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Summary: Erotic tale behind Jane Eyre
Review: "Wide Sargasso Sea" is the 'prequel' to Jane Eyre. It's the story of an 18th century, Jamaican heiress Antoinette Cosway (Karina Lombard) and her arranged marriage to the young Edward Rochester (Nathaniel Parker). Rochester isn't too thrilled about marrying an unknown foreigner, but as a good, obedient second son with no prospects, he accepts his father's wishes and sails to Jamaica. Antoinette isn't exactly ecstatic about the match either, but her family has a troubled history, and Rochester, as an outsider hasn't heard the tales. But Rochester isn't unhappy when he sets his eyes on his luscious, nubile new bride, and soon the young couple moves to the bride's country estate of Coulibri. Once they are established here, things begin to go wrong. Rochester loathes the unruly, lush surroundings, and Antoinette's voodoo-addicted servant, and he's also both bewitched and uncomfortable with his bride's rampant and frank desire.
While the book (by Jean Rhys) emphasized Antoinette's instability, the film focuses more on Edward. He is, at first, happy to embrace all the passion of his new conjugal relationship, but quite soon, it's clear that he resents this passionate release, and he also resents the cause of it. Jamaica represents a lawless, uninhibited place, and he verves away from it as one makes a conscious choice to avoid bad habits. He simply can't grasp the servants' status. He gives an order and expects it to be mildly obeyed--instead he meets sullen resistance. He doesn't understand the history of slavery on the island, the slave revolts or the inevitable consequences.
"Jane Eyre" is one of my favourite novels, so when I heard that "Wide Sargasso Sea" picked up the Jane Eyre story, I was fascinated. Visually, the film is stunningly beautiful. Edward's nightmares are eerie and beautifully photographed. Somehow the film captures the essence of the theme--rot and decay at the heart of beauty. It's a little cheesy in parts, but the film also delves into some rich food for thought--the Victorian suppression of sexuality, and the results of imperialism, for example. Not many books or films can interject into an established story both seamlessly and effectively, but "Wide Sargasso Sea" manages to do just that. Edward Rochester always seemed a bit on the shady side to me, and "Wide Sargasso Sea" explores many of the unanswered questions left by Charlotte Bronte's masterpiece--displacedhuman
Rating:
Summary: Gonna Make You Sweat
Review: Few films get as steamy as this one and still manage to convey any kind of story; kudos to Nathaniel Parker and Karina Lombard, who flawlessly pull off a difficult period piece.What makes this film work is the progression of events; madness as depicted by tangleweed, temperature, voodoo/black magic, lust, etc. makes for a tantalizing feature, but none of it would work if the acting wasn't up to par. Having read "Jane Eyre" a long time ago, I always thought it would be a great idea to create a story based on Rochester's psychotic wife, and how she got that way. Steamy, superb drama for those of you who like a little subversion in your lives...
Rating: 
Summary: Wide Sargasso Sea
Review: I have read the novel, and lived in the West indies for half my life, and have seen another version of the material. So this film could have been alot more real for me. I admire the work of John Duigan especially for his striving for authenticity but, for those who do not know the West Indies, remember to appreciate this work as a great effort of an 'outsider'. I can see why this film could even be great for someone not familiar with the territory but for me it was somewhat contrived.
Rating: 
Summary: To buy or not to buy
Review: I was dispointed from seying this movie. After seing Wild Orchid movies, 9 182 weeks movies and two moon junction movies i was expecting Wide Sargo Sea to be a great movie after seing the editorial about it. The course of the movie was really good but near the end when she looses everything was tragic to mee. I did not get the point of this movie. it's worth renting. But I certainly would not buy it.
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Summary: Revisionist......rubbish
Review: I was forced to read this book as part of a course on comparative literature to get the "other side" of the story. The film version is soft core drivel to boot.
Rating: 
Summary: read the book!
Review: once again, a classic novel made into a terrible film. nothing good about this one i'm sorry to say (even end of the affair was better, but then again, that was a better book), on top of everything acting is almost to the point of caricature. and not erotic in the least, not even the saving grace of some decent sex scenes!
Rating:
Summary: Nothing but soft porn
Review: The novel of Wide Sargasso Sea was decent book. A re-writing of Jane Eyre's Bertha. But the film is really hard to tolerate. It starts out ok. Although it seems to start deviating from the book early on. Past the point where Antoinette marries Rochester the film turns in to nothing but soft porn and the acting gets worse too.
Rating: 
Summary: Best film on the Caribbean
Review: This film is quite faithful to the tone and flow of the novel, which is now recognized as one of the great novels of the 20th century. I have been living in the Caribbean for the past year, and by doing so have more than ever begun to recognize the genius of this film. The film has a haunting quantity, and one can just feel the humid and seething sensuality of the place. The casting is wonderful, and the heroine is is a casting gem. She truly captures the vulnerability, possessiveness, and tragic qualities of Rhys' character. There really is no film that I know of that better captures the sense of the Caribbean as it was in the 18th/19th century better than this. A must see for those interested in the period, or the background to Jane Eyre.
Rating:
Summary: Romantic, hypnotic, stunning!
Review: This is quite the movie to see if you are into romantic drama. I loved it. It made my heart skip a beat, it made me cry. Don't miss it, but make sure you have a tissue handy!
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Summary: Beautiful look at clash of cultures
Review: This movie captures the eye throughout with beautiful scenery, colors and people. Though generally described as a sexy romance, the movie really looks at the clash of staid British culture (and imperialism) with the more emotional and erotic African/Creole peoples in the Caribbean. Not a perfect film, but filled with passion.
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