Jane Eyre- March 11th 2011

[detective392]

Just saw the trailer and I got to say movie looks really good and I can't wait to see it. Never have read the book so not sure how close they are with the movie adaption.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810161778/video/22939910

[Holmes]

I'm so excited for this. It has a top-notch cast and a fresh, talented director (he last made Sin Nombre, an enthralling crime drama). It could be the best screen version of this story ever.

I love how it seems to emphasize the gothic horror elements of the novel.

[detective392]

Originally Posted by Holmes

I'm so excited for this. It has a top-notch cast and a fresh, talented director (he last made Sin Nombre, an enthralling crime drama). It could be the best screen version of this story ever.

I love how it seems to emphasize the gothic horror elements of the novel.

Yeah that's one part of the trailer that just sucked me in and made me realized I had to see this was the gothic horror elements from the trailer.

[benzgrl]

I saw this last night and I absolutely loved it! Mia Wasikowska was brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!

I give it a 4.5 out of 5, but I will round it up to 5 for our polls sake. The only reason I say 4.5 is because

[Show spoiler]I wish there would have been a bit more development and time put into the scenes w/ Jane & Rochester as their love grows. But they did an excellent job of fitting much of Jane's background story in 2 hours where it didn't filled rushed or chopped or missing important elements of the story.

The music is amazing, the scenery, film locations, wonderfully shot. A film I could go see again.

As far as the gothic horror elements,

[Show spoiler]it really was not gothic horror at all; it was a realistic darkness and fearfulness (but darker than any Jane Eyre ever made I believe)

which I was very happy about.

To the OP or Mods, could you please add a poll to this thread, I did a search and there was no other thread for this movie, thanks.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Holmes

I'm so excited for this. It has a top-notch cast and a fresh, talented director (he last made Sin Nombre, an enthralling crime drama). It could be the best screen version of this story ever.

I love how it seems to emphasize the gothic horror elements of the novel.

I'm excited for it as well, predominately because of the director (Sin Nombre was excellent).

[Idioteque...]

I'm not sure if this is for those who love classic lit or it can appeal as a movie for everyone. I wasn't fond of the other Bronte sister novel, Wuthering Heights, so I'm wary about this film. I might give it a rent, I like Fassbender.

[Holmes]

I absolutely loved it.

Whether you have read Charlotte Brontë's beloved novel--for pleasure or for school--or seen one of the several film adaptations (the '40s version with Joan Fontaine and Orson Welles, the '90s version with Charlotte Gainsbourg and a very miscast William Hurt, or another), chances are at least the main characters and basic plot of Jane Eyre are ingrained in your mind.

Now you can see what has long eluded the courtship of plain Jane and her brooding, haunted lover, Rochester: a perfect cinematic embodiment, driven by two well-matched stars (and it is hard to imagine a finer pair than Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender) and helmed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (Sin Nombre), a superb young director who has clear and present reverence for Brontë's venerable tome, yet is also unafraid to condense, challenge, and personalize it when he wishes. [...]

No stranger to inhabiting iconic female characters (she, of course, rose to fame playing Alice in Tim Burton's film last year), Mia Wasikowska is stellar as Jane Eyre. Though certain members of the Brontë faithful may claim she is too attractive for the role, I can't imagine any of them arguing she doesn't nail the role's every emotional beat. Jane is a character with enormous inner strength, a fierce conviction born of trial and tribulation, but also a certain vulnerability. It's a blend Wasikowska projects with ease.

And Fassbender creates by far the best screen Rochester I've seen. Welles' grand-posturing, anachronistic portrayal nearly consumed that entire movie, while Hurt's mild interpretation was just odd. Fassbender, however, delivers an athletic, charismatic, fiery, and dashingly misanthropic performance which is completely in step with the overall movie. Plus, he shares a touching chemistry with Wasikowska. The key scene where Rochester proposes to an upset, planning-to-leave Jane ("I have known you, Mr. Rochester, and it strikes me with anguish to be torn from you") is a heartstrings wrencher of the highest order, acted to perfection by the leads.

The supporting cast, including Judi Dench as housekeeper Mrs. Fairfax, is well-chosen and utilized. None of them overshadow or overwhelm the stars, but each leaves an impression. Best is Amelia Clarkson, a vivacious presence in her few scenes as Young Jane.

Fukunaga's direction is spot-on. It balances two extremes--Masterpiece Theatre formalism and Baz Luhrmann-esque modernity. Balance is a good word to describe this film general, from its technical presentation to Buffini's writing. The film is both a swooning love story and a gothic tale of madness and mystery, and neither side is shortchanged. Many viewers may be surprised how frightening the film is, in fact. There are passages of horror-movie intensity, including a trip through the dense forest surrounding Thornfield, full of shadows, strange noises, and suggested menace.

Full review here: http://www.worldofkj.com/article.php?i=156

[thelittleprince]

I love it but wished it was longer; many characters weren't fleshed out and even the leads' romance seem to happen prematurely. I may read the novel one of these days but love the casting of Mia, Fassbender and Jamie Bell.