Movie #2025 ........................."The Black Book" (Dvd)

 Movie #2025 "The Black Book" (DVD) was recommended to me because I like WW2 stories, and although I liked the twists and turns in this one, I thought it was way too violent for me to watch.  And I have seen better Holocaust films on the same subject --- and actually read a few for more books on female spies in the same time period (like "Alice's Network" and "the Huntress"), so I just found this okay.  One major reason I find Holocaust films inspiring, is the ingenuity or creativity and stamina that is shown though all the ordeals, and usually there is some succeeding, even if not physically, there is the mentally.  In all but maybe one situation in this film, there's failure --- one after another after another.  So for those reasons, I would not recommend this one --- I'd give it a 3 out of 5.  It was passable.

BLACK BOOK     2006      Rated R         2 hours and 25  mins

In the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during World War II, a Jewish singer infiltrates the regional Gestapo headquarters for the Dutch resistance.

Director:

 Paul Verhoeven

Writers:

 Gerard Soeteman, Paul Verhoeven

Stars:

 Carice van Houten, Sebastian Koch, Thom Hoffman 

Movie #2024 ........................."Hollie & Ivy" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2024 "Hollie & Ivy " (Hallmark)     A Nice ,different (I seek those out) story concerning a woman who is sick and worried about who will take care of her children if something happens to her (think "Stepmom"?)  Girl who is her new neighbor she has come to know grew up in a foster home and offers to take the kids so they aren't raised like she was.  Meanwhile this winsome neighbor girl has to get her house up to code and falls in love with the carpenter.   (carpenter, any  religious symbolism there?)   She learns a good lesson in  accepting other people's help!   One biggie here is that they handle the sad times well, and they balanced it with fun like  sledding, etc;.  Another boost to this film was that it was supposed to take place in Chipewa Falls, Wisc --- made the  town look pretty friendly.  Obviously, not 2020.  I'd give it 4 out of 5.

"HOLLIE & IVY"    1 hour , 25  minutes   2020

A contractor helps a woman renovate a house so she can adopt a sick neighbor's two children.

Director:

 Erica Dunton

Writer:

 Jamie Pachino

Stars:

 Janel Parrish, Jeremy Jordan, Marisol Nichols

Movie #2023 ........................."Christmas Visitor" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2023 "Christmas Visitor" (Hallmark)   This got a tear from me at the end.  I usually don't watch films that have a bit of fantasy in them because I like believability, but angels don't count. Forgive me, I'm Catholic.  It's hard to unlearn.  I AM a big sucker  for people coming from the dead dispensing advice to the living (like in "Into the Woods"and several other plays/stories/books)  All that and more are herewith a nice cast, to boot.  The dialogue is stilted at times, esp. at the beginning, but once you are in the swing of things, and buy that having a visitor at xmas isn't strange, you will like the ending. ("Field of  Dreams" came to mind)  I'd give this 4.5 out of 5.  It is an oldie but a goodie.

"CHRISTMAS VISITOR"    2002    Hallmark    1  hour  and 40 minutes      4.5 out of 5 stars

A father struggles with the past. A daughter fights for the future. A mother searches for answers. The Boyajians have not celebrated Christmas in 11 years. They lost their faith when they lost their son to the Persian Gulf War. Now a stranger has joined them - around the same age the boy would have been. Is he a con artist? Or is this young man the miracle their family has been waiting for. William Devane, Reagan Pasternak and Dean McDermott star in a remarkable story of loss and renewal. This Christmas, a stranger will change them forever.Director:

 Director :    Christopher Leitch

Writers:

 George Samerjan, David Saperstein

Stars:

 William Devane, Meredith Baxter, Dean McDermott 

Movie #2022 ........................."Cranberry Christmas" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2022 "Cranberry Christmas" (Hallmark) Good theme in this one:  "No such thing as a perfect marriage.  Just two imperfect people who never want to give up on each other."  This one is different because the "Pursuit of Love" is in the past and what they are looking for is something a little further along....they are an  estranged marriage couple that seem to have different priorities now and neither one wants to hurt the other's feelings ----  There was a good lesson about an Oprah like woman who is quite a success in the business, but to the detriment of putting her private life on hold.  But  I was a little disappointed that the couple didn't learn that they both probably can't have their original dream, because that's the way life is, but no, they figured it out by the end and everything fell into place --- we aren't round to  see if that ending really solves their woes ---- that's another movie.  They were likable, the film took a few chances being different from the mold, and there were some good observations on married life and being success in the business world.   I'd give it a 4 out of 5.  

