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Rating:  - This is Not the Shell Seekers
While I realize that this is a nice movie albeit it only 98 minutes, it is NOT the Shell Seekers. Anyone who loves this story-I have just reread it for the 7th time, will be very dissappointed. The story is totally butchered and even if Ms Pilcher approved the edits I dont care, it took out the depth and the incredible humanity of the original. The original is not sad, it is a tremendously uplifting and moving story. In addition to the dismantling of the story I believe the casting is particularly poor, not my image of the wonderfully dynamic characters in the book at all. While I love Angela Lansbury she has had to portray a Penelope that is a confused and melancholy old lady-not the vivacious and independent Penelope of the book -The most outrageous affront is the treatment of the role of Richard-that was the heart of the orginal and here its almost non existent. IF you are thinking of buying this to supplement your love for the book dont bother. Stick to your own images of the story -your own movie rather than ruining them with this melancholoy sudsy family soap opera of an older mother trying to cope with her 3 selfish adult children and having it all turn out sweet and fine in the end. Rubbish.
Rating:  - Lovely Scenery and Bittersweet Story
Angela Lansbury is one of my favorite actresses and she is excellent in this touching story which brought tears to my eyes more than once. The other actors, primarily British, are also very good and the English scenery is lovely. It's rather nice to see a movie where the main character is female, 63, and still searching for answers instead of being wise and all knowing. However, I did find the story rather disjointed at times and felt like a lot was missing. My next step is to listen to the audiobook which is sure to fill in some missing information.
Rating:  - GREAT MOVIE
A mother's sacrafice to keep her children happy without them taking into consideration their mother's happiness or appreciation for her love. I enjoyed this movie.
Rating: - * * * * * not for sophomores
The one star was given due to the fact that some sellers are selling the PAL version of this DVD under this heading of Region 1. Unless you can play PAL, avoid. The most notorious of these, caiman, even refuses to give a refund or an exchange for YOUR mistake in having ordered a PAL version.
The movie itself is easily five stars: * * * * *
The documentary with this movie has the producer and the screenwriter saying that Rosamunde herself approved the changes that they made in the script in bringing this novel to the screen. So, those who think they are being sophisticated by whining about the fact that the movie is different from the book are merely showing how sophomoric they are.
This is a superb movie of realistic and appealing characters, realistic and heart-rending relationships and real-life situations. That it manages to be gripping and involving in addition to all that realism is a testament to the skill of the moviemakers.
Recommended to all those who like a human/family movie.
Rating:  - Enjoyable yet unpretentious
Angela Lansbury does a wonderful job at protraying this character. Set in great locations that make the story more believable. No movie ever lives up to what a book can deliver in feeling and detail but this comes pretty close. I enjoyed the complex relationships between mother and children. They ring so true, using my family and other families I know as a guide. Forget those that say this is nothing like the book or give it only one or two stars. This movie does stand on it's own and the acting is great.
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