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The "Downton Abbey" TV show is comfortingly bland. The tales of the well-heeled Grantham family and the below stairs antics of their servants. But for those who have followed Julian Fellowes' pot-boiler drama through all six seasons and a number of Christmas specials, it's like a favourite jumper; or rediscovering your comfy slippers just as the nights start getting colder.

But in a world where TV spin off movies are notoriously dire, would this movie by the nail in Downton's coffin?

Thankfully not! It's a glorious production! The opening of this film will, I'm sure, fill all Downton fans with utter glee. John Lunn's music builds progressively as a royal letter wends its way through the 1927 postal system, eventually ending up (as the famous theme final breaks spectacularly) at the doors of Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle near Newbury, acting as a star of the film in its own right).

As the plot goes, in a year of Thanos-crushing drama, there really is nothing very substantial going on here! The King (George V, an almost unrecognizable Simon "Hitchhikers Guide" Jones) and Queen Mary (Geraldine James) are staying over in Downton for one night on their Yorkshire tour. This naturally sets the below-stairs staff into a bit of a tizz, as indeed it does the whole village. But their glee at involvement and recognition is a bit premature, since the royal entourage - headed by an officious Mr Wilson (David Haig) - parachute the complete gamut of staff into the ___location to serve the royal party, so bypassing the locals completely.

The 'Downton massif' are of course having none of this, and a battle-royale ensues.

Scattered as sub-plots like confetti at a wedding are a military man putting an over-protective arm around the potentially-risky Irish Tom Branson (Allen Leech); a family rift erupts between Aunt Violet (Maggie Smith) and cousin (and royal lady-in-waiting) Maud Bagshaw (Imelda Staunton); a sobbing princess (Kate Phillips) with marital issues; an over-enthusiastic shopkeeper (Mark Addy) who is difficult to let-down gently; a plumbing emergency with romantic jealousy and sabotage involved; the sexual preferences of Barrow (Robert James-Collier) get him into trouble; (and a potential love-interest for the widowed Tom with Maud's maid Lucy (Tuppence Middleton). (There are probably half a dozen others that I've forgotten!)

As befits a show that has gone over six seasons, there is a huge ensemble cast involved. Inevitably, some get more air time than others. Bates (Brendan Coyle) seems to be particularly short-changed, and above stairs I thought the same was true - strangely enough - of the Crawleys (Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern).

As for Henry Talbot (Matthew Goode), he's hardly in it at all! Apart from some dramatic camera gymnastics for his running up the stairs arrival, he doesn't make much of an impression at all. (I can only guess he had other filming commitments).

But these are players that have worked together as a team for many years, and it shows.

But the acting kudos has to go to Maggie Smith who steals absolutely every scene she's in, with genuinely witty lines - "I'll lick the stamps myself" (LoL). Close behind though is Imelda Staunton who also turns in a very impressive performance.

The photography is fantastic throughout, with deep rich colours, pin-sharp focus and some seriously dramatic pans. A big hats off to cinematographer Ben Smithard, but also to his drone team ("The helicopter ladies") for delivering some jaw-droppingly gorgeous shots of Highclere castle.

(By the way, I thought the picture at my local Picturehouse cinema - Harbour Lights in Southampton - was particularly stunning: I queried it with them, and they said they had changed the (very expensive) projector bulb just that day! These things clearly matter!)

Will is appeal? If you are a Downton fan, yes, Yes, YES! I have been a moderate fan of the TV series, but went with superfans. I loved it, but the two ladies were ecstatic with the movie.

Even if you have never seen an episode, it is easy to pick up and the quality of the production is so impressive I don't think you will be disappointed.

As such, I think I need to post a blend of ratings for this one. 10/10 for Downton fans and 8/10 for everyone else.

(For the full graphical review, please check out One Mann's Movies on Facebook or the web. Thanks!).

If you liked the TV series, you will love this. If you didn't, you probably won't go near it, in which case you'll miss one of the year's biggest treats for non-teenage audiences.

As on TV, the movie teeters between soap opera and sitcom, here and there coming close to a parody of itself. Geraldine James has been invited to play a somewhat Queen Mumsical Queen Mary, not the Teutonic battleaxe she's usually sold as. Violet, the dowager countess (Maggie Smith), and Isabel, Lady Mary's mother-in-law (Penelope Wilton), are very much a comedy duo, exchanging barbed remarks. Dame Maggie steals every scene she's in; she's built a career on this, Lord love her!

OK, it's just a soap about posh folk and their servants, but it's the Pink Camay of soaps. Julian Fellowes has provided a witty and whimsical screenplay, the production values (and the frocks!) are off the scale, and Hampshire's Highclere Castle once more does glorious duty as the Grantham estate. The cast are all on top form and clearly enjoyed every minute of it.

As did I. Let's hope they give us another instalment in a couple of years.

I admire Julian Fellows and his writing style. How he is able to have a parade of characters varying in depth and degree while making them all interesting to watch is an achievement few can have. The. We have the cast who bring the words to life and breath nuance into them and they all perform tremendously in their return to these well eastablished characters. My only issue are small story elements that feel a bit shoehorned to provide a little action. But other than that, I love this historically fictional world we have been graced with and can't wait to see if they will decide to continue ur this story and if not then a humble ending to a beautiful story.

