A Movie Blogger’s Ten “Hot Takes” on Television

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

I published a list article last December about my ten “hot takes” on film. That was the first time I had ever written a list exclusively about movie “hot takes”. Since publishing that article, it has been well received by 18 Cinema Lane’s readers, obtaining over one thousand views. This success inspired me to write another “hot takes” list. But this time, I’ll be discussing my ten “hot takes” on television, as I have talked about TV shows and television related topics from time to time on my blog. Like my movie “hot takes” list, all my TV “hot takes” have never been brought up on 18 Cinema Lane before, in order to keep the list interesting and fresh. Also, like my movie “hot takes” list, I organized each television “hot take” based on how “hot” each take could be perceived. Before I begin this list, I’d like to state how my list is not intended to be mean-spirited or negative. It’s just simply a way to express my opinion.

Campfire with marshmellows and shooting stars image created by macrovector at freepik.com.

10. Harris Trinsky Should Have Appeared in the Freaks and Geeks episode, ‘Chokin’ and Tokin’’

Last year, I published an editorial explaining the similarities between Harris Trinsky (from Freaks and Geeks) and Eddie Munson (from Stranger Things). One of my main talking points was how Harris (as well as Eddie) showed his leadership through putting others before himself, using the example of Harris’ attempts to protect the younger “geeks” (Bill, Sam, and Neil) from Alan (the “freshman tormentor”/bully of the “geeks”) in the Freaks and Geeks’ Halloween episode, “Tricks and Treats”. But another episode I think Harris should have appeared in is “Chokin’ and Tokin’”. In this episode, Alan believes Bill is lying about having a peanut allergy. To prove Bill is telling the truth, Alan contaminates Bill’s sandwich with peanuts, causing Bill to have a severe allergic reaction. Had Harris appeared in “Chokin’ and Tokin’”, the audience could have seen how Bill’s emergency affected him, especially since a) Harris knows what Alan is capable of when it comes to his bullying behavior, b) Harris was bullied when he was a freshman (to the point his tailbone became broken), and c) Harris knows about Bill’s peanut allergy (Bill admitted this while Harris and the “geeks” went trick-or-treating in the episode, “Tricks and Treats”). The dynamic of the friendship between Harris and the “geeks” not only could have been further explored, the audience also could have learned more about Harris, better understanding why he is an older brother figure to the “geeks”. I think this aspect of the story would have been more compelling than the redemption arc Freaks and Geeks’ creative team tried giving Alan in “Chokin’ and Tokin’”, which I, personally, don’t believe was affective. This “hot take” is placed at the bottom of my list due to Freaks and Geeks lasting only one season.

9. Moses Valentine, from Miss Scarlet, Should Have Received His Own Spin-off Show

While I have talked about Miss Scarlet before on my blog, I’ve never talked about my favorite character from the show, Moses Valentine. For three seasons, he possessed a captivatingly commanding presence, using his charm and street smarts to help Eliza Scarlet (the show’s titular character) solve mysteries. In the third episode of Miss Scarlet’s sixth season, ‘The Delivery’, the story primarily revolves around Moses as he searches for a missing diamond. Not only was this the best episode from the sixth season (in my opinion), it made me wish Moses had received his own spin-off show. From seasons four to six, Moses has been living in Paris. This backdrop could have given the spin-off show a colorful landscape and an eccentric group of characters, allowing the show to be distinct from Miss Scarlet’s London environment. It was revealed in ‘The Delivery’ and the fifth episode of Miss Scarlet’s sixth season, ‘The Night Shift’, that Moses is not only married, he also has a son. His family would have offered a unique dynamic from Miss Scarlet, as Eliza is not married and isn’t a mother. There could have even been a crossover episode between Moses’ spin-off show and Miss Scarlet, where Eliza visits Moses in Paris and helps him solve a mystery. But, sadly, a Moses centered spin-off show will likely not happen because the seventh season of Miss Scarlet will be the show’s last.

