I really don't understand why people make movies like this....

That is the whole point of the novel and the move Jude the Obscure or Jude. Jude is a sensitive, romantic sort who believes that he can achieve all his life's dreams through hard work(attending University) or desire(being married to sue).
The reality is he lives in a world where class and convention rule and any attempt to overcome them are brutally crushed. The reality is, his true love doesn't nearly flaunt convention as boldly as she imagines she does, and when it comes down to it, her mind is very parochial, never mind that she is of a changeable nature to start.
All that this means for Jude is that his dearest hopes and dreams of upward mobility and personal happiness are mercilessly denied by an uncaring world. This is symbolized most tragically by what happens to his children in the film.
Truly, some souls were not meant for this world. Or at least in Jude's case, some souls are tragically ahead of their time.

1. Religion causes nothing but pain and suffering 2. If you can't afford children practice abstinence or pull out.

Yes, the acting was fine, and I thought the mannerisms were very well set in the time period. But through it all, there never seemed to be any point to it.
I'm thinking there was a lot of story in the book that never made it to the screen. Makes me want to read the book, now.

Well the positive side of this movie that the acting is very well done. However, I'm just not sure if I can draw anything from this movie, maybe besides getting married to someone you don't love is a bad idea. And that having sexual relations with your cousin is even a dumber idea. But, what gets me the most is what point of view is this film portraying? Living with no moral ideals, just letting life do what it will, even if that leads you to going off and sleeping with cousins...clearly did not work out. One thing I will take from this movie is if your going to get married make sure its the right one and don't just up and run off and destroy an entire family, or in this case two. That poor kid had no clue...mommy ran away from dad, mommy gives son back to dad to live with his new mother who also happens to be his aunt. Don't watch this movie, its a waste of space.

Another great movie based on a Thomas Hardy masterpiece! Life is already absurd, but human folly makes it even more so. When will humans finally learn that all rules are meant to be broken.

This movie is so heart breaking!!!! But so good, the ending (despite what others say) is of real and obvious. There is no way a woman can go through that and not completely change, life doesn't always have a happy ending.

As other reviewers have mentioned, it is at times bleak and sad, but that was common in Victorian era novels. Kate Winslet, as usual, does a fantastic job in the role of Sue, a modern woman in the not so modern time of stifled social and class mores. Unfortunately, it's difficult to cram a whole novel into a movie, so the last scene in the snow is not the endeng in the novel which might account for others feeling the movie ending was sorely lacking. However, I like stories such as this where the original author dealt with experiences outside of what was acceptable at the time.