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Reviews
Persuasion (2022)
Not bad, but not good
This story wasn't so attached or true to JA original work. So rather than compare it to the novel, my critique will be a standalone critique. The story was of a spineless girl who based on bad advice chose not to marry Wentworth. Anna was always being manipulated and gaslit into doing things and feeling bad for being herself. She pines for Wentworth but plays like she isn't interested in him. After going thru the motions and catching her "fiancé" with another woman and finding Wmetworth's note to her, she unenthusiastically ran after Wentworth o declare her love. Yawn!!!
A Christmas in Royal Fashion (2018)
Cindy Busby continues to kill.....everything she is in
Where do I begin? Weak story, formulaic and stale trope, horrible acting and/or Cindy Busby. I have been watching these movies for awhile and I can honestly say this "prince in hiding or prince attending a Xmas event in America" is tiresome and played out.
You read the synopsis to this movie and there isn't anything original or refreshing. But the one thing that keeps coming up is the unrealistic ending involving forgiveness. Busby's character lied and continued doing so. Understanding the importance of situation, she lies to her boss as well. What freaking employee would do this in their right mind? She deservingly and rightfully gets fired by her boss and the client questions the boss's decision! Then Busby is allowed into the event and to give a speech with crocodile tears?!!! Then the company sponsoring the event wants to hire her and the boss who originally fired her wants to rehire her for a higher position that she obviously has no education, skills, or experience to fill?!! This is complete and utter BS!! This is why people rate the movies so low.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
It is a veritable mix of nostalgia and refreshing sequel take
I was really apprehensive about this movie. I mean how do you too what was an entertaining movie back in '86? The story was straightforward and honest about what it was.
After watching this movie, the first thing I liked about was pacing. The movie was very careful linking the first movie and the references contained therein. The second thing are storylines were intertwined very well without becoming convoluted and just ridiculous. I thought the cinematography was very good and allowing the audience feel like they were in the cockpit with Tom and the view was outstanding. Another thing I especially enjoyed was the main plot of the movie. You could consider the movie formulaic but it worked here. The esthetics of the movie were spot on and easy on the eyes
Now the content of the movie was a tearjerker and pulled at my heart strings. The movie was a continuation of the first one but was darker on a lot of levels. First Mitchell was an old man. He obviously still maintained his rebellious streak that cost him his job at Top Gun thus directly affected his relationship with Charlie from the first movie. He knew he was coming to end of the road and faced the realization time catches everyone including Capt Pete Mitchell. The movie was deliberate in providing clues of Mitchell's old age. The calendar with his appointment in telemetry a day before flying his experimental plane.
Another good thing was Mitchell's conflict with getting away with stuff because Iceman had his back. Iceman was promoted and looked after Mitchell like an older brother who understood him and his need for speed. Another point to add another layer of depth to Mitchell's character was the realization that he was no teacher. He decided at one point in the movie to give a graduate level training and those "top of their classes" weren't as good.
I looked at the movie as though it was me. Not because of the stunts Pete has pulled at work but I, just as Maverick did, know things are changing and they will pass us by. The thing we can do is to pass on what we know and guide those younger than us. I really loved the movie but on another level it was a reminder that our movie "heroes" get old and we get old. It forces us to realize our own morality.
The Christmas Yule Blog (2020)
A horrendous Xmas movie with obvious stereotypes
Where to begin...Lifetime definitely went all out to create a movie with Hispanic stereotypes right down to using the "white woman on a trip to find herself because her boss felt like she needed to" trope. The acting was one-dimensional, the dialogue was shallow and emotionless. The story never really took off at least to remind you as to why she went on the trip. I can get more of a story with a trip to Walmart and stick to the plot. The "Hispanic" characters from the main character's parents to the younger brother was laughable at best. Their vocal diction with an alleged accent was forced and hilarious. I could go on but I will mercifully end my review. I don't see how this movie's rating was sitting at 5.5. Avoid at all costs.
