Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
Reading Challenges
>
The Brontës Yearly Challenge
The Brontës Yearly ChallengeDuration: 2/1/2019 - 1/31/2020
Level - Mrs. Fairfax: 15-24 points
Points: 14/24
Categories:
I. The Real Deal: Read or re-read a novel by one of the Bronte sisters: Charlotte, Emily or Anne
2 points per book.
Jane Eyre
Villete
The Professor
Wuthering Heights
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
Agnes Grey
II. Sequels & Re-tellings: Read a sequel to a Bronte novel or a story of Bronte characters with a twist (alternate reality, paranormal elements, nowadays setting, a secondary character's perspective) or a story where at least one of the Bronte sisters is a character herself.
1 point per book.
My Plain Jane
III. Setting: Read a book/watch a movie or a TV series set in the Victorian era (1837 to 1901) in which the hero/heroine is English.
1 point per book (+1 extra point if the author is a Brontes contemporary, e.g. Charles Dickens or George Eliot), 1 point per movie, 2 points per TV series
Around the World in Eighty Days
Jackaby
IV. Plain Facts: Read a non-fiction book/watch a documentary related to Bronte sisters or to the Victorian time period.
3 points per book, 2 points per TV documentary series, 1 point per TV documentary
V. Spell-it-out: Spell out one or more of the following words: 1 point per book.
Emily (5/5)
E - The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory
M - Macbeth
I - Ice Ghosts: The Epic Hunt for the Lost Franklin Expedition
L - Lab Girl
Y - You're the Rogue That I Want
VI. Adaptations: Watch a movie or a TV show or listen to a radio dramatization based on book by one of the Brontes or their life.
1 point per movie, 1 point per radio dramatization, 2 points per TV show/series.
The Brontës Yearly Challenge - 2019
Duration: 2/1/19-1/31/20
Levels:
Grace Pool: 5-14 points
Mrs. Fairfax: 15-24 points
Blanche Ingram: 25-34 points
Diana and Mary Rivers - 35+ books, you haven't managed to use all of the categories
Jane Eyre: 35+ points, you have to use each of the categories at least once.
Categories:
I. The Real Deal: Read or re-read a novel by one of the Bronte sisters: Charlotte, Emily or Anne
2 points per book.
ðŸ´øJane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë 4/19/19
II. Sequels & Re-tellings: Read a sequel to a Bronte novel or a story of Bronte characters with a twist (alternate reality, paranormal elements, nowadays setting, a secondary character's perspective) or a story where at least one of the Bronte sisters is a character herself.
1 point per book.
📚The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
📚Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
III. Setting: Read a book/watch a movie or a TV series set in the Victorian era (1837 to 1901) in which the hero/heroine is English.
1 point per book (+1 extra point if the author is a Bronte contemporary, e.g. Charles Dickens or George Eliot), 1 point per movie, 2 points per TV series
🎬The Importance of Being Earnest (2002 film; Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, Judi Dench) 9/10/19
IV. Plain Facts: Read a non-fiction book/ watch a documentary related to Bronte sisters or to the Victorian time period.
3 points per book, 2 points per TV documentary series, 1 point per TV documentary
💡The Brilliant Brontë Sisters (2013 ITV Documentary) 9/29/19
📚Pride, Prejudice and Popcorn: TV and Film Adaptations of Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, and Jane Eyre by Carrie Sessarego 8/29/19
V. Spell-it-out: Spell out one or more of the following words: Charlotte, Emily, Anne, Jane Eyre, Edward Rochester, Thornfield, Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff, Catherine Earnshaw, Queen Victoria.
1 point per book.
E: 📚Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown 3/7/19
D: 📚David Lochbaum: Fukushima: The Story of a Nuclear Disaster 6/19/19
W: 📚What Matters in Jane Austen?: Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved by John Mullan 8/28/19
A: 📚Austen, Jane: Mansfieldské panstvÃ10/22/19
R: 📚Robert Moore: A Time to Die: The Untold Story of the Kursk Tragedy 8/31/19
D: 📚Death from the Skies!: These Are the Ways the World Will End... by Philip Plait 6/20/19
R: 📚Roberts, David; Viesturs, Ed: No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks11/2/19
O: 📚Out of Orbit: The Incredible True Story of Three Astronauts Who Were Hundreds of Miles Above Earth When They Lost Their Ride Home by Chris Jones 6/23/19
C: 📚Campbell, Jen: More Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops (Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops #2) 5/22/19
H: 📚 HaÅ¡ek, Jaroslav: Osudy dobrého vojáka Å vejka za svÄ›tové války, DÃl I â€� V zázemà (Osudy dobrého vojáka Å vejka za svÄ›tové války #1) 12/15/19
E: 📚Eiger Dreams: Ventures Among Men and Mountains by Jon Krakauer 10/27/19
S: 📚Svetlana Alexievich: Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster 6/16/19
T: 📚Toksvig, Sandi: Peas & Queues: The Minefield of Modern Manners 5/28/19
E: 📚Ed Viesturs, David Roberts: K2: Life and Death on the World's Most Dangerous Mountain 12/2/19
R:
VI. Adaptations: Watch a movie or a TV show or listen to radio dramatization based on book by one of the Bronte sisters or their life.
