Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Way to Spend a Rainy Day
Review: This film is in my DVD collection. Did it have a lot of special effects on the DVD vs. VHS? No. But it does have the perfect picture of a DVD and the Perfect storyline of a Perfect British (Welsh) comedy. This film was absolutely spiritual on so many levels. Not only did it touch upon the typical "Why Work Stinks" theme, but it touches upon Love, Friendship, Loyalty, and working in unison toward a greater cause than the mere cause of self. I am neither eloquent of words, nor even spelling, but I do know, as a married man, what moves me and what stirs my spirit towards greatness, and this film inspires both. If you are an Historian of WWI, a lover of Britain, or even a lover of the human condition, then this film belongs...no, DEMANDS...to be in your collection. The spirit of community manifests itself in this film. Being that I am a member of the modern era, the spirt shown here is but a DREAM of what we should be. At once the movie is hopeful for what is about to unfold, and sad; at the thought of what we have lost since the simple times of WW I. I would encourage every serious comedy AND drama lover to add this DVD to their collection. I would stake my honor upon the fact that this delightful film is for everyone. What does it take to enlighten you? Love? Honor? Respect? Humor? Dignity? This film has all AND MORE. No one can experience this film and walk away unaffected unless your heart is a cold piece of unfeeling ice. My advice for all macho men watching this with their wives? Keep a tissue handy in the dark to wipe away that sad or happy tear without your significant other seeing your humanity.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie - Good Transfer
Review: This is a GREAT little movie that is set in and was filmed in Wales, about a group of townspeople whose pride was challenged by the vageries of bureaucracy, where their local "mountain" turned out to be a "hill" under British definitions. The challenge united the town under the leadership of "Morgan the Goat" (Colm Meaney)and his nemesis, the town vicar, to overcome their mountain's classification by the British Geographical Survey, Hugh Grant, who sees what's going on and comes around to the town's side.This is supposedly based on a true story which makes it even more interesting. The soundtrack fits perfectly and reminds me of the "Chocolat" soundtrack. There aren't many extras but for the price, you can't lose.
Rating: 
Summary: See it once
Review: This is a movie that can best be summarized by reading the title or seeing the preview. And guess what? He gets the girl. The movie contains nothing new or really special. However, the story isn't terrible and it isn't a waste of time.
Rating:
Summary: Very Funny. Hugh Grant Is Great!
Review: This is a very funny movie about two English cartographers who create a stir in a small Welsh community by declairing the community's prized mountain, a hill. I loved this movie. If you like Hugh Grant or Colm Meaney you'll love this movie. I give TEWUAHBCDAM, *holds up hand like a little kid* FIVE STARS!
Rating: 
Summary: You won't get back from this mountain
Review: This is the kind of movie you are happy to have discovered. Hugh Grant is charming as a young English who tastes more and more being admitted among this little Welsh community. Tara Fitzgerald delivers a colorful performance and her spontaneity contrasts well with the dark period of history the movie is set in. You want to be a part of this tiny world hidden against this hill, sorry...this mountain. Every character offers the best you can expect. This movie is tasteful and romantic you will laugh and cheer, you will buy it and keep it for a very long time.
Rating:
Summary: A movie with heart and fun for Anglophiles and country folk
Review: This movie is a labor of love, as is its topic. This true story, well acted and beautifully filmed, initially stopped me with its music as I surfed past a television broadcast. Within minutes, I was entranced, equally by the fine character acting as by the familiar faces of Hugh Grant and Colm Meaney. In the first 10 minutes, I cancelled all other plans for that evening, and spent my first commercial break calling friends to tell them it was on, then spent my remaining commercial breaks surfing to find it on video. Movies of similar beauty, heart, and soul include Waking Ned Devine, Fairy Tale: A True Story, Shakespeare in Love, and The Secret of Roan Inish. I'm now buying a copy to give my mother as a gift, and look forward to watching it on our home theater system. A movie of the people, with quiet in-jokes between English and Welsh that seem to elude the Ugly AmeriMalkin. Spend a couple of hours with the people of Wales, and feel your heart expand with the love and care and fun of this fine film. There aren't enough of such gems available!
