Customer Reviews

Christy - A Change of Seasons

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Christy: A Change of Seasons is just a wonderful movie for both children and parents. I just love the whole Christy series, movie and mini-series. The story was aired on PAX tv in a two part series starring Lauren Lee Smith as Christy Huddleston. The story starts out on a wonderful night in Cutter Gap. All the residents in Cutter Gap gather to the Mission House to watch a movie which Christy (Smith) borrowed for Miss Alice Henderson's birthday. But as the story moves on not everything is so peaceful and happy. A few days later, after Doctor Neil MacNeill (played by Stewart Finley McLannen from the orginal series) exames some residents, he discovers that typhoid has come to the good people of Cutter Gap. Almost everyone becomes ill, encluding David Grantland, (played by James Waterston, son of actor Sam Waterston)the young mission preacher. Christy is devistated by the death of her dear friend Fairlight Spencer (played by Ingrid Torrance) and begins to question her belief in God. Christy throws herself into help Dr. MacNeill care for the ill and tries not to think about her loss. But David offers her hope and his heart to her. So she accepts his proposal. Miss Alice also tries to help Christy through her troubles, but she is also battling problems of her own. Dr. MacNeill soon finds out about Christy's choice to marry David and decides to leave the Cove, rather then see the woman he loves marry another. To find out what happens next and see who Christy marries check out Christy: A New Beginning.

This continuation of COTH Part 1 begins 3 months after Dr. Neil MacNeill has left Cutter Gap, TN. Christy Huddleston is seen growing ever more conflicted over her engagement to David Grantland while preoccupied with a wedding that is two weeks away. Dr. MacNeill's unexpected return to the cove further complicates the young woman's emotional state.

A surprise invitation from one of the suitors is the prelude to an impassioned declaration as the skies break into what becomes a torrential rainstorm. The risk of traveling back to the mission house in Cutter Gap necessitates staying overnight in a nearby cabin. A dramatic confrontation leads to the most revealing, emotionally bare conversations of the movie.

Stewart Finlay-McLennan gives the single best, most affecting performance of the entire movie and possibly his career in a scene that is pivotal for his character, Dr. Neil MacNeill. Lauren Lee Smith remains luminescent and vivacious in her performance as Christy Huddleston. James Waterston plays an earnest and likeable David Grantland. Lush mountain scenery, a well-written script and extremely good acting from the cast make this movie a joy for the mind and heart.

The subtitle for the movie is "A New Beginning." By the end of the movie and of the storm, the viewer sees the seeds for renewal in the lives of several characters. The potential for continuation of this classic story is well worth the effort and more than worthy of the viewer's time.

After having watched the 20 episodes of the original Christy series, I was dismayed and disappointed with these subsequent videos. Not only are some key actors and actresses missing but the entire atmosphere of "Cutter's Gap" is topsy-turvy compared to the original episodes. I feel for the returning actors and actresses (Neil McNeil, Tom, Opal, etc.) that had to watch this change take place and still try to respond like the old characters did to their surroundings. These new videos (in my humble opinion) demean the mountain people whereas in the original there was nobility to their characters even in the midst of their ignorance. Not only that, but the handling of God and Christianity in these new videos is ridiculous -- throwing around cutsy little sayings, etc. with no depth.

Unlike the originals, these videos portray life there in one dimension. There are too many dramatic elements just seemingly thrown in for the sake of action -- no real thinking behind the events. It seems to me someone meant well but missed the mark completely. Very sad. I could easily just get up and walk away from these movies even as badly as I wanted to see the outcome for Christy's marital decision.

So I caution those that were touched and moved by the original episodes. They were truly over with the last episode depicting Christy holding her engagement ring from David in one hand and Doc McNeil riding up on his little horse (they do give him a larger, more handsome horse in the new videos). Finishing those episodes in your mind is much better than contaminating them with these new imposter videos.

Thank you for the space to air my thoughts.

p.s. I am told by my daughter, and I agree to an extent, that the new actresses for Ruby Mae and Fairlight were the only ones that lived up to the original characters.

I love the book Christy and though I think it's usually hard for a tv or movie version of a book to totally live up to it's namesake, the first series did this job pretty well I think. This version, however, was overacted (Other than Dr. McNeil's character which I still think was acted pretty well),and the characters didn't have the heart and spirit that they did in the book. The overacting and poorly done camera work make what is a great story seem hokey and dumbed down. Also many of the characters aren't very well cast either. I don't recommend this version at all but still recommend the book and the other television version of this story.

The 1 star is for the cast who returned from the CBS series, especially Steward Finlay-McClennan's Dr. MacNeil! Having loved the series & the book, I was a bit disappointed with Lauren Lee Smith, Tyne Daly & Sam W. portrayals of key characters. The original series' cast (Kellie Martin, Tyne Daly & Randall Batinkoff) were much more realistic & believable (the movies sometimes had over-acting... ah, what could have been!). All in all, perhaps 'newbies' could start with the series before seeing the movies. For Christy fans who have a hard time swallowing Smith's performance over Kellie Martin's (or Miss Alice & David), I'd think twice before buying the movies.

I loved the television show, and it was hard for me to get into the new characterizations of the characters. It was great to see some returning members, espically McLennan who played Neil McNeil. I think he really holds this mini-series together, and is the only person (other than a few of the Cutter Gap residents) who doesn't overact or seem fake in this movie.

Maybe it's just hard for me to accept that different people are playing the beloved characters like Chirsty, and Miss Alice, etc. but I think I'm not alone when I say many of the characters didn't seem as realistic as they did in the series. The new Miss Alice probably seemed the most over-acted and fake out of everyone. Her "Thee's and thou's and thy's" just didnt cut it.

However, all in all it was an excellent story and picks up where the series leaves off. The new Chirsty did a decent job (certainly better than I ever could) and it is worth buying or watching on television. I hope that PAX will create more "Christy" episodes, and even though I'm not really one for wholesome family television and christian shows, this really is a wonderful show for anyone.

As I had watched the original series, the differences were very apparent in the change of actors, location and characters and even the theme of the story. It would have been nicer to have had the ending of the original series as the flow wasn't good. I was very disappointed with their new take on the original series.

A Change of Seasons was a great movie! It was a follow up to "Christy: The Movie" and it details Christy's life durning the time when a flood comes to the small town of Cutter Gap, many things are lost but at the end of the movie everything turns out alright! It's worth seeing and it's a really good movie.

Once I saw the first one of this series I had to have it. They are such good, moral movies. I would recommend them to any one.

Good, wholesome material. It's also some history of our culture that we don't often hear about.