Too many fans seem to be blown away

Boring, long, and too preachy.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

This is the first film, based on the Beverly Lewis' 'The Heritage of Lancaster County' trilogy. It is a television film series that was telecasted in the Hallmark. This channel is good at this kind of story narration. I have seen many similar films and one of those was 'Love Comes Softly'. The same filmmaker directed this as well.The film is about a young Amish woman. I've never met one in my life, nor knew anything about them, until I'd learned everything through watching the films. So I've no good or bad impression on them. But watching the film, especially the first half did not show them in a good light. Until the storytelling ends, there's nothing to judge. And as expected, it'd given a good reason in the later part.It was suspenseful at the opening. An English woman who has just landed in Lancaster county, looking for a particular person. Not everybody is interested in helping her. But somehow the message reaches the other end. Soon they are terrified and prepared for the bad thing. It's all linked to their daughter Katie. The truth always finds its way out and that's how Katie gets involved in it. Besides her instinct was always been on her side. The rest is about her expedition to unlock more truth.-xX] No matter where god puts us, it's up to us how we choose to live. [Xx-This is good for literature. But for screen adaptation, it does not have any chance to deliver a similar success. Not in the current generation. Would have been great half a century ago. Though for a television, it all makes sense. Because television audience is different. Consists mainly families, and that too as well women. So most of the television films are women oriented themes. On that aspect, this is a wonderful film. I too sometimes enjoy watching them. So I consider it a decent find, to watch in between the mainstream films.I knew this filmmaker would deliver, but the cast as well been wonderful. The story did not reveal much. It played hide and seek, but it had enough contents the whole first instalment to carry on with. As well as the curiosity it puts in us about what might follow in the sequel is a good thing. It had enough depth in characters to take on a ride. Other than that, the story is yet to come out with an explanation to cover all the bases. In a way, it does not matter if it heads forward only to focus on the future developments.A simple 90 minute drama, it does not have much topic to discuss. I've said everything I'd wanted to. So now I'm an inch closer to check out the next part. I hope it maintains the same rhythm. But I'm not liking it already as I'm finding something unfamiliar in the cast. I'll let you know what that's all about in the next review once I finished watching it. Meanwhile, it is not bad for once watching, but the original target audience should be watching it than anybody else.7/10

I haven't read the book, or can I testify to accuracy of place, clothing, habits, or accents. However, as a movie, I was thoroughly entranced by everything about this production. I thought that all the actors inhabited their characters with exquisite taste, delicacy, restraint, and heart. To me, the accents rolled off their tongues with ease and never felt forced. The casting for everyone felt perfect. Having seen other Danielle Panabaker movies, I feel this is her best one. I completely believed that an Amish girl could be this beautiful, spiritual, natural, loyal, and torn. She lived next door to me when she was a toddler/pre-schooler, and I have memories of her at my front door, and the feeling that she had the most arresting eyes and prettiest lips that I had ever seen on a child. She still looks the same and her face is especially expressive in this role. I'd highly recommend this movie. It will leave you with a warm feeling and you will not feel like you wasted an hour and a half of your life as do so many movies.

As a resident of Lancaster County, I admit that I watch Amish-based movies for mistakes! 1) Shutters on an Amish farmhouse? Wrong. They don't use shutters.2) Everyone much too pretty and handsome. (Except for Katie Lapp, who had a reason.) 3) The Amish adults are more likely to look the other way when their young adults experiment with "English" ways. And considering what some of the Amish kids get up to, I suspect most Amish parents would offer loud prayers of thanksgiving if all their sons or daughters did was sing "English" songs and play the guitar! 4) The Amish do not baptize their children -- that comes later, as an adult decision. Young people are expected to make the decision to join the congregation or not. They generally make this decision when they marry and THEN -- they join the church. Anyone who decides not to join the church is still considered to be a beloved member of the family, even if they go over to "English ways" and THEY WILL NOT BE SHUNNED. (especially if they own a car!) "Shunning" only takes place if you join the congregation and THEN leave. The movie does not make it clear whether Katie Lapp had joined the church or not. If she hadn't -- her shunning made no sense. (Not that it really did anyway...) 5) What's with the stilted speech of the Amish? I've heard them speak perfectly colloquial English. I'd really like to see an "Amish" movie spoken in Pennsylvania German dialect with subtitles! 6) The city standing in for Lancaster, PA? Lancaster, PA looks like that in its dreams... In real life, it has few retail stores and more Hispanic people in its downtown area.What they got right.The countryside looked authentic and so did the interiors. I've been in Amish kitchens and kitchens and the art director got it exactly right.There IS an oppressive (to non-Amish minds) emphasis on getting married young, having babies, and waiting on your husband. For that reason, there are a lot of Amish women who do not get married, go to work and keep their money for themselves.I agree with an earlier comment in that I kept waiting for Daniel to reappear. I think he staged his death.Must admit that I want to read the book now!

I understand the idea that this is a Hallmark movie and it was probably done in a way that would not offend the Amish. That being said, the movie doesn't do justice to Lewis' book on a whole. The plot feels very rushed, and it appears as if Hallmark was trying not to offend the Amish with their portrayals. In the movie, as compared to in the book, even Katie's shunning seems to happen much too quickly. The flashbacks lack the meat that appeared in the novel, and the portrayal of the community was very stiff. I was unable to appreciate the movie itself because I've been so busy expecting it to be close to the book. Hopefully if Hallmark decides to continue the series it will be done in better continuity with the novels.