8. I Don’t Think Lauren Should Have Won the Reach for the Stars Competition in the Matlock episode, ‘The Starlet’

Toward the beginning of the Matlock episode, ‘The Starlet’, a talent contest called the Reach for the Stars Competition takes place. Whoever wins the competition will receive a two-year studio contract, a brand-new car, and $25,000. The final four contestants, Morgan, Dana, Abby, and Lauren, have their talent performances featured in ‘The Starlet’. While Morgan captivated by singing an energetic pop song, Abby sang a country song that sounded like it came straight from the heart. Dana’s performance of a song on saxophone was solid, adding her strong contribution to the soundtrack of the 1980s. But Lauren’s performance, which helped her win the Reach for the Stars Competition, was, in my opinion, unimpressive compared to the aforementioned three performances. Lauren performed a dance routine that was, to put it simply, basic. Its contents were a few arm movements, stepping in place several times, and some simple turns. I know Lauren’s victory was intended to create a domino effect for the events that took place in ‘The Starlet’. I also recognize what the creative team behind this Matlock episode was trying to say about connections being prioritized over talent when it comes to success, as Lauren’s mother, Janet, won the very first Reach for the Stars Competition. But I still don’t think Lauren should have won the contest based on talent performance alone.

7. I wish Tommy Vaughn Hadn’t Been the Murder Victim in the Murder, She Wrote episode, ‘Murder in Tempo’

In the Murder, She Wrote episode, ‘Murder in Tempo’, Dr. Seth Hazlitt organizes a benefit concert in an effort to save a local forest called Cabot Woods, with a band named In Tempo being the stars of the concert. One of In Tempo’s band members, Tommy Vaughn, has a dinner plate full of personal issues; from alcohol dependency that led him to rehab to dealing with a stalker prior to coming to Cabot Cove and even almost getting shot during the band’s concert rehearsal. But during his interactions with a Cabot Cove resident named Rachel, there are glimmers of hope that Tommy could, potentially, turn his life around. In a conversation he shared with Rachel, Tommy confesses his father passed away in an alcoholic ward, admitting his father’s issues made him look at the world pessimistically. He also acknowledges how he’s developed a poor reputation and how he needs to seek medical attention when he experiences problems with his vocal cords. Tommy even agreed to perform at the benefit concert because he truly believed in the cause of saving Cabot Woods, refusing to quit the concert despite pressure from the band’s manager, Wylie Trey. I’m aware Murder, She Wrote possesses a limited number of recurring characters and ‘Murder in Tempo’ premiered within the show’s last season. But I’d like to think if Tommy’s life had been spared, he would have received a second chance to obtain a happier next chapter to his story. Tommy could have even appeared in one of Murder, She Wrote’s made-for-TV movies or one of the books from the Murder, She Wrote book series. While advocating for the preservation of Cabot Woods, Jessica Fletcher says, “But even small battles are important”. Sadly, Tommy never got the chance to win at least one of his “small battles”.

Since one of my television “hot takes” relates to Murder, She Wrote, I thought featuring the book cover for Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire in this list article made sense. Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire book cover found on Goodreads

6. One of the HGTV Dream Homes Should Have Been Built in Hawaii

For almost thirty years, HGTV (Home and Garden Television) has hosted their annual Dream Home sweepstakes, with a completely furnished house as the grand prize. Eighteen of the fifty United States have hosted a prize home in varying styles and diverse landscapes. But, in my opinion, one of those states should have been Hawaii. The “gimmick” of HGTV’s Dream Home sweepstakes is for someone to win a “dream” home in a “dream” location. For years, Hawaii has been known as a “dream” travel destination for many people, yet owning a home in Hawaii is a “dream” few people can achieve for a variety of reasons. Realistically, I’m not sure what the logistics would be in order to make an HGTV Dream Home in Hawaii a reality. On paper, however, a Hawaiian Dream Home would fit the intent of HGTV’s contest.

5. I wish Sophia’s Son, Phil, Had Made, At Least, One On-Screen Appearance on The Golden Girls

Looking back on all the times I’ve watched The Golden Girls, one consistent story element always comes to mind; how Sophia singles out her son, Phil, whenever she brought up her children. Because it seemed like he was mentioned often on the show, I always wondered if what was said about him by the other characters was true. This curiosity made me want to see, at least, one on-screen appearance of him, in order to learn more about Phil from his perspective. Unfortunately, this never happened as Phil died off screen, with his death acknowledged in the season six episode, ‘Ebbtide’s Revenge’. It would have been fascinating to see Phil’s interactions not only with Sophia, but with the other “golden girls” as well. Plus, this role would have given an up-and-coming or underrated actor a chance to start or progress his career, especially considering The Golden Girls is one of the most successful and beloved television shows of all time. It also would have been interesting to see how The Golden Girls’ audience responded to Phil’s appearance on the show, if perhaps he had become a fan favorite. Though to quote the iconic Tootsie Pop commercial, “the world may never know”.

