JANE EYRE

Ma's View:

How wonderful when a film lives up to the hype! This version of "Jane Eyre" captures all the passion and tragedy of the story with its dark, gothic overtones, set in the gloomy mansion of Thornfield Hall in the middle of the wild and desolate Yorkshire moors.  Against such a backdrop, the actors might be challenged to make their mark but not so!  Mia Wasikowska gives a brilliantly nuanced performance as the steadfast Jane while Michael Fassbender is her match in intensity and passion as the ill-starred Edward Fairfax Rochester.

Of course, some of the other characters in this almost-melodrama are caricatures but well-played and believable ones:  Sally Hawkins as the wicked aunt; Judi Dench as the faithful housekeeper; Simon McBurney as the cruel schoolmaster.  The pace is measured and sure, drawing the viewer into this world of long ago when a woman's future was dependent on some male provider and the only role left for an orphan girl was to become a governess.

Director Cary Fukunaga has handled the material with precision, remaining faithful to the novel, while enhancing the storyline with creative sequencing.  I want to go back and see it again!  And read the novel all over.

My score:   9/10

Pepe's View:

High Romance on the Yorkshire moors!  I must admit at the outset that I nodded off at the beginning such is the pace of this film and when I woke after about 20 min was able to mostly follow the remainder of the film.  It is beautifully filmed with every shot meticulously planned and lit.  It is visually a cinematic masterpiece and the performances especially from Mia Wasikowska as Jane, who is Australian incidently, are remarkable.  Of course, as for all similar romances, it all ends happily and love conquers all.  Set against a backdrop of the position of women in society and how dependant they all were on men, the independence of Jane can be seen as very revolutionary.  Interestingly, for all her independence, she is quick to accept marriage to a man although in the end she ends up with someone who is totally dependant on her.  Such is the power of love!

My Score:  7.5/10