This Sunday we are planning to watch Bridget Jones’s Diary together!!
We plan on celebrating our love for of our favorite singleton and her hilarious blend of neuroses and mishpas all weekend! There will be three separate posts for this event!
SCHEDULE
- Today’s post – where you can find all the details, schedule, giveaways, & some fun facts about BJD!
- Sunday’s post – where we will simultaneously watch Bridget Jones’s Diary and enjoy a lovely chat!
- Monday’s post – where we will have a wrap-up survey and discussion!
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GROUP WATCH AND CHAT DETAILS
WHEN: Sunday October, 6th @ 4:00 p.m. EST
WHERE: The chat will take place HERE on Austenesque Reviews blog. (look for a new post on Sunday)
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
- Have your own copy of Bridget Jones’s Diary ready to start @ 4:00 p.m. EST
- Sign in to the chatboard at the designated time
- Chat up a storm as we watch Bridget Jones’s Diary together
WARNING: If you don’t know this already, Bridget Jones’s Diary is rated R for strong language and sexual situations. I didn’t want anyone to be unpleasantly surprised by this. 🙁
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FUN FACTS
– Besides gaining some weight, Renee Zellweger also spent a month working in for a British publishing company to help her get into character. She used an alias, talked with a British accent, and supposedly was never recognized!
– Other Jane Austen actresses were at one time considered for the role of Bridget: Kate Winslet (Marianne Dashwood) Emma Thompson (Elinor Dashwood), Toni Collette (Harriet Smith), Alex Kinston (Mrs. Bennet), and Olivia Williams (Jane Austen).
– Several members of the crew and cast have worked on at least one other Jane Austen film adaptation besides Bridget Jones’s Diary: Colin Firth (P&P 1995), Hugh Grant (S&S 1995), Gemma Jones (S&S 1995), Embeth Davidtz (MP 1999), Andrew Davies (screenplay writer for various JA adaptations), and Patrick Doyle (composer, S&S 1995)
– Besides the character parallels, some other similarities between P&P and BJD are: Bridget and Daniel work at Pemberley Press (name of Darcy’s estate), Mark and Daniel both went to Cambridge (just like Wickham and Darcy), and various quotes such as “It is a truth universally acknowledged…” and “So it would seem…”
– (I love the irony of this one!) The actress who plays Bridget’s friend Jude (Shirley Henderson) is also “Moaning Myrtle” from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Both characters spend a lot of time crying in bathrooms.
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GIVEAWAYS
- 1 paperback of Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
- 1 hardcover of Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding
- 1 paperback of Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo (something different in case BJD isn’t your cup of tea!)
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GIVEAWAY DETAILS
- Participating in one of the three Bridget Jones’s Diary Group Watch events earns you one entry in the giveaway
- You can receive three entries total (if you participate in all three posts)
- This giveaway is open internationally! 🙂
- This giveaway will close October 11th
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SUNDAY!!
Colin Firth will make you melt like buttah (prepare yourselves!)*
*gif credit: http://caramellegommose.tumblr.com/
Meredith, do we need to register to join the online chat on the day? I love this film and I adore CF as Mark Darcy!!! That screen cap above is just… swoon-worthy!
Hi Cassandra! No need to register. This chat widget I found seems to be pretty user-friendly. All you need to do is type in your name.
Isn’t Colin’s look there just so unbelievably sexy? *sigh*
Am all geared up! Just tested my DVD on my computer so I can watch on the desktop and chat on the iPad! Leaving the TV free for hubby to watch Downton (I’ll watch on Catch Up TV tomorrow!) I just hope I start the movie at the exact same time as everyone else or we’ll be slightly out of sync!
Can’t wait! And mmm-mmm! That picture of Colin Firth is a great way to brighten up anyone’s day! 🙂
LOL! Yes! I keep scrolling back up to stare at it! 😉
As I have mentioned in the previous post, I will not be able to join in the group watch because the time is not suitable. I don’t want to be left out so I’ll watch the movie before you gals and guys. I hope you all will enjoy the conversations that will sure to generate from this virtual fun.
Check back Monday, Sylvia! I may have a transcript for you! Testing out a new chat widget!
Ok, I’ll visit again on Monday. I had watch the movie early this morning (or it will be in Saturday morning to you) and I absolutely loved it.
Sorry, my mistake. It was Saturday afternoon since here is 12 hours ahead if daylight saving still applies.
Can I just say…I’m so excited!!! Love, love, love this movie! Can’t wait! 🙂
YAY! So glad you are joining us! 😀
So looking forward to this-I’ve been rereading BJD this week in serious anticipation!
That’s awesome! I read it several years ago, and my memory of it isn’t as fresh. Good idea!
Love love LOVE BJD!!! Colin Firth as Mark Darcy….. ohhh yeahhhhh!!! 😉 LOL
Isn’t he adorable?!?
Oh. My. YESSSS!!!! Absolutely!! 😉
OK, so now I have to
a. go and see what’s 4pm EST in British money 😉 and
b. hope really hard it doesn’t clash with Downton and Homeland (that, YAY, also starts this Sunday!) Too much of a good thing!!!!! Though, hand on heart, Colin Firth so trumps both 🙂
Loved the post and the moaning Myrtle comment!
Catch up on Sun, hopefully 🙂
Ooh! That is a conundrum, Joana! Hope it works out! 🙂
Yes, it does clash with Downton, but that’s always on catch up TV all week afterwards!
I might be a bit late! 4 o’clock EST is 1 o’clock here – I’ll just be getting home from church! If I come straight home it shouldn’t be a problem. 🙂 See you tomorrow!
Oh! I’d love to see this movie with you! I’ve seen it once and it did’t like it but I hope that with your chat I can reevaluate it!
I hope you liked the movie more the second time, Loren! It was great to that you were able to join us!
Bridget Jones’s Diary is one of my favorite movies, after the P&P 2005 & S&S 2006 video versions, of course! I won’t be able do the group watch, but will read all the comments@
Mine too, Catherine! Sorry you couldn’t join us for the chat – but I am happy to say that the chat transcript is still saved!
I liked seeing all the trivia facts because I love game shows and trivia. Shirley Henderson was a lot older than a teenager when she played Moaning Myrtle. I figured that out after seeing her in other movies but I also read about that (maybe an Uncle John Bathroom Reader book?) in an article that talked about actors who played characters well outside of their age group. The guy from Elementary (Jonny Lee Miller) was in two Austen movies: Mansfield Park (with Embeth Davidtz) and Emma (with Romola Garai). If I win a book I’d prefer a paperback because I don’t have a computer or e-reader.
I do too, Michelle! I feel like the actors and actresses who have been in an Austen adaptation are just a little bit more special. I know it might make sense, but if I ever see them in another film, I’ll think more favorably of them because they were also in a JA movie!