Jane Eyre

Rating:
Summary: Bare Bones Writing
Review: This version of Jane Eyre bored me. The acting was okay but i didn't feel any chemistry or love between Jane and Mr. Rochester. It seemed more like they were just saying the lines, but there was no emotion or feelings with them. Jane's face didn't show much emotion either, and this annoyed me after a while. The scenes at the school and beautiful scenery and costumes are good, but if you are going to watch a version of Jane Eyre currently available on dvd please watch the A & E version with Samantha Morton as Jane Eyre instead. That movie is 10 times better. I look forward to watching the Timothy Dalton version when it comes out in dvd too.

Rating:
Summary: Very Good, but not a faithful adaptation
Review: Zeffirelli's sweeping vistas and beautifully shot scenery lend to the feeling that you are watching a classic. Charlotte Gainsbourg's Jane is probably my favorite portrayal of the intelligent, witty, plain governess yet. William Hurt is passable as Mr. Rochester, however, the version starring Timothy Dalton has a much more convincing and considerable Mr. Rochester. In fact, the version starring Timothy Dalton, in passion, plot and character development, and faithfulness to the book far surpasses all the other versions available on DVD today. I believe it is impossible to cram all the amazing and beautiful dialogue between Jane and Mr. Rochester into a 2 hour film, however this version does try and nearly succeeds. Enjoyable, but not a faithful portrayal of the book.

Rating:
Summary: Utter Disappointment
Review: I had just finished the novel before watching this version of Jane Eyre and I was totally disappointed by the weak attempt to portray its depth in film. It was a thin, papery frame, really, of the events in the novel - it left out SO much and the characters were so terribly under developed. Jane, thoughout the novel, is so delicately molded into a fun, teasing, and brilliant young lady and Mr. Rochester into a passionately devoted man. In the movie, NONE of this took place - Mr. Rochester was too quiet and mean, and Jane was entirely too BORING! She had one tone and one way of acting - portraying absolutely NO DEPTH! Scenes that are supposed to develop their relationship were completely deleted, the ending was rushed, etc, etc. Overall, not good!

Rating:
Summary: The Best Love Story Ever
Review: I absolutely loved this very warm, loving,tear jerking movie.
It was everything you could want in a love story. The first time I saw it on cable I knew I had to have it. I really really enjoyed this movie, I thought it was perfected love.

Rating:
Summary: Not a very good version of Jane Eyre
Review: I have a big problem when the screenwriters and directors take liberties with my favorite books.

The glaring error of this version has to be William Hurt as Rochester. Although Mr.Hurt is a capable actor, he doesn't look at all the way Mr.Rochester is portrayed in the novel. Rochester should be a dark haired, brooding character. He has been far better represented on film by Orson Welles and Timothy Dalton. I personally prefer a British actor to be in this role, as well.

Blanche Ingram is supposed to be black haired. Although the average reader would not know why, this is a very important part of Victoriana. Black hair in this time period was considered the apex of beauty. Blanche is supposed to be the most beautiful women in the town.

I didn't care for the omissions of plot or character, either. The whole section where Jane meets the Rivers family is rushed. We never find out she is their cousin.

Jane Eyre is one of my favorite books and I keep looking for faithful versions of the film. Someday someone will make one. This one is just "so-so"