4. I Don’t Find the Gilligan’s Island episode, ‘The Hunter’, Funny or Entertaining

Gilligan’s Island is a show that is known for being light-hearted and hilarious, typically presenting the characters in low-stakes situations despite being stranded on the titular island. But the episode, ‘The Hunter’ is quite different from what the show is known for. Jonathan Kincaid is introduced in this episode as a big-game hunter. When he is unable to find any animals on the island to hunt, Jonathan then decides to hunt the other characters. The story of ‘The Hunter’ is tonally inappropriate for the type of program Gilligan’s Island is. With the show’s laugh track still featured in this episode, it makes the characters’ fear seem like it is played for laughs instead of being taken seriously. I was so horrified by ‘The Hunter’, I couldn’t find anything entertaining or funny about it. I, honestly, questioned what the creative team behind Gilligan’s Island was thinking creating and airing the episode. Because ‘The Hunter’ has been received better than other episodes of Gilligan’s Island, obtaining a 7.3 out of 10 on IMDB, this “hot take” is ranked higher on my list.

3. I Don’t Understand the Hype Surrounding ‘Shark Week’

According to Wikipedia, Shark Week debuted almost forty years ago on Discovery Channel with educational intentions, emphasizing conservation and debunking misconceptions. But as time went on, the annual event grew a life of its own. The term “shark week” has been added to the pop cultural lexicon, with people knowing what that is even if they’ve never watched any program associated with the event. Merchandise has been created to capitalize Shark Week, from shirts to scouting patches and even stuffed animal sharks from Build-A-Bear Workshop. But despite the promotion and fanfare it’s received, I don’t understand the hype surrounding Shark Week. With the amount of information available about sharks now than there was thirty-eight years ago, it almost seems unnecessary to reserve only one week to shark related education. In fact, shark related education can be accessed any time of year. Because sharks are such a specific subject, the event could run the risk of running out of content or programming. Plus, there are other animals who would also benefit from receiving education about them and conversation efforts for them. Yet they don’t receive their own special week.

2. If Eddie Munson Had Been Introduced on Stranger Things Sooner, The Show’s Creative Team Would Have Prioritized His Popularity, Similar to Steve Urkel (from Family Matters)

Once upon a time, on December 15th, 1989, Steve Urkel made his debut on the sitcom, Family Matters. What started as Steve asking one of the show’s key family members, Laura Winslow, to a dance turned into Steve becoming one of the most popular characters in television history. As Steve’s popularity grew, he received more screen-time and significance in the story. He not only became very marketable, having products based off Steve like Urkel-O’s Cereal and a talking doll, Family Matters also became defined by Steve’s iconic catchphrase, “Did I do that?”. But Steve’s popularity came at the expense of the titular Winslow family and their matters, which defied the original intent of the sitcom. If Eddie Munson had been introduced on Stranger Things sooner, I believe the show’s creative team would have allowed a similar scenario to happen. Like Steve Urkel, Eddie Munson became very popular after appearing in one season of his respective show. Also, like Steve, Eddie became very marketable, with products ranging from a replica of his Hellfire Club shirt to books about Eddie’s side of the story. But Eddie made his debut in Stranger Things’ fourth out of five seasons, with Eddie also passing away at the end of the fourth season. Though if Eddie had debuted in either season one or two, Eddie’s popularity would have given the show’s creative team an excuse to not only keep him on the show, but to also upgrade his status from ‘recurring’ to ‘main’ character. But, similar to Steve on Family Matters, the emphasis on Eddie’s popularity could have run the risk of other characters and stories getting overshadowed, potentially leaving mysteries and story-threads unresolved. There’s also a chance Stranger Things‘ creative team could have turned Eddie into “too much of a good thing”, giving Eddie elements to his story that may not make sense, such as receiving a catchphrase that seems unnecessary.

