Reviews

I suspect that viewers of Peter Jackson's movie, Lord of the Rings, will respond to it much as they do to the novel written by J.R.R. Tolkien. Some will not be put off by the three-hour length any more than they are put off by the three-inch thick book. Some will not mind that this movie is just the first of three anymore than they mind the fact that the novel is the equivalent of three books.

Others will complain, much like one eloquent but utterly clueless viewer has done here previously. It's too long...too historical...too unbelievable.

If your idea of quality entertainment is reading the latest celebrity magazine or watching a 90 minute action film, The Lord of the Rings in either print or film IS probably not for you. But...if you delight in diving into a fictional work replete with imagery and detail, if you relish the intricate fantasy Tolkien created on paper, you will quite simply fall in love with Jackson's cinematic version of this 20th century classic.

Everything about this motion picture shines. From the perfect casting of each character to the detailed sets and staging, from the costumes to the musical score, this movie is an incredible rendering of Tolkien's finest work in careful detail. Painstaking care has obviously been given every element of this production, and the resulting epic sweeps the viewer up into Middle Earth, bringing to vivid life a world that readers have vividly imagined for half a century.

Grab your popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the journey!

CBS may have axed the delightful mid-1990s series based upon Catherine Marshall's beloved novel "Christy," but this movie and it's companions "Return to Cutter Gap" and "A New Beginning" are a welcome continuation of this family classic.

Newcomer Lauren Lee Smith gives just the right touch of grace and determination to the title role, David Waterston fills out the role of her suitor Minister David Grantland in ways the original series never reached, and Stewart Finlay-McLennan reprises his definitive portrayal of Christy's cantankerous yet captivating Dr. MacNeill. Sterling supporting performances by members of the original series' cast and additional newcomers round out a wonderful ensemble.

It is rare to find a film that is both high in filmmaking quality and in substance, yet also watchable by the entire family. This movie is all that and more.

With breathtaking cinematography, top-notch direction and editing, a musical score that suits the film to a T, and a screenplay that captures the very essence of the themes of Catherine Marshall's novel, this "Christy" is a worthwhile addition to any family's video library. My family has watched it again and again, and I am certain yours will love it too.

For those who thought his career began and ended with Magnum, P.I., it's a pleasant surprise to find Tom Selleck has become a credible and familiar face in--surprise, surprise--westerns. This classic Louis L'Amour story seems tailor made for the tall, rugged actor who is apparently just as comfortable on a horse as in a Ferrari. With Mark Harmon playing the essential villain, Virginia Madsen playing the not-so-helpless widow, Selleck gives us the quintessential western hero, an average guy just trying to make good on a promise to a dead friend. While the gunplay may not be appropriate for young children, this is a film with both high quality of production and high quality of content for all viewers.

I found this to be an exquisitely photographed, skillfully-scripted and carefully cast interpretation of the beloved novel by Catherine Marshall. This wonderful family film includes skilled performances by Stewart Finlay-McLennan returning as the beloved Dr. MacNeill and newcomers Lauren Lee Smith and James Waterston as a very believable Christy and her would-be suitor Reverend David Grantland. Veteran actress Diane Ladd brings to life a Miss Alice who seems to come straight out of the pages of Ms. Marshall's novel.

My own family of six ranging from 4 to 38 yrs. watched "Return to Cutter Gap" with great interest and all were particularly fond of Lauren Lee Smith's portrayal of Christy. My teen children have read the novel and watched the videos of the short-lived CBS series aired in the mid-1990s. All agree that "Return to Cutter Gap" is a wonderful version of "Christy." This was an extremely well-made movie and it left us eager for the two sequels, promised in Spring of 2001. And no, I did NOT get paid to say this--we really did thoroughly enjoy it!

This gripping film is a must-see for anyone under 40 who doesn't know what happened when the U.S. forces pulled out of Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge took over. Don't know what the heck I'm talking about? You NEED to rent this movie. Consider it education, right alongside Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan. The incredible performances by Sam Waterston and the late Haing S. Nor (whose real life paralleled his character's) make this movie one you will never forget.