Genres

Visitors Review

whereizdaremote 2012-05-22 13:34:12

Good script, excellent acting, and beautiful cinematography

This little gem (scheduled to be out on DVD February 15 at selectHallmark Stores)will make a great addition to any DVD collection. Justthe basics here: WWII vet Noah Locke (Chris Klein) returns home to finda world of change on the home front, ala "The Best Years of Our Lives",and he must take his life in a new direction. A kind old gent HokeMoore (Robert Prosky) directs him to the valley where a change of hislife's direction is offered. Great job by Gretchen Mol as the leading lady Eleanor Chatwin. Mol'scharacter undergoes changes of her own after meeting Noah. She is awidow of a WWII vet who ended his life upon returning home from the warand her life is a closed loop. Between caring for her late husband'sgrandmother(who seems to survive on chocolate bars) and running thefarm, she appears to have little else in her life. Just compare thechange in her physical appearance from their initial meeting in ageneral store to the the scene of a good old' sit down catfish dinnerin her home....Southern Style! A terrific supporting cast rounds out this Hallmark Hall of Fame gem.The filming locations in Oregon and California fill in nicely forrural, post WWII North Carolina.Tragedy strikes both their lives and threatens to end the blossomingromance between Noah and Eleanor. Noah soon realizes that he was guidedto the valley. Several media critics panned this flick, but it came inat #10 for the week in the ratings, tied with "24", so see it foryourself and make your own decision.

jotix100 2012-05-22 10:28:29

Catfish hunter

Another Hallmark movie made for television which has all the elementsthat are always included in their presentations. Like basicallyeverything we see coming from the Hallmark folks, we are taken toscenic spots of our country, in this case rural Oregon, with itsnatural beauty and excellent outdoor quality that translates so wellinto the stories at hand."The Valley of Light" takes the viewer back to the 1940s at the end ofWWII. Noah, a soldier without work, is surprised to find his youngerbrother in jail. He decides to escape from it all, perhaps because whathe experienced overseas in Europe, to a more peaceful setting. He findshe has an knack for fishing in rivers and streams where he seems topull catfish in record numbers. One day he meets Hoke, an older man,who tells him about his ability to see "angels" and who advises him togo into the Valley of Light where nice folks live.At the valley, he finds an ideal place in where to spend time. Heendears himself to the local population where he is regarded assomething of a marvel because, when prompted, he can fish better thananyone. Noah seems to know where to cast his line with good results. Hemeets the lovely widow of a soldier that has committed suicide. Noahseems to have everything he hoped for, yet, tragedy strikes taking ayoung boy who he feels responsible for his untimely death.As directed by Brent Shields, this film fits perfectly in what isexpected from the sponsor. Was it me, or didn't Chris Klein, who playsNoah, kept reminding us of Keanu Reeves? Mr. Klein doesn't show theintensity that perhaps Mr. Reeves would have brought to his role, buthe is adequate. Lovely Gretchen Mol is perfectly sweet as Eleanor, theyoung widow who awakens to love after being so lonely. Others in thecast include the excellent Robert Prosky, Jay O. Sanders, StephenTobolowsky, in a small pivotal role, Zach Mills and Kevin Chamberlin.This is a film that while not breaking any ground, will delight theaudience for which is targeted.

arieliondotcom 2012-05-18 19:36:43

Great Movie Unawares

Just a warning to any men reading this. This is definitely a chickflick. But it's so good you will enjoy watching it, too. You just won'tbe able to admit to anybody that you did. (Unless you are as secure inyour masculinity as I am of course. Ahem...Then you can even admit ithad you in tears in parts, but you'll still feel guilty at that, too.)Noah is a Soldier on a mission...Running from his past. His family isgone except for one loser little brother who's just barely out of histeens and on the way to a life of crime already. And Noah blameshimself for not being there for the family, for his brother, and forhis unit where many of his friends were killed, leaving him withsurvivor guilt. On the run he's told about a special place to gofishing, something he has an affinity for. And taking the stranger'sadvice he finds himself involved in the lives of the small town folksand especially a beautiful young widow and her mute son. All of themlooking for some kind of sign that life is still worth living.The plot is predictable in some parts but unpredictable in others sothere is enough play in the line (to use a fishing metaphor) to make itinteresting. As I say, everyone will enjoy it. Though there is one verytraumatic scene that may not be appropriate for small children. Notviolent or anything, just very sad (and adults watching it may becomeupset which may upset any children in the room).Having said that, enjoy. With popcorn and Kleenex.A surprise ending (at least for me) which only emphasized that,although this movie has some bad theology, the overall positive note isa sound one. And the best part is, the reality is even better than thefiction. In a world of uncertainty there are signs all around us thatGOD really does care and life really is worthwhile, if we will onlylook and listen and act upon the situations and people He sends our wayand most of all His Word (the Bible)...though this is not a "preachy"film or Bible-thumping movie at all and in fact stays rather generic.It is a great movie that may take you unawares.