1. Writing Jack Thornton Off When Calls the Heart is the Show’s Biggest Mistake

    When the creative team behind When Calls the Heart decided to write Jack Thornton (one of the show’s main characters) off the show by having him die off screen, that was one of the most controversial creative decisions in Hallmark Channel history, as characters are typically not written off the network’s programs in this fashion. But looking back on this creative choice eight years later, writing Jack off When Calls the Heart has proven, in my opinion, to be pointless. If Jack had stayed on the show, other creative decisions I’m, personally, not a fan of wouldn’t have been made. Some of these decisions are the love triangle between Elizabeth, Lucas, and Nathan (that lasted three seasons), as well as backtracking Elizabeth’s decision to fall in love with and become engaged to Lucas. When it comes to the argument for why Elizabeth should be in a romantic relationship with Nathan, the McGarries (fans of Elizabeth and Nathan) have claimed that because Elizabeth falls in love with a Mountie in the book series the show is based on, she has to fall in love with a Mountie on the television show. With that logic in mind, if it was so important for Elizabeth to be in a romantic relationship with a Mountie, why write Jack off the show at all? I’m aware of Daniel Lissing’s (the actor who portrayed Jack) desire to leave the show to pursue other projects. However, I think recasting Jack would have attracted less backlash than writing him off the show. When Jack was still on When Calls the Heart, it seemed like his relationship with Elizabeth organically complimented the show’s overarching story. It also helped that Daniel and Erin Krakow (the actress who portrays Elizabeth) had stronger on-screen chemistry together. But now that Elizabeth and Nathan’s relationship has been prioritized since season eleven, its promotion, in my opinion, not only feels forcefully manufactured, it has come at the expense of other characters and stories, such as Rosemary, once again, not receiving her theater and new characters like Fernando becoming underutilized.

    Since another television “hot take” in this list article relates to Eddie Munson and Stranger Things, I believed including this iconic picture of Eddie in this post was appropriate. Original image created by 21 Laps Entertainment, Monkey Massacre, Netflix, and Upside Down Pictures

    What are your thoughts on my TV “hot takes”? Do you have a TV related “hot take” you’d like to share? Please tell me in the comment section below!

    Have fun on television!

    Sally Silverscreen

    Take 3: Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) Review

    On By 18cinemalane5 Comments

    I am back from a two-week hiatus to deliver a brand-new review for The 4th Master of Suspense Blogathon! As a consistent participant in this event, I wanted to, once again, broaden my cinematic horizons by writing about another film from Alfred Hitchcock’s filmography. Before joining the blogathon, I remembered how Patricia (from Caftan Woman) recommended the 1941 movie, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, to me. This year’s edition of the Master of Suspense Blogathon gave me the perfect excuse to, finally, check the film out! Mr. & Mrs. Smith is now the seventh movie from Alfred’s filmography I’ve reviewed. However, most of his films covered on 18 Cinema Lane have been, in my opinion, just ok. Will the 1941 picture stand out among this aforementioned collection? Solve this mystery by reading my review!

    Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) poster created by RKO Radio Pictures

    Things I liked about the film:

    The acting: In Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Carole Lombard portrays the titular Mrs. Smith, Ann Smith/Krausheimer. One aspect of Carole’s performance I liked was how expressive it was! A great example is present during a conversation Ann shares with her husband, David, toward the beginning of the movie. When Ann asks David if he’d marry her if he had a chance to do it again, she appears hopeful. A smile can be seen on Ann’s face and there’s a bright shine in her eyes, paired alongside her easy-going demeanor. But when David matter-of-factly answers Ann’s question by saying, “No”, Ann’s attitude completely changes. Not only do her eyes adopt a “thousand-yard stare”, her mouth is also slightly turned into a frown. Though Ann tries to mask her disappointment by bouncing back to her easy-going demeanor, her facial expressions perfectly capture what’s in her mind and heart.

