Search - The Locket on DVD

Typical heartwarming Hallmark Hall of Fame movie

Siona Doyle-McLaughlin | Abbotsford, BC, Canada | 12/02/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This movie, based on Richard Paul Evans' novel, pleasantly exceeded my expectations. Vanessa Redgrave's performance captured the essence of Esther Huish's character. What a heartwarming story line that reminds us of power of love but also the unfortunate dark sides of humanity. I would highly recommend this movie for any Richard Paul Evans fans or Hallmark Hall of Fame movie collectors. I am glad this is movie can be purchased, as I have been searching for it ever since seeing it on television."

Tear jerker

puff | usa | 06/26/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After reading the Locket, I was pleasantly surprised when I found out it had been made into a movie. The story is about a young man, Michael, who after the death of his mother, gets a job at a nursing home and befriends an elderly woman Ester who changes his life for the better and shows him what faith and forgivenss are all about. MIchael has to go through many trials in his young life, but decides to become better, not bitter from them. The book is definitely better, so I would recommend reading it before watching the movie. I also recommend reading the sequel, the Carousel. The movie unfortunately doesn't have nearly all the details and a few minor changes were made.( For instance in the movie Michael's father is alive and he and Michael become friends, but in the book he dies.) I thought the director picked the perfect actors for the role. I cannot imagine someone other than the talented Vanessa Redgrave playing the part of Ester, nor anyone playing the part of sensitive, honest Michael other than the hot Chad Willet."

Very mixed bag

bookloversfriend | United States | 05/26/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"On the one hand, you have Richard Paul Evans' usual deft deployment of sure-fire heart-tugging material: parents and children, husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends. This is can't miss material (still, it must be said that a lot of moviemakers manage to miss with it anyway). In this movie, they work. It doesn't hurt, of course, that you have a master like Vanessa Redgrave playing one of the major roles.

On the other hand, one could wish that Evans (whose field is Public Relations) had not achieved success so easily when he started. Otherwise, he might have read one or two books on novel-writing and learned the basics. In this movie, the main character's problems are caused by the main character. That would be okay if they were unavoidable or excusable.

But first, the guy wrecks his relationship with the love of his life because her father tells him it's better for her. And this type of moralistic man does the "right" thing no matter how much it hurts other people. He also does not confide in her why he's doing this. It's curious that these two traits of moral rigidity and a nondisclosure that amounts to dishonesty should occur in the same person, yet in life these two are in fact quite often found together. So, at least it's realistic. (That doesn't make it good writing, however.) In fact, he tells her it's best for her. She tells HIM "this is best for me". He totally discounts this. He knows what's best for her better than she does. In other words, he shows himself to be a male chauvinist also.

Then, he does stupid things, viz. not reporting a co-worker whom he overhears beating one of the elderly patients. Then, he does an even stupider thing, after being arrested for murder of this patient, he doesn't tell on her. Then, he tops that in stupidity: after he has been forbidden by the court from going to the nursing home, he--you guessed it--goes to the nursing home!

The reason writing books forbid this kind of thing is that it infuriates the reader or audience. In this case, it also strains credibility.
"

The Locket

Candice Cuddington | Georgetown, MA United States | 03/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you like Richard Paul Evans you won't want to miss this movie, but fair warning keep the hankie handy. This movie stars Vanessa Redgrave as a women in a nursing home who had a deep love once in her life. A young man comes to work in the home, and the two hit it off and become friends and help each other with their "lost" dreams. It is a very moving story, and has much sadness included, but don't worry the ending is a happy one, and Vanessa's characters final wish is carried out for her by her loving friend."