1 point per movie, 1 point per radio dramatization , 2 points per TV show/series.
🎬Jane Eyre (1970 TV Movie - George C. Scott, Susannah York) 11/16/19 ★★
📻Jana Eyrová (1965 Czechoslovak Radio Play, 2 h 20 min) 11/27/19 ★★
🎬Jane Eyre (1943 TV Movie - Orson Welles, Joan Fontaine) 11/16/19 ★★�
📚 books
ðŸ´ø audiobooks
🎬 movies
📺 TV Shows
📻 Radio Plays
💡 Documentaries
(view spoiler)
Level: Mrs. FairfaxBooks: 1/15
Spell It Out:
E - The End of Wall Street 2/1/19
D
W
A - Adult Learning: Linking Theory and Practice 4/8/2019
R
D
R
O - On the Brink: Inside the Race to Stop the Collapse of the Global Financial System 4/20/19
C
H
E
S
T
E
R
Mod
Going to do at least Category 1 and the movie adaption watch challenge...Categories:
I. The Real Deal: Read or re-read a novel by one of the Bronte sisters: Charlotte, Emily or Anne
2 points per book.
Jane Eyre
Villete
The Professor
Wuthering Heights
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
Agnes Grey
II. Sequels & Re-tellings: Read a sequel to a Bronte novel or a story of Bronte characters with a twist (alternate reality, paranormal elements, nowadays setting, a secondary character's perspective) or a story where at least one of the Bronte sisters is a character herself.
1 point per book.
Listopia links:
Brontës in Fiction
Brontës in YA
Bronte Fiction
Best Bronte Books
Derivatives of Jane Eyre
Wuthering Heights reimaginings/sequels
III. Setting: Read a book/watch a movie or a TV series set in the Victorian era (1837 to 1901) in which the hero/heroine is English.
1 point per book (+1 extra point if the author is a Brontes contemporary, e.g. Charles Dickens or George Eliot), 1 point per movie, 2 points per TV series
Listopia links:
Best Victorian Historical Fiction Set In Britain
Victorian YA Novels
Victorian Romance
Victorian Novels
IV. Plain Facts: Read a non-fiction book/ watch a documentary related to Bronte sisters or to the Victorian time period.
3 points per book, 2 points per TV documentary series, 1 point per TV documentary
Listopia links:
Best Brontë Nonfiction
Victorian Britain: Non-Fiction
Non Fiction Books on the Victoria Era
19th Century British History - Victorian Era external link
VI. Adaptations: Watch a movie or a TV show or listen to a radio dramatization based on book by one of the Brontes or their life.
1 point per movie, 1 point per radio dramatization , 2 points per TV show/series.
Mod
Nothing But Reading ChallengesThe Brontës Yearly Challenge
Duration: 8/1/2020 - 7/31/2021
Progress: 0 out of 35+
Levels:
Grace Pool: 5-14 points
Mrs. Fairfax: 15-24 points
Blanche Ingram: 25-34 points
Diana and Mary Rivers: 35+ books, you haven't managed to use all of the categories
Jane Eyre: 35+ points, you have to use each of the categories at least once.
Categories:
I. The Real Deal: Read or re-read a novel by one of the Bronte sisters: Charlotte, Emily or Anne
2 points per book.
Jane Eyre
Villete
The Professor
Wuthering Heights
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
Agnes Grey
II. Sequels & Re-tellings: Read a sequel to a Bronte novel or a story of Bronte characters with a twist (alternate reality, paranormal elements, nowadays setting, a secondary character's perspective) or a story where at least one of the Bronte sisters is a character herself.
1 point per book.
Listopia links:
Brontës in Fiction
Brontës in YA
Bronte Fiction
Best Bronte Books
Derivatives of Jane Eyre
Wuthering Heights reimaginings/sequels
III. Setting: Read a book/watch a movie or a TV series set in the Victorian era (1837 to 1901) in which the hero/heroine is English.
