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Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre

List Price: $19.95
Your Price: $15.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best film rendition of this classic novel
Review: This version of "Jane Eyre" with Samantha Morton and Ciaran Hinds is truly the absolute best, most heart-wrenching one I have seen. The William Hurt and Timothy Dalton versions bored me to tears. This was the first "Jane Eyre" film I have seen where I was weeping at the end. The actors have a true gift for bringing out the emotions of the characters. It was truly superb, unbelievably moving and achingly beautiful.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A disappointing production
Review: I recently caught this on cable and was excited to see it; after all, "Jane Eyre" is one of my favorite books of all time.

While Samantha Morton made an excellent Jane, I thought Ciaran Hinds was terrible as Mr. Rochester. He was far more blustery than smoldering, and the scene at which he screamed at Jane while she drove away disturbed me. He seemed more like an abusive boyfriend than a man overwhelmed with pain and passion.

Also, some of my favorite scenes were cut. Where was the scene where Jane went home to visit her family? She left and then came back again; we saw no part of her interaction with the Reeds, which was one of the best parts in the book. She also never learned of the inheritance left to her by her uncle in Madeira. And I agree with the reviewer who said that the part with St. John and Diana might have been left out for all the weight this movie gave it.

Overall, this is not an awful movie. However, it is inferior by far to other productions, notably the version with Charlotte Gainsbourg and William Hurt.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Passion, Literature, and Ciaran Hinds-who could ask for more
Review: This film is an adaptation of Charolette Bronte's nineteenth-century novel. Consequently, as an adaptation, it is not an exact replica of Bronte's tale. Though not all viewers will agree with the choices the writers made in eliminating parts of the the story it is still a beautifully moving film. Instead of focusing on Jane's perception of her life in Regency Era England, this version focuses on the relationship between Jane and Rochester. Morton and Hinds set the screen on fire with the intense intellectual and emotion passion that these isolated souls experience in one another.

Unfortunately I have not seen and, therefore, cannot compare the Timothy Dalton version of Jane Eyre (the apparent favorite) with this version. But I have seen the Orson Wells-Joan Fontaine version many times. (The William Hurt version does not deserve mention.) The 1940s version is a superb gothic romance, but it fails to reach the emotional intensity of this version.

I teach this book in a college course and know it well. Though the details and the focus are not identical to the book, in and of itself this version of Jane Eyre is pure enjoyment

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Absolutely amazing!
Review: I have seen every version of "Jane Eyre" ever made mutliple times, and nothing does justice to that beautiful book like this version. Ciaran Hinds IS Edward Rochester. I have read the book multiple times, and none of the other actors I've seen quite fit the physical description. Ciaran Hinds is perfect. He fits perfectly. The man is amazing, and Samantha Morton is superb. She strikes the perfect balance between quietness and spirit. The only problem I had with it was the fact that they left out one of St. John's sisters. That is it. The chemistry between Hinds and Morton is unspeakably beautiful. I normally do not cry at movies, but this one leaves me weeping absolutely helplessly by the end. Edward Rochester is my favorite male character ever in any book I've ever read (and I've read quite a few). Ciaran Hinds captures the essence of Rochester. If I were more eloquent, I could find more words to describe this movie, but nothing can until you see it for yourself.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Nice acting but why didn't they use the book?
Review: Cirian Hinds and Samantha Morton are wonderful actors, but why didn't the screenwriters even glance at Charlotte Bronte's book when they wrote this screenplay? It was a very strange experience to see some of my favorite characters of literature saying and doing things that weren't even remotely connected to the story. Rochester screaming at Jane to leave Thornfield? Jane and Rochester shopping downtown for wedding clothes and "bumping into" Blanche Ingram? I don't think so! Not only did the screenwriters make up entirely new scenes, the dialogue in familiar scenes was often totally unrecognizable. I watch film adaptations to see my favorite characters and scenes fleshed out, not given a major overhaul.

Two things they got right -- the age difference and chemistry between Rochester and Jane (although Samantha Morton is too pretty. Come on! She can't be pretty Harriet Smith in the A&E version of "Emma" and plain-Jane Eyre in this movie!) If you just like to watch good acting, you might like this. But if you, like me, are a fan of the book, this is a very jolting and unpleasant ride.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Superior to other adaptations
Review: I have just seen the Timothy Dalton version of "Jane Eyre", and even though it stuck almost entirely to the dialogue of the book (which was refreshing), it was lacking something... passion maybe. The two lead actors in that version were rather dry... to me anyway. So, I would readily recommend this version, starring Ciaran Hinds and Samantha Morton, instead. It was extremely well casted, as Hinds is a perfect Mr. Rochester, and seemingly embodies the very essence of the character so vividly described by Jane Austen! Also, I could not imagine, nor have I ever seen a better Jane than the one played by Samantha Morton! I liked her as Jane much, much more than Zelah Clarke.

Even though it fails to keep true to the book in many areas, and takes liberties with the characters, it is still far more emotional, passionate, and stirring than the others (though not as much as the book), including the version starring William Hurt. It could have been better had it stuck more closely to the book (honestly, it annoyed me that some of the best interactions and dialogue between Jane and Mr. Rochester was not included) still, I prefer this adaptation. Both Ciaran Hinds, and Samantha Morton brought such power and believability to their roles that, even though much detail is excluded, the passion and depth of Jane and Mr. Rochester's relationship, and the complexity of both characters, is pretty well conveyed because of their intensity. If they would have made this a mini-series, it would have blown the Timothy Dalton and William Hurt versions into oblivion! ;-) So, all-in-all, this adaptation is superior to the others, and one worthy of being added to any collection. Enjoy! :-)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best Rocheter ever
Review: The film is great though a number of good scenes missing. Ciaran Hinds is the greatest Rochester so far. Those who think he's not attractive enough should see him in "Persussion." And Samantha Morton is excellent too. I love them both.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best yet!
Review: This is my favorite book of all time. I have seen several versions of the movie, and although some of the details from the book are missing, this is the best version out there. Cirian Hinds and Samantha Morton are just fabulous in their portrayals. If you liked the book, this is the movie version that you will enjoy most of all.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Absolutely amazing!
Review: I have seen every version of "Jane Eyre" ever made mutliple times, and nothing does justice to that beautiful book like this version. Ciaran Hinds IS Edward Rochester. I have read the book multiple times, and none of the other actors I've seen quite fit the physical description. Ciaran Hinds is perfect. He fits perfectly. The man is amazing, and Samantha Morton is superb. She strikes the perfect balance between quietness and spirit. The only problem I had with it was the fact that they left out one of St. John's sisters. That is it. The chemistry between Hinds and Morton is unspeakably beautiful. I normally do not cry at movies, but this one leaves me weeping absolutely helplessly by the end. Edward Rochester is my favorite male character ever in any book I've ever read (and I've read quite a few). Ciaran Hinds captures the essence of Rochester. If I were more eloquent, I could find more words to describe this movie, but nothing can until you see it for yourself.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best film rendition of this classic novel
Review: This version of "Jane Eyre" with Samantha Morton and Ciaran Hinds is truly the absolute best, most heart-wrenching one I have seen. The William Hurt and Timothy Dalton versions bored me to tears. This was the first "Jane Eyre" film I have seen where I was weeping at the end. The actors have a true gift for bringing out the emotions of the characters. It was truly superb, unbelievably moving and achingly beautiful.


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