SincerelyMichael Reviews

Anne of Green Gables (1979)

Truly Awesome Series

[13 February 2008]

This comment has a spoiler at the end.

Wow! I am so happy I found this on YouTube, it's just amazing. Akage no An captures the story of Anne of Green Gables perfectly. The characters in this Japanese series are really cute, and the landscapes are absolutely beautiful. I really like the theme song as well. It's really hard to believe this was made in the 70's, it feels so new.

I can't get over how well this series depicts Prince Edward Island. I've lived on the island all my life, and let me tell you, they have it all down pat down to the red roads. The only thing is, PEI is more treed than depicted in Akage no Ann. Sometimes the landscapes look almost prairie-ish. They even have the old train stations and houses all right! The patchwork of fields, clumps of trees, birch forests, winding streams, and rolling hills are all perfect. The show makes me want to take a vacation in my own province LOL

At first, when I watched the theme song I thought Anne was flying through Japanese cherry blossom trees, but when I looked again I saw that the blossoms were actually apple blossoms! That detail made me love the series even more. Because "sakura" blossoms are such a prominent symbol in Japan, it's only natural for it to be replaced for something very common, fragrant, and beautiful on PEI. In fact, there is an apple orchard on my property, and it is very beautiful in the spring.

My favourite part of the series so far is when Anne smashes the slate over Gilbert's head when he calls her "carrots" because of her braids. Working at a museum, I know that the reason there are so many Japanese tourists on PEI in the summer is all about Anne of Green Gables. I think the book is actually part of their grade 6 curriculum. Fitting, since Anne is 11 at the beginning of the book.

Overall I think the show is really cute and I recommend it to anyone who's read the Anne books or who lives in the Maritimes. (Just to see the landscape)

Happy 100th Anniversary, Anne! See you this summer!

Avonlea (1990–1998)

Being from PEI, I feel a great connection to Road to Avonlea

[24 January 2007]

I was born in 1989, and I watched this show growing up. It was amazingly realistic and portrays Islanders exactly how they were. I was surprised that people from the United States and all over the world watched Road to Avonlea. When I was young, I thought it was just local.

I loved the characters in the show, and how the buildings and houses reminded me of where I lived. In fact, the white church shown in the theme song is 200 metres from my house. It's part of a community called Orwell, where I live. Actually it's a historic village called Orwell Corner Historic Village, it has been there since the 1800's. I actually worked as a tour guide there last summer, and cleaned and polished that church many times. Of course most of the sets are in Ontario but lot's of background scenery and stock footage is actually from here.

Oh yeah, and for those who don't know this Avonlea is a made up place based on a real place in PEI called Cavendish. Cavendish is a tourist spot and has an attraction called Avonlea village which is based upon Lucy Maud's Avonlea. ^.^ So come visit us in PEI!! I'll probably be working at Orwell Corner this summer so stop by and say hi if you come.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

Well made, another classic!

[18 December 2006]

All Harry Potter films made so far, like the novels on which they are based are instant classics as soon as they are released, with excellent performances from most of the cast, even the younger actors. They also have amazing digital and CG effects. Perhaps the best things about HP films is that each one seems more amazing than the next, and the films have the same magical lustre as the novels, despite minor plot trimming.

Like it's 3 predecessors, The Goblet of Fire is an extraordinary epic fantasy movie, and of course was a big hit at the box office, and will undoubtedly go on to sell millions of copies of the DVD.

This film shows the perkier, more feminine side of Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), and an even more mature Harry (Daniel Radcliffe). Ron (Rupert Grint) is just as hilarious as ever, and Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton)just as deviously nasty. I won't reveal any plot details for anyone who hasn't seen the film or read the book yet, though.

Let me tell you there are as many, if not more, twists and turns in the plot as the last film, Prisonner of Azkaban. There is enough adventure, magic, emotion, and laughs to last until The Order of the Pheonix comes out! So, I must say, this movie is a must see!

Eragon (2006)

Just okay...

[16 December 2006]

I went to see Eragon yesterday with my friends. I was excited because my friends all said that the books were excellent. I had never read them.

I think Edward Speleers was a good choice to play Eragon. Although, he doesn't look like how the character is described in the books. Most of the acting in the movies was good, not excellent, just OK.

The story seemed cut up, and sometimes didn't flow, and because of this was not exciting. The movie bored me most of the time. It left out certain important details, that weren't necessarily crucial for telling the story, but would have livened the film up, after all it wasn't that long anyway.

The CG animation was pretty good, though they didn't go for the coolest special effects. Saphira was animated very well though.

The movie just felt so "average", overall. It wasn't over-the-top, or badly made. It was just a generic fantasy movie based on a novel of much higher caliber.