To me, this movie is perfection.

not horrible nor great

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

The Love Letter (1999): Dir: Peter Ho-Sun Chan / Cast: Kate Capshaw, Ellen DeGeneres, Tom Selleck, Tom Everett Scott, Gloria Stuart: Intriguing romantic comedy about misinterpretations in romance. Title represents expression in a muddled and confused manner. Nobody knows who wrote it but when Kate Capshaw discovers an anonymous love letter she begins to hear every word in everyday conversation. She works in a bookstore with Ellen DeGeneres and are frequently visited by Tom Selleck who plays a fire fighter once involved romantically with her. She regrets a past mistakes involving a post card and hopes to correct the mistake upon his upcoming divorce. Tom Everett Scott plays a student who works at the bookstore and hopes to go to college but upon discovering the letter he believes Capshaw wrote it to him. Clever although not satisfying in its conclusion. Director Peter Ho-Sun Chan does well with presenting the true author. Capshaw brings one of her best performances while DeGeneres delivers on comic relief as well as the best lines. Selleck is charming, and Scott pulls off a humorous performance as he embarks upon blind romance. Gloria Stuart makes her post Titanic appearance to offer that last minute presentation of love and endurance. Superb film that echoes lost opportunities and how one simple love letter can cause so much trouble. Score: 8 / 10

My girlfriend sneaked this on when I put the kettle in and tricked me into watching it. I am glad she did.This is a well made, tender, lovely story about a small community in 'no-where' USA.The lead is outstanding (she seemed familiar but took me ages to place her - she was Willie In Temple of Doom) The story is quite abstract and floats gently around the characters rather than pulling them along. Everything about this movie is understated and tender. I found the characters captivating and as seemingly trivial events (in movie terms) affect their lives we shared their emotions.I think the problem some people may have with this film is it is EXCEEDINGLY gentle, even for a chick-flick. There is no action, high drama or big revelations. If you get bored or fidgety easily or are not in the right mind-set you may wish to save this for another day.

I just saw this movie on DVD, and thank god i didn't pay a cent for seeing it ! because it would have been a waste of money and I already wasted my time in seeing it. This movie is just TERRIBLE! At first,when i read the plot I found the idea with the love letter pretty good and interesting, but unfortunately I'm gonna have to say the movie sucks! At the end of the film it was still a mystery to me how the letter got in there( i mean the book store). as for the on-screen-playing: horrible ! I don't know if its the cast, the directors work or just the movie story itself,that made it so prosy and bland. It is supposed to be a romantic comedy?! it was neither romantic,nor was it a comedy.But if u r into stupid,frightfully boring movies- that one is for you ! otherwise - please do yourself a favor and never ever watch that mindless piece of s***.

We avoided watching this movie when it was released commercially, even though we had read Cathleen Schine's novel in which this movie is based on. Director Peter Chan's take on the story looks good on the screen; what with the picturesque setting of Rockford, Ma., as the background and all the cute houses where the story takes place. The result is a film that is easy on the eye, but alas, like eating a Chinese dinner, it leaves us hungry for more.Helen, the owner of a book store, finds a letter between the cushions of the couch of the shop. She reads it, and it sounds intriguing, because the writer goes to express how deeply he feels for the person the letter has been sent to. Since it has no name, Helen assumes it has been intended for her alone. She believes Johnny, the young assistant, has sent it to her. The young man, who likes the older Helen, is only too happy to tell her how he feels about her.Basically, "The Love Letter" is a story about missed opportunities. Helen who was in love with George, the local chief firefighter, married someone else, but her marriage failed. George also is getting a divorce. George confesses he had gone away to New York when he was younger to get away from Helen and his life in town and he had also sent her a postcard from New York, which Helen had kept, but had not read the message inserted within the card. It's at this moment when Helen comes to her senses when she realizes her affair with Johnny is only a summer fling.The film will be liked by the audience for which it was targeted. Kate Capshaw, who produced the movie, is fine as Helen. Tom Everett Scott plays Johnny. Blythe Danner, Geraldine McEwen, Julianne Nicholson, Tom Selleck, Ellen DeGeneres, and the rest of the cast do good work also.The film has an ironic twist at the end when the real recipient of this letter is revealed.