ladyjatbay-1

First, I think the acting was superb. I rarely, and I mean rarely express any interest in a remake of a classic film. Yet, something piqued my curiosity from the review and it was free, so why not! Mia is exactly what I would have thought Jane looked like, plain and homely. Michael plays Rochester without so much emotion or romance which is more true to the novel. Judi Dench brings a sense of humor to the role of Mrs. Fairfax, although you aren't meant to laugh it is hard not to. Young Adele/Romy actually speaks French which is more accurate and she is a doll. Young Jane/Amelia is adorable and well played showing a more violent version of the abuse she suffered rather than playing it down for 1944 standards. I'd say only Helen/Freya got the shaft because her role was about 2 minutes long, not quite as much time on screen as with Elizabeth Taylor in 44.

What I liked more than anything though was that this film showed the missing pieces of the novel. Jane's path to enlightenment, when she runs away and falls into the doorway of the parson and his two young sisters. This was such a crucial piece to the book and it is nice to see it in action finally. Though the cameraman in the opening scenes of Jane running away (her story is a long flashback), is like the Blair Witch Project and for a minute I thought I would hate this movie. Thank God the camera jumping was short lived. Why directors think this makes sense is beyond me. It is horrible and makes one nauseous.

I really loved this film as you can see and I hope you get a chance to watch it if you are a Jane fan. I don't think you will be too disturbed even though it is a modern version. If you haven't read the book though, please do this first before you go to see any version. How ignorant the people were in my audience, I was so embarrassed for them. When they showed the scene of Thornfield Hall, at Jane's return, everyone gasped. Really? You are that illiterate? Anyway, you cannot truly appreciate viewing this film unless you understand and have read the novel.

I am a huge fan of the MhZ International Mystery series where you can catch this show every few weeks. They alternate with Italian, German, Swedish, and in the past Norwegian mysteries. Jules Maigret is the kind of dad you would like to have had growing up. He is intelligent, sophisticated, speaks French, and quite handsome for a big guy. What makes the show hilarious is that he is the only one in each series who has any wisdom whatsoever. The other characters dance around him like complete imbeciles trying to trick him while he smokes his pipe and think that he isn't paying attention. He is a French Sherlock Holmes, without a side kick, though now his nephew has joined in on the action lately and it seems he will stay. The nephew is interested in girls more than crime though and pulls out the machismo whenever he appears to be slacking off, to impress his uncle. His uncle is not impressed though but as a devoted family member tries to teach him the trade. If you love classic film, Masterpiece theater, and generally watch British humor or mysteries on PBS, you have to look for MhZ International programs and find this. They are on Facebook as well.

Another MhZ International Mystery classic and I am told they are in production creating more shows for us that we should stay tuned for (according to MhZ news). Luca Zingaretti is the Italian Maigret and Sherlock Holmes. The relationship he has with his team is hilarious but serious. All the stereotypical Italian nuances you might have learned about in America are born and bred here and are obviously authentic. The funniest person on the show is the clerk, his name starts with a C, Campellini or something like that. He is an Italian Kramer (Seinfeld). The best show with the clerk is the one where he shoots the bad guy, whom he catches while taking a pee on a sting. I've seen Luca in other films, which I have tried to find on Netflix, but hands down this is the best role for him and the one that turns him into a huge sex symbol - for me and all his fans on Facebook.