#68 "Anne of Avonlea"

Stats: 1987. Starring Megan Follows and Colleen Dewhurst. Not Rated. Based on the novels by L.M. Montgomery.

Background: I have loved Anne of Avonlea since I first saw it when it aired on PBS’s Wonderworks in the late ‘80s. At some point, I taped it, and I rewatched the final scene more times than I’d care to admit! (So many times, in fact, that the tape basically wore out.) Somehow, though I own dozens and dozens of movies, I never got Anne of Green Gables or Anne of Avonlea. Half of that problem was remedied last week, when I used a Barnes & Noble gift card from Christmas to buy Anne of Avonlea.

Plot: Anne Shirley is living at Green Gables with Marilla and teaching at Avonlea School when her world begins to change. Diana announces her engagement, Gil declares his feelings, and Anne is offered a position at a girls’ school in Kingsport. Believing she can never care for Gil as he cares for her, Anne decides to move to Kingsport—where she discovers a formidable enemy in the affluent Pringle family and a possible romance with the dashing Morgan Harris.

Reactions: This is still one of the greatest movies ever! It had been at least 3 years since I’d last seen Anne of Avonlea (or Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel as it’s called on my DVD), and this was the first time that I really understood the attraction between Anne and Morgan. Before, I always saw him as someone in the way of Anne & Gil’s happiness, but you know what? I think Anne and Morgan would have been happy together! Don’t get me wrong; I still love Gilbert, and I adore the way the movie ends … but I also think choosing Morgan would have been a valid choice. That said, the giddy teenager in me came out of hiding as the minutes ticked down to Gil's proposal on the bridge! (I guess that's what it was, though he never actually said the words, "Will you marry me?")

Verdict: Keep

#67 "The Count of Monte Cristo"

Stats: 2002. Starring Jim Caviezel, Guy Pierce, and Richard Harris. PG-13. Based on the novel by Alexander Dumas.

Background: My sister got The Count of Monte Cristo on VHS when our local video store went out of business (Nancy’s, for you Central City people)—but I’m fairly certain I had borrowed the DVD from the library before that. I have absolutely no recollection of buying my copy, though … I was just looking through my DVDs the other day and saw it, filed in its rightful place under “C.”

Plot: Edmond Dantes (Caviezel) is falsely accused of treason and sent to prison at Chateau d'If. There he meets a fellow prisoner (Harris) who teaches him to read, write, think, and fight—and who gives him a treasure map. After 14 years in prison, Dantes escapes, finds the treasure, and reenters French society as the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo. Bent on revenge, he seeks out his best friend Fernand (Pierce), who betrayed him, and his former fiancée Mercedes, who married Fernand only a month after his arrest.

Reactions: As I watched this movie, I had no idea how it was going to end. Yes, I remembered that Fernand got his due … but beyond that, I couldn’t remember who lived and died or if the story ended happily. It was almost like watching the film for the first time, and I found that quite enjoyable.

Confession time: I don’t read classics. At all. They bore the pants off of me. I survived my years as an English major by relying heavily on Sparknotes.com. So trust me when I say that it was a big deal when, while watching the movie, I thought, “I should really read this book.” What this means is that if (and that’s a big if) I ever feel compelled to read a classic, The Count of Monte Cristo is the one I’ll go for. And then I’ll probably read about 20 pages and decide to just watch the movie again!

Verdict: Keep

P.S.: Look for a young Henry Cavill (Superman in the upcoming Man of Steel and Charles Brandon on The Tudors) as Mercedes’ son Albert.