Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)

Downton Abbey - A New Era

It was great!

This was very much a movie for the fans, and it very much felt like the end of road.

In the last movie the King's visit provided the central focus of the plot, here we had a less focused shooting a movie at Downton and the family inheriting a French villa.

To my mind I enjoyed the movie making but the villa story was quite a bore as it proved to be all a lot about very little.

As with any movie that wants to dot the i's and cross the t's at the ending of a franchise it necessarily becomes sentimental and self-indulgent. I think overall this element was handled brilliantly and we had an emotional rollercoaster.

I'm giving this a firm 7 outta 10, I'm a major fan so it's probably is a firm 6 lol.

Fmovies: I haven't watch the TV series outside a few random episodes I walked in on but this movie still managed to engage me right from the start. The humour is great, the acting is phenomenal and there are many emotional moments throughout the film. This film makes me proud to be British.

It's a perfect example on how to do strong female characters. For some reason Hollywood's method to creating strong female characters is just give them characteristics typically associated with men. This film manages to have strong female characters while actually keeping them female. Not only that but it's also the perfect example on how to include gay characters without it feeling forced.

I love that this is a film about making a film. I especially love how the film basically pokes fun at the entire industry. As someone who has worked on film sets, this movie perfectly depicts the behind the scenes of filmmaking. The sound guy in this movie is my favourite character since I have met many sound guys and they pretty much all act in the exact same way he does.

LIKES:

It's Fun: I may not be the biggest drama lover in terms of many movies, but something about Downton Abbey makes for an exception for me. The British humor works on wetting the dry dialogue, and the antics of the high nobility really are entertaining for me and my fellow audience member. The two stories present in this film play well with each other, and the constant back and forth exchange keeps things balanced between exciting drama and the usual sad tones this family faces. It kept the pace moving for much of the film, and I quite liked how many laughs and smiles filled my face in the adventures to be had.

The Setting: This show has always been excellent in the setting it chooses to film in, and this New Era, is no exception. The second film takes us back to the familiar grounds and rooms of the palace, making the fantasies real as the Abbey's life unfolds before you. Luscious lawns, immaculate rooms add that royal experience to the movie, while adding the servant quarters and farms grounds the fantasy element and gives you those times. The Chateaux is just as beautiful, a new venue that adds a different environment to enjoy, and potentially a new stage to play with in the future installments. Those who appreciate the splendor of the European country sides are in for a treat with this one.

The Story : Fans of the series expect the continuing lore to be rich, deep, and tackle the issues that make life, and the drama genre, engaging to immerse ourselves in. For the most part, it succeeds well in this endeavor of ushering the audience into the new age of legacy without sacrificing the fun to be had. Old plot points and gimmicks from the past series resurface again and are used well, helping to please the old fans that their investment is not lost. However, new elements await to be explored, with a few twists to mix things up that Downton has done so well in years past. I applaud the writers for this balance, making sure to have happy and sad crisscrossing in hopes of keeping so many emotions going strong.

The Presentation: As I said with the story, the presentation is the key to enjoying the tales the director and staff cooked up for us. This second film does a nice job of bouncing between the two main stories, keeping the plots of both running in tandem and yet mostly avoiding getting stock in any repetitive moments. What's nice is the multiple components of each story, and how they managed to shine lights on each as the tale continued to keep things fresh and only circle back when necessary. Though you might feel the answers are going nowhere, in truth they are and these little peeks into each life helps keep things feeling new and fresh, all while keeping as many character in the light as possible.

The Music: A friend of mine talked about how Downton Abbey uses its music well to boost the emotion, but yet keep you calm with the soothing tones. You are in luck, for the score accomplishes much in this film to inject some life and design into the film and alleviate the pressure of the sadder moments. The standard orchestral work is very peaceful, classy and upscale to be fitting of background music that keeps you just in the mood of British drama. However, there are other times where the entertainment brings their own brand of music, giving you a little more pep in the step as the fun of the moment begins. It's wonderful all around, and again very fitting for the sequences chosen to surely strengthen the overall presence of the movie.

The Acting: The strongest

Downton Abbey: A New Era fmovies. Another episode in the upstairs/downstairs soap-opera life of the Crawley family, their heirs, their spouses and their friends - and, especially cherished, their servants.

How wonderfully all the cast slip back into their familiar (and much-loved) roles after a gap of two years or more. Dame Maggie, of course, dominates her every scene. Hugh Bonneville is given reasons to cry and he does tearful as believably as he does starchy. Mary and Edith are adorable as always. Mr Molesley gets to save another day.

Plenty of people pooh-pooh DOWNTON and its fans. I don't watch any of the British or Aussie soaps, but I wouldn't miss an instalment of this. There's talk of a third movie. Bring it on!

As a Downton fan, I couldn't have wished for a better film. Whilst I enjoyed the first one, this is on another level entirely, don't know if it's bigger budget, or everyone was more relaxed after the success of the first, but there's pure joy leaping off the screen.

To go into the story would spoil it, so I won't, suffice to say if you enjoy Downton you will love this.

Film snobs will no doubt call it schmalzty, but for me it's two hours of absolutely fantastic escapism... Highly recommended.

I've not seen but 2 TV episodes but the acting, screen writing/dialogue, and overall execution was just astounding. Maybe I'm biased about the foregone era of the empire so if that doesn't appeal to you, then it may be just an average movie. Regardless, I think this movie is best seen knowing nothing. If you're expecting special effects, shallow dialogue or attitude here any, don't see this movie. There's just so much substance with these actors.