Spoiler alert.

Went to see Jane Eyre last night, after much anticipation.  I really wanted to love this film, I was very excited to go and see it as I have read the book a few times and it is a firm favourite.  But, to be honest, no, I didn’t love it.

On the plus side:

The casting is really good.  I thought Michael Fassbender was an excellent choice, probably a bit too good looking to be true to the novel’s Mr Rochester but I think I can forgive him that!  Mia Wasikowska made a very appropriate Jane.  I don’t think you could describe Mia as plain but they’ve made a good job of ‘drabbing her down’ for the film and she is young enough and manages to convey the naive otherworldliness that Jane would really have exuded after spending so many years at Lowood.  And, Judi Dench of course was amazing, as ever, the expression on her face for some scenes was priceless and with veryfew words whatsoever she was actually in danger of stealing the show!

The cinematography is beautiful and the locations superb.  The scenes on the moors, the picturesque gardens and the stately homes are breathtaking.  It really is a gorgeous period drama.

On the downside.  Although I thought the two main characters were well cast I didn’t particularly think they displayed any chemistry on film.  Individually, their performances are good but together I just wasn’t feeling it.  I guess this is difficult to capture but at the end of the day Jane Eyre is a love story and you have to believe the feeling is there.

Visually, the film is quite superb but I wonder whether we ended up sacrificing some of the much needed story and dialogue in order to sit looking at the beauty of the moors, or curtains blowing in the breeze or a flower gently drifting from a tree to the ground below!  I think we lost a bit too much of the story and in doing so I’m not convinced that this film is totally easy to follow.  Okay, it was easy for me and will be for many others, who have read the book, but what about viewers who haven’t done so?  I found myself filling in the missing bits in my own head and obviously I know what the emotions are that the characters are feeling but I don’t think this really came across.  I think if you were not already familiar with the story this film would feel disjointed and you would have to make huge leaps to fit the story together and come to the realisation that Jane and Mr Rochester are in love.

The other thing which was lost in translation was the gothic and creepy feel of the novel.  Let’s not forget that we have somebody locked away in this huge dark mansion.  Somebody who escapes occasionally and runs through the corridors screeching and causing mischief.  I didn’t get any real sense of the mansion being dark or creepy.  Even the scene where Jane is left to tend the wounds of somebody injured whilst visiting the mansion is rather flat and yet this is supposed to be a terrifying experience where Jane can hear something or someone on the other side of the door!

I think that this is probably a difficult story to fit into this timeframe.  And, I don’t think it was helped by leaving out Jane’s narration (which helps to explain some of her own actions and feelings).  Also, the natural order of the story was changed around with the story being partly told using flashbacks which I didn’t feel was an essential change.  If it’s not broke don’t fix it after all.

Finally, the ending was totally rushed and over virtually in minutes (if not seconds).

So, for me personally, this is definitely one of those occasions where there is no competition between the book and the film.  I did think this film was quite good just not as good as I expected/wanted it to be.  Maybe my expectations were too high at the end of the day but I just think whilst this is a very beautifully shot film the love doesn’t come across nor does the gothic feel.

I would recommend this film – particularly to those already familiar with the novel or previous.  I’m probably being over critical although I would love to know whether this film is understandable to somebody who is new to the story or ends up being a ‘film for fans’.

Jane Eyre

Rating 3.5/5