, hungry for the next sequel and a true showdown between the alien and the predator. In AVPR, the story revolves around the adventures of a single predator chasing down and hunting the aliens. At least for fans of AVP, there is an attempt of a showdown between the aliens and the predator. However, this poses another question, despite all the aliens looking the same, and that the predator could get rid of many of them easily before the final showdown, why did the predator take much longer to eliminate the one alien that he encountered with on the final battle?

The personality of the predator is unexpected and awfully weird. He takes much effort to get rid of the evidence (like the dead bodies of the people killed by aliens) by vapourising them but still leave the one cop that he killed hanging by a tree and skinned.

Besides all these questions, AVPR: Aliens vs Predator - Requiem (2007) is a fantastic show that would definitely give a big scare to many. I would most definitely not recommend this for the faint-hearted, since the violence inside made countries gave it a relatively mature rating. It is a suitable one for those who want to know more about the people beside you.

AVPR is done by the Struase brothers, both whom are special effect specialists. Unlike the previous version, which was directed by someone who doesn't know anything about the AVPR series, this version is by the brothers, hence it is able to bring out what the brothers wanted even better than before. There's something to note about, the ending is somewhat sudden and just ended off, similar to I am Legend, with a big boom.

As for my experience, there's nothing much for me to say. For one, watching AVPR with girls is definitely not a good idea. I went on a school trip to watch AVPR and somehow the event-planners actually intended to give the entire cohort a good scare and make us scream together. The plan failed horribly and for a major part of the movie, we heard the girls' screams more than the voices of the actors.

For those looking for a good scream and scare, AVPR: Aliens vs Predator - Requiem (2007) is the movie that would definitely accomplish that goal.

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