The story is framed by Jane Eyre (played here by Mia Wasikowska of Alice in Wonderland fame) running away from Thornfield Hall, into all manner of inclement weather and into the helpful arms of Billy Elliot, er St. John Rivers (Jamie Bell). He and his sisters get her back on her feet, as we look back at Jane's troubled childhood. Young Jane (Amelia Clarkson) is pretty stellar as she deals with being orphaned, horrible relatives, the death of a friend and abusive teachers. Then we see that Jane left her boarding school and got a job as a nanny for the ward of the wealthy Mr. Rochester (Michael Fassbender). The two have an immediate rapport and interesting relationship, that is looked upon oddly by Thornfield Hall caretaker Mrs. Fairfax (Judi Dench). Rochester seems to woo another, he's got a hidden past, she saves him from being burned to death and then all seems well as they fall in love and are about to get married. Until she finds out what exactly is hidden in the attic of Thornfield Hall.

It's got a dark and gothic look, as most of the action of the story takes place during the gloomy winter months when all of the trees are dead and there is fog all around, and the director (Cary Joji Fukunaga) took the opportunity with the atmospheric conditions to give a few "jumpy" moments. They aren't supposed to be actually scary, like the trailers would like you to believe. This isn't a horror remake of Jane Eyre (though, I'm sure one will be in the works at some point), the "scary" moments are just suspenseful moments in the story, as they should be.

The acting is top notch. Dench naturally steals every scene she's in with her looks and glances, and Fassbender is the appropriate combination of domineering and dreamy, and Wasikowska manages to exude the control that is necessary for playing the highly reserved titular character.

Again, with the many adaptations already out there, this isn't exactly new subject matter, or a story that was crying out for a new rendition, but it is well executed. This small film might not have an enormous appeal, but I'm pretty sure that the current generation of kids will be watching this instead of reading the book in order to pass their high school English classes. The likelihood of me getting my mom to watch it though is pretty slim to none.

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