Jane Eyre Fevah!

it's Eyre all over the place.

just finished the 1973 version, with Sorcha Cusack and Michael Jayston.

upon careful consideration, i think i am still partial to 1983. first, both the early years and the late years were MUCH better in 1983. young Jane was perfect, and the young cousins were not so stiff. plus, in the 1973 version, they completely cut out the character of Rosamund Oliver, which, i think, makes St. John Rivers a whole lot less interesting.

also, Timothy Dalton was WAY more passionate than Jayston. the scene where Jane is leaving in the 1983 version is totally heartbreaking...Dalton looks like he's about to flip over a chair or two, he's so pissed. Jayston is not bad, just more subtle. but this is Bronte! there is no room for subtlety! only passion and hidden wives and orphans abandoned by loose-living french opera singers.

also, i was distracted by several things which probably won't supposed to be funny, but were. like:

*when john reed throws a book at young jane, she gets this "cut" on her head. pretty much, the worst fake cut i have ever seen.

*when they throw young jane in the room to punish her, the maids want to tie her up, and the young maid says to the old maid, "give me your garter." so then there is this AMAZING shot of the old maid lifting up her skirts above her knee and starting to pull down the garter, and the camera does this weird zoom in on her leg, and i totally got scared that i rented the porn version of Jane Eyre by accident. but then Jane says she won't run and the old maid puts down her skirts and the scene goes on like we're weren't JUST ABOUT to be witness to something truly unsettling. this picture is right before the skirt goes up. we're about to see an awful lot of the lady on the right here.

*Jayston's character saying "what the deuce" (or why the deuce, or how the deuce) ALL the time. maybe that was in the book, either way, it seemed like it was a running gag and not really part of the character. what the deuce is up with that?!? see, anytime anyone says it it's funny

*Jayston's EYELINER. oh my gosh, every time there was a close up i couldn't tear my eyes away!

* Jayston's and Cusack's kissing scenes. it didn't seemed like they ever actually kissed. it was kind of like they were just scrunching up their shoulders and putting their mouths together, like they were 7 years old and all, "what's kissing? i think it's when you do THIS"

so far, the Tinglof recommended version of Jane Eyre is 1983, Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke.

in other news, because i can exchange my Blockbuster online dvds for dvds in the store, i am never without a movie/tv show! at torgo's urging, i went for the first season of the Office (skipping the pilot), and watched "Health Care" and "the Alliance." hi. larious. I don't remember laughing so much at something on TV since I was watching the Cosby show, first run. and so, in honor, i end with this:

" In the wild, there is no health care. In the wild, health care is, "Ow, I hurt my leg. I can't run. A lion eats me and I'm dead." Well, I'm not dead. I'm the lion, you're dead. "