Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #168 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-02-05
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Colour, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 233 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Continuing the BBC’s unrivalled reputation for costume drama, their new adaptation of Jane Eyre proved to be one of the television triumphs of 2006. Based, as you’d expect, on the Charlotte Bronte book of the same name, this two-disc set brings together the full series, spread across the best part of four sumptuous hours.

It’s a faithful adaptation, with Ruth Wilson giving an exceptional performance in the title role. Mr Rochester’s boots, meanwhile, are filled by Toby Stephenson, and both prove to be wise choices. Backed up by an excellent supporting cast, they’re also supported by some quite superb scenery, warm photography and skilful, at times neatly understated the direction, that gives the story space to develop.

Is the best adaptation of Jane Eyre? It certainly builds a compelling case, and while there’s the odd slight misstep along the way, it’s primarily a terrific interpretation of a classic romance. Perhaps the only real disappointment is that the DVD release itself doesn’t offer more in the way of added features, but given the presentation and quality of the main attraction, that’s unlikely, rightly, to deter those in search of some classic BBC drama. --Jon Foster

Synopsis
2006 adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's passionate and tender story of the love between a fiercely independent governess and her brusque, mysterious employer.

Customer Reviews

Very good version of a great book
I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this version of Jane Eyre. I'm quite picky over TV productions of my favourite books - for example, I'm no great fan of the Firth/Ehle P&P (an almost sacreligious version, in my opinion) - but this production of JE, I feel, has got very close to the essence of the novel. A bit over-blown at times, but then so is JE! It was given a noughties' treatment, without destroying the overall feel of the novel. The chemistry between Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens built beautifully. And a good, solid supporting cast, full of reliable regulars.

I've given it 4 not 5 stars, however, because of a couple of reservations: I thought the Jane/St John relationship, so important in the book, could have been handled much better thereby improving the overall production. Their final encounter, when she almost agrees to marry him then hears Rochester's supernatural 'Jane' x 3 (and what happened to her impassioned response???), is one of the best bits of the novel. And why the Cape and not India? Also, why was Blanche Ingram a blue-eyed blonde? Rochester's choice of Blanche as his 'false' bride is significant (and cruel, both to Jane and also Blanche, despite the latter's character), as physically she must remind him of Bertha. I think Charlotte Bronte intended her reader to recognise the shared moral emptiness of Blanche and Bertha partly through their similarities in appearance. Oh, well, that's the lit crit out of the way! Mind you, how could anyone accuse Toby Stephens of not being handsome?

I remember the Jayston/Cussack version with great affection. I may buy both then compare.

mills and broonte
She stared into Mr Rochester's black opal eyes and marvelled, he barely looked half his forty years and golly, what a charming manner and a way with children he had, despite what contemporary literature had lead her to believe. As she fell into his manful embrace, large chunks of her life story fell away too, who needs all that bildungsroman stuff when what josephine public is really interested in is bursting bodices? Even Mr St John Rivers now seemed to be an alright chap, even if he was a bit of a stick in the mud, all that supposed terrifying Evangelical bullying faded like so many eccles cakes into the ether.

This might have bothered Jane, after all, she allegedly had a mind like a 'lighted heath' - but no, she'd clearly been at the valium because she'd gone all quiet and mild and even discovering Mrs R. up in the loft with the squirrels merely prompted a nice little stroll out in the peak district, rather than three days of starvation and spiritual upheaval, quaking beneath God's well-impressive omnipotent sky...

'jane jane jane' said Rochester, without moving his lips, which was cleverly explained by the screenwriter through an extended burble about twins that Ms. Bronte had forgot to put in her original book. Indeed, let's have a scene with an ouija board while we're at it.

Tish and pish, the naysayers said - tis TV, and reet entertaining like, tha's got to change sum bits as t'original novel is dense with symbolism and unconvincing cross-dressing - and in all fairness, it's an ok way to pass a rainy sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile, we could hardly wait for the forthcoming adaptation of 'Wuthering Heights' in which Heathcliff becomes a sherry-drinking philanthropist, and everyone holds hands and skips......

Could be better
This adaptation of the book is good, however it does deviate from the plot a lot in my opinion. For example the entire period from the break down of the wedding to the end of the book is encompassed in only 1 hour and should have had more time spent on it. Important details are also left out of that final episode, for example Jane searching the village for somewhere to live and eat before stumbling across the Rivers household where she is rejected and then taken in. Additionally the beginning of the program with Jane as an infant living with her Aunt before she goes to school is about 2 minutes long when in reality it should be longer.

All in all, however it does make the plot of the story clear and is enjoyable.