being jane eyre
i knew right where to get it on my shelf at home. the book that is, not the movie. the new "jane eyre" is fine. i understand it's hard to develop character in two hours. it was a good film but in defense of charlotte bronte, i thought there was a bit too much crying. the whole melancholic wandering-over-moors bit, ok. but really, what carries this book is the sparring banter between rochester and jane! i'm sorry, but one visit in high-back chairs next to the fire is not enough time for them to break down the wall of their souls and, ahem, fall in love by the next scene. kudos that dame judi dench shows up as mrs. fairfax; quite redeeming with this critic. here is an excerpt from the book, however, that i would have liked to see more of, "i both wished and feared to see mr. rochester on the day which followed this sleepless night: i wanted to hear his voice again, yet feared to meet his eye." jane herself, chapter 16, page 155. several lovely cinematic moments. and it's got me reading the classic again. if you need me, i'll be out wandering the moors.
In the movie's defense, this may just be the best Mr. Rochester ever cast in an adaptation. He had the brooding, manic, angsty, intensively (intrusively) curious, arrogant qualities that make me love and hate Mr. Rochester all at once. He's one of those people whose intensity, when focused on you, would be extremely flattering and seductive and yet completely smothering. Loved this actor! He was brilliant. I just wish we'd seen more of him.
ReplyDeletethanks for the blog banter here--a good, rousing discussion! he was a good brooder, i agree. and could be tender quickly; like a sudden spring storm and then the sun...let me know what else he might be playing in? i'm enjoying rereading the book!
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