The Kissing Booth 3 (2021)
If there was only a rating for ZERO....
This movie was so wrong on so many contrived levels. This movie didn't have an original bone in its body other than these characters were slightly older. This movie had only one thing to do....end all conflict and make sure Elle and Noah and Lee and his girlfriend all rode off into the sunset. But HELL NO! They threw into ideas but had no storyline to this movie.
They rehashed earlier conflicts such as the one with Marco and tried it when Noah's female friend was offered a bed at their beach house. Writers definitely made Elle to be more a b*tch by lashing out her mom's old friend who she felt was trying to replace her mother. There were other issues such as pacing, continuity, and why were some characters even in the movie contributing nothing except convert O2 to CO2.
It was a bad movie and I don't recommend. Avoid at all costs.
Crashing Through the Snow (2021)
A good, quality Hallmark movie
Prior to being televised and watching the commercials/promos, I wasn't optimistic about this movie. Amy Akers, Brooke Nevins, and Warren Christie are remarkable actors that have a proven track record for good hallmark movies. So when multiple actors are in the same movie, combination works well or it is a disaster.
But fortunately they worked well together with the right emphasis on each storyline. Premise of the movie is ex-wife is invited on a Xmas trip with ex-husband and his soon to be announced fiancé and her family. The main storyline is Amy's character adjusting with the family addition, Brooke's character trying to fit into, and Warren's character dealing with his issues.
Amy aptly demonstrates the angst and frustration of "losing" her daughters to their soon to be mother and them getting older. Brooke's imagined competition with Amy and trying to be the daughter's new mother. Warren is the successful but wayward son-chef and dealing with his feelings for Amy.
The movie intertwines the 3 storylines very well and reaches an adequate conclusion. Overall the movie moved at a good pace and was well-balanced in its content and attention to each storyline. The acting was believable and executed well.
Now for the negatives about the movie. First I had an issue with the ex-husband and his gaslighting of Amy's character. His insistence of "dragging her along" argument when really it was Brooke's begging Amy to go with them. This really highlighted the fact Brooke's character wanted to usurp Amy's character as the girls' stepmother. She really overstepped with the holiday reading and earring moment. The husband made some serious erroneous assumptions about how his ex-wife and oldest daughter took the engagement news. He never apologized for being rude and disrespectful.
Warren's character had to deal with personal issues of being there for someone. He takes a liking for Amy and eggs her on to compete with his sister. It really go weird knowing his sister was getting married to his love interest's ex-husband and he was getting into a relationship with Amy. He would become an uncle-daddy to her daughters if they were to marry.
It was a better than average Hallmark movie.
Trench 11 (2017)
Definitely a better movie than expected
There is a rash of movies on different movie streaming service involving American/European spec ops team and nazi secret bases and some aren't that good.
What sets this movie apart is the pacing and mood. It doesn't dwell too much on character development so they tend to one-dimensional except for the Tunneler and the German soldier who didn't give a caricature performance of a nazi stereotype. Clues and plot pieces are dropped at the right times to make up for a lack of action. For example the insertion team discovered the medical ward where the patients were cared.
Pros - Storytelling, acting, pace, settings, mood
Cons - Nazi stereotypes, character development, movie ending
Christmas in Vienna (2020)
Once again Hallmark ruins another potentially good movie
Hallmark Xmas movies like their non-holiday counterparts has enough content for a decent movie. If you include good actors such as Draw and Penny in the leads you have a good recipe for an excellent movie.
But what hallmark consistently does especially to build up the Xmas spirit and message in the movie is having too much going on and trying to include too much in the movie. If the movie was a dish, they over spice and add too many things that kills it. Draw's character is visiting a college friend, auditioning for a local musical philharmonic, acting nanny, falling in love, making cookies, etc What was the main conflict and the substance behind it? Penny's and Draw's woes was stretched out between everything else Draw's character was doing. It limited Penny's characters development to a simple "Should I stay or should I go?"
