VICKIE EZZELL

No one is a bigger fan of Downton Abbey than I. Heck, I even went out and purchased the full series at a whopping 60 bucks, and purchased the Life Magazine Special Edition at $16.95!! The documentaries, movie clips, advertising, and all the coverage had me sitting on the edge of my seat with my calendar circled big in red for September 20th. Miraculously I found out that the 1st showing of the movie was actually on September 11th. So excited, I called several friends and ordered tickets online because the movie had already sold out in one local theater. So ecstatic over getting to be some of the first viewers in America, we even took a picture of all of us girls under the entrance of #8 with Downton Abbey gloriously looming overhead. I knew that Julian Fellows had outdone himself this time as I had convinced myself that this movie was going to be a prelude to maybe another movie, and it would spawn a brand new series!!! It seemed like it took forever for the movie to start, with all the previews and whatnot. The anticipation was electric!!! Finally we hear the wonderful music we have so long waited for and here comes Carson!! Oh, the joy, Downton Abbey is back!!! Of all the movies I have ever seen, I don't think I have ever been so disappointed!!! Don't get me wrong, I loved watching it and would not have missed it for anything. Maybe I was so excited about the movie that I was looking for more than was meant to be. I was so used to the cliffhangers, and for me, there was none; there was no plot as I was used to watching in the series. The movie was basically about the visit of the King and Queen, and for goodness sake, it took 2 hours of rolling up the rugs, putting out the good china, and a bully ranting orders to the kitchen staff to go and take a nap, a walk, or take the day off!!! I understand that the reason the series was cancelled after 6 seasons was due to falling viewers. The powers to be decided to stop while Downton was still magical and exciting. Sadly to say, if the movie is any indication of what another series would be like, I think they made the right decision. No one would rather see another series anymore than I, but if this movie is any indication of what would be to come, I will pull out my whole 6 seasons and watch them over and over again!! Even though this was not one of my favorite movies, I still have to give it a 7 out of 10, simply because it is Downton Abbey and there could never be anything bad about that!! And yes, I will probably go watch it again with another major Downton Abbey fan!!!