1 point per book (+1 extra point if the author is a Brontes contemporary, e.g. Charles Dickens or George Eliot), 1 point per movie, 2 points per TV series
Listopia links:
Best Victorian Historical Fiction Set In Britain
Victorian YA Novels
Victorian Romance
Victorian Novels
IV. Plain Facts: Read a non-fiction book/ watch a documentary related to Bronte sisters or to the Victorian time period.
3 points per book, 2 points per TV documentary series, 1 point per TV documentary
Listopia links:
Best Brontë Nonfiction
Victorian Britain: Non-Fiction
Non Fiction Books on the Victoria Era
19th Century British History - Victorian Era external link
V. Spell-it-out: Spell out one or more of the following words: (*)
(view spoiler)
VI. Adaptations: Watch a movie or a TV show or listen to a radio dramatization based on book by one of the Brontes or their life.
1 point per movie, 1 point per radio dramatization , 2 points per TV show/series.
💛💛💛💛 The Brontës Yearly Challenge 💛💛💛💛 1st Sept - 1st Sept 2020.Level: Diana and Mary Rivers: 35+ books.
II. Sequels & Re-tellings: Read a sequel to a Bronte novel or a story of Bronte characters with a twist. 1 point per book.
Wide Sargasso Sea
The Eyre Affair
Jane, the Fox, and Me
Jane Steele
Wuthering Heights and a Werewolf...and a Zombie Too
III. Setting: Read a book/watch a movie or a TV series set in the Victorian era (1837 to 1901) in which the hero/heroine is English. 1 point per book, 1 point per movie, 2 points per TV series.
The Essex Serpent
The Woman In Black
Dracula July 7, 2020
Mr. Dickens and His Carol
Miss Marley: The Untold Story of Jacob Marley’s Sister
The Woman in White
The Doomsday Machine: An Astounding Horatio Lyle Adventure
The Paper Magician
The Glass Magician
The Master Magician
Middlemarch
Wives and Daughters
The Diary of a Nobody
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Moby-Dick; or, The Whale December 11, 2019
Idylls of the King
IV. Plain Facts: Read a non-fiction book/ watch a documentary related to Bronte sisters or to the Victorian time period. 3 points per book, 2 points per TV documentary series, 1 point per TV documentary.
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper
The Language of Flowers
V. Spell-it-out:
Anne
Catherine Earnshaw
Charlotte
Edward Rochester
Emily
Heathcliff
Jane Eyre
Thornfield
Queen Victoria
Wuthering Heights
1 point per book.
Mod
I was so excited to find this challenge, as I have been wanting to read more of the Brontes' work lately! Plus, a couple books from one of my other challenges will work here, so why not?The Brontës Yearly Challenge
Duration: September 16, 2019 - September 16, 2020
COMPLETED: 15/35
★★★Mrs. Fairfax★★�
Full Challenge Plan:
(view spoiler)
Mod
Moderators of NBRC wrote: "Welcome Laurie!"Thanks! This was a logistical beast to map out, but it was fun to plan! Hopefully, it's just as much fun to complete! :)
Welcome Laurie! I am looking forward to hearing from you about the 1970 Jane Eyre movie and the Jane Eyre manga and graphic novel. How do they measure up?
For those looking for more obscure movies or TV series to watch for the adaptations category, here are some I've found recently:inspired by Wuthering Heights:
Abismos de pasión (1954 Mexican Movie; directed by Luis Buñuel)
Ölmeyen ask (1966 Turkish Movie; directed by Metin Erksan)
Hurlevent (1985 French Movie; directed by Jacques Rivette)
Arashi ga oka (1988 Japanese Movie; directed by Yoshishige Yoshida)
Heathcliff (1997 TV Movie - Musical; Cliff Richards)
Cime tempestose (2004 Italian TV Mini-Series; Alessio Boni, Anita Caprioli)
Sparkhouse (2002 TV Mini-Series; Sarah Smart, Joe McFadden, Richard Armitage)
Wuthering Heights (2003 TV Movie; Erika Christensen, Mike Vogel, Christopher Masterson, Johnny Whitworth, Katherine Heigl)
The Promise (2007 Philippine Movie; directed by Michael Tuviera)
Wuthering High (2015 TV Movie; directed by Anthony DiBlasi)
Zuzana wrote: "Welcome Laurie! I am looking forward to hearing from you about the 1970 Jane Eyre movie and the Jane Eyre manga and graphic novel. How do they measure up?"I'm curious about those too. I have owned the 1970 movie and the graphic novel for a few years, so this is a good opportunity to finally watch and read them. I still need to get the manga edition, but I'm looking forward to that too. I enjoy manga and graphic novels and have heard good things about these editions, but we shall see. I will definitely report back once I've finished them.
I finished The Flight of Gemma Hardy, which is a retelling/homage to Jane Eyre. I was expecting more from it, to be honest, and ended up a little disappointed. I think it would have been a better story if it hadn't tried to retell Jane Eyre. It just made me want to reread the real thing, which I obviously will be doing at some point. :)
Thanks for the mini-review, Laurie. I will remove the book from my TBR.BTW I got myself the 1970 Jane Eyre adaptation, so tell me when you're ready to watch it. And we can discuss it later.
