Anya's Bell (TV Movie 1999) Poster

(1999 TV Movie)

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8/10
Simple, yet touching and heartwarming.
TwzzlrFrk3 November 1999
When you think of all the movies we have grown to like, they usually involve someone being blown to pieces, or spectacular special effects, or various "four-letter words" every second word. Of course TV Movies can't meet these guidelines since they work on a relatively limited budget and reduced time frame. As a result we end up getting movies with cheesy plots (and sometimes no plots at all!) with lame acting and all we think to ourselves after two hours is "Could have gone bowlin' or something!"

Well after two hours of "Anya's Bell", I was not only impressed, but deeply moved. This is a heartwarming tale of a boy who befriends an old blind lady. Plot sound familiar? It probably does - young kid meets old man - they team up, start a wonderful friendship - man dies. Even though Anya's Bell follows this model plot, it still manages to keep the viewer interested.

The deeply emotional performances of Mason Gamble (Dennis the Menace) and Della Reese (Touched By An Angel) in the roles of Scott and Anya can't help but affect the viewer on an emotional level. The subplots I didn't care much for.

You may find it cheesy, unrealistic and way too familiar, but perhaps that's a good thing. Perhaps we need to get in touch more with our emotions. After all, this movie is a lot more realistic than "Terminator 2" or "Star Wars" (although Star Wars is one of my favourite movies of all time!).

Bottom Line - "Anya's Bell" isn't the best TV movie ever made, but it sure is a great, touching, and heartwarming film, that had my attention every step of the way. Good family entertainment stressing good moral values. It's more worth your time watching this movie than watching some ridiculous, crude sitcom. I give it an 8 out of 10 - my highest rating EVER for a TV Movie!
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7/10
Nice!
macpherr30 January 2000
A sweet story about a boy who has dyslexia and a blind woman "Anya Hepick" Della Reese (Touched by an Angel) who was never introduced to some of the skills taught to the blind during the latter part of this last century, except for reading in Braille. She did not go outside on her own house. She meets little "Scott Rhymes" Mason Gamble (Rushmore), a delivery boy, after her mother who did everything for her died. Nothing spectacular but good solid story telling, a simple made-for TV movie. My favorite quote: Anya: "Is this a long story? I like coffee with my long stories. " My favorite scene: Anya crossing a street all by herself and her cane.
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Very good movie
reidmiller6 February 2004
No explosions, no gunfire, just good acting. It was nice to only have one named star in the movie. I found I could better concentrate on the plot than thinking about what this person had done, or what the other person had acted in. I liked this movie very much. I'd like to know if it's available for sale as I can't seem to find it anywhere.
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10/10
It Was Great!
jeremy-447 November 1999
This Movie Is A Must For Any Fan's Of The Tv Show Touched By An Angel Or Fan's Of Della Reese & Mason Gamble This Movie Is About This Young Boy Scott (Mason Gamble) Develops A Relation Ship With A Blind Women Anya (Della

Reese) Great Movie For Kids And Parents! It Is A Very Enjoyable! Recommend It 10 Stars! -Jeremy (14 Years Old)

CBS Did A Good Job On This Tv Movie!
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10/10
The Best family film I have seen this year
kevin_gilson10 September 2000
One of those rare feel good films, no action, no swearing, no sex, just a family movie that tackles two subjects together in a film for the first time. The chemistry and interaction between Della Reese, and Mason Gamble is first class, and I challenge anyone to resist shedding a tear in the last 10 minutes.

Della has a long resume, and her gift as an actress allows her to pull off a difficult role, which shows how the world can hold so much fear for someone without sight. Young Mason has a future ahead of him in films, if he keeps his feet on the ground through his teens, and continues to put in performances as good as this.
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10/10
Well done!
dresing18 January 2004
Today was the second time I've been able to see this movie; I would see it, and recommend it, to anyone very highly! I haven't been able to find it on either VHS or DVD; however, when it does become available, I will be sure to add it to my video library!

