Jane Eyre (MPAA rated PG-13)

Review

 Jane Eyre is rated PG-13 for "some thematic elements including a nude image and brief violent content."  I think that the MPAA needs to reconfigure their rating scales....there is no WAY that "Sucker Punch" and "Jane Eyre" should have the same rating!  I'm just sayin!

OK on to the actual review:  Jane Eyre is a classic story about a young woman who grows through adversity, leading herself to happiness which is then wrenched from her.   It has been done countless times on screen, and this is one of the better incarcations.  Not the BEST, but pretty good. 

Mia Wasikowska plays Jane, a plain young woman with no connections who takes a job as governess for the young ward of the mysterious Mr. Rochester (played by Michael Fassbender). Hired by the housekeeper, Mr.' Fairfax (as portrayed by the ever-amazing Dame Judi Dench),  she meets her employer only after spooking his horse on a lonely lane, landing him with a sprained ankle and an interest in the ethereal sprite who he finds in his employ. 

First I must make a special mention about the casting of this version.  It is absolutely gorgeous!  Mia Wasikowska does a splendid job of creating a quiet strength in the character of Jane that is simple, honest, and true to the spirit of the book.  Likewise Michael Fassbender, thank heavens, is NOT handsome, but is highly charismatic and strong,  guiding his version of Mr. Rochester just as honestly alongside Jane.    Dame Judi Dench...well, she's Judi Dench.....there's nothing more to say! 

As for the screenplay, I am a bad person to ask about that.  They sacrificed many of my favorite parts of the book in order to fit the movie into its 2 hour slot, but they did stay true to the feel of the story.  This rendition starts in an odd place, backtracking through both short and extensive flashbacks to catch up with itself,  which is both interesting and slightly annoying.  It also ends far too abruptly, and I have to wonder how much of the movie is lying sadly on a cutting room floor somewhere.  It feels slightly lacking in places; but again, I don't know if that is because I know the book backwards and forwards, or because it is actually lacking....you will have to decide that for yourselves!

The costuming is also lovely.  BBC always does a fantastic job with creating realistic period costuming, and they did a beautiful job with it once again! 

All in all, this is a beautiful telling of a beautiful story, portrayed beautifully by talented actors in a beautiful location!  I wished fervently for more, and walked out of the theater feeling serenely happy.  I give the movie 5 stars.  I wished for more, and wouldn't have minded sitting there for another hour to see some of the cut scenes...I am praying for a director's cut version when it comes to DVD!  I am also planning on showing this version to my daughters and hoping that they become interested in the story because of it and finally read the book!

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For the Moms
Language:  Thanks to the writers sticking pretty close to the book, there is no serious language in this movie.  References are made to Hell, and that is about as bad as the language gets.

Nudity: Part of the PG-13 rating is due to the image of a painting of a naked woman (I'm not an art person, aside from just liking it, but think of Michaelangelo paintings....those kinds of nudes).  Other than the painting, the likes of which are in many museums aroun the world, there is nothing.

Violence:  there is a crazy woman in the movie who sets the house on fire twice, and Mr. Rochester attacks another character in a moment of passion. There are also  brief images of children being caned during school, and fighting amongst one another.

Boys will like this movie because Mr. Rochester is a man's man; strong, confident and very in charge. 

Girls will like this movie because it has a wonderfully romantic storyline, headed by a strong, solid woman who possesses grace and poise. 

Topics for Discussion
In the movie, Jane does not turn out to be a bad person at all, despite her difficult upbringing and all of the losses which she endures as a child.  Why do you think that she became a kind, good person instead of letting the abuse turn her into a mean person?  What did she rely on when the people around her let her down?

Mr. Rochester wants Jane to go against a social tradition and marry him.  Instead of agreeing, she leaves.  Why did she do this?  What was more important to her than Mr. Rochester's happiness?  Was she strong to make the decision that she made?

How much can the actions of others affect who we let ourselves turn into?  What can we draw strength from when the people around us behave badly?

How is society the same, and how is it different from the world of Charlotte Bronte?  Do you think that it is better or worse now?  Why?