Impressions of Young James Herriot, Kit Kittredge and The Way Back

[birdienl]

The Young James Herriot


Adaptation of: based upon 'James Herriot's' own notebooks from his student years
Length: 180 min

Summary: In 1930, James Herriot, who later will become Britains best-loved vet, starts his training at Glasgow Veterinary College. Here he befriends the idealistic female student Wirley Tyson and the rich and somewhat lazy MacAlloon and learns much more than just how to cure animals.

Familiar faces: Tony Curran (Pillars of the Earth) and Susannah Harker

Watch this if:
- You like Scottish accents ;-)
- You like animal stories and historic drama, this is the perfect combination
- You want to see some of the next generation of British actors
- You're curious to see Jane Bennet (P&P'95) as a cold and calculating lady

Don't watch this if:
- You're afraid you might like it too much, as it's only three episodes and there will be no second series....

Best part: MacAlloon trying to cure a sheep which is treated as a daughter of the family, and coming up with 'psychological shock' as a diagnosis!





Kit Kittredge: an American Girl story


Adapted from: based on a storybook of one of the American Girl dolls
Length: 101 min

Summary: At the height of the Great Depression, Kit Kittredge helps her mother run a boardinghouse when her father has lost his job. In the meantime she also has to solve some mysteries thieving incidents and not give up her dream of becoming a journalist. 

Familiar faces: Julia Ormond (First Knight), but no others from period drama

Watch this if:
- You like Abigail Breslin (as I do), she shines again in this movie!
- You like a wholesome movie with an interesting historical story in which you will learn about people's creative powers during the Great Depression

Don't watch this if:
- You're in the mood for something more complicated than a kids movie

Best part: The very bad driving antics of the mobile librarian, who keeps saying 'Whoopsydaisy' after she 'parks' her car against a tree or fence





The Way Back


Adaptation of: based on true events
Length: 133 min

Summary: In 1941, three men reach India from Tibet, having walked 4000 miles after after escaping a Siberian gulag. The film tells their story and that of four others who escaped with them. They faced freezing nights, lack of food and water, and endless desert, the Himalayas and moral questions about when to leave someone behind..... 

Familiar faces: Mark Strong, Saoirse Ronan, Ed Harris and Colin Farrell

Watch this if:
- You like to be impressed by the amazing human power of survival
- You like movies with beautiful landscapes

Don't watch this if:
- You're in the mood for something light-hearted and romantic

Best part: When Irene is taken up in the group, breaks down the men's barriers by listening to their life story and builds up a special relationship with Mr. Smith

Comments

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

These sound great :) Thank you for the recommendations! :]

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

I adore James Herriot's books. Thanks for the review of the show. I was wondering if it was any good!

[birdienl.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, it was such a joy to discover and watch this. Another little gem from the BBC which was hardly advertised.

[msantimacassar.livejournal.com]

Nice reviews! I love the format you use, it's very easy to read with fun tidbits.

[birdienl.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I actually 'stole' it from movie reviews in a newspaper here in The Netherlands, at least, the 'Watch this when' and 'Do not watch this when' bit, because it often told me quite quick and simple which movies I would and wouldn't like

[msantimacassar.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's very handy!