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Bridget Jones's Diary

Bridget Jones's Diary

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Pleasantly surprised
Review: I have to say that I didn't expect much from this movie, after not having enjoyed the book very much, but Bridget Jones's Diary surprised me. It is by no means a classic, but its charm and humor took it much further than the actual storyline, with was often trite and unbelievable.

Still single and being set up on blind dates by her mother, Bridget (Renée Zellweger sporting a few extra pounds and a very good English accent), an overweight self-analyzing chainsmoker, suddenly finds herself being pursued by two men, one of whom is her boss, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) at the publishing company where she works, the other being a childhood friend, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), who has a tense history with Cleaver.

I don't suppose that sexual harrassment is as much of an issue in Britain as it is in America, given that Cleaver's comment about Bridget's breasts actually wins her over (they do look rather nicer than the usual Zellweger variety, by the way).

This was Grant's first chance to play an unlikable character and his innate charm gives an extra layer to the despicable Cleaver -- even making us sympathize with him for a bit, at least until the revelation at the end. Firth plays Darcy as an allusion to the Pride and Prejudice character he portrayed for the BBC; it is obvious from the beginning that he is the man for whom we're supposed to be rooting, simply because he is so troubled. Author Helen Fielding said she always had him in mind for the role; lucky for him, his star had recently risen so that he could be considered.

Zellweger is wonderful. I don't usually like her, but she gives Bridget a human side that wasn't apparent in the book (where she is all neuroses, pounds, and cigarettes) -- and she's funny! All in all, Bridget Jones's Diary is a delightful film (although not one I would consider buying) that fills two hours serviceably and leaves the audience with a good feeling.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: I really wanted to like this, but...
Review: This is the kind of a movie in which the "f" word is treated as a clever witticism. The humor is heavy-handed, the plot points are telegraphed from the beginning, and the characters are loathesomely self-involved. If the people weren't speaking with British accents, this movie would not be nearly so well-reviewed.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Why Renee Zellweger is such a great actress
Review: Both critics and audiences loved Bridget Jones diary and there are variety of reasons why:

Bridget Jones character ups and downs resembles both men and women in their early 30's:

Both men and women at this age, are contemplating
their status in life.

Their bummed out because they haven't met that special someone, or they are bummed out, because throughout their life, they have met only losers who are wasting their time (which I very familiar with, except in my case, I've met mostly shallow women while the nice, beautiful girls are all taken.)

However, it's just romantic life that is troubling people like Bridget Jones, contemplation about their careers and family are coming toward the forefront of their life.

Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger) is a British publishing assistant who works for a publishing agency. She has a poor excuse of a lady boss and a male boss.

The whole film is narrated through the young, and witty and vivacious eyes of Bridget Jones. We learn how she feels about many people in her life, and we get to know Bridget on a very personal level, which is one of the reasons the film is highly acclaimed so much.

Anyhow, Bridget's male is Daniel Cleaver (played as brilliant ridiculous as ever by Hugh Grant). Ever since Mr. Grant made the fatal mistake of picking up a prostitute, he's been ridiculed (rightly so ) by the media, but he's also benefited from it. He's played degenerate, characters for most
of his career, and the audience loves it.


Daniel, comes across as a very sly and romantic, and often blatanly horny boss, who wants Bridget, even going as far as sending her, really provocative emails.

Bridget (she has a young nieve mind) falls for Daniel's (ahem) charms and starts seeing him,
unbeknowst to Bridget what kind of man, Daniel. This changes though, when Bridget meets a family
called Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) , who constantly seems to be meeting Bridget at family gatherings.
Bridget and Mark Darcy seem to have a hate relationship. He himself is rude, arrogant, and ridiculous at
times.

However, it's revealed that Mark also likes Bridget, and Bridget has the tough decision of
deciding which man to really give her heart. As you can see the story is very real to the lives of real women both in Britain and US.

Unfortunanetly though, once a woman makes the decision that Bridget makes, she is pretty much
stuck with her decision for most of her life.

The Dvd comes loaded with a bunch of extra features, in fact, if you haven't seen the movie,
I extremely encourage to watch the dvd and not the vhs, since the DVD will give so many great items
to watch including:

* 2 music videos for the DVD
*Deleted Scenes!!!!
* Special Commentary
*Trailers
*Actual columns written by the real Bridget Jones
and much more!!


