Anne Of Green Gables Movie Review (DVD)

Grade A

Stars Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst, Richard Farnsworth, Jonathan Crombie, Schuyler Grant

Director Kevin Sullivan

Rating: NR

Genre: Classic

194 min.

1985 release date

As new modern movies of all genres hit the theaters, people often forget the importance of classic movies. I recently revisited the fictional world of L.M. Montgomery that takes place in Avonlea. Director Kevin Sullivan brings the classic novel to life in Anne of Green Gables, the movie.

This film follows the adventures of Anne (Megan Follows), a redheaded young girl who is orphaned at a very young age. By mistake, she is sent to live with spinster Marilla Cuthbert (Colleen Dewhurst) and her brother, Matthew Cuthbert (Richard Farnsworth). Instead of receiving a quiet boy, they take in a talkative, imaginative girl who has her own adventures growing up in Avonlea.

What I admire most is Anne’s outstanding and unique character. Both the movie and book portray her as a very imaginative child. If I were such an optimistic girl with such an imagination, I would be perfectly happy. Diana Barry (Schuyler Grant) is Anne’s bosom friend. She and Anne are like two peas in a pod, both of them letting their imagination run wild.

At school, an obnoxious boy named Gilbert Blythe (Jonathan Crombie) tries to catch Anne’s attention by pulling on a braid of her red hair and saying, “Psst! Carrots! Carrots!”

SPOILER: Why, Anne was so indignant she picked up Gilbert’s slate and smashed it over his head! Anne felt that she should never forgive Gilbert. Even when Gilbert apologized to Anne at the end of class, the girl acted like Gilbert didn’t exist. This incident also shows that Anne is an obstinate, or stubborn, as Marilla called her, and sensitive girl.

The wonderful cast performed their roles flawlessly, bringing characters to life exactly as readers imagined. Viewers can learn meaningful, eloquent quotes from this 20th century film. Here are a few of Anne’s famous quotes: “Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it.” “Tears don’t hurt, like the ache does.” “And I promise I’ll never do it again. That’s the one good thing about me. I never do the same wrong thing twice.”

This classic movie is about 3 hours long, and young children may have a hard time sitting throughout the whole film. Anne of Green Gables is more suitable for tweens, teens, and adults, who will definitely enjoy this elegant, graceful work of art.

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