I particularly enjoyed the performances of Della Reese and Mason Gamble. The rough beginning of their friendship rang a bell, if you'll forgive me this bon mot, in an experience I had as a lad. Watching their friendship grow, with the resulting deepening of their trust and love of each other, I felt a warmth that I haven't felt in years!

That this movie is "formula driven" does not matter - it is the way this story is told that makes it worth-while to watch. The cinematograpy, music, costumes, continuity were exceptional!

One final comment: It was refreshing to see a movie where no one was blasted into their component parts; where the strongest language used was "Dang!", (which is NOT a real "swear word"!), no blatant sexual content - in other words, a movie of a bygone age - a type of movie we could all enjoy!
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10/10
Touching tear-jerker
serralord5 February 2004
It's kind of odd, because movies that I can predict usually bore me. And I can honestly say that I figured what was going to happen to Anya by about half way through the movie. DESPITE this, the movie didn't cease to make me smile. And at the end, I even cried. Della Reese's performance is spectacular, with good supporting actors and actresses. A *VERY* good movie!
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Formulaic to the nth degree but it works!
Renaldo Matlin6 April 2004
"Anya's Bell" was somewhat disappointing in how the story was quite predictable, from beginning to end, but thankfully I was very happy (or sad if you will) to discover that it still managed to do what it's supposed to: jerk around the tear canals, and it does so very well.

But then again it's hard to go wrong when you got Della Reese, one of the best African American actresses of her generation and Mason Gamble, one of the best Caucasian child actors of his generation. They make such a wonderful and touching pair I would have liked to see them in an entire mini-series exploring their unique relationship even more so, and following them through several years (all though it would probably be physically impossible with a 13 year old in one of the leads).

Very formulaic but still very beautiful, touching and heartwarming, and a TV-movie not easily forgotten.

And what a touching last scene, when Scott makes sure Anya will always be with him, flying like the wind...
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10/10
Excellent acting from Della Reese
keshayra27 January 2004
Warning: Spoilers
I am a real fan of Della Reese as an actress and looked forward to watching this movie. The story is about a young boy in an early but troubled teens and a blind woman who has to find her own independence after the death of her mother. Like all good friendships theirs has its ups and downs, but it develops enough for Scott and Anya to learn to appreciate each other and to learn to overcome what is stopping them from being truly independent: his learning disability and her blindness. It was really moving how Anya is able to draw the best out of Scott and make him confident. Throughout the movie you can see how Scott's relationship with his mother is in turmoil who borders on despair at times. The story deals with dyslexia which was not well known about in 1949 when the film takes place, and which at times is still not recognized as something that can be treated. However with Anya's encouragement Scott and his mother seek out treatment and find he has dyslexia and a new life starts for Scott; one of hope and possibilities. When Scott returns home after the tests he finds that Anya has died and he runs off to seek out his grandparents. In the process of seeking them out he also starts the possibility of them and his mother mending their wounds. When he returns from his grandparents, Anya's lawyer comes to their house and says that Anya left money for Scott's education and the future looks like it is going to be good for Scott and his mother.
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Amazing!
LifeForRent26 March 2004
I thought this movie, "Anya's Bell", was amazing. Absolutely brilliant.

I was looking through the channels on my Digital, and saw that on the Hallmark channel yesterday a movie called "Anya's Bell" was showing. I thought "This sounds okay" so I began to watch it. I must admit that at the start I sighed and thought "Not another TV Movie like this" but as it went on I found it great and really hooking. I think this was due to Della Reese's acting, and the character, Anya, that she plays. She done an excellent job and I doubt the movie would be so good if Della Reese weren't in it. At times I felt myself filling up just thinking about the complete situation- Especially when Anya started screaming on the Ferris Wheel or when she crosses the road- It was so touching and sad. I almost cried at the ending- But I'll leave you to watch it and find out.

10/10 for this movie, as I loved it so much. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone of any age.
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