Today certainly seems to be a day for posting, doesn’t it. I just got back from watching the new Pride & Prejudice, and I absolutely loved it. Very well done. The performances were excellent, especially Keira Knightley’s. And Mr. Darcy’s speech at the end — “You’ve bewitched me body and soul” — is just plain awesome. Oh, the screening was one from Britain (we watched it on campus) and so they didn’t kiss at the end, interestingly enough.

Anyway, I went with my roommate and his girlfriend, and while she loved it, he was…well, bored. I suppose I’m of a different make from most guys — while the masculinity is certainly there, I find that movies like these appeal to me far more than sports do. And yet it’s not a concession to a “feminine side” or any such nonsense. (Why must I always feel duty-bound to defend my manliness whenever I talk about Jane Austen movies? )

Watching the movie reminded me that my favorite stories are inevitably love stories. That’s what comes of being a romantic, I suppose. Perhaps I’ll try my hand at writing one or two — heaven knows I’ve crushed enough hearts and had my own shattered sufficiently to be qualified for the job. But now the evening grows late and my bedchamber beckons.

Watched Emma this evening. (I guess I’m on a chick flick roll. ) Like Sense and Sensibility, I loved it! And now I must come up with excuses that explain why a man should find such movies entertaining, for apparently guys are not supposed to like movies like this. Hogwash. If anything, more guys should watch these movies, because the men in them (at least the heroes) are admirable models to emulate. I for one will do my best to be like Mr. Knightley, Colonel Brandon, and Mr. Darcy. As one last compelling reason, I find that movies like these enrich and enliven my humanity, deepening this life experience. On the other hand, the violent action thrillers (need I name names?) tend to numb and desensitize the soul — hardly the sort of intoxication one wants to be imbibing on a regular basis, if at all. Yes, they are eminently watchable — plot hooks and special effects take care of that — but are they worth their time? Scarcely.