Anne of Green Gables

This new television adaptation of the popular 1908 L.M. Montgomery novel follows the early months of young Anne Shirley's (Ella Ballentine) adventures at Green Gables, a small family-run farm on Canada's Prince Edward Island. The 11-year-old orphan has been knocked around a bit by life but quickly takes to kindly Matthew (Martin Sheen) and his sister, the more demanding Marilla Cuthbert (Sara Botsford), even though farm life may not be Anne's cup of tea. The Cuthberts had requested that the orphanage send a boy to help with the work, and Anne is a surprise in more ways than one. Verdict A lovely production, this feel-good family film is recommended for most public libraries.-Joan Greenberg, -Warminster, PA © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr 4 Up-The first book in L.M. Montgomery's "Anne of Green Gables" series has once again been brought to the small screen, this time starring The West Wing's Martin Sheen. Siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert are looking to adopt a boy to help them on their Prince Edward Island farm. They're shocked when instead a mix-up brings them Anne Shirley, an orphan who is eccentric, whimsical, and definitely not a boy. Now Anne will have to charm her way into a permanent place in the Cuthberts' hearts and home. An adaptation like this cannot succeed without strong casting for its titular character, and actress Ella Ballentine continually misses the mark. Anne is prone to imaginative speeches and can be quick to angry remarks, and the delivery of both falls flat more often than not. Attempts at artsy camerawork are peppered throughout and are completely out of sync with the movie's established tone. At 90 minutes, the story loses much of the source material's plot, tracking only a few months compared to the years that the book spans. That loss is truly felt as many beloved scenes are abandoned in a failed effort to create a tighter narrative. The result is disjointed at worst and just plain dull at best. VERDICT Anne fans looking for a worthwhile cinematic counterpart should stick with the superior 1985 miniseries, which is better acted by miles and tells a more complete tale. This is a pale imitation of a cherished classic that is easily skipped.-Kate DiGirolomo, Library Journal © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.