mariamaria Reviews

My Antonia (1995 TV Movie)

Okay, but not totally faithful

[29 June 2003]

This film version (the only one for this book, as far as I know) is a good, though simple and very Hollywood-ized production of the Willa Cather classic. After enjoying the book, I was looking forward to the movie- but was disappointed. The filmmakers stayed mostly faithful to the novel, though the actors could have done better jobs. This is partly because of the script, however, and though it sticks to the main events in the novel, it just barely covers them. The setting is beautiful, and I agree that the Lena-portrayal was right on track. However, in the novel, there was no romance between Antonia and Jim, as is "started" in the movie. He loved her, but she always thought of him more as a brother than a beau, according to the book.

Overall, this film version was okay- but definitely not exceptional.

Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983)

Not perfect, but a good one

[24 November 2002]

I have watched this show for years now, and though I only catch it now every once in a while, I still enjoy it. As I've grown, I've realized that the acting and the writing aren't all what I thought it to be in earlier years, especially as the show progresses into older seasons. The first, second, and part of the third seasons have good, classic episodes, even though after the first season the show lost much, if any, more basis from the original books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Though many may call this show too sappy and unreal towards the books, it is still a good family television show, that millions of people all over the world still watch, even though it was first shown back in 1974. I would also recommend the Premiere Movie, which was the pilot for the series, and the first episodes from the 1st season, including "The Lord is My Sheperd", which is an exceptional two-part episode.