Proving myself to be a true Jane Austen fan, I am hopelessly in love with Mr. Darcy. The haughty pride, the repressed passion, the irresistible quiet charm… He’s the ultimate romantic fantasy of almost every female reader I know. He is perfection. And Miss Austen is the mastermind who brought him to life on the page, the brain behind the witty commentary and beautiful romance that is Pride and Prejudice. Smart, daring, and ever romantic, Jane was a unique woman who has always fascinated me. So when MotherTalk sent out an email looking for bloggers to contribute to their first ever movie blog tour, I absolutely jumped at the chance when I saw that the movie they were going to review was “Becoming Jane,” a fictionalized account of the amazing Miss Austen’s life.

Anne Hathaway plays Jane, the young and spunky aspiring writer who refuses to marry solely for money and convenience, and instead falls deeply in love with a poor (but very handsome) Irishman. True research on Jane’s life has revealed that her relationship with Tom Lefroy was more of a flirtation than a full-blown love affair, but the romanticized version of their affection portrayed in the movie was much more in line with the experiences she gave the characters in her books. There was anticipation, passion, heartbreak, and tragedy; a roller-coaster of emotions that gives the audience some insight into the mind of the great author, and where she drew the inspiration for some of her most famous characters. It has been suggested that Lefroy himself was the real-life spark that caught fire in Jane’s mind, giving birth to the infamous Mr. Darcy.

Like Austen’s novels, this movie was ultimately a love story. Romance and passion abound, but the love goes deeper than that. Like her heroines, the Jane that was portrayed in this film did experience a whirlwind affair, but what makes her special is that Jane, just like her heroines, refuses to settle. She loves a man, yes. But she also loves herself. She knows her potential, she knows her worth, she has her feet firmly planted in reality and she refuses to let anyone make her choices for her. That’s the kind of woman I can relate to- the kind of woman who inspires me to examine my own worth and not let anyone talk me into settling for less than I deserve. For less than I desire. I adore strong women, and Jane Austen is a wonderful example of true female independence. Rock on, sistah friend.

The movie was fantastic folks. Grab some tissues and a girlfriend and go check it out. If you like Jane Austen, you’ll enjoy the film. And if you’ve never been exposed to any of her work before, this is a great introduction for you. But don’t you start getting any ideas about Mr. Darcy. He’s mine.