Rating: 
Summary: Anne of Green Gables The Continuing Story (III)
Review: I thought this was a wonderful ending to a great series. I was especially moved by the symbolism of one of the final scenes (at the train stop.) If you have watched all three movies you will realize the train stop bench is where Matthew found Anne waiting for him all those years ago. I don't want to ruin the ending for you, so just be sure to remember that when the train stop bench is revisited in this movie...
Rating:
Summary: Anne of Green Gables The Continuing Story (III)
Review: I thought this was a wonderful ending to a great series. I was especially moved by the symbolism of one of the final scenes (at the train stop.) If you have watched all three movies you will realize the train stop bench is where Matthew found Anne waiting for him all those years ago. I don't want to ruin the ending for you, so just be sure to remember that when the train stop bench is revisited in this movie...
Rating: 
Summary: 3 STARS AS A PART OF THE SERIES; 4 AS A STAND-ALONE MOVIE
Review: I too feel some of the diappointment with this installment of Anne of Green Gables, though I balk at some other reviewers insensitve comments about Megan Follows and Jonathan Crombie's mature appearances; they are indeed over ten years older than they were in the last entry in the series, and they look just fine for their age. I would much prefer to have their older presence here in this movie than to recast with younger actors.
The war story is one I first balked at; now, however, in light of world events, it seems strangely prescient. Suddenly, I feel much like Anne did--snatched out my secure world and into chaos.
All in all, this movie is well designed, decently scripted, very well acted, and detailed. Unfortunately, there aren't enough moments of quiet magic that made the other two so special. That moment when Matthew gave the dress to Anne or Marilla told Anne to "dust off her ambitions," has no equal here. The moments of joy are few and far between and only does the very end capture some of that magic. Likewise, the minor characters are not fleshed out as they are in the previous movies--the London characters are almost not characterized at all. I wonder if a great deal ended up on the cutting room floor. I would like to see a re-edit of the movie if that is the case. The new music was lovely, if not as magical as the old. In the end, a decent entry into the series, a superior movie compared to most, and a bit of a disappointment to fans of the series.
Rating: 
Summary: What a depressing, disappointing piece of junk!
Review: If I could rate it zero stars, I would.I have to agree with those who have said they wished they hadn't watched "The Continuing Story". I was astonished that the same person (Kevin Sullivan) who turned out such a magnificent piece of work in the first two Anne's would be CAPABLE of creating such a miserable waste of time. The real marvel, however, is that the actors actually AGREED to do this movie. I guess their careers haven't gone the way they thought they would, but I had hoped that they would reserve some of their integrity. It had to be plainly obvious to them that this didn't come up to the standard of the other movies, but I guess they had other concerns ($$$$$$$$$$$$). Maybe that's part of why we feel let down. It is difficult to separate Megan Follows from Anne, and Anne would NEVER sell herself for something that she knew what subpar. Other than the names, this in NO WAY remotely resembled the quality, character, and authenticity of the first two movies. It isn't even good enough to be a network TV movie, but MIGHT make it on Lifetime or USA. I think the reason so many people are distressed with how badly it turned out is because they see the POTENTIAL it had. Kevin Sullivan has proved that he is (or was) enormously talented, and knowing what he has been capable of in the past leaves you with an empty feeling (and the question WHAT????? on your lipswhen you watch this movie. Disappointment doesn't even describe it. (And no, I have not read the books either.)
Rating:
Summary: You have the video, pick up the DVD for the commentary
Review: If you watch the opening scene of "Anne of Green Gables - The Continuing Story" (or the "Sequel" or "Part II" or whatever it is being called this time around) you will see Anne Shirley bicycle bye Dalvay by the Sea, the "White Sands" hotel from the "Avonlea" series. I mention this because I stayed at the hotel for a couple of days at the start of my vacation here on PEI, where I picked up both of the "Anne" DVDs after seeing the musical version of the first novel in Charlottetown. I am sure most of you love all of the Anne books and the first two films, which means the issue is why you should also pick up the DVD versions. The answer is simply the director's commentary. There are a few missing scenes, several of which are alternative takes, and some behinds the scenes still photographs, but the chief charm here is listening to director Kevin Sullivan talk to the film's editor about the production (she does not have much to say; I think she was there to give Sullivan a real person to talk to during the almost four hour film). From this commentary you will learn where many of the scenes were shot on PEI but mostly around Toronto (I intended to track down several of them on the journey home from PEI), what he took (and why) from the three Lucy Maud Montgomery novels this film was based on, Dame Wendy Hiller's accident that almost made her quit the film and the scene she insisted Sullivan shoot for her, and loads ofother fascinating little details about the production and the performances. This is certainly an above average commentary track and fans of the film will not be disappointed. It would be nice if the DVD features closed-captioning, which I like to turn on wh ile doing the director's commentary, but despite this rather odd omission, I think fans will enjoy this addition to their collection. Besides, it is not like we have not already pretty much memorized the entire show.
