There are many reasons why one might want to do a remake of
an old TV series (besides just making money on a brand
viewers recognize). If the old show is from the 60's and
70's, when the pacing of shows was slower, and acting styles
were different, then it makes sense. If the old show was a
scifi or fantasy show before 1977, then it makes sense to
remake it because after "Star Wars" came out, they had
better ways to do special effects. Or if the show was
a low budget show in the 80's, then you could do it nowadays
with computerized special effects. If the show is really
old, it might have been in black and white, or been
unrealistic because the TV censors wouldn't allow shows to
have non-white actors, or had stringent rules about what the
"good guys" could do, etc.
However, the 1985
miniseries "Anne of Green Gables" (and its two sequels) were
fantastic, with great acting, especially from Megan Follows
and Colleen Dewhurst. The show is set at the turn of the
century, so no special effects were needed. They
really didn't need a sequel at all. The miniseries was
already a remake of a 1934 film.
The new series on
Netflix, starring
Amybeth
McNulty as Anne, is okay, but not as good as the 1985
series. McNulty is no Megan Follows (the original Anne from
that series). Follows was wonderful as Anne. McNulty's
Anne is just not as good. She's annoying, in fact. I think
part of the reason is that they made this Anne more like the
one in the book. She's supposed to talk a lot. However, in
the 1985 version, they tone that aspect down. There's a fine
line between between charmingly talkative and so annoying
that you want to scream "shut up!" at her. Honestly,
though, I just felt that McNulty was reciting a script
rather than living the part.
They also made this Anne
way too emotional. They do show that she's been abused in
the past; but still, it doesn't really explain her
over-the-top behavior. Another problem is that they
made her adopted "parents" really young, compared to the
other previous movies and series. TV tends to do that
nowadays, anyway. They want everyone to be as young as
possible. For today's audiences, it seems strange
enough that a brother and sister are living together and
adopt a child. To make them younger only makes that way more
creepy.
I'm not saying you won't enjoy this
adaptation. I'm just saying, you shouldn't bother with it.
Watch the one from 1985 instead. You will see how great it
is.
MORE INFORMATION:
Anne with an
E is a
coming-of-age story
about an outsider
who, against all
odds and many
challenges, fights
for love and
acceptance and her
place in the world.
Set in Prince Edward
Island in the late
1890s, the series
centers on Anne
Shirley (Amybeth
McNulty), a young
orphaned girl who,
after an abusive
childhood spent in
orphanages and the
homes of strangers,
is mistakenly sent
to live with an
aging sister and
brother. Over time,
13-year-old Anne
will transform the
lives of Marilla
(Geraldine James)
and Matthew Cuthbert
(R.H. Thomson) and
eventually the
entire small town in
which they live with
her unique spirit,
fierce intellect and
brilliant
imagination. Anne’s
adventures will
reflect timeless and
topical issues
including themes of
identity, feminism,
bullying and
prejudice. Available
first-run globally
on Netflix except
Canada (second run
in Canada).
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