Jane Eyre

Last night, I was lucky enough to see a preview screening of the new film adaptation of Jane Eyre. I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you all to SEE IT! It's a really beautiful film, matching the even more beautiful story.

If you haven't read the novel (you idiot... just kidding), there are a few parts that are a bit confusing because they brush over them in a quick manner.

And the end... well... I'll just say it reminded me a bit of the ending of Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice in that it strayed away from what happens in the novel and is altogether stupid. BUT, that said, everything else in the film was glorious!

Jane Eyre is a very Gothic piece-- creaks in the floorboards, mysterious voices in the night, howling winds, the whole shebang. I loved all of those aspects. The filmmaker, Cary Fukunaga, captured the bleak moors, the foggy landscape, the dreary Thornfield Hall, so perfectly. The landscapes really draw you in from the beginning till the end.

Mia Wasikowska plays Jane Eyre so very well. She's such a complex character. Seemingly very strong and virtuous, which can be kind of a turn-off. It's like, how am I supposed to relate to this girl who doesn't seem to struggle with the decisions she faces? But Wasikowska provided glimpses of weakness, of doubt, and of longing.

And there's Michael Fassbender, playing another classically complex literary character, that of Mr. Rochester. Dear God. The man plays the hell out of this role. He's perfect. He's very attractive. I've never really known what I'm supposed to think of Mr. R. He's cocky and charming, harsh and demanding, tortured, deceitful... And sexy. I mean, it's clear both in the book and in the film that Jane's very attracted to him; she could have gone to India with a nice, non-game-playing man like St. John Rivers (played cutely by Jamie Bell), but she can't help but love that bastard, Mr. Rochester.

The above still is my favorite part of the film, I think. I'm contemplating seeing it again, just for that scene. It's right after Jane saves Rochester when his room is mysteriously on fire, and they have..... a real moment. It's hot. In the period-piece sense, of course.

So tell me, are you familiar with the story of Jane Eyre? What do you think of it?