Before removing the films watched list from the sidebar I thought you might like to know a bit more about my choices and ratings.
**/*
Well, half marks kinda tells the story, does it not? In fact, was probably just feeling festively generous on the "I'll be next door this Christmas" one...
***
Perfectly watchable, well-told tales, if a little corny at times... the only reason The Holiday and Love Actually scored this from me is simply that I have seen them far too many times and this year I realised I could live without them.
****
Okay, the NCIS was technically not a film, but it was a fun and appropriate episode... and I have been enjoying it more again without "Dinozo the bozo". Am even quite liking it without Abby. The other four-star winners had good solid story-telling and worthwhile acting.
*****
The five-star winners had both the story and the acting, the production and the originality to capture my rapture. The first of these is the 1940s classic, Connecticut Christmas; if you have never seen it, look it up! Crazy Rich Asians is not specifically a Christmas film but it was full of joy and mayhem and a good story and an actual 'ooohhhhhaaaawwww' moment in the end. Rarely am I caught sighing out loud!
A Dog Named Christmas is a Hallmark movie which I own on DVD. Yes, it is that good. Two words. Bruce Greenwood.
I stated why I liked the Christmas Carol of Simon Callow right there in the sidebar. He is such a consummate actor and can people the whole screen. The Christmas Chronicles is a recent production starring Kurt Russell and whilst it is yet again a Santa and his sleigh story, it is done in the most updated and original way - added to by current production standards. It totally brought out my inner child and had me gasping in places.
The Jungle Book and Mowgli, one after the other? Yes, because of the difference in the story-telling. The look was similar but the feel was quite different.
To finish, though, let me draw your attention to Dumplin'. I gave it the five stars based on the 'sappy' label. Yet the term sappy is a little unkind, really. It was straightforward teenage angst and rebellion and with Jennifer Aniston as the 'stage mom', it worked really well. Probably in overall viewing terms, it might be marked more of a three and a half to four, but for the seasonal viewing, it hit the mark.
The list will stay up till this weekend in case you want to go look at some yourself!
**/*
Well, half marks kinda tells the story, does it not? In fact, was probably just feeling festively generous on the "I'll be next door this Christmas" one...
***
Perfectly watchable, well-told tales, if a little corny at times... the only reason The Holiday and Love Actually scored this from me is simply that I have seen them far too many times and this year I realised I could live without them.
****
Okay, the NCIS was technically not a film, but it was a fun and appropriate episode... and I have been enjoying it more again without "Dinozo the bozo". Am even quite liking it without Abby. The other four-star winners had good solid story-telling and worthwhile acting.
*****
The five-star winners had both the story and the acting, the production and the originality to capture my rapture. The first of these is the 1940s classic, Connecticut Christmas; if you have never seen it, look it up! Crazy Rich Asians is not specifically a Christmas film but it was full of joy and mayhem and a good story and an actual 'ooohhhhhaaaawwww' moment in the end. Rarely am I caught sighing out loud!A Dog Named Christmas is a Hallmark movie which I own on DVD. Yes, it is that good. Two words. Bruce Greenwood.
I stated why I liked the Christmas Carol of Simon Callow right there in the sidebar. He is such a consummate actor and can people the whole screen. The Christmas Chronicles is a recent production starring Kurt Russell and whilst it is yet again a Santa and his sleigh story, it is done in the most updated and original way - added to by current production standards. It totally brought out my inner child and had me gasping in places.
The Jungle Book and Mowgli, one after the other? Yes, because of the difference in the story-telling. The look was similar but the feel was quite different.
To finish, though, let me draw your attention to Dumplin'. I gave it the five stars based on the 'sappy' label. Yet the term sappy is a little unkind, really. It was straightforward teenage angst and rebellion and with Jennifer Aniston as the 'stage mom', it worked really well. Probably in overall viewing terms, it might be marked more of a three and a half to four, but for the seasonal viewing, it hit the mark.
The list will stay up till this weekend in case you want to go look at some yourself!
I have been putting off watching Mowgli in fear it would be "just another Jungle Book"...but you have peaked my interest and I've put it on the list :-)
ReplyDelete'Crazy Rich Asians' made the long flight home from Mexico City bearable (at least for 2 of the 11 hours..) It was recommended to me in November by my Indian/Pakistani colleague Ishfaq (i.e. he's from an Indian Moslem family who were displaced Pakistan post-partition). He said that although set in Singapore, the film contained many elements he recognised from his own culture too. As well as being hilarious of course.
ReplyDeleteThe Holiday with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winsett is one of my very favorite. This is the first Christmas in many years it has not bee no tv. Very disappointing to me. I'm a Bruce Greenwood fan too! I like the new Abby a lot!!
ReplyDeletehugs HiC
Over here it's tennis and cricket that is on most of the time they are good to nap to but not much else.
ReplyDeleteMerle..........
My momma gave hers Crazy Rich Asians for Christmas - dey all loved it!
ReplyDeleteWe have seen A Dog Named Christmas and it's a wonderful movie!
ReplyDeleteI loved A dog named Christmas and Love Actually. this year I found it difficult to watch the Hallmark Christmas movies, same story, different actors and everything so perfect with smiling faces. I told hubby I felt like they were science fiction as in not real....
ReplyDeleteHari OM
DeleteI tend to agree - I would never actively seek out a Hallmark movie as 'schmaltz' is their theme and definitely not mine! ADNC came to me as a gift and not because it was a Hallmark, but because it was a worthy dog tale. I inadvertently stumbled upon some of the aforementioned schmaltz - and they are the two and a half star ones on my list!!! Yxx
I agree that NCIS is doing well without "Dinozo the bozo" (had never seen that reference before but it perfectly describes his character).
ReplyDeleteThe most recent Christmas films are much better. People of colour, gender inclusive, etc.
ReplyDeleteI've seen 46!
We just watched Crazy rich asians and really enjoyed it. We tried watching Mowgli as the Junglebook is one of my favourite tales (if angel Bagheera didn't indicate this) but some dogs were too upset by the animals on the screen.
ReplyDeleteStill watching NCIS every chance I get. I do not think I watched a single one of the movies you listed. Hope your wrist is doing better each day. namaste, janice xx
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post ~ always looking for some good movies/tv series to watch ~ A Dog Named Christmas sounds delightful ~
ReplyDeleteMy 5 star and fun the TV series Grace and Frankie ~ it is a hoot and fun to watch a bit absurd at times but overall it is fun!
Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)