Downton Abbey movie

[Celery Man 20950]

Not at all surprised that there isn't a thread for this here, best as I can tell.

My quick review - this was ultimately very enjoyable for fans of the series.  There were some moments throughout that were a bit confusing or felt forced, and in retrospect I think it was that the movie contained at least a season's worth of plotlines in 2 hours.  Thomas and his new friend, Tom and his shadow, whatever the hell Mary's husband was off doing, Tom and the maid, Dowager Countess and her cousin, the King's daughter and husband.  Tons of "stuff" going on that would have felt more natural if it had space to breathe and get fleshed out.  Plot was light on Bates, but that's OK by me if the tradeoff is Carson.

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4976]

Watching the series for the first time with the wife right now. It may be a contrary opinion here, but I rather enjoy it. If nothing else the history aspect is interesting. Will probably catch the movie when it hits HBO.

[creasy 6]

Just came back from it. Fans of the show will be very satisfied; so will fans of period drama sets and costumes. Agree with Celery Man that there were a lot subplots jammed into 2 hours. But it was an easy, entertaining 2 hrs. They definitely left it open to continue if it does well enough at the box office. ($58 M so far.)

[tantric superman 4667]

Yeah, Bates went from very cool character to insufferable by the end...

I had my fingers crossed that this would have been a prequel focusing on Sybil's all girl boarding school experiences.

 

[Celery Man 20950]

25 minutes ago, NotActuallyALonghorn said:

Watching the series for the first time with the wife right now. It may be a contrary opinion here, but I rather enjoy it. If nothing else the history aspect is interesting. Will probably catch the movie when it hits HBO.

It's a good show.  While I'm not afraid to enjoy a non-manly show or whatever, I originally didn't think I'd like it because I just can't care about Pride and Prejudice.  But this is a good show.

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

I watched the series and definitely enjoyed it for the history/period angle as much as the plot lines. Will go see it with the Mrs.

[GhostOfTomJoad 9324]

Saw it last weekend as an Afternoon Tea viewing at the Drafthouse. Mrs. Ghost and I thoroughly enjoyed the series, and left the theater feeling like the movie was a teaser to fans to see if they could move it forward (read: make more $$). It more than likely justified a renewal, for better or worse.

It was enjoyable. They wisely spent some extra money on the cinematography. They would have been better served spending more attention on the screenplay. It hit most of the high notes, but felt too safe in most areas, and unduly forced in others. For the most part it was a chance for fans to revisit the abbey and slip into a comfortable pair of old house slippers.

 

[Pato del Muerto 52498]

I liked the show, but have no urge to see this in a theater. I’m happy to wait until I can watch it at home, like I have all along. 

[Michael Knight 12978]

The show was an impeccably made soap opera,  nothing wrong with that. 

[Guest Lobo]

The few clips I've seen of this show remind me precisely of Eddie Izzard's bit about British cinema.  
"A Room with a View of a Pond", with the guy entering one room in the manor to see Sebastian stacking matches, "Yes, well I suppose I better have."  

[Post Oak 20213]

23 hours ago, NotActuallyALonghorn said:

Watching the series for the first time with the wife right now. It may be a contrary opinion here, but I rather enjoy it. If nothing else the history aspect is interesting. Will probably catch the movie when it hits HBO.

The first two seasons we're remarkable.  It lost its fastball a little after that.

However it is wonderfully acted and an excellent premise and story.

I will wait for it to hit Netflix.

[DFWTexEx 276]

I enjoyed the series and enjoyed the film.  I was pleasantly surprised that they made no attempt to "reset" the story.  It was simply the next episode. If you didn't know the show, you would enjoy many of the moments and the nice looking film, but much of it would be lost on you.  I saw it with my mother, father and sister.  My mother and I were fans of the show.  My father and sister were not.  I gave them a 15 minute summation of the series before we went in and helped them.   My mother has been dealing with health stuff and we were happy that she agreed to go.  As it ended, she said out loud, "I don't want it to end".   That made me so happy.  And I agreed.

[Guest Lobo]

14 minutes ago, DFWTexEx said:

If you didn't know the show, you would enjoy many of the moments and the nice looking film, but much of it would be lost on you.

Yeah jokes aside, I don’t know that much of this movie would be lost on me.  It’s not A Nolan brothers film, it’s a show about the myriad staff and residents of a stoic British manor.  I’m sure we’d somehow manage to pickup on the costume drama and all its complexities and denuemont attempts 

Edited October 1, 2019 by Lobo

[gecko 1104]

Streamed this last year under duress from wife but I got into it after a while (Sybil helped get me through).  End of season 3 was so predictable wife and I actually laughed out loud - we saw it coming a mile out....

Spoiler

...it's a shame Matthew didn't...

 

Edited October 1, 2019 by gecko

[ajax 2617]

1 hour ago, gecko said:

Streamed this last year under duress from wife but I got into it after a while (Sybil helped get me through).  End of season 3 was so predictable wife and I actually laughed out loud - we saw it coming a mile out....

  Reveal hidden contents

...it's a shame Matthew didn't...

 

That was the last episode I saw. Next thing I know he's gets totally ripped and is murdering people in The Guest.

[Brandywine 1316]

I thought the movie was really good. Very well done and entertaining. I think I watched most of the episodes of the first season and a few episodes of the other seasons. My wife watched all of them and dressed up in the style of the time for the first episode of the last season. She had to catch me up a little while we were watching the movie but I don't think anyone really needs to know anything about the series to enjoy the film. It helps but not needed. And also, I think the music is just as much a part of the charm of the movie as anything. 

Edited October 1, 2019 by Brandywine

[Wild Bill 324]

Saw this movie today and enjoyed it.  Never saw a previous episode and found it easy to follow along with after the 10 min summary of earlier events and character descriptions at the beginning of the movie.

[Mez2 4023]

'Member when Sybil had her nudes leaked via the fappening? 

[Michael Knight 12978]

 

[tx 3 putt 76958]

Lot of screwing going on in those servant quarters 

[atomheartbevo 89668]

This trailer would have been better if they had played the Star Wars The Force Awakens trailer music over it.

Spoiler

 

Actually it would be funny to take the audio/music from that trailer above and stick it over the Downtown Abbey trailer.

[Horn80 6122]

Looks like most the cast is back again.  Hope better story than 2019.

[billfromlaketravis 11480]

The series finale was flawless. 
 

The movie was OK, but I wish they left it at the finale. 
 

This feels like a money grab. 

[atomheartbevo 89668]

1 hour ago, billfromlaketravis said:

This feels like a money grab. 

Maggie Smith's cocaine and boy toy habit ain't going to pay for itself.

Wait, which one is she again?