Love's Unending Legacy Reviews

• A bit of a disappointment

  
  By AQB4699V4DDVW on 2007-10-25
  I have watched all of the movies since the very first one, Love Comes Softly, and fell in love with the series so much so that I bought the books to read and couldn't wait for this movie. I was very disappointed with this particular installment. This was so far away from the book that I didn't recognize it when I watched it. Other than the observations already noted (Belinda as Missie's daughter not sister, etc.), it also seems to have lost her brothers and their adopted son, Jeff. If there was only about 4 years difference between this movie and the last one, then her brothers would not have been old enough to be out on their own, yet there was no mention that they even exist. However, I am glad that they are able to keep Dale Midkiff as Clark, but think they could find a better substitute for Katherine Heigl as Marty. To kill off Willie just to give Missy a new love interest was a travesty. I gave it two stars and hope if they make the last books, they follow the books as best they can (outside of resurrecting Willie via a dream sequence).
  
  

• Where did they get this awful script?

  
  By A38K5ZPC8CA85M on 2007-09-21
  The BOOK "Love's Unending Legacy" is about Clark and Marty Davis returning home from the west where they visited daughter Missie in the previous book (said visit having been badly botched in the corresponding movie for that book), and Marty then discovers she's pregnant with baby Melinda. I read the plot on the Hallmark Channel website, and it's TOTALLY messed up: Missy's husband Willie has died (he was still very much alive at the end of the original 8-book series, as were the 4 children who are non-existent in the movies), and she moves back home to her father's house with her one son and takes in an orphan girl named Belinda. They've ruined this story so badly, I can't imagine what they might do with the last 3 books (which are ABOUT Missy's BABY SISTER Belinda, not ADOPTED DAUGHTER Belinda)! And why do they persist in leaving Marty out of the later movies? 3 different people have played Missie so far, surely they could have found a replacement for Katherine Heigl if she's not available to play Marty! One star is too good a rating for this monstrosity.
  
  

• Enough is Enough!

  
  By A22MQ2OAHY8SIJ on 2007-12-08
  I don't like to write negative reviews, but as someone who has read the Love Comes Softly series, I feel I have to comment on this most recent movie & the movie series in general. I do appreciate Michael Landon Jr.'s production of wholesome family entertainment and I think these Love Come Softly movies have a good message. However, I think it's really unfortunate that with each movie he gets further and further away from the words that Janette Oke wrote. Kill off Willie?!
  :( Janette Oke is a very good author and was the top Canadian author for sales in the late 1980's. She even outsold Margaret Atwood! I loved the Love Come Softly books. What's really sad is that the writer has borrowed the characters and titles, but has used great poetic license with the stories...so much now that they have ceased to belong to Janette Oke.
  
  

• A big disappointment

  
  By A2QHYTS231GJB3 on 2007-12-05
  This series started with such promise. I enjoyed the first two movies (granted they more closely followed the books). Janette Oke wrote such wonderful stories, I really have a hard time understanding why they would make SO many changes. The actress who plays Missie in this movie does not act emotion very well at all. Moments that were supposed to be serious were laughably ridiculous because of her demeanor and the faces she would make. She made the same stern, straight-lined mouth expression for everything, whether she was supposed to be angry, happy or sad. And I cannot believe that they killed off Willie. He was the one redeeming character that I was still watching for. The actor who plays Clark is the only one that has remained the same for the whole series. (He too makes me laugh because he sometimes morphs into talking like Elvis- as he starred in a TV movie playing Elvis...)
  