Zuzana wrote: "Thanks for the mini-review, Laurie. I will remove the book from my TBR.BTW I got myself the 1970 Jane Eyre adaptation, so tell me when you're ready to watch it. And we can discuss it later."
Yay! I will probably have some time to watch it a couple of weeks from now. I'll let you know! ^_^
Zuzana wrote: "Thanks for the mini-review, Laurie. I will remove the book from my TBR.BTW I got myself the 1970 Jane Eyre adaptation, so tell me when you're ready to watch it. And we can discuss it later."
Zuzana, I'm planning to watch the film this weekend! Let me know if you're able to watch it then too and what you think of it. :)
Will do. Looking forward to the discussion. :)
I finished the movie earlier today. Have lots of thoughts.
Zuzana wrote: "I finished the movie earlier today. Have lots of thoughts. "Just finished! Please say you didn't like it...because it was painful for me to watch, but I will feel bad about saying that if you liked it!
LOL! Don't worry. I am not a fan of this adaptation. But I found a couple of things to like: the music by John Williams (the main theme was quite good IMO) and the young actress who played Jane during her Lowood years was great. She had this piercing gaze that showed her inner spirit and resentment quite well.And now for the bad. The main things I didn't like:
The main characters were miscast IMO. Both were too old to play their respective roles. Susannah York looked to be in her late twenties (she was 31), George C. Scott looked at least 50 despite being 43 at the time.
The lack of chemistry between Jane and Rochester was palpable. Rochester was too shouty and violent (the way he shouted and smashed the glass when talking about Adele came from nowhere). They cut too much of the dialogue between Jane and Rochester, especially from their first two encounters - they eliminated all the witt and the appreciation of Jane's character Rochester started to show early on. He comes across as a grumpy old fart prone to rage attacks. Why would Jane like him? On his part, the attraction seems to be a superficial and conventional one - Jane is young(ish) and quite pretty.
Zuzana wrote: "LOL! Don't worry. I am not a fan of this adaptation. But I found a couple of things to like: the music by John Williams (the main theme was quite good IMO) and the young actress who played Jane dur..."Oh good! :) Now I feel comfortable saying this is the worst adaption I've seen so far, lol! Ok, buckle your seat belt. This is going to be a long rant.
You are more generous than I am. :) The best thing I could say immediately after viewing was that Adele was cute. But I agree with you that the actress who played young Jane was certainly a better fit than Susannah York as adult Jane. As for the music, I thought it was ok, but my copy of the film was of very poor quality, which affected my enjoyment of that aspect. I'm not sure if all versions are this way, or if it's just my bargain bin copy, but both the picture and audio were terrible. There was a lot of background hissing noise throughout the film, and during a couple of scenes, you could actually hear muffled voices in the background!
But you hit the nail on the head in regards to casting. That was the film's biggest problem. As you say, they were too old for the roles. I've seen that done in other period adaptations made in that era, so maybe it was common. I might have been able to overlook that if they had acted like the characters from the novel, but they did not. Susannah York and George C. Scott simply did not come across as Jane and Rochester.
York seemed overly confident and worldly. She not only looked older, but she acted older as well. I thought she often looked like she had a smirk on her face and walked with a swagger - not the Jane Eyre I know at all. We didn't get to see any of Jane's growth and development - how she gains confidence at Thornfield. Of course, this is just as much of a failing on the part of the director and could also be attributed to the film's short length. But however it came to be, York just did not feel like Jane.
And Rochester! When he shattered that glass, I was like, "What???" Rochester is brooding and temperamental, but he's not violent. As you say, what could anyone see in this Rochester? He's not supposed to be attractive physically, but here, he's not attractive emotionally either! And you're right - none of the chemistry and fantastic dialogue between them is present in this film. And not only is the fantastic dialogue missing, some of the dialogue they replaced it with is bad! It was like they thought they had to spell everything out in dialogue. Nothing was subtle. Nothing was left as subtext to be picked up in body language and facial expressions.
Even St. John didn't work! He's supposed to be so strait-laced, keeping his emotions locked up, but not here! I read a review on IMDB that said Scott's passionless performance would have worked better for St. John and vice versa, and I would have to agree. Everything just felt off.
Here are some of the other things that bothered me:
1) Melodrama - The story has enough darkness and drama on its own without exaggerating things, but that's what they did here in certain scenes. I could not believe it when the Lowood teacher made Helen stand out in the rain when she was sick! In the book, Helen is certainly picked on, but she (and several other girls I might add) dies from harsh conditions and neglect, not absolute barbarity like that! It just went too far.
