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<strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/day-166-colin-firth-as-mr-darcy-finally/" target="_blank">I mentioned last week that I was watching Colin Firth in </a><em><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/day-166-colin-firth-as-mr-darcy-finally/" target="_blank">Pride &amp; Prejudice</a></em><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/03/13/day-166-colin-firth-as-mr-darcy-finally/" target="_blank"> for the first time.</a></strong>

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I'm not sure why I didn't watch 10 years ago when Bridget Jones yapped incessantly about Mr. Darcy's wet shirt scene.  I believe that on the timeline, Bridget Jones may have been pre-Netflix.

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I recently signed up for a Netflix free trial just so I could rent this movie.  I also had to sign up for free Blockbuster Online because Netflix said there was a "long wait" for this version.

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???

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I suppose that means that women are still getting themselves all worked up over Colin and his wet <del>t-shirt</del> shirt scene.  As much as I love him, we have to admit, ladies, that we weren't exactly lusting after him in <em>The King's Speech</em>.  In awe of his performance?  Yes.  Lusting?  No.

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Dina aka Dina dahling returned to my humble abode for round 2 of this much talked about mini-series.  As you may recall, we had to divide viewing into two nights, as the series is 5 hours long.

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Approximately 4 hours into the film, we finally see "the scene".

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He does indeed look GORGEOUS.  Swoon.

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But...

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Honestly?

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Reading/watching Jane Austen at 41 is an entirely different experience from when I devoured all of her books and films in my teens and early 20s.

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I turned to Dina dahling and announced, "I've turned into a cynical 41 year-old Jane Austen critic."

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If you are 25 and under, you may want to stop reading.  You have been properly warned.

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If you are of a certain age, please correct me if you think I'm wrong.

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<span style="font-size: medium; color: #008000;"><strong>Jane Austen, may your naive little soul rest in peace.</strong></span>

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<span style="font-size: medium; color: #993366;"><strong>My Random Thoughts about Jane Austen and Pride &amp; Prejudice:</strong></span>

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<ul>
	<li>First of all, men don't change for women, Jane.  There's no way in HELL that Mr. Darcy could undergo a personality change overnight.  (Dina preferred "lobotomy" over "personality change".)</li>
	<li>25 year-olds who are still reading:  As much as you are tempted to "help" or "save" a man, forget it. If you want a project, go treat yourself to a new piece of furniture from IKEA and put it together yourself.  For relationships, I recommend turn-key men.  No assembly required.</li>
	<li>How utterly convient and cliché that Elizabeth eventually falls in love with Mr. Darcy only after gazing upon his exceptionally large mansion.  Bleck.  I nearly threw up in my mouth.</li>
	<li>After 5 hours of viewing, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy finally kiss.   A small peck.  Cut.  The movie ends.</li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #008000;"><strong>Me: </strong></span> Five hours of mental foreplay and this all we get?

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<span style="color: #993366;"><strong>Dina dahling:</strong></span> I hate foreplay.

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<span style="color: #008000;"><strong>Me: </strong></span>I'm a huge fan of foreplay.  But I like to be kissed and caressed and...

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There is certainly no bodice-ripping chemistry in this film.  Zzzzzzzzz.

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There is no <em>passion </em>of any kind in Jane Austen.  It's all repressed gibberish.  Clever gibberish at times, but always repressed.

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I think I need to re-watch <strong><em><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094947/" target="_blank">Dangerous Liaisons</a></em></strong><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094947/" target="_blank">.</a> I like my period drama mixed with some steam.

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Dina dahling, are you coming over?  I promise you that you won't be bored to tears this time around.

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