Rating: Summary: So good my boyfriend claims he "almost cried" Review: This version is about as true to the book as a 2 hour adaptation can be. True, the Blanche Ingram in this version demonstrates that they even had bad dye jobs a hundred years ago, but it's better than Elle MacPherson (Oh Mylanta!) as Blanche. The movie is perfect, with the same gray and gothic feel as the book, and Samantha Morton has the restraint and spine you'd expect Jane to have. If you've seen the movie on A&E but didn't see it the first time it aired 3 years ago, you need to get a copy- there are probably 20 minutes extra of scenes you've not seen yet (in particular, a great scene of Jane and Edward in town where they run into Blanche and her strange, Groucho eyebrows). Every time I see the movie in the scene by the tree where she pours her heart out to Edward, I lose it. At the end, he pours his heart out to him, I lose it. My boyfriend even claims that he "almost" lost it- and let me tell you, that's High Praise from Mr. Pulp Fiction. People will tell you it is romantic- and it is- but not in a Fabio-with-the-hair-flowing kind of way. It's just genuine, with a great chemistry between the actors that makes you believe these two characters are in love in a deep, bonded kind of way.
Rating: Summary: So Romantic! Review: I can't even count the number of times I've watched this one! The performances by both Samantha Morton & Ciaran Hinds are both SUPERB! If you're a romance lover, this one's for YOU--I promise, you will NOT be disappointed. I'm not going to get specific so as to not reveal any of the juicy details of the story, so I remain mysteriously vague on purpose to spur you on to buy this one for your DVD collection. The story is tragic, but with a happy ending for all. It will keep you on the edge of your seat & hungering for more all the way to the end. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this movie, & I refuse to ever watch any previous versions, that's how taken with this one I am! Highly Recommended!
Rating: Summary: Oh, the passion... Review: Oh, is this a good film! First of all, the actors are outstanding. It's no accident that Samantha Morton was nominated for an Oscar this last year; I only wonder when Ciarán Hinds will have the same honor. His work in this film is so incredible it defies description, especially at the end. Those ladies that have come to swoon over him will find him perhaps not as handsome as he was in Persuasion (my personal favorite CH film), but they won't be disappointed either. In all honesty, I would give the film four-and-a-half stars if I could, for there are a few scenes that I find a bit annoying. And it isn't completely faithful to the novel, but then, what two-hour adaptations ever are? And those of you with romantic tendencies will want to watch it over and over and over again (and yes, I am an Austenite but I love the Brontës too). I can't wait to buy it on DVD!
Rating: Summary: CAPTIVATING, BREATHTAKING Review: This, to me, was a beautiful film. I have only seen this version and the original one with Orsen Welles. To me, there is no comparison between the two- the A & E version by far and away the most spectacular. It captured the true depth of the story. I thought Hinds, especially, was fabulous. The scene near the end when Mr. Rochester says: "But Jane, I would die for want to see your face" is so moving it brings the tears flowing every time I see it. The true depth of passion between the two lovers came through so beautifully, in my opinion. Hinds is not necessarily handsome which makes him wonderful for the role. It is the beauty within our souls. That message came through wonderfully in this version. The script was also a fine piece of work. I loved the beautiful, poetic language. I highly recommend this film to anyone who yearns for a great love story. The love between the two main characters is beautifully portrayed within this film.
Rating: Summary: Morton/Hinds - Jane Eyre Review: This version is my second favorite version behind the Dalton/Clark version. The Dalton/Clark version is by far the "best" and most thorough version and though Dalton, IMO, is too handsome to play Rochester, Dalton's performance is outstanding, as is Clarke's as Jane. Hinds and Morton are my second favorites. This version is missing vital pieces of the story, but the performances of Morton and Hinds are quite acceptable and good. I like the comic aspect they added (the scene where Jane returns from visiting w/her dying aunt) and Rochester is seated on the wall outside Thornfield and he complains to her about her not having written to him. Hinds melted my heart in this scene and I have been a fan ever since. Morton is good as Jane and delivered her lines perfectly. This is an entertaining version, again, not as thorough as the Dalton/Clarke version, but it is enjoyable and is worth the viewing.
Rating: Summary: very good, but not perfect Review: This is the 3rd adaptation of Jane Eyre I saw. I liked this one more than 1983 and 1996 versions, because the characters were very likable, and the passion on screen was moving. Some reviewers found Ciaran Hinds stiff; I disagree. He was a wonderful Mr. Rochester, as was Samantha Morton a perfect Ms. Eyre. This is something you would want to watch over and over again, if you are a romantic person, preferably an Austenite. However, the adaptation is really loose, and important details from the book are omitted. So if you are looking for a faithful adaptation, or watching the movie to avoid reading the book, this is not the one. 83 version is very loyal to the book, but they are almost reading from the book. 96 version is generally loyal, but the omitted parts are the romantic parts, so where is the fun? This one is the best one I have seen until now, but I will keep looking for a miniseries that includes all the main details, and brings the passion in the book alive. (I am not obsessed with loyalty to the book in general, but Jane Eyre is a perfect book, and I miss all the parts that are left out.)
Rating: Summary: Captivating! Review: This is a beautiful film. I think that A&E does a good job in picking out the scenery and places. It is a masterpiece if you like to watch films simply for the scenery. It needs more detail and a lot more time added to it. They seamed to smash everything into one movie and you can tell. It is a good, clean, family film and I would certaily recomend it. I don't know about buying it though. You would need to watch it first. The actors did a good job, except Rochester could have been a little less forceful. I leave it up to your decision if you like it or not. Enjoy! (I hope!)
Rating: Summary: Only halfway satisfying Review: I love Ciaran Hinds in many of his performances so it was with great disappointment that I viewed his Rochester in this spottily-good version of Jane Eyre. Only one aspect - the brutish threatening side - of Rochester seems to have been thoroughly explored; and Bronte's hero is much more many-layered and complex than that. Since Hinds is usually such a fine, insightful actor I prefer to lay most of the blame on some misguided direction and especially on a very bad screenplay which tossed out the best lines from the book and inserted dialogue that was dull and abrupt and just not connecting with any of the electrifying meaning behind the original words. What a shame! Trusting the author would have made this production impressive, but the dialogue-tampering cannot really salvage it. Samantha Morton is a strong contender for my favorite Jane; she resembles a younger version of the great Zelah Clarke and exudes the right mixture of quietude and spunk. This Jane can stand up to and conquer her Rochester... it's only too bad Rochester's magnetically romantic side isn't apparent enough here to really explain why she would want to. So while this isn't the most distressingly ill-fated attempt to capture the spirit of Jane Eyre, it also falls short of its mark with a bit of a thud. Shame shame on the writer/s.
Rating: Summary: A+ Review: I loved this film and will watch it again and again. It has introduced to me the elequant Samantha Morton and viriley dashing Ciaran Hinds. Together, they give fire and spark to this timeless lovestory.
Rating: Summary: A hurried fast food version of the original Review: I've done some research, but cannot confirm my belief that the original A&E broadcast was much longer than this video version. I saw the video several months after the broadcast and was startled. It seemed hurried, jumpy, and completely unlike my recollection of the original broadcast. A&E has published the full length video version of it's splendid "Pride and Prejudice" series, but at four or five volumes it's quite expensive. I suspect that this video version is a highly edited version of the original to keep it to one volume and a more appealing mass market price.
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