2) The Pacing - It's very difficult to make a faithful adaptation of Jane Eyre in such a short run time. That's why the miniseries are usually much better. However, there are better-paced film versions out there. With this one, it just felt like they kept jumping from one major plot point to the next, with no transitions in between. There was no time for character and relationship development and no time to build any tension. I read at least one review that seemed to indicate that the original film had more transitions but that they were cut for the DVD version, but I don't know if that's accurate. However, based on what we have on DVD, I can't imagine anything they cut would have helped much.
3) Botched Romantic Scenes - Did you notice how Rochester's proposal came IMMEDIATELY after the Mason scene?! While all his guests are still in the house? What??? That was so messed up. And then the reunion at the end - what was that even? That's such a big moment - there's where your drama is supposed to be. And Rochester just sits there and smirks and doesn't seem to even care that she came back! That was the final nail in the coffin for me. x_x
Every adaptation is going to have its weak points, but even the weaker ones usually have some aspect I can appreciate. Like maybe a lot of the story is cut out for time, but I really like the actress' portrayal of Jane. Or maybe Jane is just ok, but Rochester is great. Here, there was simply nothing for me to get excited about. :(
I understand they have to streamline the story and cut quite a lot to fit everything into under 2 hours. But if you cut so much that the relationship between Jane and Rochester doesn't make sense then you've done a bad job.I was angry that they cut so much of the dialogue. Almost all the parts that show why these two people come to respect each other and fall in love. e.g. “I do not think, sir, you have a right to command me, merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have;..." or my favorite "Do you think me handsome?" "No, sir."
Agree about St. John as well. He came across as a creep. That sermon was way out of line. He was raving like a lunatic.
I would add to your list of botched scenes:
After the fire we should feel the sexual tension between the two eventhough Jane doesn't recognizewhat it is at the time. Here, the chemistry doesn't work. And the script doesn't help at all. Why did they cut the handholding and him stopping her twice from leaving?!
During Bertha's reveal Rochester says "Jane, look at her! I loved her once as I love you now." WTF?! After the disastrous non-wedding Rochester sits by the fire like whatever, let's see whether Jane shows up or not. He's supposed to guard her door and wait for her there. The reunion scene was weird as hell . He was almost disinterested.
All this contributed to me not believing that this Jane and Rochester were in love. And that's a fail!
Do you have a favorite Jane Eyre adaptation?
Zuzana wrote: "or my favorite "Do you think me handsome?" "No, sir.""One of my favorite lines as well!
"That sermon was way out of line."
Oh my gosh, that sermon!
"During Bertha's reveal Rochester says "Jane, look at her! I loved her once as I love you now." WTF?!"
I know, right? It's almost like they never read the book...
"WTF" and "weird as hell" pretty much sum up the whole movie.
So, with that failure aside, which adaptation is your favorite?
I really enjoyed the with Charlotte Gainsbourg when I was younger, probably because it spends a good deal of time with Jane's childhood. I also think Gainsbourg and Anna Paquin both portrayed Jane well, though William Hurt's Rochester is fairly stilted. But my favorite is the with Ruth Wilson. I know some people thought Toby Stephens was too good-looking to be Rochester, but I thought he portrayed the character very well. And I adore Ruth Wilson's Jane. And talk about chemistry! Some people didn't like the steamy bits in that one, but I'm not complaining. :) I also think that one has the best atmosphere and really captures the supernatural and gothic elements.
I have also seen the with Timothy Dalton, which I know a lot of people believe is the most faithful. I really need to revisit that one because it's been a long time. The last one I've watched is , which I don't remember much about, other than that they really twisted the timeline and I didn't like it.
I still need to see the with Orson Welles. Have you seen that one?
Laurie wrote: "There was no time for character and relationship development and no time to build any tension."I couldn't agree more. It was like watching the story of Jane Eyre in bullet points. You get the what but not the why and how.
Laurie wrote: "I could not believe it when the Lowood teacher made Helen stand out in the rain when she was sick! In the book, Helen is certainly picked on, but she (and several other girls I might add) dies from harsh conditions and neglect, not absolute barbarity like that! It just went too far."
My thoughts exactly. That teacher was a bitch in the book but in the movie they made her a sadistic monster.
Laurie wrote: "So, with that failure aside, which adaptation is your favorite?"I have seen the 1996 movie with Charlotte Gainsbourg and William Hurt and 3 BBC miniseries: 1973 starring Sorscha Cusack and Michael Jayston, 1983 starring Zelah Clarke and Timothy Dalton and 2006 starring Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens.
I like all of them some more than the others.
The 2006 adaptation is a pretty good one, but I really don't like the post wedding bedroom scene. I don't mind other "steamy" add-ons but that one particular scene really bothered me. I don't believe for a second that Jane would be rolling around on the bed with Rochester after finding out about Bertha. It was just too out of character.
