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Hipster Hamlet

If you told me this entire line of books (from Penguin's Puffin Books imprint) was a tie-in for a new series of classic literature adaptations airing on ABC Family, I would totally believe you:

(It's not... at least, as far as I know.)

Labels: Book Covers, Charlotte Bronte, Classic books, Jane Austen, William Shakespeare

Jane Eyre on the big screen. Again.

Why, look at this, another Jane Eyre adaptation! That would be... what, the fourth version made for television or film in the past 15 years?

Most of me thinks we should let poor Jane get some rest, but who knows? Maybe this version will be great, and inspire interest in some of the Brontë sisters' other, less well-known work. I've always had a soft spot for Anne's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and nobody's touched that since a TV adaptation in 1996.

Note: Today's book review will appear on the main site.

Labels: Charlotte Bronte, Movie Adaptations

Jane Eyre: the movie

According to ComingSoon.net, Cary Fukunaga is in "advanced negotiations" to direct a film adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. The film, which features a script by Moira Buffini, will "play up the gothic elements of the classic 19th century story about a governess who falls in love with her surly employer who has a dark secret."

One wonders: does the above quote indicate that they're going to make the story as much like Twilight as the book's basic premise will allow, or just chop off (or at least reduce) the bit at the end with Jane's long-lost cousins? We'll have to wait and see, but my money's on a bit of both.

Labels: Charlotte Bronte, Movie Adaptations

Hollywood matchmaking

There's been action on the Bronte movie adaptation front: according to Variety, Natalie Portman will NOT be playing the heroine in the upcoming Wuthering Heights movie, and according to BuzzSugar, Ellen Page WILL be playing Jane Eyre.

To which I reply: meh.

I have always found Natalie Portman to be an irritatingly over-hyped actress, but I've always found Wuthering Heights to be an irritatingly over-hyped book, so they seemed like a great fit. (It's not like I was planning to actually watch the movie... I just appreciated the symmetry of actor and subject.) I'm more attached to Jane Eyre, and am therefore concerned about the Page casting. I've never actually watched one of her movies*, but one wonders how an American hipster darling is going to handle period clothes and a British accent.

*I remember seeing the Juno trailer and wondering who decided the world needed a knocked-up teen girl version of Seth Cohen. Wasn't the original one overplayed enough?

Labels: Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, Movie Adaptations

Must-see PBS TV.

PBS's upcoming TV adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre is scheduled to air on January 21st and 28th. I have yet to enjoy a televised version of a Bronte novel, but this one looks pretty impressive:

This will star newbie actress Ruth Wilson (an ex-model, with exaggerated features well suited to the Jane character) and Toby Stephens, best known for his role in the 2002 Bond movie Die Another Day. For more information, here's the Official Site.

Labels: Charlotte Bronte, TV

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Hipster Hamlet

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Jane Eyre on the big screen. Again.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Jane Eyre: the movie

Monday, May 12, 2008

Hollywood matchmaking

Monday, January 15, 2007

Must-see PBS TV.