    Robert Montgomery portrays David Smith, the titular Mr. Smith in the 1941 movie. Similar to Carole’s performance, Robert effectively utilized facial expressions to convey emotions, feelings, and thoughts. While he’s at his office, David calls Ann about their upcoming dinner plans. During his conversation with Ann, the combination of David’s smile, playful glances, and a flirty hint in his voice showcases how much he loves his wife. Meanwhile, Jack Carson’s portrayal of Chuck “Chucky” Benson was a standout! Despite appearing in only three scenes, Chuck became memorable due to the consistent charisma and confidence Jack brought to his character. The scene where Chuck calls Gloria and Gertrude/Gertie is such a great example of how distinct Chuck’s personality is compared to David’s, as David’s awkward phone call emphasizes Chuck’s head-strong confidence.

    The on-screen chemistry of Carole Lombard and Robert Montgomery: As I already mentioned in this review, David and Ann are the titular Mr. and Mrs. Smith. From the very beginning of the story, it is evident there is true love between them. This is because Robert and Carole’s on-screen chemistry successfully convinces the audience their characters are not only married, but also in love! When David and Ann cuddle together one morning, David holds Ann in a gentle embrace. Their relaxed body language perfectly captures the comfort they share in their relationship. As David asks her questions, Ann simply nods her head and moves her eyebrows. His tone of voice is calm, emphasizing the gentleness of David and Ann’s interaction. This is a very romantic moment because there’s a sense of tenderness, understanding, and respect between them. But because of the story’s conflict, Ann and David share so few romantic moments together, making me wish they had received more in the script.

    Jeff’s apartment: One evening in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, David’s friend, Jeff, takes Ann to the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Due to the rain they endure, they go to Jeff’s apartment to escape the cold. When I first saw his apartment on screen, I did not expect it to look the way it did. Because Jeff is a lawyer who appears to enjoy the finer things in life, such as classy suits and fancy restaurants like The Florida Club, I imagined his apartment consisting of dark wood walls, richly upholstered furniture, and maybe a large painting of a horse. But when Jeff’s apartment appeared on screen, it was very bright. The space was surrounded in light colored wood walls. Not only were there light-colored curtains hanging by the windows, there was plenty of lighting featured throughout Jeff’s apartment. Table lamps, dark metal wall sconces, and a dark metal sconced chandelier contribute to the apartment’s brightness. A light-colored fireplace hearth is nicely paired with a darker marble. At least six built-in bookshelves compliment the space, adding a sense of coziness. These combined elements not only make Jeff’s apartment look like a visually appealing cozy cottage, the set design subverted my expectations as well!

    The 4th Master Of Suspense Blogathon banner created by Maddy from Classic Film And TV Corner

    What I didn’t like about the film:

    Lack of open communication: Toward the beginning of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, David and Ann establish how they are honest with each other and respect one another, showcasing how open communication is a key component of their relationship. But the conflict of the 1941 movie revolves around how Ann and David aren’t officially married due to a misunderstanding with their marriage license. While David tries to persuade Ann to remarry him, Ann desires to move on and fall in love in another man. This difference in perspective was caused by Ann believing David wasn’t honest about the conflict with her. If they had openly communicated to each other similar to how they did toward the beginning of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Ann and David would have saved so much time and frustration. David and Ann being unable to see eye to eye feels almost like part of their relationship was deceptive.

    A prolonged conflict: I’ve mentioned in the past how I’m not a fan of Hallmark films where the story features a character who says they’re going to do something, but spends most of the story not doing the thing they said they were going to do. 1941’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith adopts this exact type of story. As I’ve already said in this review, the conflict revolves around how Ann and David aren’t officially married due to a misunderstanding with their marriage license. At first, David and Ann express a strong interest in getting remarried. But they spend most of the movie’s hour and thirty-five-minute run-time doing everything but that. Because Ann and David stopped prioritizing their desire to get remarried, Mr. & Mrs. Smith’s conflict felt prolonged. It also kind of felt like David and Ann took longer than necessary to reach the intended point.

    A rushed ending: I’m not going to spoil 1941’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith, in case any of my readers haven’t seen this movie yet. But what I will say is the ending was, in my opinion, rushed. Like I just said in my review, Ann and David spend most of the movie’s hour and thirty-five-minute run-time doing everything but getting remarried. This creative decision made Mr. & Mrs. Smith’s conflict feel prolonged. While that conflict receives a resolution, it doesn’t happen until the last fifteen minutes of the film. Plus, it was wrapped up too quickly to the point it doesn’t feel satisfying or earned. In fact, I was caught off guard by how rushed the ending was, especially since Alfred Hitchcock is a director who, usually, knows how to conclude a story.

