Jane Eyre (1997) Review

If you haven't seen or read Jane Eyre, I'd say this is a good place to start. This adaptation stays true to the books and is easy to get invested in with the beautiful soundtrack and cinematography, even if it is a little old. It also paints Mr. Rochester as a man who has both a good and bad side, a sensitive and angry side. It takes longer to love him in the books, and it's far too easy to love him in the 2011 movie, so this version is by far my favourite.

But I am a fan of anything Jane Eyre, so whether it's this movie or not, it's a story you don't want to miss out on.
Jane Eyre is a classic for a reason!

Spoilers! Watch it before reading on!

Like any movie adapted from a book, it misses a lot of important details and scenes. One thing I would have loved to see is Jane's struggle after leaving Thornfield, how people take her in, and how they turn out to be her cousins. She never had a family, and while they did include St. John's character, they ignored their relationship. It looked like they tried to add a family element by her getting to see portraits of her deceased father and uncle, but it wasn't the same. The three cousins and her got along well, with their mutual thirst for knowledge, so having that omitted, as well as Diana's character altogether, was upsetting.

They also left out the part where Mr. Rochester dresses as a fortune teller and tries to trick Jane into admitting her feelings for him, which... I'm not going to lie, I'm glad wasn't included. Reading it was weird, but to see the actor dressed as a creepy lady would have been too much, and taken away from the seriousness of their relationship. It also added to the reasons he was kind of a prick, so, good job making movie Mr. Rochester more likeable.

In fact, William Hurt made the character of Mr. Rochester all around better. He kept his arrogant and angry moments, but he wasn't as cold as he was in the books. In the movie, you can see in his eyes how he loves her, not just through his actions or words. After she saved him from the fire, he gave her his cloak and held onto her hands and it was such a soft moment, and you could see his hurt when she tries to just leave him without so much as a goodnight. He and Jane have visible chemistry, and the age gap in the movie didn't seen so severe, I believe they also made her 20 instead of 18.

Another good movie addition that wasn't from the book was when Jane drew a picture of him for Adele. It also gave an opening for the notable line, "Do you think me handsome?" and "No, sir." because she was studying him for the sketch. When he looked at it and saw how dark and rugged she drew him, he again looked hurt. Another reason for him to think Jane doesn't like him back. The line, "the shadows are as important as the light" was also a beautiful addition, I'm surprised that line didn't come straight from the book! It reflects their relationship so well.

As for Adele, she was a charming and sweet little girl, but looked older than 10. In the books she was around 8, so if they wanted to cast someone older, I wish they stated that in the movie without trying to stick to the books. But she was still how I pictured her, and pulled off the daughter-of-a-French-dancer thing well. She was even more lovable when at the party, when everyone is putting down governesses, she looked at them sadly. At the end of the books, she is still sent to school, but Jane makes sure it's one where she's happy. In the movies, Adele lives with them as their own child, and that is a much happier ending.

Young Jane was casted well too, and they did a good job with her relationship with Ms. Temple and Helen. The scene where Helen dies was heartbreaking. I wish they spent more time building up Helen's character as one wise beyond her years, but they only focused on the sweet and peaceful side of her. In the books it was her insight on life that helped Jane become who she is, but I'd say that was still incorporated in the scene where Jane is at the graveyard and transitions from 10 to 20, showing she never forgot her first friend.

Things that could have been executed better in the movie are when they are finally expressing how they want to be together, and Mr. Rochester holds Jane and says she is "clawing like a caged bird"... first of all, how dare you. In the book he says, "Jane, be still; don't struggle so like a wild, frantic bird, that is rending its own plumage in its desperation" which is just to say that she shouldn't be struggling. The movie makes it sound like she shouldn't be trying to free herself, stay trapped, stay obedient. No thanks.

Then, at the wedding, Mr. Mason and Mr. Briggs come in with no real motivation except being shit disturbers. In the books, they came to stop the wedding for Jane's sake, because her uncle was worried about her entering a bigamist marriage. Mr. Mason was described as someone who wouldn't want to hurt Mr. Rochester, he trusted him, so letting it be known that he was doing it on behalf of Jane's Uncle aligns better with his character.

After the wedding, it's all very rushed. Jane runs away without ever confronting Mr. Rochester which isn't in her character. Then as he runs after her carriage, he realized his house in burning, and he looks back and forth between in and her carriage - and chooses his house and legal wife. It might have added some excitement to the story and showed him as a hero, but making it look like he gave up on her, ouff. That stung. The book was the one that brought me to tears, because it was drawn out, and when she left him, she did it in the night. She stood outside his room and could hear and pacing and sighing and had to resist the temptation to go in and comfort him. It was a demonstration of both strength and empathy, instead of having her take off somewhat cowardly.

Even with all these changes, I can still appreciate this adaptation of Jane Eyre. I love the casting, specifically Jane Eyre who was exactly how I pictured her, and the general vibes I get from the show. The ending brought me to tears, it was so beautiful. I hope I can say the same for the next version I watch!

Find my review on the Jane Eyre book here,
or my review on the 1971 Jane Eyre here.