Reviews

Why can't there be a good story told without using the F word in every sentence? Why was almost everyone in the story working with a hair-trigger temper? The least little thing set off a fight or argument. I didn't like a single character except Patrick. This is one of the most over rated movies I've ever seen.

I enjoyed this movie because it took a turn I wasn't expecting when the family started acting strangely. I didn't start to think about the plot holes till it was over--I kept thinking it would all come clear. But I gotta admit it didn't make sense.

(1) Anne was adopted. Then we learn she was a gypsy. The English have always been so class conscious that an upper class person hardly speaks to anyone except those in their circle, so I find it impossible to believe they would take a Roma child into their family as a full member.

(2) Before the war started, England was divided on their opinion of going to war. This is easily documented in any history book about WW 11. Some people wanted the war, some people didn't, some were sympathetic to Hitler (The Duke and Duchess of Windsor), and some just wanted him to go away.

(3) At that time, (like now) the opinions of young women were regarded lightly. What they had to say did not account for much. Especially in politics, they were ignored.

In view of (1) (2)and (3), please someone tell me why the Keyes family went to so much trouble, murder, lies, deception, cruelty to animals, and darn near killing Anne, just because she might hold a different opinion on the war. When her father was explaining it all to her, all he could come up with was she was a Roma (gypsy) and didn't fall in with the families' opinion of the war. It's pretty darn strange and puzzling to me. What did I miss? She wasn't political at all till they started their odd behavior.

These novels were not cheap paperbacks when they first came out. I read them years ago, and to call them Supermarket novels is to do them an injustice. But also, that same person who posted that said the movie starred Lesley Ann Downe-- he didn't even get Lesley Ann Warren's name right.

I loved this movie. I bought it from Amazon.com about a month ago. I had planned to watch it in three or four sittings, since it ran over 4 hours, but I became so engrossed that I watched it in two sessions. It is a two disc movie. There were a lot of similarities to Gone With The Wind in the movie, but not so many in the books. I've been to Natchez, and I was happy to see a shot of "The Delta Queen." I've ridden on the Delta Queen. It used to dock at Louisville.

I watched this movie last night and wish I had my 129 minutes back. Too bad- the story was important, and the plight of the people in Africa is alarming-- this could have been a much better movie if it had been done in a straight-forward manner. But the camera played games with the movie-- it was shot in a disoriented, frenzied manner that would give an aspirin a headache. I wanted to like it-- I had been looking forward to seeing it. I just thought it was too "gimmicky". Someone must have thought the story wouldn't stand on it's own, so they jazzed up the filming. Also, some of the movie was confusing because there was no obvious demarcation between past and present. By the time I had some of the scenes figured out-- the time frame had shifted. Also, one last gripe-- unless you use subtitles, you probably won't catch half the ideologue. Lots of mumbles.

When the book first came out I bought it, and after about 40 pages, I decided it was just not for me. A few days later I gave it another go, and when I finished it I realized I almost missed an excellent book. When I found out there was to be a movie, I was anxious to see it. I loved the movie, and Cameron Diaz was perfect. I liked Toni Collette, too, but she and Cameron Diaz sure didn't look like they came from the same gene pool. (Sisters) While I wouldn't call this a "message movie", there certainly were lots of "messages", and in the end, very uplifting. I went thru 3 Kleenex at the end.

One more thing-- on the DVD Special Features, Toni Collette said she gained 25 pounds for the role. If she did, I wonder where they were. She looked like she weighed about 5 pounds more than Cameron Diaz, and CD is super-thin. Toni's character, Rosie, wore frumpy clothes which made her look heavier, but without them, she sure looked slim. Wonder what she looked like before she put on the extra pounds?

But I'm being nit-picky. I loved the movie !