Flim is wonderfully satisfying the plot has enough twists to be entertaining. Characters are true to who they were in the series. Flim hit all in the audience.

When I first heard Downton Abbey was coming back as a film I was quite fearful that it would be written wrong or feel forced. But I was so wrong. Everyone is back to where they belong with the same drama and wit that we all loved about the series. I honestly can say I didn't want it to end. I hope one day they will bring back the series but for now I'm more than content with this film bringing it all to an end

Last year I was lucky enough to work on Downton Abbey! This was such an amazing and exciting opportunity, an experience that I will never forget. At the weekend I was able to attend the cast and crew screening of the film in London! Which was so so so exciting and I even got to sit right next to the director - how cool is that?! I'm incredibly happy to be able to share this review with you all and I would love to know what you all think so make sure you leave a comment and I will get back to you. A little bit of Downton Abbey history, Downton Abbey originally aired on British TV in 2010, the show lasted for six series and ended in December 2015. The show follows the House Downton Abbey and it occupants the Crawley family and their staff. I loved this show so much, I used to watch it in my PJ's with hot chocolate and marshmallows every Sunday night. So, I was thrilled when a movie was announced, and then I got a job on the crew and I got to read the script and see what happened behind the scenes and it was like a dream come true. So, I guess the real question is: does the movie live up to the TV show? Read on to find out -

The movie has all the elements of a wonderful production: ___location, filming, directing, great acting, style. A fresh and quirky storyline. Very enjoyable.

I was very happy when I heard that a movie would follow the "Downton Abbey" TV series. The great cast and script, historical accuracy, costumes, sets and landscape scenery made watching Downton a real treat. I was not disappointed for a moment and was happy to see the story continue to unfold as the characters grow and age. I could feel a great desire for a long-lasting family saga that may or may not happen. I can only wish. The visit of the King and Queen in 1927 made for a high point in the Downton story that played out in an unexpected way to the delight of the audience. King George and Queen Mary had by that point reached a point in their reign where they had forged a special bond with the British public-a conscious effort to ensure the continuity of the monarchy in an age when royalty was stumbling and falling across much of Europe. Both Geraldine James as the Queen and Simon Jones as a very regal George V are outstanding in their brief appearances. The difference between this show and the TV show was its large dose of humour and the absence of tragedy. In the long running TV show, we could see the family come back from a series of hear-breaking events and twists of fate that could only take place in a long running show. However, that does not detract from the show's enjoyment. The movie's producers have used the opportunity to allow the characters we love to shine and make us laugh as if we are in the company of dear friend. For Downton fans, not to be missed.

An excellent follow-on to the TV series,hopeful of more to follow.

The King and Queen visit the Crawleys in their titular palatial estate (a second-rater according to the snooty King's Page of the Backstairs), causing much fuss and bother and opportunities to change clothes. The movie is simply an extended episode of the popular series and contains all of the elements that made the show a success. I am hoping for a 'next generation' film, perhaps set during England's "Finest Hour" with hordes of ragamuffins moving in with the Earl and Countess of Grantham to avoid the Blitz.

I've enjoyed this episode of Downton Abbey and hope there will be more to come...

They satisfied missing the show with all of the flair, characters, witty remarks, shock, etc. Great story, amazing cinematography.

I started the TV show two months ago and immediately got addicted. Now of course I was extremely curious about the movie version of it and I must say I was not disappointed at all... yes it appears like a "longer" version of an episode or TV Special however it is even better crafted than many episodes and makes you hungry for much more. I really hope this was not the end yet. The acting was as in the show: The star of the film was without any doubt Maggie Smith. Just as tremendous and scene stealing as she was in the show she also was here with a fantastic final scene that in the least should bring her an Oscar nomination. Another great performance and personal favorite was by Jim Carter who is just perfect as Butler Carson and even was able to add new facettes to that amazing character. Hugh Bonneville was fine but a bit wasted here. Michelle Dockery was better in the TV show if you ask me. Therefor Laura Carmichael was better than in most episodes. Elizabeth McGovern served her role very well. I preferred Robert James Collier and Sophie McShera in the series but Lesley Nichol was just as perfect as always and so was Joanne Froggatt and Allen Leech. Too bad Brendan Coyle was very wasted. Great new addition by Imelda Staunton. The look and feel was just as great as in the show, the score amazing (to hear it with the cinematic sound sent many shivers over my spin). It was really a beautiful film with many nice moments and surprises and quite decent character development. I really hope this wasnt the last time we saw the Crawleys and their servers, the heart and soul of Downton Abbey.

While the main plot is driven by the announcement that the king and queen are coming to Downton, it is in all the subplots that the characters are developed. Hence, while it helps to have seen the series when it was on TV, it's not essential to being able to enjoy the movie. Ultimately, the people, the place, and music all combine to make "Downton Abbey" a "jolly good show!"

