That was an excellent one.

Simply Perfect

Memorable, crazy movie

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

I have always had an obsession with the Anne of Green Gables movies. ALways. to the point that one of the things on my "bucket list" is to eventually visit the green gables homestead in PEI where the films were made. first off they have someone ELSE playing ANne - Megan Follows and Johnathon Crombie ( gilbert) apparently refused to be in the film because it was so vastly different from the books ) .. PLUS Sullivan killed off Gilbert - GILBERT!!! claiming he died in WW2.. which in itself is a load of horse-crap, and would warrant a tar and feathering at the hands of the fans ... !! but now all of a sudden, Anne's parents also did NOT die of scarlet fever when she was 3 months old..( REALLY?!?!?! ) but her mother supposedly actually died when Anne was 11, in a horse buggy accident and her father has been alive this whole time?? ( are you freaking kidding me??? )Diana is nowhere to be found, there is ZERO mention of any of Anne and Gil's other 4 children.. ( only of Dominic ( who was never even mentioned in the series ) and one other child Ummmm.. NO!!! to any TRUE A.O.G.G fans.. this is next door to a travesty of Epic proportions!! when you have such a Strong connection to a series throughout your childhood, and then some Nimrod goes and changes everything you loved and held sacred about the stories...this is NOT OKAY!! what a waste of time.

I first read the synopsis of the movie and thought it was odd that they cast Barbara Hershey as Anne. I just couldn't figure out why! Then I actually watched the movie and realized that Megan Follows was a smart lady and wanted nothing to do with this horrible plot line. Turning Anne into a liar? I mean, that was the main draw to her. In the original movies one thing she was not was a liar and had a sweet innocence about her.My other problem with this movie is that Diana was her "bosom friend" throughout but in this movie she is just and afterthought. I would have preferred they never mention her at all rather than sticking a look alike (who REALLY did NOT look like her) in at the end for two seconds. The "flashbacks" of Anne were more watchable than the "flash forwards" and I found myself actually getting irritated when Barbara Hershey was on screen. So they kill off Gilbert so now Anne is a mopey mess. Sorry, even when she was in the "depths of despair" in the originals, she still had life. Now my last problem with this movie is the "long lost brother" plot line thrown in at the end. It just felt hollow. She goes all the way to Boston to find her father, finds out she has a half-brother, gets to Violetta's (who is inexplicably mad at either her or her father, I really couldn't figure that one out) who would not see her, asks whoever is there to see her half-brother, and then all Anne does is rip up a card and leaves. That's it. No fight...nothing. Just leaves. Goes home. But wait....he shows up for some reason (how he got to find out about her or who told him is never explained) at the end of the movie. You never hear the exchange, just a far of shot of them shaking hands, saying a few words to each other, and then hugging. It was just awkward. It seems to me that Barbara Hershey (who I think is a wonderful actress) never took the time to see the original movies so she really didn't get the right feel for the Anne character.

After seeing the previous three episodes, I looked forward to the 4th installment of this beautifully photographed series. Unfortunately, it was a pale imitation of those that preceded it. However, I did not find fault with the outstanding performance of Hannah Endicott-Douglas as very young Shirley. Some have compared her unfavorably with Meghan Follows but I feel this is unfair since Follows was 13 when she initiated the role. Endicott-Douglas was much younger and the task was much harder for her. It was a bravura performance for someone her age. On the other hand, Barbara Hershey as the mature Anne was grotesquely miscast. She bore no resemblance at all to young Shirley and appeared uncomfortable in this role. I found it strange that she would weep at the grave of her late husband who was supposed to have died at Dieppe in 1942? Many Canadians were killed or captured at this ill-advised engagement but it was merely a raid, not a permanent invasion, so it is unlikely that a medical officer would have been there. If he had been killed there, I seriously doubt his body would have been brought back to Canada for burial? Those who died in the Dieppe raid are buried in France among the thousands of other Allied soldiers buried there. I thought Shirley MacLaine was adequate as Mrs. Thomas but I can understand the feelings of those who wondered why a Canadian actress could not have played the part. I agree and feel someone like Kate Nelligan would have been excellent in that role. I thought Rachel Blanchard was radiant as Luisa Thomas and a definite asset to the production. I thought she bears a striking resemblance to American actress Michele Pfieffer. I was very confused by the convoluted finale where mature Shirley was seeking her half-brother? What was Hepzibah, the housekeeper from hell, doing there? She was an old gray haired woman when Shirley was a very young child? Who was the man with her in that house? Why was Violeta the sole heir in Shirley's father's will and where was she? Where was her half brother at this time? A lot of loose ends unexplained. Finally, I agree with those who would have preferred a sequel of the period when Gil and Shirley were married and raising their two daughters and adopted son. Perhaps director Sullivan is thinking of following the example of "The Thorn Birds" and creating a new chapter titled, "Anne of Green Gables- The Missing Years." If so, he shouldn't try it without the original pair.

I feel like it's all about the money at this point. Again, the magic from the first two is gone. Visually, it's a nice film to look at. I loved seeing Green Gables itself again and happy we got to see more of it than part three. But in my own opinion it's a step down yet again. Three was a let down and so is this one. They should have stopped after Anne 2; and left Anne and Gil on the bridge. I would have preferred to leave it up to the imagination than having this film. Where is the movie with Anne and Gil having children together? Anne fans deserved better. After viewing this installment, I can't believe how anyone who loved the first two movies would ever accept this film. It wasn't what I imagined at all and trying to tie this in simply to make a buck is awful. Thanks, Kevin. I liked three better than this. This film visually is an improvement over Anne 3 but come on, Diana and Rachel fans will be disappointed for one thing! The smartest people in the whole development of Anne '4' are the original actors who decided to stay OUT of it. Especially Megan Follows. You'll always be Anne to me.