Rating:
Summary: OK, but could have been a classic
Review: This movie left me with a just-missed feeling. It started out well, with an amusing idea and interesting characters. The problem was, it never got beyond that. The first 20 minutes or so was the best part of the story. Unfortunately, the colorful, eccentric characters were never developed beyond simple character sketches. Even in a whimsical comedy, you need a little more substance. The same was true for the plot. There is no real feeling of suspense or tension. I bought the idea that the townspeople cared about their mountain, and they got me to care about it, too. But again, even a whimsical comedy should make you wonder about the outcome, just to engage you emotionally. The only real suspense here was when it would stop raining, so the villagers could finish building the mound. The scenes with the villagers playing tricks to keep the Englishmen from leaving were cute, but went on too long. The romance could have been sweet, but again there was nothing to it. No conflict, tension or character development. Why are these two people falling in love? (Plenty of potential obstacles since she's a maid and he's obviously upperclass). Again, even a whimsical love story should make you care. Hugh Grant plays his usual mannerisms. Here they seemed exactly in place, perfect for a WWI era upper class Englishman. His only problem was the same as the other characters: no character development. (Oh, and an overly-slicked hairstyle that sometimes looked cemented in place.) But like the others, he didn't have enough substance to come alive. Ian McNeice deserves highest marks here for his memorable take on a stock English character. Even his flamingo pink waistcoat was perfect. The movie did make me laugh more than once, and it provided a pleasant if fairly forgettable evening's entertainment. However, I thought tht with a little more work and care, it could have been another Waking Ned Divine or Cold Comfort Farm. Both of these movies are just as whimsical as "The Englishman...", but they have a substance to their storytelling that makes you feel, at the end, that you've been somewhere, that you've been told a great story. I wish I could say the same here.
Rating:
Summary: You can spend two hours in Welish countryside.
Review: This rather new Hugh Grant's movie is excellent. The background is WWI but there is almost no war scene. (The shadow is always there. But not in the front.) The silent Welsh countryside is the stage and its villagers are funny and keen. The protagonist is not Hugh but the village.If you would like to spend a night with a good movie. Please try. END
Rating:
Summary: The psychological distance between a hill and a mountain
Review: This unassuming film takes place during World War I in a Welsh village when two English cartographers, Anson (Hugh Grant) and the more senior Garrad (Ian McNeice), arrive as part of the war effort to map the Welsh countryside. The villagers are jubilant that they are finally going to be noticed since they have what they call "the first mountain in Wales" within their boundaries. Unfortunately, to qualify as a mountain in the eyes of the British government, the peak must be 1000 feet high and, of course, this one falls just short, much to the outrage and sorrow of the townspeople. To have their mountain reclassified as a hill threatens their regional pride and identity. Naturally, they stubbornly set out to do something about it. In a town with so few surnames that people are designated by profession or personality - Williams the Petroleum or Evans the End of the World - the town has its surprising divisions that first must be bridged. The charm of this film lies in its gentle good humor and the coziness of the small Welsh community it evokes. Everything about this film is simple - the premise, the characters, the conflict, the resolution - and this lack of complexity allows the determination of its characters to shine through in a way that a more boisterous film would not. Hugh Grant plays his usual awkwardly charming character, fitting for the role but occasionally annoying. Colm Meaney is wonderful as innkeeper Morgan the Goat, and Kenneth Griffith turns in a remarkable performance as Morgan's foil, the elderly but feisty Rev. Jones. Tara Fitzgerald is radiant as the love interest Betty. Ian Hart as Johnny Shellshocked nicely underplays his part as the young man returned from the war with emotional scars. Indie film aficionados and Hugh Grant fans will probably like this movie more than the average American viewer will. This quiet exploration of the huge emotional difference wrought by a few feet will delight those seeking a feel-good movie without commercial flashiness. Stay away if you are looking for a hilarious romantic comedy because, chances are, you won't find it here.
Rating:
Summary: Stop actin' so English!
Review: This was a very simple film. I felt at first it was going to be an enormous "chick-flick", the story is actually much deeper than just the love connection between Grant and the local girl. It is actually a story of a town and the strength of their belief. It also portrays a small town coping with the loss of so many young men and boys to the war. While I thought it was going to be nothing but the usual Hugh Grant film, it was less about Grant and more about this little town in Wales.
Based on a true story, I watched with amazement as townspeople put aside their differences, put aside their hatred, put aside their lives, to create a mountain from a hill. This mountain represented more to these people then money, then jobs, then anything that we now take for granted. Could you honestly say that if your hometown asked you to build a mountain that you would join, or would you wonder first if you had the time?
I am impressed with this style of film. I have only seen a handful of films that have the theme of community as their central focus, one is going to be my movie homework, another is a great British film called Saving Grace where a community comes together to help a local widow.
I did have some issues with this film. One big one was the title. Please, if you are ever going to make a film do not make the title also the plot. I mean, I think you can gather from the title what the entire film is going to be like. Another problem was that this film was too simple. I felt that some deeper sub-plot could have been created to bring some depth to this community. I think the director tried to do this with the story of the local boy who had gone to war only to return mentally unstable. I think this could have been such a great sentimental story, but it just was not developed enough. This goes the same for the girl that Grant fell in love with. I felt that it was well too rushed. It only seemed that near the end of the film they truly loved each other and wanted to marry after only spending three to four days together.
Maybe times were simpler back then, and perhaps that is another smaller theme, but I think this was a much deeper film. Deeper than I could have imagined. Bravo to "Star Trek" man Colm Meaney with his portrayal of Morgan the Goat. He stole this film away from Hugh. See this film if you have the chance.
I don't think you will all like it, but it is worth watching at least once.
Grade: *** out of *****
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