Jane Eyre (2011) - my reluctant review

I've stated before how much I dislike writing reviews but in this case, I feel the need to add my two cents to the many reviews out there so that anyone who hasn't seen it yet might avoid the disappointment that I felt after having seen it.

Let me just say that when I heard they were planning an adaptation of Jane Eyre, my first reaction was that it was unnecessary and too soon after the 2006 series with Toby Stephens and Ruth Wilson. As more information was provided by Focus Features (to excess in my opinion), I became more enthused about seeing the film with Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender. I was especially encouraged when I read some reviews from those who are avid fans of the book giving it a hearty thumbs up.

Perhaps it was because I ventured out to the theatre with such high expectations that it made it impossible for the film to match up to them. Was the film bad? Certainly not, it was a top notch production with beautiful cinematography and solid performances from Mia and Michael (and Judi Dench). But it failed to impress me as a whole. Some have mentioned that the film was too cut up with the scenes going back and forth in time. I didn't mind that for the most part as I realized the director had to try to fit in so much of the book's plot in the short time allotted for a feature film. And yet other times, these little snippets of scenes failed to capture enough of the plot or the character's emotions. One of my biggest frustrations were the long drawn out pauses which seemed an attempt to create a mood which I would have gladly traded away for more time spent on filling in the many holes left in the plot.

I can't help but compare it to the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice which had the same challenge of trying to cover so much detail in a short time. Although that film is not one of my top favoured period dramas, I think it did succeed in capturing the essence and spirit of its novel in the condensed time of a feature film.

I know there are plenty of people out there who have thoroughly enjoyed the new Jane Eyre, I just want to caution some of you that it might not be all you had hoped it would. And if you go see it, I hope that you will love it and feel free to disagree with me!