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Reviews
A Timeless Christmas (2020)
One of the best this season
Although a simple storyline, that's been done before, we enjoyed the characters from beginning to end. Take a guy from the past and send him into the future makes for some good comical moments. "What are those things? You mean the cars?" No spoilers here but a pleasant two hours of TV. Yes, the storyline is a bit cheesy, but it is still entertaining. It's Hallmark, enjoy the season!
Christmas Bells Are Ringing (2018)
Good movie but very typical Hallmark plot.
I give this an eight out of ten for these reasons. Although not a single frame is filmed in Cape Cod there is an effort to mimic the town. The lighthouse is a nice touch but again not found in Massachusetts. The acting is a little better than usual and Emilie plays a convincing part but someone should have taught her how to handle the Cannon camera she uses in the movie. So to be fair, this is a Hallmark movie, put together in a few weeks and the production company has but one thing in mind... make a movie on a shoestring budget that will bring a bit of "holly jolly" to the viewer. Because it's a Hallmark movie it is exactly what I expected, a little romance, a little holiday spirit, with a lot of boy gets girl in the end!
Karen Kingsbury's Maggie's Christmas Miracle (2017)
The reality of a child questioning God and Christmas.
A seemingly odd Christmas movie in that there is not a lot of Hallmark's typical Christmas branding in this story. However, true to most Hallmark movies, the storyline becomes pretty predictable early in the movie. Some may object to the story including several mentions of "God" throughout the movie but I personally think it adds that bit of realism needed in this story. From the opening scenes to the closing scenes, you have to keep in mind that this a Christmas story that has a pleasant Hallmark ending!
A Nutcracker Christmas (2016)
Some what predictable but still entertaining.
A young ballet prodigy follows in the steps of her aunt who is helping to raise her after her mother dies. Young Sadie (Sophia Lucia) is becoming the ballet dancer that her aunt Lilly (Amy Ackler) had aspired to be, even making it to the New York Ballet production of The Nutcracker only to drop out when she learns of the death of her sister. After eight years of absence, Lilly finds herself accompanying Sadie to Philadelphia where Sadie is offered the lead in the local production of The Nutcracker. However, the director turns out to be Mark (Sascha Radetsky), Lilly's one time boyfriend in New York, whom have not seen one another in eight years. There breakup had not been a happy one therefore much tension is experienced during the first couple of weeks. In the meantime, hard feelings begin to melt away as the two previous lovers find a mutual interest in Sadie's training. Through several mishaps, the three of them end up with the leading roles in the production. Although at times the story is quiet predictable, the last twenty minutes of the movie brings the rest of the story to a grand ending as the dance company performs a great rendition of The Nutcracker. Throughout the movie there is a simple dialogue that blooms in the end!
The Water Diviner (2014)
Not quiet a 10 but Rassell Crowe makes a good effort here.
From the very moment I started watching this movie, I could see parts of Crowes former characters bleeding through his performance. A little bit gladiator (The Gladiator), a bit of the gun slinger (3:10 To Yuma), and even a bit of the wine maker (A Good Year). But by the end of the film you see him as the character he plays in this film. His portrayal of an Australian dad in search of his sons does come shining through by the end.
As the films director, Crowe shows the influences of Ridley Scott's mentoring. And that is a good thing because Russell has played the lead character in several of Scotts movies, and they were all good films. So, I would have to give Crowe a big thumbs up on his direction. I do get the feeling a lot of this movie wound up on the floor of the editing room.
As far as the story goes, it is well written but does get slow a few times and seems to wonder off track a few times. But this should not keep you from watching this film. The ending is a little twisty but the final payoff is worth the sluggish plot line.
Not a true war story, not a love story and not even an action movie but a little bit of all of these. Definitely worth a watch!