    New York City skyline with letters image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/new-york-skyline-typographic-silhouette_719554.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

    My overall impression:

    In my opinion, Alfred Hitchcock’s filmography fluctuates in quality. While I’d say Strangers on a Train is my favorite film directed by Alfred, I was not a fan of The 39 Steps. For me, Mr. & Mrs. Smith falls somewhere in the middle. The acting was solid from the entire cast, especially when it came to the performances of Carole Lombard, Robert Montgomery, and Jack Carson. I liked Robert and Carole’s on-screen chemistry so much, I wish David and Ann had received more romantic moments together. Not only did Jeff’s apartment look visually appealing, it also subverted my expectations. But what hurt Mr. & Mrs. Smith was prolonging the conflict to the point of rushing the ending. It didn’t help how, more often than not, Ann and David lacked open communication, contributing to the story’s prolonged conflict. However, I appreciate Alfred’s attempt at telling a type of story outside his claim to fame. While Mr. & Mrs. Smith wasn’t a suspenseful picture, it did hold my intrigue, as I wanted to know what would happen next.

    Overall score: 6 out of 10

    Have you seen 1941’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith? Which film from Alfred Hitchcock’s filmography do you wish I’d review? Please tell me in the comment section!

    Have fun at the movies!

    Sally Silverscreen

    Take 3: Hamlet (2000) Review

    On By 18cinemalane8 Comments

    Among the three times I’ve participated in the Classic Literature on Film Blogathon, I reviewed To Kill a Mockingbird, 1948’s The Three Musketeers, and The Grapes of Wrath. Looking back on these selections, I’m surprised I haven’t chosen a title from William Shakespeare sooner. In fact, as of July, 2026, the only Shakespeare adaptation I covered on 18 Cinema Lane (so far) is the 2000 film, Romeo Must Die, which I reviewed all the way back in 2019. So, you could say another article about a Shakespeare adaptation is long overdue. Because it fits the criteria for the Classic Literature on Film Blogathon and because it was recommended by Hamlette (from Hamlette’s Soliloquy), I will review the 2000 television movie, Hamlet! Similar to Romeo Must Die, the TV film version of Hamlet is a “modern” adaptation of a famous William Shakespeare story. But this time, the production “is revisioned in America at the turn of the 20th Century” (according to IMDB). Did I enjoy watching Hamlet as much as or more than Romeo Must Die? Thanks for joining me for this review, as we’re now about to answer that question!

    Hamlet (2000) poster created by Hallmark Entertainment, Spare Room Productions, Artisan Home Entertainment, Cowboy Booking International, and Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment

    Things I liked about the film:

    The acting: Campbell Scott portrays Hamlet in the 2000 adaptation of William Shakespeare’s story. If I could describe Campbell’s performance in one word, it would be ‘fluid’! During the famous “To be or not to be” monologue, Campbell adopts a variety of facial expressions, vocal inflections, emotions through the eyes, and even movements of the head to showcase Hamlet’s ever-changing mood. Not only that, Campbell’s transitions between emotions are so effortless, Hamlet possesses a captivating presence within the movie. Ophelia also has a captivating presence in Hamlet! Portrayed by LisaGay Hamilton, Ophelia’s expressions of emotion always appeared genuine. A great example is when she is sharing her concerns about Hamlet with her father, Polonius. With a furrow in her brow and speaking carefully in a calm yet concerned voice, Ophelia gives her father (and the audience) a reason to take note of her serious observations. Blair Brown delivers a strong performance as well, portraying Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude! Whether frightened by the horrifying emotional deterioration of her son to her joy as she awaits the start of a play, Blair carries her character so believably, it was easy to forget I was watching an actress portray a character. What worked in her performance’s favor was her understanding of how and when to utilize emotions to her advantage. Even though I liked the three performances mentioned, I thought the cast as a whole was strong!

