Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

I liked the movie, however, it's cut together like a music video. Just when you're enjoying the splendor of the fair or the production value of the racetrack, it cuts away to another shot. The viewer doesn't have time to take it all in. It feels like the editor and director are fearful of the film becoming boring. The hurried pace of editing allows no time for the viewer to enjoy the scene. The blocking and eye-lines of some of the scenes were off. Several of the cut-aways and inserts were stilted or not necessary. This movie is not as good as it could have been, but it was worth seeing in the theater and enjoying the characters once more.

When Mary finds herself in a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble, the household grapples with the threat of social disgrace. The Crawleys must embrace change with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future.

Honestly, my watched every episode and I paid enough attention to follow along. These characters are all so well written that they really do feel like a family, your family. From the actual family to the servants of the house, you care about each and everyone.

This film is a beautiful send off to a wonderful series. Yes, I think anybody who has watched the show knows this ending has been coming almost since the first episode. The "twist" in this movie is obvious and not shocking come time for reveal. However, that really takes a backseat to the emotion that comes with this project. I was never a die hard watcher and even I got a little emotional at the end. I can only imagine how true fans must feel. It's a pity that more shows can't end with this satisfying of a finale.

IMDb gives it a 7.7/10 For me, it's a 7.5/10

Right or wrong, weak or strong...these are my opinions.

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The finale touched me to the core. It tied up a great deal of stories while providing a fitting tribute to those who were so much a part of the entire run. And the dialogue is so "cheeky" meaning true Downton followers will appreciate the references. I loved every minute. Thank you Julian Fellowes. You have left us with a lasting legacy to be revisited again.

Downton Abbey - The Grand Finale is an elegant and accomplished farewell. The writers wisely chose the path of subtraction: fewer contrived twists, more focus on the truth of the characters. At its heart lie the relationships and the interplay between social groups, capturing the very essence of the series. It works beautifully as a compendium, distilling what Downton Abbey has been for more than oa decade.

I'm glad I went to see it. Understandably, the film is constructed to please long time Downton fans. There is a rather self-conscious effort to give some characters enough screen time to bid us farewell, so that we see Anna and Mr Bates or Mrs Patmore and Daisy in brief scenes not at all relevant to the story at hand. That's fine, but I can almost imagine a producer standing behind the camera with a stopwatch to check off a box (okay Mrs Crawley, we've reached your quota).

Even the gone and departed appear briefly-Maggie Smith, Matthew, and one delicious shot of Sybil. Gee I wish she hadn't left the show. The storyline itself, emphasized in the trailer as a big scandal involving Mary, doesn't have a lot of punch to be honest, but I guess that's not why Downton fans are here anyway. For my money the worthwhile themes are a softening of class structure (Robert asking Carson for advice) and the virtual end of a centuries-long servant culture in Britain.