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lwhitworth67
Reviews
Patricia Heaton Parties (2015)
Having Fun with Cooking
I don't usually get excited about cooking shows. But with Patricia Heaton's Parties, this is worth writing about. She keeps it real. It's not some gourmet show using foods we've never heard of. She doesn't flaunt her celebrity. She comes off as real life mom and wife. She shares stories about her life and her work. She even encourages you to enjoy time home by yourself. Have a drink, eat some yummy food and relax! Her recipes are easy and oh so yummy! She always comes up with ideas for a cocktails to go with her dishes, something you don't always see.
I can't really find any drawbacks to this show other than the fact that it moves kind of quickly. But with DVR and online episodes, you can do the show at your own pace. Overall, this show gives you great ideas when you want simple entertaining without the fuss.
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Mystery with a Twist
I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie. I was looking for a movie to pass the time. The description looked good and the trailer kind of got my interest. Unfortunately, I do have to add a spoiler for this to make any sense.
It starts out like any other thriller. Girl on the road at night, gets in accident and is rescued by some weirdo. The usual plot twist. John Goodman plays a survivalist who rescues our unwitting victim, Michelle, (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). He is indeed creepy. He is the typical paranoid, doomsday prepper. Then we add to the creepy guy factor with the introduction of Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.) as another resident in this crazy house.
The movie drags on a bit until the action kicks in. But it's enough to keep your interest and give you some insight into Howard (John Goodman) which will make more sense towards the end of the movie. Up until the end this is your classic thriller/horror movie. The ending is not something you would expect. It was certainly something I did not anticipate.
I'm giving this movie a 5, only because of the way the movie drags on some. But overall, it is an edge of your seat thriller that will help you pass the time without being bored.
The Book Thief (2013)
Unexpected Jewel
This movie definitely was not what I expected. It was better. I had seen the previews a while back and knew this was one I had to see.
The story takes place in Germany at the threshold of World War II. It is narrated by Death, whose commentary on events gives one a new perspective. And, unlike other movies set during WWII, this gives a more one-sided view. It shows the impact on one young girl as she goes from a timid child being sent to live with foster parents to enduring the worst part of the war. And yet, through it all, she maintains an innocence despite the things she lives through. She gives feeling to the events as they unfold, which helps the viewer to better understand what it is that she is going through.
The story also is a wonderful illustration of the love of family and friends, how those relationships sustain people in the worst of times. It gives you an understanding of what it was like to be a child in Germany growing up amidst the chaos and poverty of Nazi rule. These people have next to nothing, yet they seem to have all they need in each other.
This is truly a moving story. It will make you laugh and it will make you cry AND it will make you think. I hope you will experience the same range of emotions that I did as I watched this amazing movie! As you get to the end of the movie you will be left with new thoughts and insights, as well as a sense of a sadness for what these families went through.