Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

I have watched many versions of this, my favorite story of all time, and have found this to be the best, most comprehensive version ever. Yes, the lighting is bad and it is filmed on video tape, but unlike the other adaptations done by the BBC at the time (Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, and most especially Persuasion, a version that screams the 1970's) this version has beautiful sets, beautiful characters and some of the best acting of the series. It truly is the jewel in the crown for Jane Eyre fans. While Timothy Dalton is truly too handsome to play Rochester,(remember, Rochester is supposed to be homely too) his powerful acting makes it work. He is truly a Shakespearean actor, full of fire and brimstone, as well as sweetness and heartbreak. He is the essence of the Regency era. Zelah Clarke, while not the prettiest actress to play the character, plays the character with a lot of pluck and spunk. The two actors have incredible chemistry which is very evident in the scene where Jane confronts Edward after the revelation of his mad wife. The power between these two wonderful actors reverberates off the screen. This is my favorite version because it takes the time to tell the whole story, being an 8 part miniseries, it has all of the wonderful scenes from the book which is sadly left out of most other movie versions. This is one of my favorite movies of all time and any true Jane fan will not be disappointed.

I've yet to see the 2006 version, but for me this ties with the 1973 series as the best adaptation of Jane Eyre, and that is saying a fair bit. Of the Jane Eyres I've seen, there's also the 1943 film with Welles and Fontaine which despite a hint at a happier denouncement is the best Jane Eyre on film, the 1970 TV film and the recent 2011 film both of which I liked, Zeffirelli's film which despite the production values was dull and the 1997 adaptation which was disappointing, too short, too rushed and too underdeveloped.This is just about perfect. Some may find the production values dated, but I found the costumes and sets beautiful and charming and there was clear effort into creating an atmosphere that was evocative. The music is gentle and sensitive while suited to the time period as well. The writing is superb, very literate and intelligently adapted, managing to stick to Bronte's basic prose, in fact this is one of the more faithful Jane Eyre adaptations, and the story has a lot of passion and poignancy with the social attitudes just right.Jane Eyre(1983) may be lengthy, but I don't consider that a flaw actually. Alternatively I consider it a good thing it was lengthy, the book is very long and complex and I think it needs a series of this length and a measured pace to develop the plot points and to bring out the personalities of the characters. The cast are wonderful. Timothy Dalton is brilliant, he looks ruggedly handsome and while gruff and brooding there is also a subtlety and sense of nuance to the performance.Is he quite as memorable as Jayston and Scott? Not quite, but he is far more nuanced and tender than Hinds while never falling into the trap of being too dull like William Hurt did. Zelah Clarke is a slightly older Jane than I imagined, but she nails the character everywhere else, quiet and plain yet firm without being too bold so it is not an issue as such. And I loved the chemistry between her and Dalton. The support performances are also uniformly excellent, Carol Gillies is especially good.Overall, one of the best adaptations of one of the best literary works of all time. 10/10 Bethany Cox

I have loved the Bronte novel Jane Eyre since I was a little girl and have read it many times. I own many editions and have seen every movie. The haunting John Williams music in the George C. Scott Version made that one my favorite for years, but I had never seen this one until last night on Netflix. It was so beautiful. So close to the novel. I loved the use of the lines from the book verbatim. The setting, characters and acting didn't try to push false emotion. But mostly I was blown away by the acting of Timothy Dalton. He was so real...Haunted, downtrodden, a little mad from the pressure and grief of betrayal. But then his fierce love and devotion and hopefulness were disarming. And yes he is very handsome, but also his ferocity lends him a wild look at times. This is the best part I have ever seen him play. Zelah Clarke was perfect. Young in looks and knowledge, but old in experience and hardship. She has the perfect sweet face for Jane. Not really plain, but I don't really know anyone plain when they have such a beautiful vibrant spirit. They didn't feel like they were acting. It felt like it was them. Their passion for each other and chemistry were tangible. Well Done!If you haven't seen or heard the Broadway version of Jane Eyre, you should. The music mirrors the language of the novel in the lyrics. I can't wait to see this again! Magnificent!

I studied Charlotte Bronte's novel in high school, and it left me with a stunning impression. Here was a beautiful novel about a young woman's struggle to find love and acceptance in the dark times of Victorian England. This young woman was Jane Eyre, a poor and plain character with a strong mind and will of her own. Her story, which Bronte told through Jane's own eyes, was both sad and inspiring. As part of our study, we watched the 1983 adaptation of the story, and it blew me away. The mini-series not only made the effort to stay true to Bronte's original text and the essence of the story, but the actors who portrayed the characters were just great. Both Zelah Clarke (Jane Eyre) and Timothy Dalton (Jane's lover, by the name of Rochester) captured brilliantly the essence of their characters. I cannot imagine anyone else in their roles. (The other performances of Rochester in other versions such as the 2006 version lack the passion, energy, and tenderness needed to portray Rochester accurately. I say that Timothy Dalton comes out on top because he possesses all these characteristics in his portrayal of Rochester. Zelah Clarke not only looks like Jane Eyre, but she captures Jane's quiet, but firm and passionate nature brilliantly. She holds in her emotions, like the Jane of the book, at the appropriate moments in the story but allows her fire to come out in Jane's passionate scenes. The chemistry that Clarke and Dalton portray in their scenes together is also credible and true to Jane and Rochester's devoted relationship.) As well, the supporting actors also fit their roles perfectly, and the sets fit the Gothic nature of the story. I strongly recommend this version of the classic Bronte tale. If you have not read the book before, then you can watch this production as a faithful introduction to this beautiful story.