MartianOctocretr5 2012-05-18 13:02:44

Sweet and touching

A very sentimental and heartfelt story with a refreshingly optimisticoutlook about people reaching out to one another. A decorated WWII vetnamed Noah returns home to find the world has moved on during hisabsence. His parents have died, his brother is in prison, his family'sfarm has been sold.Noah sets out to rebuild his life, not really knowing where he's bound,and encounters a mysterious and gifted old man who directs him to anearby town. Upon arriving there, Noah is immediately embraced by thelocals who at once recognize him to be of high character. He meets amute boy named Matthew he befriends, and an elegant widow namedEleanor. Noah's talent for fishing quickly makes him a local legend,and his kindness to others wins the hearts of everyone he meets. Thebeauty of this story is the interaction of all of the characters. Therereally are no "bad guys," everyone has their place in bringing joy intothe life of some other person(s). It's very touching, and the dialogueis rich with spiritual symbolism. The entire cast breathe life into all these pleasant, likablecharacters. It's overall a "feel good" story (although there is onetragedy the characters face together), with a very positive approach.

whpratt1 2012-05-16 13:16:23

Refreshing Story

This film was very refreshing to watch and enjoy because of the verydown to earth story of a small town after WW II and the deep effectswar has on people and how it can ruin people mentally and physically.Chris Klein,(Noah), "The Long Weekend", plays the role of a soldierwandering around and just plain getting out in nature and sleepingunder the stars and mostly fishing. Noah meets up with an old gentlemanwho tells him how to fish like a professional and also directs him onthe right path for him to take into a wonderful valley where there is anice small town and good fishing in a lake. Noah meets up with all thelocal town people and also with Gretchen Mol (Eleanor) "Attracton" whogives a great performance as a woman who is deeply troubled and livingwith a grandmother who only wants to eat Hersey Bars. Sweet lovablestory back when they had rumble seats in the back of cars. Enjoy

rogcbrand 2012-05-16 00:13:08

Not a movie for those who only like sex and violence...

I loved the way this movie was done. I know many won't like it becauseit dares to leave out sex, violence, profanity, etc., and just tell asimple tale that makes you feel good. For those people there are nearlyan infinite number of choices to see. For the rest of us, this is arare movie that feels like something from a time before I was born- andit left me feeling happy, and not many of today's movies do that forme.Also, as most of my closest friends and my oldest nephew live andbreath fishing, I'm thinking they'd enjoy it as that is always in thebackground.If you watch this, don't go in expecting something convoluted andcomplex, but rather a very pleasant distraction from all theunpleasantness we usually see in the movies.

MaatThoth 2012-05-09 19:10:34

Heartwarming-Heartbreaking Glimpse Of Yesteryear....

The cinematography in this movie gives the soul the space and wings tosoar! The rivers and lakes are swarming with schools of fish, skirtedby beautifully dense woods filled with chirping crickets. The lushgreen pastures with rich black earth are ripe with enormous wigglingworms - great pickin' for fish-bait.The characters and the plot are heartwarming - yet heartbreaking.A handsome WWII soldier wandering the countryside trying to outpace thegrief that dogs his every step since returning stateside.A pretty widow with a warm heart who takes loving care of her deceasedhusbands' brain-addled aged grandmother.A lonely young mute boy, makes one wonder if it is perhaps from hisyoung mother's death or his runaway fathers abandonment of him.The town and it's cast of characters are quite charming - they make onelong to move to this little friendly town in the valley of yesteryear.Throw in a mess of fishin' to boot and this is a MARS & VENUS Movie.The finale of this movie gives ones' soul hope and that's no tall tale.Don't let this movie be - "The One That Got Away"!

summerfest_01 2012-05-09 01:04:53

Valley of Light was a great movie and I would recommend it to anyone

It was so refreshing to see a movie with a good script, good acting andthat contains values that seem to have disappeared in light of all thesmut and garbage that have invaded prime time television. I would loveto see more movies like this one. I thought it was excellent in everycategory. The scenery was beautiful, it took place just after World War2 had ended and troops were returning home, and it gave me a real senseof nostalgia although the War took place years before my birth. Theacting was great and the people of the valley were warm and inviting,again a characteristic gone with yesteryear. This movie reached out andembraced me, much like Andy Griffith and Mayberry used to when I was alittle girl.

2012-04-30 03:11:02

The Valley of Light

This review is from: The Valley of Light (Hallmark Hall of Fame) (DVD) A wonderful post warm film of a young man trying to get his life back together after the war and of a young lady trying to find her life too. It was a little sad when the young boy died. I enjoyed the actors and the little boy (Mathew). A clean film a family can enjoy. I have watched it several times. I don't understand why we need the filth that we have in so many of todays films, it certainly does not add to the quality of the film.Excellent film

mrmusic23 2012-04-29 15:46:02

competently acted but too saccharine

OK, the plot: a soldier returns from WW2 with bad dreams and finds thatthe home he's grown up in has been sold and his kid brother is in jailfor a youthful prank apparently. He wonders around, by bus I guess andfishes most of the rivers, large and small, of the Southeast. On one ofthese rivers, he meets an old man who recommends he hike over the ridgewhere he'll meet some nice people. He does and they are. A prettywidow, (Gretchen Mol) allows him to stay in a fishing cabin her husbandfrequented before he committed suicide. None of the characters are atall well developed; I guess I have to blame the script.I gave it a five only because I was able to sit through it. I've likedGretchen Mol in other movies so it's no surprise she was appealing inthis one. I question whether a woman in 1946-7(?) would be soforthright about approaching a man who interested her. And there was noneed to kill off a perfectly cute kid just for cheap sentiment, beforewe even get a chance to hear what he has to SAY.