When Calls the Heart

It's so refreshing to find a movie reflecting faith in a Creator, a charming love story, and the drive to serve others, instead of oneself.Is it the finest movie ever made? No, but in an increasingly dark world, it was a joy to watch.

Really liked the original people in this movie..Great family movie

This movie is hilarious! I have seen the Love Comes Softly series based on the books written by Janette Oke, and directed by Michael Landon, Jr. This movie was so much better! The acting is well done, the plot is pretty good, the interaction between characters is hilarious. It has funny places, sad places, exciting places, and a little bit of romance to boot. It would be a good family movie. We have always been extremely particular about what we watch, and this movie is a good one. The ending was a little disappointing, and the story line wasn't exactly accurate to the books written by Mrs. Oke. But, even so, we liked it. There is also a television series that comes after the movie. But, the storyline is pretty different. I would recommend treating the series as a completely different set. I have seen both.

This original movie, on which the TV show was based, doesn't fare as well as the more expanded treatment does. It's good, as long as it isn't compared to the Hallmark adaptation, with better acting, story line, etc.

A beautiful prelude to the series. I had already seen the series when I watched this movie. It was a beautiful story of how Elizabeth ended up in the Wes teaching.

Michael Landon, Jr. (son of "Little Joe" from Bonanza) directing prowess shines in this adorable film. Excellent cuts and transitions, photography, scripting, and balance. The actors performed their part so fluently, you'd think they were actually from this period! Gorgeous costumes. Why such isn't yet in style is a marvel. A perfect family movie, with no foul language. A few scenes were perhaps unnecessary but revealed instructional character: For instance, a student wetting his pants which is not very seemly but a bully is at last humbled by correction. The end leaves the audience to their imagination (only the insinuation of marriage). I may have preferred more of an absolute visual resolve, however, I appreciate that not every love story need involve actors kissing!

This even though the cast is different is the needed introduction to the series the gives you the reasons for her going west. The persons who are doing the series need this to introduce the audience to COALTOWN properly.

I confess I only bought this because I was curious to see what Stephen Amell was like when he wasn't Oliver Queen. My sister was addicted to these books when we were growing up, but I never read them, so I'm not sure if it follows the novel at all, but the movie left me utterly baffled. The frame story of the sisters reading the journal seemed significantly inferior in quality (mostly in the acting) to the flashback story from the journal's pages. The flashback story was actually pretty fun with Maggie Grace (whom I've always been on the fence about) a sparkling gem in a sadly mediocre production. As an eager young teacher named Elizabeth Thatcher from a privileged background now fending for herself in the wild west, Maggie's performance was tender, well-rounded, and overall fantastic. Stephen Amell, who should have had MUCH more screen time, had a surprisingly small part, though he was pitch perfect in it. Since the movie seemed pretty clearly a romance, I was surprised when Elizabeth and Wynn (Stephen Amell)'s first date (a charming picnic) wasn't even shown. And then he invited her to a ball, and she went, and guess what? They didn't show that either. Like at all. And immediately following this wonderful ball that we're never shown for the Canadian Mounties because Wynn is actually a Mountie (information hastily imparted in exposition but never shown), the characters are left with everything up in the air and no resolution and their part of the story completely abandoned and never returned to. The movie refocuses on Elizabeth's niece, one of the girls reading the diary (which is for some reason a family secret, but we're never told why) who is also named Elizabeth Thatcher, and who is also a young idealistic teacher from a privileged background who is also going to teach in the wild west aaaand she's accompanied by a family friend, Edward, who is also a Canadian Mountie. I don't know if that's from the book or they were trying to be clever, but the coincidences just come off like super lazy storytelling. And if the entire movie wasn't befuddling enough, it ends with Edward racing off to battle some bad guys and Elizabeth the 2nd realizing she has feelings for him. Roll the end credits. Absolutely nothing resolved. What happened to Edward? Who knows? Maybe the bad guys got him, because I did a quick search and it seems this was to be a pilot for a tv show, but the tv show that was done has an entirely different cast, no Elizabeth the 1st and Wynn story tie-in or resolution at all and no Edward at all. Really unfortunate, because now it kind of has to be considered a stand-alone and as a stand-alone, it doesn't work.It had potential, but Landon Jr. or Hallmark or both dropped the ball. Such a bummer. I'm giving it 3 stars solely for the wonderful performances by Maggie Grace and Stephen Amell.If you want a complete, well-crafted story, this isn't it. If you understand that it's a partially misfired tv show pilot with a cliffhanger ending and no resolution for any of its characters, it is a sweet, somewhat enjoyable, and perfectly clean pair of half-stories. I think it was worth seeing for Amell and Grace, and it's just too bad we didn't get to see the rest of their story.

Excellent dvd, enjoyed watch the movie.

Excellent

This one I returned as it was included in the season 1 series....It is a nice family series to watch...perfect! Thank you so much!! I can hardly wait for season 3!

Love this series

A great DVD. Just what I hoped it would be. An enthralling storyline demonstrating true moral values and real romance. Fully recommended for those who like true romance.