I watched all of the series because the wife watched it. I found the series interesting and got to know the characters and their quirks. When the movie was announced, I thought it would just be another money grab. Usually the story is poor and the acting is phoned in. Quite the opposite was true. The story was decent and the actors did a great job. They maintained the personalities of the series. If you did not watch the series you would probably find the movie less enjoyable, but that is true for any sequel. As was mentioned by others, the gay segment was unnecessary and totally out of context in the movie. It did not spoil the movie, but it certainly added nothing and it never occurred in the series. The rest of the characters stayed true to the series.

Downton Abbey might need a new roof, but the owners of Highclere Castle, with the financial receipts from Julian Fellowes's creation, will never have to worry about scraping the money together for such a tricky problem. Michael Engler directs the film starring the cast of regulars, plus some new Royals. For Downton Abbey is expecting a visit from only the King of England.

George V and Queen Mary on their tour of Yorkshire are stopping off at Downton on their way to Harewood House. Another gorgeous country house in Yorkshire. How lovely for the Crawley family. A chance to wear their finery and Lady Edith, Laura Carmichael's new Marchioness of Hexham, has just had a new gown made and she can wear that. Her days are full of charity and chat, her days of being an independent working woman are long gone. And Maggie Smith is on cracking form with her pithy one-liners and withering looks as Violet Crawley, the Dowager Duchess.

And Allen Leech's Tom Branson, the Irish chauffeur not so long ago, but married into the family now, might have his own opinions about the Royal visit, but in 1927 Ireland has Independence, and we are now the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. But not all of Ireland is free as the UK retains Northern Ireland. There is bound to be someone watching his every move. But whose watching them?

Barrow, the villain in the past at Downton Abbey, and now the new Butler, played by Robert James-Collier, may not be up to such a grand event at Downton thinks Michelle Dockery's Lady Mary, so takes it upon herself to ask Carson the retired Butler to come back for the visit. This gives Barrow some R&R time in York that is actually really special for him. A nice touch by Julian Fellowes. And gets all of the Downton staff back under the roof, while also giving Jim Carter's Carson a career highlight to end his 'Butlering' days.

Problem for the staff though is the Royals bring their own Royal staff for continuity, and they have a habit of just taking over. Now many a staff member would like to take a break, and read a book suggests David Haig's Mr Wilson, the Page of the Back Stairs or some other historic Royal title for a Butler. But our Downton Abbey staff aren't going to lie down and allow others to just take over the running of their house on this special occasion. Even deciding the food that will be served. Mrs Patmore the cook and Daisy the under cook, Lesley Nicol and Sophie McShera, visit their grocer played by Mark Addy and he is so excited about the (secret!) news, and that he will be supplying the Royal Household, and has even gone to the trouble of adding extra items to the regular Downton Abbey grocery list. The Beamish Museum provided an amazing ready made set with its railway, trams and Edwardian style shops and street. The museum should become part of the Downton Abbey film trail with Harewood House. Tickets available for the tour at the end of the review!

Meanwhile Daisy however is not overawed by the Royal visit like Mrs Patmore and the rest of the staff, and she cannot bear for Mrs Patmore to tell Mr Bakewell that Downton will not be doing the Royal catering. So she adds more to the order and off they go. That extra food may come in handy. Or they can just eat it gradually!

With a huge cast both Upstairs and Downstairs everyone gets at least a few lines and chance to shine.

But there's intrigue upstairs with the Dowager Duchess determined to ensure her son the Earl becomes heir to her cousin's Estate. While Imelda Staunton's Maud is Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen, and she won't be pushed around by Violet. If she wants to leave her Estate to her maid then she jolly well will. Tuppence Middleton, with a name made for Downton Abbey, is the lucky recipient of such an act of folly, as Violet would say. But you could also say that Hugh Bonneville's Earl of Grantham has enough with Downton Abbey anyway. Mary will inherit it, and Lady Edith has Hexham so they're sorted. Although Tom as Lady Sybil's widow won't inherit anything for his daughter, so maybe there might be an Estate for him somewhere? In Downton Abbey 2? Violet seems determined anyway.

But below stairs they aren't worried about who inherits what, because the honour of Downton is at stake, and our plucky house staff are determined that they will have their mutinous day. Joanne Froggatt's Anna is the link between Upstairs and Downstairs and will see that all dresses fit for the great ball. And honourable mention to Kevin Doyle's Mr Moseley, who perhaps needs to perfect his curtsy just a bit, but was a jabbering hit.

With sumptuous costumes by Anna Robbins, borrowing Queen Elizabeth's tiara designs and designing a stunning gown for Lady Mary in a Fortuny pleated style. And with stunning production design by Donal Woods, Downton Abbey is gorgeous. An Agatha Christie without a murder!, and made for a Christmas Day evening with a tin of Quality Street. If it at times over egged the nog it was playing to the audience tastes and good fun. And everyone found a love or the possibility of there being love in the Happy Ending. No car crashes the Christmas!

Downton Abbey full cast.

This was just what it should be... and that is refreshing. The first half was a little ordinary, like watching one of the TV episodes on the big screen, but the second half really took it up a notch and was quite moving in some scenes, mainly because of the relationships we already have with these characters. Is that cheating? Who cares, it works. It's also visually the eye candy we hoped for.