Jane Eyre
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Movie Reviews of Jane Eyre
Movie Review: Jane Eyre
Summary: 5 Stars
What an excellent movie! It brought me to tears.Movie Review: Not completely true to the book, yet it captures essence.
Summary: 4 Stars
Well, I just watched this movie today again after not seeing it for a couple of years and again I loved it.No, it is not as true to the book as some other versions, but it captures the spirit and tells the story in a very compelling, moving-it-along way. I enjoyed the rapid transitions, cut-aways and voice overs. It tells the story of the novel in a most interesting way.
I think Samantha Morton makes an excellent Jane Eyre. She really captures Jane's innocent yet vibrantly alive spirit. Morton exudes the very fairy-like, impish qualities that Mr. Rochester is always describing her as having in the book. I think she is the best Jane I have see portrayed although I do enjoy Charlotte Gainesborough's and Joan Fontaine's work as Jane as well.
Ciran Hinds did equally as well. I think the two actors really displayed the chemistry that existed potently between Jane and Rochester. This kiss under the tree was remarkable!
The settings and lighting in this version are much better than in the 1983 Timothy Dalton version. And although Hinds is quite handsome in Persuasion, he actually becomes the more unattractive Rochester in this movie. Dalton, although a powerful performance in the miniseries in which he played Mr. Rochester, could never really be considered "ugly." Hinds is a more credible Rochester and very true to Charlotte Bronte's novel.
I highly recommend and enjoy this version of Jane Eyre. Although not as true to the book as other versions, I think it included the most crucial scenes in a most convincing way. It was truly a fresh look at a classic and timeless novel.
Movie Review: Enjoyed it -but does have its faults
Summary: 4 Stars
This was the first version of Jane Eyre I had ever seen and I enjoyed it very much. There was a chemistry or "passion" between Jane and Rochester. Samantha Morton played Jane better than anyone to date. Jane had personality which I think she lacks in other versions.
I thought Ciaran Hinds as Rochester was wonderful. He was very close to how I imagined Mr. Rochester in the book. Not handsome but rugged and likeable. He did tend to be a bully somtimes and that was a negative but he also had a tender side that came out through his facial expressions in a number of scenes between he and Jane.
A few negatives I found with the film are: 1. this version doesn't stay true to the book, much of the dialogue between the characters is rewritten, 2. sometimes Rochester is a little too angry and 3. I wish it were longer so that more of the book could be included.
I loved the ending and had butterflies watching it. I found the passion between the actors moving and can easily watch this version again and again.
If however, you want a version of Jane Eyre that keeps closer to the book, then the Timothy Dalton version (1983) is a better choice. It too is very good but is a bit dated (I felt like I was watching a play rather than a movie).
Ideally, I would love to see a production of Jane Eyre that is as well done as the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.
Movie Review: Really compelling
Summary: 4 Stars
I can't say that this version of Jane Eyre followed the storyline closely. Because of time constraints, large chunks of the novel had to be cut out or streamlined. This includes not only some key plot points, but a lot of the best dialogue between Jane and Mr. Rochester as their relationship develops.
That said, I still think this is an enjoyable film, so long as you enjoy it in its own right and don't compare it to the book. Both Ciaran Hinds and Samantha Morton commit to their roles with passion. Like the characters in the novel, neither is conventionally beautiful; they are riveting because of the emotional force they bring to their parts. At times, Hinds was a little too gruff as Rochester, but it never went over the top; he looked the part of Mr. Rochester and in my opinion acted it incredibly well. And Samantha Morton is luminous - she may wear plain clothing and sport a ridiculous hair style, but she shines. I did dislike some of the belabored dialogue the screenwriters introduced though.
Movie Review: I have to confess
Summary: 4 Stars
...that I haven't read the novel and can't comment on the liberties that the screenwriters have taken. I can read the book or watch other film adaptations for the "real thing." Based on other's critiques, this version of Jane Eyre seems like a creative re-interpretation, which is fine by me when the end results are so powerful. Certainly a few scenes or characters could have been fleshed out more, but the electric chemistry between Jane and Rochester (as played by two of the most gifted actors on the BBC/A&E scene) makes for a powerful film. The indoor and outdoor settings, cinematography, and lighting are superbly handled for a small-budgeted TV production, too: the imposing and creepy manor; the gloomy, wind-swept moors; a few strategic shots set in bright sunlight for dramatic contrast and symbolism--all very well done indeed.
If you want a powerful, memorable, and unusual tale of gothic romance with superb acting, do yourself a favor and give this version of Jane Eyre a try.