Spoilers! Watch it before reading on!
See my review on the Jane Eyre book here
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. Written 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 nicer.
In fact, William Hurt made a more lovable Mr. Rochester all around. He of course had his sarcastic or 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. Him 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 part around the movie I loved was one I don't recall ever happening in the book, 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. And 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 her character as one wise beyond her years, but they only focused on the sweet and peaceful side of her. She was still lovable, but in the books her insight on life helped Jane become who she is. The transition at the graveyard between 10 and 20 year old Jane was good though, knowing that 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 trying to help would have been nice. But it was a big coincidence that they were all acquainted anyway, the books are full of those.
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. 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.
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 pictures 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!
Feel free to discuss with me below!