terrible... so disappointed.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

In late 19th century Britain, Jude (Christopher Eccleston) is a conundrum. Born to a poor family, he nevertheless loves scholarly pursuits. A kind teacher tells him that not far from his pastoral village, the great city of Christminster is the way to academic success. Jude decides at once he wants this, desperately. However, in the meanwhile, by chance, a farmer's daughter, Arabella (Rachel Griffiths) spies him and wants him for herself. Throwing Jude's ambitions off course, Arabella says she is pregnant and a wedding follows soon after. It's a dismal match. What's more, Arabella's pregnancy doesn't advance. After a horrendous winter night, when Arabella insists they slaughter a pig and dress it, Jude has had enough. He departs for Christminster. Yet, the hallowed walls of higher learning are not made for the poor folks, alas. Jude finds work as a stonemason in the meanwhile, but when he applies to the college, he is rejected, despite his evident knowledge of the classics. This young man is in despair. However, his attentions are soon diverted by an introduction to his long lost cousin, Sue (Kate Winslet). The two are mates immediately, loving the same subjects and living life not quite by the rules. This results in Sue losing her calligraphy job but Jude helps find her another one, a teaching position. Yet, when Jude confesses he is married, Sue rushes to tie the knot with the senior teacher at the school. Now, BOTH OF THEM, are married to a partner they don't love. Yet, these two can't stay away from each other. Eventually, Sue leaves her husband for Jude and the two traverse other towns, pretending to be man and wife. Somehow, they are always found out. In addition, they become the parents of three children, making their lives difficult. What will become of them, these two whose strong ambitions receive society's slaps in their faces? This majestically sad classic from Hardy will probably never be put to the screen as well as it is here. First, Eccleston and Winslet are perfection in difficult roles while the secondary actors are very fine, too. Then, the scenery and costumes are superb. One really believes they have been transported back to an earlier time. Then, too, the director Michael Winterbottom presents many beautiful scenes; one is the "seaweed stalk" fight that Jude and Sue have on the beach in happy times. Beware, however, there is full frontal nudity from Winslet and other bold sexual scenes. Most importantly, Hardy's conflicting themes are made for heavy ponderings. What is good and what is evil? Are conventions to be kept or broken? Is God a lovely father or a punishing taskmaster? One will not come away from this movie without being asked to answer these questions that are truly impossible. If you are a thoughtful film goer who loves the best in cinema, you would be very amiss to miss Jude.

If you like dark dramas with a touch of romance, then this is the movie for you. The film is actually very true to the book and absolutely engrossing. The acting in the film is truly superb so much that the characters come to life on screen, so that you almost can become them and see through their eyes. This is a moral play, as well as a look at the way society imposes rules of conduct. When I came in toward the middle of the movie, but I got sucked into it. I find it a great movie to watch on a nice rainy day. Obviously, the book is practically required reading after you see this movie. Truly a haunting movie that you will remember for a long time and keep coming back to.

If you like dark dramas, this is your movie. Very true to the book and absolutely engrossing. The locations are beautiful. The acting is superb. The characters are richly brought out, and you can understand their thought processes. This is a moral play, as well as a look at the way society imposes rules of conduct. I stumbled on this wonderful film while watching the romance channel on television in 2000. I came in toward the middle, but was immediately drawn into the story. I searched high and low for the video, and when I want a moody drama, this is where I go. This film will make you think. Obviously, the book is practically required reading after you see this movie. You'll just be compelled to know more. Truly a haunting movie that you will remember for a long time.

A briskly but sensitively shot, well-acted and brutally rendered version of Thomas Hardy's tragic novel. I remember being terribly disappointed though (when I saw this in the cinema) that the grainy, visceral b&w images of the title sequence were discontinued as the movie proper got started.Ecclestone finds a great deal of sympathy and charm with which to play the ambitious but unlucky Jude. Kate Winslet is an arguably bigger draw though, throwing herself headlong into a part that requires... well many of the characteristics that she brought to the successful Austen adaptation Sense and Sensibility the previous year: willfulness, joy and despair. Rachel Griffiths is horrible as Jude's ball and chain but nothing is as nasty as the notorious fate of the incestuous couple's children. Strong stuff from Winterbottom, as usual. 6/10