It was very disappointing.
A Royal Christmas Ball (2017)
Not even good enuff to be a Hallmark Movie.
Tara Reid, horrible plot, subpar performances, and a weak script doomed this Hallmark movie reject. The plots are recycled and the other actors phoned in their performances. Avoid at all costs.
The Secret: Dare to Dream (2020)
A surprisingly good with Katie and Josh
First and foremost, I would like to applaud this well done and well executed movie. Katie who typically underwhelms with most her movies actually turns in a good performance as the widow in financial trouble. Josh with that signature smile and blue eyes turns in an excellent performance as the secret angel.
The movie's premise after some quick reveals is Josh is delivering very good news to Katie and family. The movie moves a good pace and doesn't get stuck. The quick reveals gives the real reason for Josh's visits and sets up the conflict of the movie when Katie's character confronts him. Of course everything resolves itself, Katie breaking up with a fiancée and deciding to live her life. It gets wrapped up at the end aka Hollywood style.
It was a very good movie and the performances were good. Hallmark should take note on how to not make disgustingly sweet and over produced movies.
Country at Heart (2020)
Probably 2nd best HLMK movie .....still way behind A Country Wedding
Overall this was a good movie. The movie had a story and plot while the actors portrayed their characters honestly.
The surprise of the movie was the singing. Jessie proved she can aptly carry a tune from start to finish. Lucas and Niall ably carried their musical performances.
Now for the weaknesses of the movie. 1. Was a romance a consideration for the movie between Grady and Shayna? At times Grady looked confused, do I like her or mentor her? Grady's expressions were at best like a dog comically turning its head from side to side figuring something out. 2. Did Grady have to reveal to Shayna about the stolen songwriting credit? She wasn't helping out for credit since the record label required Grady to crank one out for Duke. 3. Who was Duke Sterling? Was he a big music star who was shallow or a humble music star? He straddled between the following: 1. Hurt by Grady 2. Upset at Grady 3. Does he want to help Shayna etc etc. The only time Duke was authentic and not confusing was singing.
Like I said, it was a good movie in spite of some movie flaws.
The Last Cowboy (2003)
Hallmark's classic Quality Movie
An early diamond in the rough Hallmark movie that outclasses what they do today. I look at Hallmark movies for 3 things: premise, character development, and execution. I cannot speak for the technical aspects of the movie that may be in other reviews.
The premise is straightforward: daughter hasn't been home in a long time returns when her grandfather died. She learns the ranch is in dire financial straits and will be repossessed by the banks.
Garth plays the estranged daughter with a child and Hendrickson plays the grumpy, stubborn father-ranch owner. You have Bradley Cooper in it but his contribution is obviously before his "love interest" roles. He is relegated to second string to play a somewhat contributing part when the ranch is saved at the end. Gainey plays the old, loyal, dependable ranch hand who is the mediator in the film seeking and understanding and balance between Garth and Hendrickson. The other parts are people being brought in to help the ranch or the banker for the repossession. Good character development that supports the premise and makes it a good film from an emotional standpoint.
The movie has a nice balance for tension and development. All the movie pieces i.e. scenes of bank meeting interruption, real estate agent introduction, barn fire, bank negotiations did not overshadow the movie by skimming over crucial details or bogging it down with the unnecessary emotional baggage.
The movie had some pretty cinematic sceneries of the mountings and ranch. But as mentioned in other reviews, it wasn't Texas, but it doesn't matter.
The movie's pacing was pretty good considering the themes here. The movie could have slowed down considerably if it was to become too introspective.
Lastly, the acting was good and even for everyone's part although some characters could have been stereotypical and one dimensional. Gainey I thought played his role the best with providing both dramatic and comedic moments. Overall, Hallmark lost its way by going away from this movie recipe that didn't involve romance or typical romcom hang ups.