  I understand that this is still good family entertainment. I appreciate the fact that Hallmark is making family and faithful entertainment (hence the two stars rather than one). I just think that they could be doing a better job. Ms. Oke wrote great stories- they didn't need to be changed. Yes, edited for time constraints but that's all that was really necessary. This story wasn't even a Love Comes Softly book- some of the characters were the same but there the similarities end. I'm still sad that Katherine Heigl was unable to reprise her role as Marty but I don't blame her for not wanting to be associated with the mediocre movie. The acting was pretty horrible- I only watched the whole thing to see how they wrapped things up. The majority of the time, though, I couldn't help laughing about how the story, the facial expressions, the acting - was all supposed to be fairly serious but because the quality and caliber of talent was so low it was laughably ridiculous. A big disappointment- I would watch this on TV before spending any money on it. If the same actress is still playing Missy I don't plan on bothering with the rest of the series. A series of movies that could have been so much better- that's the main reason for my disappointment. With such a great premise, you wouldn't think it could go so wrong...
  
  
  

• Love's Unending Legacy

  
  By A2ZZ25GUY83MRT on 2007-09-25
  No movie from book to film are ever the same. However I myself and my family have enjoyed the Love Comes Softly series. I don't have to worry about language or nudity. These are great family films and would buy again.
  
  
• Not like the books at all, but decent.
  By ALV4PEK12G7X6 on 2007-11-07
  I've already figured out that the Love Comes Softly movies are nothing at all like the books. Once I got over that disappointment and started viewing them as separate movies altogether, I can appreciate them a little more. This movie strayed so far from the book that they really shouldn't name it after the book; however, the storyline stands out on it's own and is to me, better than the last two of the series. I'm actually looking forward to the next one.
  
  
• Movie subject matter
  By A2QS8UYHXHSZYL on 2007-09-29
  The first four movies went along great with the books.
  This one is not even on track with the book by the same title. It doesn't go with it at all.
  
  I also don't know how they will continue the movie series as this movie had not much at all to do with the book.
  
  
• A Solid Legacy
  By A21168D44P167F on 2007-12-05
  This is the first one of these I've seen in the series. And I'm certainly not a Christian fiction reader, but I am a film buff and a couple we are friends with turned me on to this series. I gotta say, I came away very moved. Plenty to pick on to be sure, but dang it, that adoption scene in the church was a tearjerker. And, I kind of like films that are predictable and romantic especially when my wife is getting all caught up in it if you know what I mean. I want to go back and check out the one with the Grey's Anatomy actress, though how she got from Christian fiction to Knocked Up I'd rather not speculate. Anyway, certainly worth watching, and if you like these pioneer sagas, worth buying.
  
  
• LOVED IT!!
  By AGFCJWR75GVUM on 2007-12-11
  I too have read all of the books in the "Love" series, and have seen all of the movies as well. I LOVED this movie! It upsets me that there are such negative reviews on here when this film promotes such inspiration and faith. Every movie based on a book is adapted differently on film. This is no different. I felt that the storyline with Missie returning home, adopting a teenager, and learning to love again was very relatable regardless of the differences in time period and setting. I think many people, including myself, would be able to relate to Missie's struggle to accept change and find her way back with GOD's guidance. Change is difficult for everyone, and the message in this movie is that we can make it through the hard times and the challenges in life, and that with the grace of GOD we will be led home again.
  
  I would highly recommend this movie to anyone regardless of their faith. I think that the message is overwhelmingly positive in a world where most movies are dominated by the opposite. I also highly encourage those who have written a negative review here to watch the movie again with an open mind. You may find, as I did, that you may even learn something about yourself... and as far as I am concerned that is the greatest lesson of them all.
  
  
• Okay...
  By A250RTINT0X6NE on 2007-12-05
  I did not read the books, so I can't base anything on how it follows those at all. Having Willie killed off and Missy finding a new man is kind of what the first one was about, even the struggling with Belinda is similar to Love Comes Softly. The major downfall was the cuss word 17 minutes before the end of the movie. We had enjoyed the first 4 with our young children, but do not watch movies that cuss. This one we will not be able to add to our collection.
  
