freak-16

I saw this because it was a period drama and I'd heard it was good. I found that neither of the leads connected with the audience and the film felt very detached. There really wasn't one character I cared about and the drama wasn't dramatic and the wit left me cold. The poetry reading had no feeling (even though they used the famous poems you would have heard in high school).

Being a Jane Campion film, I was waiting for the leads to get their gear off and was pleased when it didn't happen. I know the clothes were supposed to be beautiful but the colours were horrible and the style ill-suited. The only actor I had seen before was Abby Cornish and she gave her usual restrained (stoned!) performance. I've nothing actively against her but I won't rush out to see something with her in it. This is not a bad film but I nodded off for a couple of minutes (twice!). Haven't done that since 'Attack of the Clones'.

I wish I had seen what most of the other reviewers here had. This genre is just to my liking but I preferred the recent Beatrix Potter and even the Jane Austin movies to this. It just didn't connect for me.

I loved this show when I was young and was overjoyed when I heard that the first series was being released on DVD. It did not disappoint and is well worth picking up. Tamara (Nadine Garner) and Steve (Paul Smith) Henderson are two high school kids from Richmond (Vic) who have to move to a small town called Haven Bay to live with their 'copper' uncle (Nicholas Eadie) after their mother (Dianne Craig) dies.

There they find it hard to fit in with the local kids (Ben Mendelsohn and Kylie Minogue among them)and uncover a plot by the local entrepreneur which has more to do with them than they realise.

Energetic Garner dominates every scene she's in. It's rare to have such an intelligent young teenager as Tamara Henderson on screen... ever! It's fun watching the rest of the cast too. Most of whom have worked in many other Australian television shows both before and after this production.

The opening shots of red and white roller skates are merely an introduction to this authentic snapshot of 1985. 576 minutes.

Not great for those spoiled by the Sullivan versions but not bad either. Like Sullivan's, this completely bypasses "Anne of the Island" and bases the movie on "Anne of Windy Poplars/Willows". Neither movie version was faithful to that book.

Anne takes a teaching job in a town controlled by the powerful Pringle clan. Of course, she changes their bitter attitudes and finds some kindred spirits. There are some interesting male and female characters and the actress who plays Anne Shirley is adequate but not charismatic. However, her character/acting is more likable than first time round in "Anne of Green Gables" (1934).

As expected, there isn't much of Gilbert. I believe he's played by a different actor. This Gilbert is handsomer but duller.

I found this more watchable, and better quality, than its predecessor but won't be buying this one (I caught it on TV).