The 1996 movie has a nice portrayal of Jane, but Rochester lacks the passion and is a bit too melancholy.
The 1973 miniseries is faithful to the book but a bit unimaginative and boring.
The 1983 is also pretty good but I am not sold on Jane. She's too passive and meek in this version.
Laurie wrote: "I still need to see the 1943 film with Orson Welles. Have you seen that one?"No I have not, but I have it on DVD. Interested in a buddy-watch? ;-)
Zuzana wrote: "Laurie wrote: "So, with that failure aside, which adaptation is your favorite?"I have seen the 1996 movie with Charlotte Gainsbourg and William Hurt and 3 BBC miniseries: 1973 starring Sorscha Cu..."
I think you're probably right about that bedroom scene being out of character. They certainly took artistic liberties with it, at any rate. If it had gone any further, I would have definitely been upset. But as it is, I'm ok with it. I think I'd rather see a bit too much passion than not enough. But I understand the critique.
I would like to watch the 1973 miniseries someday if I can get hold of it, just to be able to compare all of them. But really, nothing will ever be as good as the book.
P.S. I'm so glad I had someone to discuss this with! ^_^ If I had watched the 1970 film and had no one to rage to, I might have imploded, lol!
Laurie wrote: "But really, nothing will ever be as good as the book."You can't beat the book but you can come close, e.g. the 1995 Pride and Prejudice BBC miniseries.
Laurie wrote: "P.S. I'm so glad I had someone to discuss this with! ^_^ If I had watched the 1970 film and had no one to rage to, I might have imploded, lol!"
It was so nice to be able to discuss Jane Eyre adaptations with somebody who read the book and is passionate about the story. :D
Zuzana wrote: "You can't beat the book but you can come close, e.g. the 1995 Pride and Prejudice BBC miniseries."How right you are! Colin Firth IS Mr. Darcy in my opinion. That miniseries is my absolute favorite piece of film/television ever. <3 But I suppose that's a different conversation for a different challenge thread. ;)
Oh, and I would love to buddy-watch the 1943 Jane Eyre with you! I'll try to get the DVD soon. :D
Great, let me know when you're ready. I just hope it will be better than the 1970 adaptation. And in the meantime I can watch the two Mansfield Park movies for the Jane Austen Challenge. :P Next year, come and join the JA challenge, too it's so much fun.
P.S. Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle are perfect Darcy and Lizzie.
Just finished The Brontë Sisters: The Brief Lives of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. It was a decent biography, but I didn't love it. You can check out my full review here if you're interested. I look forward to reading a more in-depth biography in the future.
Zuzana wrote: "Great, let me know when you're ready. I just hope it will be better than the 1970 adaptation."Zuzana, after just finishing a Bronte biography, I'm feeling in need of another Jane Eyre movie! :) Have you watched the 1943 yet? I think I can rent it from Amazon, so I'm up for it anytime if you are!
I haven't watched the 1943 movie yet, I'm waiting for you. Just let me know when. :)Laurie wrote: "Just finished The Brontë Sisters: The Brief Lives of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. It was a decent biography, but I didn't love it. ..."
I'm waiting for somebody to recommend a great Brontë biography. Something in the vein of Jane Austen at Home - both in depth and not too dry.
Zuzana wrote: "I haven't watched the 1943 movie yet, I'm waiting for you. Just let me know when. :)"I'll let you know about Jane Eyre soon. I'm just trying to decide if I want to rent it or buy the DVD. But I'd like to watch it in the next week or two. :)
I haven't read Jane Austen at Home yet (it's on my TBR), so I don't know if this would compare, but The Brontës: A Life in Letters looks interesting to me. The Brontës: Wild Genius on the Moors by the same author also gets recommended, so I'm curious about it too. Have you read either?
Laurie, I haven't read any yet. I only watched a couple of TV documentaries. Brontës had very dramatic lives.
Zuzana wrote: "Laurie, I haven't read any yet. I only watched a couple of TV documentaries. Brontës had very dramatic lives."Yes, dramatic and tragic. But it's so interesting to see how their experiences inspired their books!
Laurie, what about this weekend? I have my copy of JE 1943 ready. :)
Zuzana wrote: "Laurie, what about this weekend? I have my copy of JE 1943 ready. :)"I just got my copy! :) I was debating between this weekend and next, so since you're ready, I will watch it today or tomorrow. :D
I'll watch it tonight. Hope it's significantly better than the 70s movie.
So I'm done. I am really interested what you think about this one, Laurie. Because some of the things that bothered us in the 70s movie were probably lifted from the 1943 version.They changed some things (obviously they had to to fit the story in a 96 minutes movie). Some changes I liked, some I was o.k. with, but there was a major one I disliked.
