Review of Lantern Hill

As I huge fan of L.M. Montgomery, I was surprised I never read the book that my sister owned, or watched the movie that went along with it. I grew up with the "Anne" movies and loved those, despite the minor changes made to adapt the books into a movie. So I read "Jane of Lantern Hill" and absolutely loved it. Then I watched the movie and was horrified. This is worse than Anne's "Continuing Story." Why couldn't Jane have grown up in her Grandmother's house, instead of having her mother get sick forcing her into Grandmother's house? Why the whole ghost story involving Evelyn, an entirely made up character and plot line? Little Aunt Em was turned into mystical Hepzibah for no good reason, though I do enjoy the acting talent of Colleen Dewhurst. Jody, though well played by Sarah Polley, was annoying and vastly different than Jane's friend in the book. The Cockney accent really threw me off, seeing as the she lives in Toronto. Sullivan also decided to change the season Jane goes to visit her dad. Why? Summer is the loveliest time of year on P.E.I., but he makes it the school year up until Christmas. I did not like the casting of Robin or Andrew. They don't follow the characteristics of Montgomery's characters at all. Overall, a huge disappointment. I wouldn't have liked the movie if I had seen it without reading the book. It's not at all L.M. Montgomery.