"CRANBERRY CHRISTMAS"  (Hallmark)   2020   4 out of 5 stars

A separated couple feign marital bliss on national television to help their town's Christmas festival and their business. But what will the future hold for them when rekindled love is complicated by new opportunities.

Director:

 Linda-Lisa Hayter

Writer:

 Joie Botkin

Stars:

 Nikki Deloach, Benjamin Ayres, Marci T. House

Movie #2020 ........................."Delivery at Christmas" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2020 "Delivery at Christmas" (Hallmark)  I liked this somewhat complex story --- and the idea that he likes this woman he has seen around town and he also likes another woman's voice he talks to about baking, etc.  and they happen to be the same person.  I know, crazy, huh?  What a coincidence!  Wow!  Anyway,  the quiet guy lead and girl (neither one is trashy, how about that?)  are very believable and kind and have winning personalities.  Sold me!  I'd give it 4.5 out of 5.  PS.  If you didn't like "Sleepless in Seattle" for its ending, you won't like this one.  I embraced it and the ending sets this one apart from the other Hallmark films.  

"DELIVERY AT CHRISTMAS"    2020      4.5 out of 5

Molly meets Josh, a widower who recently moved to town with his young son. At the same time she is charmed by a mysterious client of her bakery whom she's never met in person, and doesn't realize that they're one and the same.

Director:

 Terry Ingram

Writers:

 Jill Bartlett (story by), Mike Mariano

Stars:

 Eion Bailey, Alvina August, Jim Thorburn

Movie #2021 ........................."Christmas Tree Lane"(Hallmark)

 Movie #2021 "Christmas Tree Lane" (Hallmark) I like this one --- besides having two of my favorite leads in these Hallmark xmas movies, the lead guy/girl  never lie or cover up anything in this story line --- that's a bonus because it breaks the formula.  They share an interest in music, in the town, in architecture that preserves the integrity of the original time period, and these things draw them together. It's a slow build in the relationship which is also what I like because it is more believable to me.  (but the flirting did go on for a while, but I like the two leads and they kept it real, in my opinion --- they are interesting enough to watch).   But at the end of this one, we knew that AliciaWitt was authentically singing and playing the piano, which differs from other Hallmark movies.  I'd give this 4.5 out of 5 

"CHRISTMAS TREE LANE"      2020      4.5 out of 5

Meg wants to save her neighborhood from getting demolished. She then discovers that Nate has other plans. Can she turn Nate's heart toward Christmas?

Director:

 Steven R. Monroe

Writer:

 Michael J. Murray (teleplay) 

Stars:

 Alicia Witt, Andrew W. Walker, Briana Price

Movie #2019 ........................."Chateau Christmas"(Hallmark)

 Movie #2019 "Chateau Christmas" (hallmark) Well, this one was kind of a dumb one with not much going on except rehearsing for some big concert.  The female lead, a concert pianist, has been accused by one critic to have lost  her passion in playing, and she tends to agree.  So she tries to get away and go home, but of course as these films usually go, she is asked by her old boyfriend to play in their big function.  She supposedly rehearses &  practices all week to play a completely new number at the end of the concert! ?  hmmm?.  And the resolution doesn't really resolve because years ago  the leads broke up because they were  going in different directions, and  now by the end of this they decide to get back together, still going  in different direction ,  each following separate dreams.  I didn't get it.  what I did like is that for this big concert, they had to get back together a quartet who had not seen or talked to each other since they broke up (much like the leads) and in fact, the lead guy and girl in the quartet loved each other at one time (I guess you can figure out where this is going).  So parallel love stories abound in this one.  I give it a 3 out of 5.  The Chateau is pretty.  I usually like the guy (MacFarlane) , which is why I watched the film, but this story gave him very little to do --- oh, he does fake play in the quartet due to a death of one of its original members.  but not enough.

"CHATEAU CHRISTMAS"           2020             3 out of 5

World famous pianist Margot returns to Chateau Neuhaus for Christmas. While there she reunites with her ex-boyfriend Jackson, who convinces her to headline their annual Christmas Concert.

Director:

 Michael Robison

Writer:

 Nicole Baxter

Stars: Luke MacFarlane 

 Jesse Hutch, Ben Afful, Julia Benson