  
• Very Disappointing
  By AF19DI11ROFUX on 2007-12-05
  I have never read the books,so I can't say how they hold up to them,but the movie series was great until this one came along. As other reviewers have pointed out,WHY did they have to make Willie die!?! Its like they're trying to repeat the first installment,Love comes sofly,all over again and doing a sorry job at it.They killed off one of the best and most enjoyable actors which left me rather annoyed.Also what happened to some of the characters,Marty and Clark's kids and Jeff and the ranch hands? No explaination is given about them. That said, it still has some good points, Dale Midkiff has returned in his role as Clark and Christian morals play a big part in the film.
  
  
• Great Family Movie
  By A3BWXWD43A5ANO on 2007-12-06
  I have never read the books but have heard that they are great. I usually do not compare books and movies since movies are always different. I have watched this and the other movies on the Hallmark channel and found them truly delightful, entertaining and great for the whole family. My girls 6 & 3 years love the movies. We love the Little House on the Prairie series (we own all of them) and this is along the same line as a great family movie. Clean with no cursing and no risque scenes which is so hard to find. Highly recommend this movie as a movie not as a movie from a book. If you like books, just stick to them and judge a movie based on the movie. It was just based on the characters it is never exactly like the books, just like Little House was not exactly like the books.
  
  
• Loved it!
  By A2FPMF6YOQ9SE3 on 2007-12-12
  Well, after reading some of the reviews on this movie I thought I would be disapointed. But I thought this was a great movie. I do not read the books I just watch the movies, so I am basing my review on the movie only. The only thing I did agree with the actor change for Marty - wish they keep Kathine Heigl.
  
  Great movie and I can't wait for part 6.
  
  
• Spend your money elsewhere
  By A18IFJCZIX9QF2 on 2008-01-03
  I am so glad that my best friend and I, both huge fans of the entire "Love Comes Softly" series, bought our copies of this latest installment at the same time, because after we watched her copy I promptly returned mine to the store! I've never read the books so I'm not familiar with how the movies deviate from the rest of the story (you can read other users' comments about that), but just as the fifth installment of the film series, this movie was a complete let-down. The acting is stiff and uninspiring - even from Dale Midkiff, the only consistent actor throughout the series - and the reuse of sets is noticeably distracting. Any fan of the movies will notice before the credits are over that the "farm" Missie is supposedly returning to is the exact same "ranch" used in the last two movies, which she supposedly just left! You can even see the burial crosses of her husband, daughter and Sonny Huff under the tree in the background at her parents' "farm." The new Marty is wildly mis-cast, and to have young Mattie complaining that he's had no brothers or sisters growing up completely disregards the fact that he had a baby sister (albeit she died in the last movie) and an adopted older brother. And speaking of Jeff, where is he in this movie?
  
  All in all, with every film in this series, the production quality, the writing, and the acting noticeably and sadly digress. Enjoy the original film, "Love Comes Softly," but spend your money elsewhere when it comes to any of the subsequent films, especially this one. I'm very sad to say that it's not worth it.
  
  
• mike speaks
  By A3LHNI0LMAYTD7 on 2008-03-29
  My wife and I have really enjoyed the series. Loves unending legacy was not good. in fact it was a major disappointment. poorly written, gaps in the story line, it seemed thrown together just to get another movie out to the public. My best advise is do not purchase this selection.
  
  
• Disappointed at the changes
  By A3DTI6315VGI2 on 2008-04-21
  I have to chime in on the other reviews about killing off Willie. He was the character that I kept looking forward to seeing in the movies and by killing him off ruined the movie. He is an excellent actor and gave me the connection I needed form the second movie. I loved the fact that he and Dale were still in it. The purpose of series are for us to be able to follow the movies and this was a disappointment. I agree with one of the reviews that said can you have him and the orginal Missy come back because someone was dreaming or had amnesia or something. Erin was not a good choice to be substitued for the orginal adult Missy. There are few choices for Family movies out there and I was hoping this one would continue as a series. We as readers and movie goers tend to get attached to the actors that play the characters. We do realize sometimes there is a time restraint but I know if you made them an offer they can't refuse they would do the series. That is up to you to make it so they will not turn the part down. Thanks.
  
