Monika’s Pensieve

{FILM DIARY}

Bridget Jones's Diary (UK/France, 2001)

Seen: Tuesday, 29th September 2009 (VHS, repeat viewing)
Runtime: 97′
Director: Sharon Maguire
Cast: Renée Zellweger, Gemma Jones, Jim Broadbent, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Shirley Henderson
Production House: Little Bird, Studio Canal, Working Title Films
Plot: (from imdb)

A British woman is determined to improve herself while she looks for love in a year in which she keeps a personal diary.

Trailer
The trailer seems to include lots of shots which were not in the film. It’s the first time I’ve seen a trailer which had so many shots that weren’t included in the final product…

Impressions In Short
A really fun romantic comedy. It’s one of those films that I never thought was that great and yet I keep coming back to it… and I don’t think Colin Firth is the only reason ;)

More About the Film
I love Bridget Jones as a character. You very rarely get female leads like that in commercial movies. She totally doesn’t fit the mould of what a commercial heroine should be like. To state the obvious - she’s overweight and doesn’t look like what women in Hollywood are supposed to look like. But something else that always hits me when I rewatch the film is the kind of comedic treatment that the character gets. That sort of comedy is very rare for a female character - I guess women aren’t supposed to be that clumsy or something. I also love that she’s so warm, colourful and feminine. More heroines like her in commercial movies, please!
Renee Zellweger is awesome at portraying her, which helps a lot too of course. I love her in that part. Her British accent is perfect!
Colin Firth and Hugh Grant work so well as the other characters in the triangle. They really couldn’t have cast them better. It’s fun to see Hugh Grant as the “baddie”. I think his sense of humour actually works better that way than when he does the shy, polite and clumsy English guy. And Colin Firth with his ridiculous “stiffness” is wonderful *grin*
Something else that always gets me is how the scenes of sexual nature are set up. There is a certain way that commercial films usually do them and this is certainly not it ;) Rather than do a romantic “they’re in the throes of passion” thing, their focus is on making it look like fun. It’s sort of odd that hardly any movies go that route. I love it that this one does :)

Recommended?
On the whole, yes. I mean I guess it helps if you’re in the mood for a romantic comedy. And probably for those who don’t get the genre this is something they should avoid. But otherwise, go for it! IMO it’s quite a classic :)

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (UK/France/Germany/Ireland/USA, 2004)

Seen: Thursday, 1st October 2009 (VHS, repeat viewing)
Runtime: 108′
Director: Beeban Kidron
Cast: Renée Zellweger, Gemma Jones, Jim Broadbent, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Jacinda Barret
Production House: Working Title Films, Universal Pictures, Miramax Films, Atlantic Television, Little Bird, Studio Canal
Plot: (from imdb)

The story picks up four weeks after the first film, and already Bridget Jones is becoming uncomfortable in her relationship with Mark Darcy…

Trailer
This one has some shots which weren’t in the film as well, though not quite as many…

Impressions In Short
I actually think this one’s funnier *grin*

More About the Film
Perhaps a big reason why I like the second one better than the first is that this one has more Colin Firth ;) IMO the male lead in the first one is Hugh Grant even though it’s Colin Firth who gets the girl, but in the second one it’s definitely Colin Firth who is the leading man.
But I also think this one gets to much more absurd levels of humour, which again appeals to me more. Naturally, it has all the strengths of the first film too :)

Recommended?
Yep, I’d stipulate the same provisos as I did with the first movie though.