SIOBHAN, I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU.
Your defense of Rochester is PERFECT, and exactly why I can still love the character, the story, and the romance as much as I do. And everything you've said about Jane and why you love her? PERFECT AND TRUTH.
I HAD NO IDEA CIARAN HAD PLAYED ROCHESTER BEFORE OMFG TO NETFLIX I GO STRAIGHT AWAYS PLEASE BE STREAMING INSTANT.
And Toby. Toooooobbbbbbbbbyyyyyyy. I have such a thing for Toby Stephens, OH MY GAWD, the man broods and smolders so wonderfully. But I had no idea that he was Maggie Smith's son! DUDE. That makes him even more interesting and fabulous now.
I loved Ruth's take on Jane, too, she was exactly right in my eyes. So fierce and strong and determined.
Last I heard, the BBC is doing an adaptation with Mia Wasikowska (Alice from Burton's Alice in Wonderland) as Jane and Michael Fassbender as Rochester. Which I could absolutely get behind, because I think Mia can look very plain and severe and FASSBENDER BROODS AND ANGSTS IN SUCH A DELICIOUS WAY. Mmmmm
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NO, I HAVE NOT SEEN THE JOAN FONTAINE ORSON WELLES VERSION AND I WANT TO BECAUSE THE IDEA OF ORSON AS MR. ROCHESTER EQUALS TOTALLY AWESOME.
Yay, I'm glad someone else loves the 2006 version too. It gets a lot of flack for sexing up the story so much. BUT IT'S SO AWESOME AND HAWWWWWWT AND I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Toby Stephens is teeeeeeeeeeerrribly sexy in it. Jeez Louise, it's getting hot in here!
I am all for the BBC making a new adaptation of Jane Eyre every single year. I think the more, the merrier, especially coming from that particular corner of the world!!!!
Ruth Wilson = so much love. She's just so fiery. I love it I love it I love it.
Seriously, WATCH THE CIARAN HINDS VERSION. It's absolutely fantastical. You will enjoy it so much. His Mr. Rochester... DAMN.
I know, I know, I need to read the book!!! I will, I promise!!!
OH GOD I OWN IT ON VHS IT IS FUCKING FABULOUS. THE ATMOSPHERE. THE COSTUMES. ORSON BEING ALL UNHINGED AND BROODY UGH.
This is a story that I am TOTALLY FINE with people sexing up because HOT DAMN, when you get two leads that have chemistry like Stephens and Wilson had, IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL TO NOT HAVE THEM MAKE OUT REPEATEDLY IN THE RAIN. Jane and Rochester have such an intense, passionate relationship, I feel like sexing up the story doesn't damage it at ALL.
Gawddamn, but when Toby and Ruth are lying on the bed and he's fingering the collar of her dress... and his fingers dip a bit... and she gasps for breath... as Angie would say, UNF...
Yay, the Orson Welles version is out on DVD! It actually wasn't for a very long time. Methinks I should have to add it to my Christmas wishlist. Orson Welles is so sexy. Well, I think so anyway.
There is mucho mucho kissing in the rain in the Ciaran Hinds version as well. After talking about it this much, I think I need to rewatch it too.
Seriously, I'm so happy others like this version as well. Before posting this review, I read an incredibly well-written yet scathing condemnation of the 2006 version that made me feel guilty for liking it as much as I do.
The 2006 version totally floored me and brought me to tears numerous times, much like the book did. I really have to see it again. It's the only other adaptation besides the Welles/Fontaine one (WHICH IS REQUIRED VIEWING) that I've seen, and I just had to go dig up what I wrote about it in my LJ when it aired on PBS
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Second of all, everything you've said is what makes the story/these great adaptations so amazing. It's such a slow, delicious build, which makes it so believable!
Uh, YEAH TOBY STEPHENS WAS SO HOT AS MR. ROCHESTER. And yes! Aren't flawed heros so much more interesting than squeaky clean heros?
When I rewatched the 2006 version last week, I actually watched it on my laptop in bed, late at night, with all the lights off. It was a very intimate experience, and it made me, somehow, more personally connected to the story.
Lovely review! I adore the 2006 version, for the reason you so brilliantly described- Ruth Wilson's Jane is beautifully strong and passionate beneath the coldness of the boundaries the world has forced her to create. What I loved was the way she and Rochester laughed and joked together. You could see he was more comfortable with her than with anyone else. The whole "Give me my money back" "No, I do not trust you" exchange is adorable (and in the book, almost unchanged). I think Toby Stephens' "And then this girl appeared" speech did a perfect job showing what you describe about why Rochester does what he does- he's suffocating in this life tied to Bertha, and Jane is such a breath of fresh air he just can't help falling in love with her and deciding to marry her.
