VividSimon Simply Perfect

Loui Blair It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

freesharmi I first read the synopsis of the movie and thought it was odd that they cast Barbara Hershey as Anne. I just couldn't figure out why! Then I actually watched the movie and realized that Megan Follows was a smart lady and wanted nothing to do with this horrible plot line. Turning Anne into a liar? I mean, that was the main draw to her. In the original movies one thing she was not was a liar and had a sweet innocence about her.My other problem with this movie is that Diana was her "bosom friend" throughout but in this movie she is just and afterthought. I would have preferred they never mention her at all rather than sticking a look alike (who REALLY did NOT look like her) in at the end for two seconds. The "flashbacks" of Anne were more watchable than the "flash forwards" and I found myself actually getting irritated when Barbara Hershey was on screen. So they kill off Gilbert so now Anne is a mopey mess. Sorry, even when she was in the "depths of despair" in the originals, she still had life. Now my last problem with this movie is the "long lost brother" plot line thrown in at the end. It just felt hollow. She goes all the way to Boston to find her father, finds out she has a half-brother, gets to Violetta's (who is inexplicably mad at either her or her father, I really couldn't figure that one out) who would not see her, asks whoever is there to see her half-brother, and then all Anne does is rip up a card and leaves. That's it. No fight...nothing. Just leaves. Goes home. But wait....he shows up for some reason (how he got to find out about her or who told him is never explained) at the end of the movie. You never hear the exchange, just a far of shot of them shaking hands, saying a few words to each other, and then hugging. It was just awkward. It seems to me that Barbara Hershey (who I think is a wonderful actress) never took the time to see the original movies so she really didn't get the right feel for the Anne character.

moorthyr I am a big fan of LM Montgomery and her Anne books. The first two movies were faithful enough to the books (with some creative license taken), but the next two (AGG: The Continuing Story, and this one) are a bizarre detour with all sorts of fundamental changes from the books. Why? I won't even waste your time with all the weird changes, but Kevin Sullivan butchered this movie, and while Shirley Maclaine is a revered actress, she was wooden in this movie.If you like the books even a bit don't waste your time with this (in fact, don't waste your time even if you don't know the books, it is a weak movie, no matter what).

Mobiusgrl I had heard this was being made and have just seen it for the first time. Kevin Sullivan should be mortified, but I doubt that he has the good taste to know it. The writing is dreadful, the rape of the original story and characters appalling, the abuse of an iconic Canadian story tragic. And on top of that, the quality of the film-making is and insult to the term 'amateur'. It's painful.I have heard tales of the legendary hubris of Mr. Sullivan but this falls below even the lowest expectation. The directing is so bad he manages to make well known accomplished American actors unwatchable. The sentimental posturing of Barbara Hershey is laughable and Shirley MacLaine looks like she's checking for exits. I guess everyone needs to top up the retirement fund, even legends. Fair enough. But what do a couple of ageing American stars know about Canada or the history of a maritime island most Americans never heard of? What do they have to do with the heart or memory of this story? Their rhythm is wrong. Hollywood plunked itself down in PEI farmland to tell them who they were. Ridiculous. Offensive.Kevin Sullivan, whatever glutinous ambitious distortions and abuses you have flung across the memory of this story, you could hardly have done worse than this piece of insulting exploitive drivel. I find it difficult to imagine anyone in Canada will ever watch anything you are attached to again. Shame on any Canadian agency for funding you. I commend the past cast members for eschewing this abortion of a script and certainly you as a 'director'.Hard enough to get Canadian stories told...but this is criminal.

hotcrossplums Wow. I'm amazed that Kevin Sullivan made this movie. To me, this is just sad. Pathetic and sad. Kevin Sullivan clearly is in need of some cash, so he and his company decide to trot the "Anne" story out again and see if they can ring it dry, squeeze a bit more profit out.I am completely rejecting this story as part of the "Anne" story. Kill off Gilbert? What a joke. That does not happen. I am actually angry at Sullivan for betraying the fans with this drivel. How dare he concoct this horrible junk about Anne just to try and come up with something passing for a story?!! As for the actors, of course they are poorly cast. But I don't fault them. No one could ever take the place of the original actors, so it was an impossible task.Maybe the movie could have worked if it weren't an add-on to such a powerful mythology that so many people care about and love.Shame on you, Kevin Sullivan, for betraying the fans that have loved Anne of Green Gables. You clearly can't come up with anything that can add positively to the "Anne" series. The horse is dead. Stop beating it.