When Calls the Heart (2013) Hollywood

Inspiration is the best remedy to tackle our fear.

Genre:

Comedy, Drama, Romance, TV Movie, Western.

What's in:

On-topic, Off-topic, Spoilers, Dialogues.

Length:

Approximately 5-minute read.

Review:

     I chose this after watching Jannete Oke's 'Love Comes Softly' movie series. Surely another sensational work by her, but very disappointing for this being a one-off movie. It was a wonderful western-drama, had an awesome beginning. In fact, it was more cheering and more inspiring than the other movie I mentioned in the first line.

     I think the author was so fond of telling the western frontier stories that set in the latter half of the 19th century and no doubt that she mastered carving them. But this one takes place in the year 1910 Canada, where a young woman, Elizabeth Thatcher from a wealthy family who aspires to be a school teacher. She's who afraid of her own shadow and never been in the harsh world around her. But she decides to leave her fear behind and take up the challenges in the life. Upon a bet between she and her elder sister, she must prove her capability to tackle any difficulties that come her way while chasing the dream job. But her inspiration comes in a peculiar way and then determines to follow the same footstep.

     As usual for a small screen movie, most of the cast were unfamiliar. Not that Maggie Grace was the only one to highlight in the movie, but every character and the cast who represented them were so impressive. Music was another great feature. The style of narration was simply acceptable, including a decent cinematography and wonderful locations. The same filmmaker who made the first four films of 'Love Comes Softly' also wrote the screenplay and directed it.

     The end was so sudden, but the overall movie was very short. I felt it was only the beginning and I am not wrong after all. After the movie I went to look for a sequel, if it had one. But I was very confident, there should be a continuation somewhere and more storytelling to follow. Likewise, I found something interesting that I briefed in the final paragraph.

 It appears I'm not fit to go west.

     I am not fond of those products that made specially for the televisions. Only recently I began to explore them and got distracted by the flaws, precisely to say the technical errors are huge. But then after sometimes I understood, for a low budget and the television standards, those are exceptional. I think I am kind of starting to like the Hallmark movies as well the author Jannete Oke's master works.

     I don't know this story would have impacted largely if it was made as a theatrical feature with a big cast, but I am satisfied highly this so sweet little television film. Now I realised that sometimes small stages can also showcase the great works in a standard to draw the section of its own audience. I know usually the literature lovers would loathe the adaptation like this one, but I'm a movie fanatic and this is the only way to connect with the great literatures.

     There are eight books in this series called 'Canadian West' series, but the filmmakers decided to turn the rest of the books a television series. Since I loved this film a lot I am planning to watch the series as well. Actually, this one was a pilot movie for the series, so lets see how wonderful they are going to be, but the ratings and reviews are overwhelmingly poured on the movie sites. I'm very eager and we'll meet there in the review if I get a chance to see them. For now I strongly recommend this film for family audiences and also, especially who are looking for the inspiration.



Similar movies:
Love Comes Softly series, As I lay Dying, Slow West, Dead Man.


Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


External link(s):
 

Love's Christmas Journey (2011) USA

The story of Ellie & Aaron Davis: Getting ready for the festival.

Genre:

Drama, Family, Western, TV Movie.

What's in:

As always on-topic, Not a bit off-topic, Very less spoilers, Dialogues.

Length:

Approximately 7-minute read.

Part-XI review:

     The eleventh and the final one in the Hallmark's 'Love Comes Softly' movie series. Inspired by the characters from Jannete Oke's original book. Only the eight titles were the adapted screenplay and remaining two were original, but prequels. So all the ten films had connections, but was not in the chronological order. Prior to this watch, I was wondering where this one would fit in the series. Technically, it is neither a sequel nor a prequel, but my guess is it sets in a parallel timeline to the fifth movie with the characters those derived from the previous films.

     Patently, I was eager for this, at a time it was very sad that no more movies after this one in the series. These were the beautiful family drama episodes, obviously had ups and downs, but certainly it maintained the quality and context as it promised. This was a two part movie and each 90 minutes long. It looks natural these days a final movie in the series to split into two equal parts. The silver-screen films are done for the commercial purpose, but I don't know the reason behind this television film. Surely it was not a small story that stretched to nearly a 3 hours long. Quite well developed characters and plot under the original theme to match with a par.

     We know Aaron, the little boy from 'Love's Enduring Promise', whose parents were Marty and Clark Davis. Missie is his half sister, but the question remains who's Ellie? Actually Ellie was not introduced so far in the series who was born after Aaron, but the story was proceeded with Missie who got married Willie and moved away. Thus, it had no time to launch Ellie, in fact, she was unnecessary until now. But the thing is the filmmakers failed to make sure the viewers get the proper clarification. These series' so called cliche is, the deaths, that continued here as well. Almost all the films open with a similar fashion, except I think one or two movies.

 I didn't grow old by making mistakes.

     In the first part, it was a bit slow to start, but strongly ended with spilling some suspense to carry going to the next part. I went with so much curiosity, then I ended with a little disappointment. The story was neat in order and clearly explored all the corners, though slightly the theme was overused or maybe jumps off the line. Felt like I was watching some kind of Christmas carol movie. You are religious or not, that does not matter here, because of the praiseworthy subject about human life. To me it was one of the best in the series, except that Christmas miracle thingy which turned it from realistic to a fantasy.

     We can learn so many things from these films. Like today we easily contact with our dear ones from the halfway across the world through texts and video calls. But where this story set in the latter half of the 19th century, earning money, the food, getting shelter, long journeys, even it lets us know the struggles in life in the un-advanced medicinal world. I admit like I said I have usually seen plenty of western films that associated with action, adventure, crime, thriller. But it was very occasional to get a pure family enjoyable western drama. I think 'As I Lay Dying' was the last time I saw one which was severely underrated.

     Like I mentioned the Love saga ended with the previous film, this one was simply an extra piece attached to the series somewhere in the middle. Especially targeted for the festival season audience to watch with their families who are supposed to be the fans of this original series. I had a wonderful time the last few days with this series. I suppose I said it in all the previous reviews and again saying that it is a feel good movie series, about love, faith, society, struggles, friends, family and many more good and bad stuffs. Overall, it was the fine movies for the families, except a few technical flaws (that is common in the television movies), which are acceptable to the television standards. Finally, the time has come to me to put an end to the Love saga reviews.

Similar movies:
Love Comes Softly movie series.


Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


External link(s):