    The set design: The original source material of Hamlet revolves around royalty. This component of the text was translated to the 2000 adaptation, as Hamlet and his family are sometimes referred to by their royal titles. Since the majority of this film version of Hamlet takes place within Hamlet’s family’s home, the set design effectively represented their opulence. Home décor pieces, like gold sconces, rich wood furniture, and ornate rugs, found their place throughout the story. Chairs boasted intricately woven designs, appearing as their own form of art. Carved detailing was present on a wooden staircase, a stone fireplace, and even on a ceiling in one scene. Smaller pieces of set design were not overlooked either, such as a burning piece of paper being placed on a silver platter. Not only did Hamlet’s set design make its project visually elegant, it complimented Shakespeare’s source material as well!

    Use of music: When a movie’s creative team incorporates music into their project, the intended mood of a given scene can be elevated. This is how the creative team behind Hamlet approached the musical element of the 2000 adaptation. Whenever a suspenseful moment took place, such as the ghost of Hamlet’s father suddenly appearing, the rhythmic sound of drums played in the background. Because the sound of the drums was loud and with the drums possessing a quicker rhythm, the feelings of fear, confusion, and even irritation rose among the characters who could visualize the ghost for themselves. Raised adrenaline from the audience can also happen because of the drum music’s incorporation within Hamlet. That music contributes to a viewer’s feeling of being on the edge of the seat, eager to discover what will happen next!

    The 2026 Classic Literature on Film Blogathon banner created by Paul from Silver Screen Classics.

    What I didn’t like about the film:

    Shakespearian speech in a “modern” story: As I mentioned in my Romeo Must Die review, I was not a fan of Romeo + Juliet. The reason is how the characters adopt Shakespearian speech while the movie appears to take place in 1995-1996. The 2000 adaptation of Hamlet makes the same creative choice. Like I brought up in this review’s introduction, Hamlet “is revisioned in America at the turn of the 20th Century”. So, the references to kings, Denmark, and Norway don’t make sense. Having the characters speak in the Shakespearian manner sounds jarring, as it breaks the illusion of immersion of the late 1800s to early 1900s presented on screen. Because I don’t hear Shakespearian speech often, I not only had to actively pay attention to what was happening in the film (or else I would have missed important context), I was sometimes confused by what the characters were saying. This aspect of the project became a frustrating part of my movie-viewing experience.

    Forgotten storylines: Ophelia’s brother, Laertes, desires to travel to France. Even though their father, Polonius, allows Laertes to journey to France, he has his doubts of whether his son will behave himself in a gentlemanly fashion while there. This storyline from Hamlet became forgotten as the film progressed. That was due to the script prioritizing Hamlet’s downward spiral. Even though Laertes returns later in the movie, his trip to France wasn’t brought up. I was disappointed Laertes’ French travels didn’t play a bigger role in the 2000 adaptation of Hamlet, as there was potential for that narrative to be intriguing. However, I’m not sure how much influence Laertes’ adventure through France had in the original source material.

    The run-time: The Hamlet adaptation from 2000 received a run-time of two hours and fifty-eight minutes (according to IMDB). Similar to my thoughts on Gods and Generals and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Hamlet’s run-time could certainly be felt. The pace of Hamlet is mostly slower, with a few action-packed, suspenseful scenes incorporated into the story. That, along with the movie’s two hour and fifty-eight-minute run-time, makes the 2000 adaptation feel unnecessarily stretched out. Like my experience watching The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, I was zoning in and out while watching Hamlet, trying not to fall asleep during this movie-viewing experience. Had the 2000 adaptation of Hamlet been split into two parts, like Hallmark’s 2004 adaptation of Frankenstein, the movie wouldn’t run the risk of feeling like an endurance test.

    Hand-written letter image created by Veraholera at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Veraholera – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/love-letter-pattern_1292902.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

    My overall impression:

    To review or not to review, that is the question (ok, I couldn’t resist making that reference, especially in this review). Back in 2019, I shared in my Romeo Must Die review how much I liked that film. Because it was a “modern” adaptation of Romeo and Juliet featuring martial arts, the 2000 movie was successfully able to create a unique version of William Shakespeare’s story. Seven years later, after watching the 2000 adaptation of Hamlet, I find the picture just ok. The creative team behind Hamlet had visual ambition, setting their interpretation “in America at the turn of the 20th Century”. This ambition could be seen in the set and costume design, attempting to bring the late 1800s to early 1900s back to life through elegance and historical accuracy. But having the characters adopt Shakespearian speech breaks that illusion of immersion. Having a two hour and fifty-eight-minute run-time also negatively impacts the film’s chances for rewatchability. However, the cast as a whole gave strong performances, with everyone doing a good job, acting wise, with the material they received. The movie itself is also a competently made project, incorporating elements that enhanced the movie-viewing experience, such as the use of music. But at the end of the year, when I look back on the movies I’ve seen (and even reviewed), the adaptation of Hamlet from 2000 will not be a film I reflect on as fondly as other films.