Zuzana wrote: "So I'm done. I am really interested what you think about this one, Laurie. Because some of the things that bothered us in the 70s movie were probably lifted from the 1943 version...."Ok - just finished! Busy weekend. :) I'm so curious to know what you thought too! I enjoyed this one better than the 70s version, but it's far from perfect. I think it helped that I knew from reviews that it didn't stay super faithful to the book. I was prepared for that, so the changes at the end didn't really bother me like they would have otherwise (although, I was disappointed that Jane didn't look at all bedraggled when she arrived at Gateshead after supposedly "knowing hunger and nights without shelter"). As far as that goes, I didn't love all those narrative interludes that looked like they came straight out of Bronte's text when they did not - especially the opening lines. Anyway, I was looking forward to it because many reviewers give it a classic status. Ultimately, it wasn't as good as I was hoping, but I didn't think it was bad either. What was the major change you disliked?
Some things I did like:
I really enjoyed the atmosphere and cinematography (though it skewed more melodramatic than haunting at times). I love black and white films and thought it had a great look.
I always find it fascinating to see familiar actors in their younger days, so it was interesting to see Elizabeth Taylor in a very early, uncredited role. And I was pleasantly surprised to see Agnes Moorehead (from Bewitched) as Aunt Reed. I didn't realize she was in the movie until the opening credits.
Things I thought were ok:
Overall, I thought the casting in this one was a lot better than the 70s version...although, any casting would be, lol! Orson Wells was an interesting Rochester, though he still felt wound too tight at times, and his sudden concern for Adele after the fire seemed laughably out-of-character. I thought Joan Fontaine was a better Jane than Susannah York, though of course she was still much prettier than she's supposed to be.
I thought the acting, overall, was also better (minus a few exceptions like Mason). And I recognized more dialogue from the book with this one, though the lines weren't always delivered in the way I imagine them.
Things that were still not so great:
Probably due to the short run-time again, the chemistry between Jane and Rochester was still lacking. There was a little bit, definitely more than the 70s version, but there just wasn't time to develop it further. There were hints of chemistry at times, but then that proposal scene was lame! And the kiss at the end - was he trying to crush her?
The timeline was still a bit jumpy and didn't flow as well as it should have - again, due to time constraints. It wasn't nearly as bad in this regard as the 70s version, but there were a few instances when multiple scenes from the book were crammed into one scene for this film. This rushed quality plays a big part in the lack of chemistry.
I also didn't like how Bertha's "room" looked more like a completely dark prison cell and how she never actually appeared on camera. It's like she wasn't even a person.
I feel like there was more I wanted to point out, but it's late and my brain is not cooperating. :P I will say that I enjoyed this film as a product of its time - I like the black and white era of filmmaking. But it certainly isn't a faithful adaptation. While the basic storyline is intact, the finer points are quite altered.
I'm looking forward to reading all your thoughts! :)
I agree, Laurie. Better than the 70s movie but there's still room for improvement. The casting
I agree that the casting was better than in the 70s movie. What bothered me a little was that Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine were almost the same age and it showed. He was too young and she was too old. I wasn't too keen on Jane's obvious make-up especially the eyebrows and the lipstick. Why?
The chemistry between Jane and Rochester
It seemed better, too. They kept more of the dialogue, which helped.
Have you noticed how they changed everything that could have been perceived as sexual or intimate between Jane and Rochester (the altered post-fire scene (which is all about the sexual chemistry), Jane leaving Thornfield (the discussion what it would mean to be Rochester's mistress), the reunion (Rochester's jelousy). I loughed at the poor sleeping Adele, too, not only was the concern OOC for Rochester it was there to make it obvious that Rochester is NOT thinking about seducing Jane, because he's freaking worried about the child's safety. LOL! I guess it's to do with the censorship, Hollywood was rather prudish at the time.
What I liked
*Leaving out the Rivers's was fine with me. Their storyline made no sense in the book (them being Jane's cousins). The character of Dr Rivers was fine, too.
*Jane returning to Gateshead. Makes more sense to return to the one place she knows than spending all the money on a ticket to nowhere and wandering for days hungry and penniless on the moors ;-)
*I enjoyed the cinematography, the gothic atmosphere and the music by Bernard Herrmann (known for music for Hitchcock's movies, e.g. Psycho).
Some things I wasn't crazy about
*Why is the treatment of children at Lowood depicted as pure sadism? It's not like that in the book.
*Jane not having any prior teaching experience. Why? Makes her confrontation with Brocklehurst seem childish and impractical.
*Why with so little time put in something as pointless as the drunk flirting guy at the inn?
*Blanche looks like an aging Barbie doll (just an observation)
*Mrs Fairfax looks like a young(ish) actress with a very bad "aging" make-up.
