Friday, July 1, 2016

Movie Review // Love Comes Softly with Katherine Heigl and Dale Midkiff (2003)


Wow, this is funny. Two movies I chose to review this close together both released in 2003! Funny quirk indeed…


Now I’ve not seen much of the rest of this series (though I read the books a LOT at one point in my life, so when it comes to script inaccuracies I feel Quite Well Informed), but I have seen and researched enough to laugh heartily at certain gently-poking-fun-blog-posts that pop up from time to time. 

But, to take a step back, I really think this one is good as a standalone in its own right and tends not to get its full due sometimes.


Now I don’t agree with all the theology. And yes, the story’s also simple and straightforward, but you know what?? It’s really quite fairly realistic. Sometimes real life isn’t always all that complicated. And sometimes it’s both super hard and very sweet.

The soundtrack -- with its refrain of Come Thou Fount – is beautiful. 


Let’s see… Hmmm. What else? Oh yes. The costuming isn’t completely period, but it’s well done and Marty’s outfits are very pretty. (And I love how they do her hair! I’ve imitated her braided updo multiple times and it’s become one of my quick Sunday standby’s. ;))

And… I just looked it up and I knew it was close, but after I get married I’m actually going to be living within easy driving distance of where this was filmed! How incredible is that?!? Hem. All such exciting rabbit trails aside, as I was getting around to saying, I love the landscape in this! Mountains and dry rolling hills and wind and wide running spaces…. You all know I’m a western loving girl. ;)


So in conclusion, I definitely love this story. A good, clean, simple (also honestly thought provoking at times) dose of sweet romance! 

How about you?













Reviewed for Miss Laurie’s Period Drama Challenge 2016.

10 comments:

  1. I like this movie. Tried watching the next movies in the series, but they were not good as the first one.

    Oh, you are gonna live in a place nearby this film set?! How wonderful!

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  2. Awwww. :-) I love this movie -- definitely my favorite of the whole series. (I stopped watching them around 7 or 8 because it was just sooooooo redundant and the acting seemed to get worse and worse....anyway, I shouldn't be negative!) The soundtrack is gorgeous, and the whole thing's got that aged frontier feel....it always makes me happy when I watch it. ;-)

    And that's SO cool that you'll be living near where they filmed it!!! I think it's the same place they filmed Dr. Quinn, actually -- the town, that is. I read an article about it. I'd love to see it someday.

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  3. I've read the entire book series, but never seen the movies. I mean to, though. :) I've just heard it isn't very much like the books at all, so I guess that made me less enthusiastic to watch it.

    ~Lydia~ <3

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  4. I've never seen this movie or read the books--but it certainly looks like a sweet, happy movie! I like the 4th picture from the top, very much :-)

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  5. Lovely review! I completely agree: the rest of the movie series are Slightly Ridiculous (and here I confess my own absurdity, because I have to admit I thoroughly enjoy them sometimes), but this first one is really quite good. And--at least compared with the rest--it's not too unreasonably far-removed from the book itself.

    I love how you highlighted its strengths and weaknesses! YES, I think my favorite things are the music and the scenery. T'IS TOO MUCH. ;D

    Have a lovely Sabbath, dearie! :)

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  6. Oooooo!! You're going to be living close by?!?!?! Sweet!!! Now I haven't actually seen this movie, but I did see 2 and 3 and my sister's watched this one and i have read the books like BILLIONS of times and I know how badly they messed up the story and I don't like that so I won't watch it. ;) But I do have to admit that the costumes are pretty sweet.

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  7. The Love Comes Softly series definitely starts out well and consecutively gets worse. :P I like about the first 2 or 3 of these movies, but after that they're very hard to stand. Even the third one can be annoying!
    This first one is definitely very sweet. I haven't seen it in such a long time, so your comment about not agreeing on the theology piqued my interest. Is there anything in particular that you don't like in the message? (I honestly can't remember the theology, so that's why I'm interested in your thoughts. :)) (Oh, and if that's too deep of a question, feel free to skip it. I'd understand.)

    You'll be living close to where it's filmed? That's so exciting! It CERTAINLY has beautiful scenery!

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  8. I love this movie so much!!! Have you seen the second part, Love's Enduring Promise? I love it too.
    Such a lovely review Heidi!

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  9. You're going to be living nearby where it was filmed??? How cool is that!
    I loved this movie, it was so sweet and kind of light heart-ed, but at the same time emotional. You wrote a great review on it, couldn't have done better.
    Love your blog.

    -T.
    x

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  10. Hello Heidi!! I just found your blog, and I'm so happy I did. Congratulations on your marriage!! I have read the whole Love Comes Softly series and love it. This is the best movie in the series, to me. The others stray pretty far from the books. God bless you Heidi!! Miss you.

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I'd love to hear your thoughts and look forward to further confabulation. Please just be courteous to one and all. Oh, and I love thoughts on old posts, so comment away!

(Also of late -- what with time being finite, and Life Happening + managing multiple blogs and computer issues and all that -- I sometimes have to alternate between creating new content and replying to comments, but rest assured I'm thrilled to hear from each and every one of you and always hope to reply thoughtfully in full ASAP. <3)

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