Rating: 1 stars
Summary: HIDEOUS, DISTASTEFUL, AND LAME
Review: I wish there were a ranking BELOW 1 star. That was what my wife and I wanted to rank this movie. It was such an awful movie. It was quite simply the worst movie we ever watched.....actually couldn't stomach more than the first third. We turned if off and deleted it from our TIVO. Sexual innuendo is not "smart comedy", nor theatrical artistry. There was not a single funny joke at all. It was pathetic. What a waste of time!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 'Diary' Chock Full Of Ideas; Comedic Vignettes
Review: OK, first things first...Loved the book(s) and loved the movie...Though its premise was loosely based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the new "contemporary" twist doesn't stray off from the story itself. The character of Bridget(played by Renee Zellwegger) was so embraced by all 30+somethings still looking for that "MR.DARCY" or better yet in the form of the true Mr. Darcy played by the wonderous Colin Firth. She is, in this movie, Elizabeth, searching for the ONE. And in doing so, is witted away by, in some sorts Wickham or Daniel Cleaver played by the ever-so surprising Hugh Grant. The surprise chemistry between all 3 main characters are proven throughout every situation. (Spoiler :And the fight scene between Colin Firth and Hugh Grant alone will make up for any faults in this movie :) ). The single, lonely, spinster; the aloof, repressed lawyer; and the bachelor of bachelors all wanting and looking, for the same thing. The message at the end just tells us that no matter what we try to be or look like or act like, "TRUE LOVE" will take you ......just as you are!!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Hilarous
Review: This movie was a riot! I loved it soooooo much! I've read the first book and loved it to! I'm reading the v.g. sequal!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Loved it!
Review: Absolutely loved this movie. Made me feel like I was falling in love all over again. (not with the actors, but the feelings themselves...so real, so powerful, felt them along with Bridget). Not quite love at first sight, but more, going though the wrong man (or men) to stumble upon the right one, and quite unexpextedly. A wonderful journey thru a year in the life of a not-so-typical single woman about to fall in love with the most unlikely man. Lots to relate to (for women anyway) and a most happy ending (which I love of course). One that almost didnt happen, right up to the end, the whole thing could've gone awry. But love finds a way doesn't it? Well sure it does. Sometimes. Brought tears to my eyes. And I loved the song by Gabrielle (one of many good ones used in the film but especially this one), "Out of Reach." About love lost, and love not meant to be (or so it seemed to me). Played at the perfect moment. Can't wait for the sequel (on DVD!). Loved Renee Zelwegger and Colin Farrel in this. Excellent movie.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: the complete defeat of feminism
Review: The 'epitome of womanhood?' I felt the film represents the complete defeat of feminism. "The Bible of thirtysomething single women everywhere" ???? I hope not.

Lets see, your sexist pig boss writes you "I like your XXXs" emails, and she's perfectly fine with that - doesn't even bring up the fact that it could be abusive; her uncle grabs her ass all the time and she doesn't even have a voice to tell him it's demeaning; --- people in Bridget's life are so unconscionably rude to her and she's so without any power she doesn't know to say anything back; -- man lies and cheats and she takes him back so easily....

Who knew today's women were so utterly insecure? Drinking alone for no other reason but she can't find a man.. There really is NOTHING else is in her mind.

It's put out as a sophisticated comedy and it is soooooo not.

Her friends are worse than she is - as shallow as can be - the foul-mouthed slapper, the obligatory gay guy .... they're like the antidote to TV's Friends.
To sum up: Mostly just In-your-face jokes, mostly predictable, and not even sporadically funny.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Marvelous, funny and with some new extras
Review: "Bridget Jones' Diary" packs enough fun, twists and turns to make two entertaining movies. Renee Zellweger turns in a memorable performance as Bridget an unmarried career woman still looking for Mr. Right in all the wrong places. Suddenly, she has two possible suitors. Her cad of a boss (Hugh Grant) who's probably all wrong for her but feels so right and a human rights lawyer (Colin Firth)who feels all wrong but is probably right for her. Her misadventures with both men will immediately win you over.

Now that we've got the plot and review out of the way I'm going to focus on what's different between this edition and the previous one. The first DVD released in 2001 and this one released to coincide with the sequel "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" look exactly the same. There's nothing to distinguish one disc vs. another. Also, many of the special features are the same as well and, contrary to the amazon.com summary, many of these were on the original release as well.

The new edition features a handful of new featurettes. Jenny Bicks a writer/producer on "Sex and the City", the editor of Allure Magazine and others comment on the difficulties in our narcissistic society. Her comments on finding Mr. Right in a world of Mr. Wrongs are frequently on target and quite funny. It's a standard but occasionally clever featurette that weaves clips from the movie with special footage highlighting the difficulty of finding the right person in a society. "The Bridget Phenomenon" focuses on Bridget herself-Helen Fielding. Well, actually according to Helen and the film's director Sharon McGuire Helen really isn't Bridgett. She just assumed her identity for the famous columns she wrote. Interviews with the cast members discussing the perception that being single is full of woe. Fielding discusses the great appeal of Bridget lies in the gap of how their expected to be and how they actually are. "Portrait of the Make Up Artist" focuses on Graham Johnston the chief make up artist on "Bridget Jones Diary" and the newly released sequel. All the other featurettes and Special Features appeared on the first edition of this funny comedy with the exception of "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" trailer. There's also reviews of the first film on this disc.

The original release had the feature commentary by director Sharon Maguire, the behind-the-scenes featurette on the making of the movie, deleted scenes. Contrary to the listing here the original Bridget Jones' Diary Columns appeared on the first disc as well. Missing from the new edition are the music videos. That's about it. The film sounds and looks exactly the same as the previous edition.

If you haven't purchased the film before or rented it on video but didn't buy the DVD, this new edition is worthwhile picking up. If you have the previous edition, these new featurettes will only make this worthwhile if you will watch them (some folks don't pay attention to featurettes at all or watch them one time)more than one time. All of the new featurettes are quite entertaining but hardly essential.

Regardless of which edition you buy, this is a delightful, funny, frothy and clever film that you can enjoy on your own or with a signficant other. Step into Bridget's world and, if you haven't seen this and are going to see the sequel, definitely pick this up first for a delightful introduction to Bridget and her men.


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