Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

If you're into Downton Abbey, this will be a treat. If you're not into Downton Abbey... well, I can't see the film making a great deal of sense, frankly (and I don't know what you're doing here, to be honest :P). What we have in DA is essentially an extended "holiday episode" (the series, for the uninitiated, featured one of these every season but the first), with an enormous eruption of small plots that might have otherwise been tugged out over the expanse of 6+ episodes, but essentially all get tied up into nice little bows by the end (with the exception of one really, really crushing loose end that I fear we will have to suffer over in a sequel [and I don't mean suffer because it's horrid writing, but suffer because the audience will be in tears]). Moreover, I felt like this "episode" - for that is what it really is - did a far better job of wrapping up the series overall than did the TV finale. For example, I was personally never happy with Mary's pairing with Henry Talbot (I'm one of those poor fools who was all-in on a Mary/Branson pairing - it was edgy, their children were the same age, and they worked well together). However, this film greatly softened my nagging dissatisfaction with regards to Tom's love life - not in the least because I really like Tuppence Middleton's casting as Lucy Smith (what can I say? She's a dish, and she folded right into the age-old cast like a crumpet served with tea). Now, in the interest of fairness, there are a few plots that I felt could have been dumped with relative ease - Mary, Princess Royal's marital woes being an obvious (but not lone) example. Also, as I said at the onset, this isn't a stand-alone film - people who watch this aren't just going to be confused (and possibly even bored?), but they're going to ruin any chances of them ever being surprised by plot twists if they happen to decide to watch the series afterwards. So... fairly warned be ye, says I. However, overall, I didn't feel overwhelmed with the various plot threads, but rather dazzled - there were a lot of things going on here, but like a belle being twirled at a ball, I was less dizzy than I was giddy. The inclusion of a few sweet easter eggs (we FINALLY get to meet Mr. Bakewell; we get a glimpse of proud papa Mr. Bates with his preschool-aged son, etc.) are knowing nods to an audience that was almost certainly grinning from ear to ear throughout most of the showing (I know I was). And, as is always the case with Downton, the acting was top-notch, the sets to die for, and the costuming amazing. So, in conclusion, yes, I think this is a good film, but if you haven't sat through all six seasons, you're doing yourself an IMMENSE disservice. I am thoroughly pleased by what we got, and I hope very much that the rumors of a sequel (or two) bear out (and for Christ's sake, Julian, WRITE A PREQUEL SERIES ABOUT A YOUNG VIOLET, ALREADY!)