  
• Solid
  By A16ZEFZNSS7WQX on 2007-12-11
  This is a great movie.
  
  Let's be honest, Heigl set the bar pretty high but this carries through the timeless message.
  
  My wife bought it last week and we watched it as a family this weekend.
  
  Again, solid family-friendly entertainment. My wife is more of the "Janette Fan" but nevertheless, she got us hooked on these.
  
  
• That INFERNAL music!
  By AOS93AH4TV9BD on 2007-12-19
  This is the second Michael Landon Jr. movie I've watched and that one ALSO had loud annoying music playing THROUGHOUT the movie. Half the time you couldn't hear what the actors said because of that music. It was sooo annoying. Don't they REVIEW these films? Background music is supposed to be very soft and it's supposed to be barely noticeable not OVERPOWERING!
  
  
• Bad acting and Christian I am not sure?!
  By A3R6HM8XPPMZ8M on 2007-12-25
  Firts off I thought that the first three movies were done quite nicely except for the changes in actresses in the third one. 3 different people have played Missie so far and this last Missy could not act her way out of a box.
  As far as these being Christian movies, I am unsure. They do refer to God but since the Christmas scene in the first movie, Christ has not been mentioned. Many so called religions out there honor God, but have no faith in Jesus our Saviour.
  
  
• Love's Unending Legacy
  By A36QE73125D8KX on 2007-12-30
  Excellent family movie. I would recommend this series that was produced by Michael Landon Jr.
  
  
• What a great Movie
  By A3UPQXFORA1WFM on 2008-02-05
  Now, I am not going to get into the story, I don't think that is fair. I will just tell you this book was very well written and very enjoyable. A must-have read for anyone.
  
  
• Getting better
  By AYEU69S2AW04Z on 2007-12-06
  I wasn't a huge fan of the last two movies--I felt the plot and acting were a bit off--but after watching "Love's Unending Legacy" I feel rewarded for sticking with the series. Yes, the movies don't follow the books. Characters and plots blend together, and there are probably some original plot developments that no one could like (I think they should have tried doing just about anything else with Willy rather than kill him off). Still, despite all those flaws, the movie drew me in. The plot felt as rich and intertwined as Janette Oke's novels. The story of Belinda and her brother (while again a new addition to the plot) was compelling. While I would have loved movies based more closely on Janette Oke's books, I appreciate Oke's spirit in the movies, and the upcoming movie looks like an amazing adaptation with some intriguingly modern elements. I hope it's as good as the preview featured on this disc.
  
  
• Just as good as the others!
  By A2ZDZ4U3L76L06 on 2007-12-06
  Turned out to be very sweet and innocent. Didn't expect Willie to be dead but oh well, it was just as good.
  