Rating:
Summary: Forget it
Review: It was such a disappointment from what i expected. I was so looking forward to watching this and it turned out to be so different from what i thought it would. This sequel has lost its warmth and made the characters so different from what they should have been...at least according to the book. Well anyway, don't bother to watch it.
Rating:
Summary: Forever a Classic!
Review: My husband was the one to turn me on to these movies and I must say I am hooked! My 4 year-old-daughter loves watching them and has officially worn out the tapes. In fact, we loved the movie so much, our daughter is named Megan Anne, with an "e"!!!
Rating:
Summary: The best one so far.
Review: Ok. I know everyone hates this movie because it strayed to much from the book but you have to expect that with a movie. I actually loved the movie but that is probably because I've never read the books. It's very suspensfull. i love the part where Anne is running from the Germans and all. I found every bit exciting and enjoyable. My mom even liked it and she HAS read the books so i don't know what your peoples' problems are.
Rating: 
Summary: The Generation Gap
Review: Sullivan waited too long to make this sequel, gave everyone a chance to read the books. Little girls in the 80s who knew and loved Anne saw the MOVIES first. They didn't object to the fusing of three Anne books into "Anne of Avonlea". Now the same girls are grown up, in their 20s or therabouts, have now read the books, and are disappointed at the change in storyline. Perhaps in 10 years when another generation of young viewers has absorbed "The Continuing Story" into the "Anne" canon, it will be considered as much of a classic as the first two installments are. (And maybe if a site like Amazon had existed in 1987 for the release of "Anne of Avonlea", we would have seen the same kind of outrage at the liberties taken with the work of LM Montgomery then.) I have to say that although I enjoyed Anne 3 as a stand-alone movie, I share the disappointment of many other viewers at the changes to the books. I can understand how the introduction of WW1 was necessary to provide conflict etc, but was it really necassary for Diana Barry to have a character transplant? Or for Green Gables to BURN DOWN??!! Good grief! Some evidence for the defence- Sullivan did set the original Anne mini-series about 20 years ahead of the books. This was indicated by details such as Morgan Harris' car if not explicitly in the dialogue. I don't know why he did this, but it was done. So you can understand that WW1 would figure prominently in the TV Anne's world. Also- the first Anne novel adapted well to film due to its structure and single-protagonist narrative. It's all about Anne and the way she changes the life of others, especially softening up Marilla. The later novels are more episodic and have less of a focus on Anne (though they are still utterly delightful) and I can understand why the writers of Anne 2 felt the need to draw together the more dramatic events from 3 novels into a single mini-series. Same goes for Anne 3. For the people who complain about the lack of Gil in the Continuing Story (honestly, I feel the same way!)- well, he wasn't in "Anne of Avonlea" much either after the beginning. (Save for his and Anne's poignant surprise reunion in Kingsport.) So he's not really getting shafted in comparison to the other movies. Yes, it's a little sad to see Anne and Gilbert looking rather old and tired, after all but 13 years is a LONG time! All in all, I enjoyed "Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story" as a movie, but I'm glad to have the novels to return to, to see what REALLY happened to Anne and her pals.
Rating:
Summary: This is not that terrible third movie!!
Review: That said, I'd like to point out that many people on this side (that being North) of the U.S. border found this particular story *much* more endearing than the first movie. Anne goes beyond being charmingly clumsy and becomes a headstrong (very admirable) woman. I found this movie much more engaging than the first one -- with Anne Shirley's competition with Gilbert Blythe evolving, and a glimpse into her inspirational life as a teacher. This movie is, of course, incredibly saccharin, but uplifting and really very deeply moving. It's one of my personal favourites. The *only* reason I would give this 4 stars, as opposed to 5, is the relative lack of extras (which is understandable, since no one at the time would have thought to document any "behind the scenes" moments or anything). Still, when I'm dealing with DVDs, I like my extras.
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