I loved it, truly I did!

I have to review this today because I lost sleep last night staying up way past my bedtime to watch it. I am bad! I couldn’t help myself, I idolize the character of Katie Scarlet O’Hara. After all, where did you think I got 4-year-olds name? In fact, all of my children are name after my favorite movie stars. May I digress a moment?

My son Shane-- The movie Shane, with Robert Alda.

My Daughter Ashley --Why of course she was named for Ashley Wilkes. I know he was a man, but I named her for the deep sensitivity I saw in him. Also, being only 20, I believed she (my daughter) would take that sensitivity and add strength. Also, that was a popular name.

My Daughter Megan --Well, she got to be two characters. Meg; from Little Women, and my all time favorite (other than Scarlet), Meggie; from the Thorn birds.

Little Tim--Well, isn’t that obvious? Little? Tiny? He is sooooo sweet though.

Katie—Now with the others, it was sort of an unspoken namesake issue towards their fathers. I didn’t want anyone thinking I was crazy or anything… :) LOL. By the time I got to this one, I decided that I didn’t care what anyone thought. Last baby, last chance. Katherine; for Katherine Scarlet.

Okay now that we have established my insanity with a little background, here is my opinion of the movie:

When I first learned about the making of this movie, I was definitely against it. For all you diehard “Gone with the Wind” fans, I think you know what I mean. Who is this Kilmer woman anyway? She doesn’t have the right look, her eyes are brown, and she looks weak. I was not going to watch it. U-huh, no way!

I read the book as soon as I heard about the making of the film. I like to be prepared and critical in every way. I can’t help it I’m picky. The book was excellent. It was very well written and I felt as if I had been continuing on straight from the first book. So now I am ready to see this movie.

Boy did I get sucked in quickly! Who would have thought that Scarlet could live on with brown eyes and a fragile frame? Mrs. Kilmer takes control of the screen right away. She leaves no room for memories of Vivien Leigh. There is no doubt from the onset that this little woman has the strength of character to pull this off.

We immediately find ourselves back in Scarlet’s world, a place where she is consistently misunderstood and looked down on. A place where friends and family are fair weather and look upon you with disdain if you don’t conform to their way of doing things. As we all know, some things are just not done in “polite society”.

This was a very long movie, so details will be left out. I am more interested in letting you know that the actors in this movie rivaled the original cast. Sue Ellen is still a pip to reckon with, I enjoyed not liking her. Mammy is dying, so we can not compare (do we want to?)

Scarlet comes across with grace, strength and a hidden wisdom. She is free of will and not a conformist. She takes her licking with dignity and walks with her head up. After thirty minutes into the movie, I forgot what it was I wasn’t going to like in the first place. I am back in the mid-1800’s Atlanta, traveling through Charleston, on to Savannah and Ireland. I am completely lost in this film. The twist this takes is a sign of maturity for the story and for Scarlet.

My favorite scene, although much better to read than view, I enjoyed the way it was played off in the film. The sailing scene, the storm, when the skies open up and fate takes over. The best love scene in the movie happens here. The two stars cling together, (lump forms in my throat), they are starving for each other. Rhett, strong and handsome on the outside and sensitive and scared on the inside desperately holds on to what could be that last time he shares with his soul mate. Scarlet, fragile and shaken on the outside, yet stronger that ten Rhetts on the inside, as she breaks and becomes one with the only man she will every truly love. Ahhhhhh…..I am crying now.


You must rent this movie…I insist. If you are a fan of Gone with the Wind and you hesitated because you didn’t believe that it could be as good, you are wrong. Give it a try! I must depart from you now, Fiddle dee dee…I’ve a movie to see!