*The actor who played Mason was laughably bad in the wedding scene. What was that about?
*Not showing Bertha. You're right, they wanted to dehumanize her. The whole movie, the cinematography, the music, some of the dramatic scenes (like the storm) suggest that they embraced all of the gothic horror elements of the strory. It seems that they wanted to make Bertha into the horror monster. Something that would have been deemed in poor taste nowadays.
*Why did they put in those fake book excerpts? I wouldn't mind if they weren't pretending that they were lifted from the book. (you made the same point and I totally agree)
The one change I really disliked
I didn't like that they left out Jane's inheritance. When Dr Rivers found Jane at Gateshead I was expecting he would reveal that Jane inherited her uncle's money. And that the solicitor was looking for her at Lowood. It would have made perfect sense. But no. By showing Jane desperate for money to the point that she contemplated returning to Lowood just takes away the high point of the book - Jane returning to Rochester like his undisputable equal - independent not only spiritually but also financially. At the time they come to the understanding there is no superiority on Rochester's side. What irritated me was Jane's desperate "Please, don't send me away!" It came off as her pleading for a place to stay (because she's destitude and has nowhere to turn to). Everything else I was more or less fine with but this last point was too much.
Sorry for ranting :)
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking (other topics)My Plain Jane (other topics)
The Brontës: Wild Genius on the Moors (other topics)
Jane Austen at Home (other topics)
The Brontës: A Life in Letters (other topics)
More...
(challenge credit goes to Zuzana)
Rules: (view spoiler)[
� Choose your level, choose your books/movies/TV shows/documentaries and get to reading/watching them!
� For every book and movie/TV series/documentary you obtain certain amount of points
� You can use the same category several times (Jane Eyre level requires completing all categories at least once).
� When you've finished a book or a movie rate and date it
� Reading or watching a book/movie you have already seen is allowed
� You can change your level at any time
� You may count any books over 100 pages.
� Standard Spell-it-out rules apply. (*) (hide spoiler)]
Duration: Yearly
Levels:
Grace Pool: 5-14 points
Mrs. Fairfax: 15-24 points
Blanche Ingram: 25-34 points
Diana and Mary Rivers: 35+ books, you haven't managed to use all of the categories
Jane Eyre: 35+ points, you have to use each of the categories at least once.
Categories:
I. The Real Deal: Read or re-read a novel by one of the Bronte sisters: Charlotte, Emily or Anne
2 points per book.
Jane Eyre
Villete
The Professor
Wuthering Heights
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
Agnes Grey
II. Sequels & Re-tellings: Read a sequel to a Bronte novel or a story of Bronte characters with a twist (alternate reality, paranormal elements, nowadays setting, a secondary character's perspective) or a story where at least one of the Bronte sisters is a character herself.
1 point per book.
Listopia links:
Brontës in Fiction
Brontës in YA
Bronte Fiction
Best Bronte Books
Derivatives of Jane Eyre
Wuthering Heights reimaginings/sequels
III. Setting: Read a book/watch a movie or a TV series set in the Victorian era (1837 to 1901) in which the hero/heroine is English.
1 point per book (+1 extra point if the author is a Brontes contemporary, e.g. Charles Dickens or George Eliot), 1 point per movie, 2 points per TV series
Listopia links:
Best Victorian Historical Fiction Set In Britain
Victorian YA Novels
Victorian Romance
Victorian Novels
IV. Plain Facts: Read a non-fiction book/ watch a documentary related to Bronte sisters or to the Victorian time period.
3 points per book, 2 points per TV documentary series, 1 point per TV documentary
Listopia links:
Best Brontë Nonfiction
Victorian Britain: Non-Fiction
Non Fiction Books on the Victoria Era
19th Century British History - Victorian Era external link
V. Spell-it-out: Spell out one or more of the following words: (*)
(view spoiler)[
Anne
Catherine Earnshaw
Charlotte
Edward Rochester
Emily
Heathcliff
Jane Eyre
Thornfield
Queen Victoria
Wuthering Heights
1 point per book. (hide spoiler)]
VI. Adaptations: Watch a movie or a TV show or listen to a radio dramatization based on book by one of the Brontes or their life.
1 point per movie, 1 point per radio dramatization , 2 points per TV show/series.
(*)Spell-it-Out Rules
Using the first letter in the book’s title, the first letter of the series name, the first letter in the author’s first or last name, or the first letter of a character’s first, last, or nick-name, or the first letter in the audiobook narrators first or last name.
If you are reading a translated version, you can also use the first letter of the translator's first or last name.
As always, if the first letter of a title starts with ‘A�, ‘An�, ‘The�, etc., you may use the first letter of the second word in the title to spell out your chosen word.