More Zombie Mayhem: 'Regency Period' Style
A month or so ago I happened to luck up on an article on from Entertainment Magazine about how the 2009 hit book, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies would be released as a film in February of 2016. My excitement only grew when I found out Natalie Portman is producing this venture and Lena Headey is staring in it! I believe she’s playing Mrs. Bennet, the mother of the Bennet sisters.
Let's hope her portrayal of Mrs. Bennet is of a moderately more sane person. I do just love to hate Cersei Lannister though.
I meant to read this book ages ago, but sadly I have to admit that it fell into my literary cracks. I most definitely fixed the error of my ways and I was so happy that I did! I was a moderate fan of Jane Austen's work before Seth Grahame-Smith co-wrote his parody of Pride and Prejudice. Many of you might be asking who he co-wrote this book with. None other than Jane Austen herself. No, she’s not a member of the walking and thinking dead. Seth Grahame-Smith just used so much of her core material he put her down as a co-writer to his novel. How cool is that?! Maybe one day I can co-write a novel with Hemingway! Hey, a girl can dream.
Anywho, the original telling of the story revolves around Elizabeth Bennet. She’s the second eldest of the five daughters of a country gentleman. Elizabeth's father, Mr. Bennet, is a scholarly man that could be seen as neglectful of his responsibilities. Elizabeth's mother, Mrs. Bennet, would never neglect her duties to her daughters. During that time and age her duties were to marry off her five girls to the best choices allotted to them. I know, it doesn’t sound like an independent woman choice of reading, but Elizabeth's clever ways and intelligence make up for our past short-sightedness of that era.
The zombie reboot keeps to the same speed and make of the original story, well for the most part. Jane Bennet, the eldest daughter, is still well-known by her kindheartedness and gorgeousness; while Elizabeth Bennet shares her father's sharp wit and flare for sarcastic satire; Mary is the smart quiet one; Catherine and Lydia both still lacks maturity. However, there are some really cool add-ons. Yeah, yeah the zombies are there. But did you guys know the girls were taught how to kill zombies by Shaolin monks? Yes, there are ninjas and zombies! I know the Chinese and the Japanese ninjas who also appear in the novel may seem a little ham-fisted, but it actually adds to the overall story nicely. That add-in also solidifies Jane Austen’s original view of the Bennet sisters' being unsuitable for marriage into respectable upper-class families. What’s more unsuitable to marry up in society than five women countryside hicks with moderate funds? Five women countryside hick-ninjas!
Again, I know that sounds silly to a few, but Jane Austen’s solid literary style and Seth Grahame-Smith eloquent flare of the diverse mesh together very well. I thought it was a very entertaining read and I have my fingers crossed that the movie showcases the same entertaining value.