  
• Acceptable
  By AU1E6KDG1FMG6 on 2007-12-06
  Love's Abiding Joy had a cliffhanger ending, making any additional installment to the series something of a challenge. They decided to go with standard "love series" formula: Have someone die. (Someone died in every one of the Love Comes Softly movies -- it just didn't bother us too much because it was never a character we had gotten too attatched to -- until now). Willie has been dead for a few years at the beginning of the movie, and Missy leaves the home they made together in the West to return to her Ma and Pa. The lady who played for Marty exceeded my expectations, but I was put off by the primness of her greeting to Mattie. Other than that one scene I liked her. Dale Midkiff was good, as always. Jeff is out. Missy's beloved brothers make no appearence, and are not even mentioned. That was weird. Though Missy tells Marty in their first heart-to-heart that she can never love someone again, she has not been home for a week before she notices the town's dashing young sherrif. No foreshadowing needed -- we know where this is going . . . The plot takes an imaginative loop with Missy suddenly taking in a teenage girl named Belinda, along with her attitude. Most of the movie is taken up with the highs and lows of their relationship, with brief encounters between Missy and Zach -- the town sherrif. The busy sherrif of course has time to break up fights in the school yard, carry Mattie home after he hurt himself, or help the pretty teacher look for her locket, as he "just happened" to be riding by. Belinda at first hides the fact that Jacob, a little boy who was adopted by a hard-nosed farmer, is actually her brother, but eventually reveals the truth when Missy (and Zach) catch her sneeking him food in the night. Then a fight begins to get Jacob away from his abusive gaurdian. Thus, a reason for Missy to cling to Zach for support. Zach himself is a pretty flat character, so the developments between he and Missy are not romantic, though no doubt interesting. Climax comes when, desperate to help her brother, Belinda runs away with him. If not for a miricle in the dark of the rainy night, Zach would not have found them. Jacob tells the truth about what he has been suffering, so the sherrif finially is able to get him away. Missy has been confused by her feelings for Zach, but in the end declares her love for him and they get married. Over all, an acceptable, run of the mill Hallmark release. Not up to par with Love Comes Softly, with the flimsy plot, cheesy dialog, underdeveloped characters, etc; etc. If Love's Unfolding Dream turns out to be as good as the preview looks, I will definately be glad they decided to continue the series instead of ending it with Missy sadly waving goodbye to Clark at the end of Love's Abiding Joy. I enjoyed this in spite of its flaws and reccomend it to fans of the series.
  
  
• What??
  By A1B7QH2KTI2NWY on 2008-01-11
  This was a total joke. I am so glad I rented it and did not buy it. The acting was astrocious. Don't even waste your time with this one. They should have stopped while they were ahead with the first two.
  
  
• Rented it, Didn't even want to buy it!
  By A23WP2TWSMMGZH on 2008-01-16
  I have all the previous DVD's and was horribly disappointed in this one. First they killed off Willie, then they made Belinda the daughter & not the sister. Then the actress they cast to play Marty was terrible, she did not bring that spunk and inner fire to the part the way Katherine Heigel did.Finally, what happen to the virtues Missy had instilled in her? I was quite surprised to see her kiss the sheriff, if you remember in the 2nd one she felt that she should only kiss the man she would marry and not before marriage! I know it's only a kiss, but remember this is not set in the 21st century. The ONLY redeeming quality this has is my favorite DALE MIDKIFF. He is a great actor, when you get pass all the facial nuiances! In short I will not be purchasing this one for my girls.
  
  
• What a butcher job
  By A3TXYZB46011RJ on 2008-02-02
  I hate what Michael Landon Jr. has done to Janette Oke's writting's. Her books are awsome. It's to bad he didnt follow her story line closer because he really could have gone on farther than Love's Unending Legacy.
  The first three movies were ok as movies. But for someone who has read Janette Oke's book's......it's just a shame what he did.
  
  
• Happy I bought it
  By A372SXD2GFW91V on 2008-02-08
  Despite some of the negative reviews I went ahead and purchased this one. I'd enjoyed all the others and I really enjoyed this one, too.
  
  
• What happened?
  By A3VNZEIP9E8UPM on 2008-02-09
  This series was great, good, great, great, and then WHAT HAPPENED! This movie was pointless. Someone must have run out of ideas. This movie had nothing to do with anything. It had a language spot too. Sad ending to a line of good clean movies.
  
  
• Great family entertainment!
  By A27G2KT5YTNKL7 on 2008-02-23
  True, this is much different than the book, however, it is clean family entertainment at its best. Many people do not read the books and for those folks this is a great way to spend and enjoyable evening with friends and family. It is not the book made over. The book is a starting place for the movie. I'm thrilled to have a superior choice over the many meaningless movies that Hollywood showers us with each year. Positive entertainment is hard to find. Thanks for a wonderful movie!
  
  

• Love's Abiding Joy
• Love's Unfolding Dream
• Love's Long Journey
• Love's Enduring Promise
• Love Comes Softly