I know I've seen the 1994 version, but I really don't remember much. I must have liked it, to make the time for the book and the 2006 version. I do believe I'll put the 1997 version on my queue. And I may have to pop my 2006 DVDs in for a viewing tonight.
Re: the Jane/Rochester interplay - I totally agree with you, and that's exactly what I find so winning in the 2006 version. How very comfortable they are with one another, laughing and joking, as you say! It feels so incredibly modern, yet doesn't seem to violate the strictures of the time period.
Please don't bother with the 1994 version. BUT the 1997 version is worth taking a gander at! And after all this discussion of the 2006 Jane Eyre, I kinda want to rewatch it again - even though I just rewatched it a week ago!
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Your defense of Rochester is PERFECT, and exactly why I can still love the character, the story, and the romance as much as I do. And everything you've said about Jane and why you love her? PERFECT AND TRUTH.
I HAD NO IDEA CIARAN HAD PLAYED ROCHESTER BEFORE OMFG TO NETFLIX I GO STRAIGHT AWAYS PLEASE BE STREAMING INSTANT.
And Toby. Toooooobbbbbbbbbyyyyyyy. I have such a thing for Toby Stephens, OH MY GAWD, the man broods and smolders so wonderfully. But I had no idea that he was Maggie Smith's son! DUDE. That makes him even more interesting and fabulous now.
I loved Ruth's take on Jane, too, she was exactly right in my eyes. So fierce and strong and determined.
Last I heard, the BBC is doing an adaptation with Mia Wasikowska (Alice from Burton's Alice in Wonderland) as Jane and Michael Fassbender as Rochester. Which I could absolutely get behind, because I think Mia can look very plain and severe and FASSBENDER BROODS AND ANGSTS IN SUCH A DELICIOUS WAY. Mmmmm ( ... )
Reply
Yay, I'm glad someone else loves the 2006 version too. It gets a lot of flack for sexing up the story so much. BUT IT'S SO AWESOME AND HAWWWWWWT AND I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Toby Stephens is teeeeeeeeeeerrribly sexy in it. Jeez Louise, it's getting hot in here!
I am all for the BBC making a new adaptation of Jane Eyre every single year. I think the more, the merrier, especially coming from that particular corner of the world!!!!
Ruth Wilson = so much love. She's just so fiery. I love it I love it I love it.
Seriously, WATCH THE CIARAN HINDS VERSION. It's absolutely fantastical. You will enjoy it so much. His Mr. Rochester... DAMN.
I know, I know, I need to read the book!!! I will, I promise!!!
Reply
This is a story that I am TOTALLY FINE with people sexing up because HOT DAMN, when you get two leads that have chemistry like Stephens and Wilson had, IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL TO NOT HAVE THEM MAKE OUT REPEATEDLY IN THE RAIN. Jane and Rochester have such an intense, passionate relationship, I feel like sexing up the story doesn't damage it at ALL.
I ADDED IT TO MY QUEUE I CAN'T WAIT.
Reply
Yay, the Orson Welles version is out on DVD! It actually wasn't for a very long time. Methinks I should have to add it to my Christmas wishlist. Orson Welles is so sexy. Well, I think so anyway.
There is mucho mucho kissing in the rain in the Ciaran Hinds version as well. After talking about it this much, I think I need to rewatch it too.
Seriously, I'm so happy others like this version as well. Before posting this review, I read an incredibly well-written yet scathing condemnation of the 2006 version that made me feel guilty for liking it as much as I do.
Reply
Reply
Second of all, everything you've said is what makes the story/these great adaptations so amazing. It's such a slow, delicious build, which makes it so believable!
Uh, YEAH TOBY STEPHENS WAS SO HOT AS MR. ROCHESTER. And yes! Aren't flawed heros so much more interesting than squeaky clean heros?
When I rewatched the 2006 version last week, I actually watched it on my laptop in bed, late at night, with all the lights off. It was a very intimate experience, and it made me, somehow, more personally connected to the story.
Reply
I AM HAPPY ALL OVER AFTER READING THIS COMMENT.
And I love/agree with everything you said as to why these particular stories just DO IT for me.
Also, because it must always be said: Unffffffffff TOBY STEPHENS.
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I know I've seen the 1994 version, but I really don't remember much. I must have liked it, to make the time for the book and the 2006 version. I do believe I'll put the 1997 version on my queue. And I may have to pop my 2006 DVDs in for a viewing tonight.
Reply
Please don't bother with the 1994 version. BUT the 1997 version is worth taking a gander at! And after all this discussion of the 2006 Jane Eyre, I kinda want to rewatch it again - even though I just rewatched it a week ago!
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