    Overall score: 6-6.1 out of 10

    Have you seen the 2000 adaptation of Hamlet? Are there any “modern” adaptations of William Shakespeare’s stories you’d like to check out? Please share your thoughts in the comment section!

    Have fun at the movies!

    Sally Silverscreen

    Word on the Street: ‘The Batman Part II’ Receives New Release Date

    On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

    I first talked about The Batman Part II in a Word on the Street story back in May, writing how Sebastian Stan was joining the film’s cast as Harvey Dent/Two-Face. But a month later, I wrote another Word on the Street story about how Sebastian may portray a different villain. Now we won’t yet know what role Sebastian will receive due to The Batman Part II becoming, once again, delayed. In an article from Variety, Zack Sharf reports Warner Bros. giving the movie a third release date. The Batman Part II’s first scheduled date was October 2nd, 2026, followed by the studio pushing the film back to October 1st, 2027. The new release date, confirmed by director, Matt Reeves, is going to be February 18th, 2028. While the schedule change “will give Reeves additional time in post-production” (according to Zack) and James Gunn (the current co-chief of DC Studios) stated “how it’s “fairly common” for big-budget titles to have lengthy gaps before a sequel is released”, Matt McGloin (of Cosmic Book News) speculates a possible reason for The Batman Part II’s new release date. Within his article, Matt claims James desires to incorporate Batman into Man of Tomorrow, which will be released in July of 2027. Alan Ritchson is also speculated as “a frontrunner” to portray a version of Batman “in the vein of DC’s smash hit comic Absolute Batman.” However, the reason for The Batman Part II’s schedule update was not confirmed by anyone directly/officially affiliated with the project.

    Coming soon movie image created by Macrovector at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by macrovector – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

    As already said in this Word on the Street story, James Gunn stated “how it’s “fairly common” for big-budget titles to have lengthy gaps before a sequel is released”. Some of the examples he gives are the following:

    • Gap between Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol.2 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3: 6 years
    • Gap between Alien and Aliens: 7 years
    • Gap between The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day: 7 years
    • Gap between Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water: 13 years
    • Gap between The Incredibles and Incredibles 2: 14 years
    • Gap between Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick: 36 years

    Even though these listed films and their sequels have proven successful (some even earning the title of “classic”), there is no guarantee The Batman Part II will financially and critically succeed at the box office. Though it should be noted how The Batman collected a profit of $772, 512,903 with an estimated $200,000,000 production budget, making the movie the seventh highest grossing title of 2022. But a risk that comes with pushing back a sequel’s release date is decreased enthusiasm from the audience. Along with that, the branch of cinema where superheroes reigned supreme at the box office has been losing steam. It seems like, lately, there have been more losses than wins. However, Batman is a character that has survived the changing tides of the film industry. Whether it was 1989’s Batman or The Dark Knight trilogy, Batman has proven to be adaptable, especially when it comes to advancements in cinematic technology. With everything said, it’ll be interesting to see if The Batman Part II’s creative team will take advantage of promotional opportunities like creating a Super Bowl trailer, hosting a presentation at San Diego Comic Con, or bringing back The Batman Calzony to maintain the audience’s enthusiasm in their project.

    What are your thoughts on this piece of movie news? Does The Batman Part II’s new release date affect your enthusiasm toward the film? Please tell me in the comment section!

    Have fun at the movies!

    Sally Silverscreen

    References:

    https://variety.com/2026/film/news/the-batman-2-release-date-2028-first-footage-pattinson-1236811623/

    https://cosmicbook.news/alan-ritchson-gunn-dcu-batman-frontrunner

    https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Batman-The-(2021)#summary

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_in_film#Highest-grossing_films

    Take 3: Tombstone Review

    On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

    When an actor or actress is celebrating a birthday, I will sometimes write about a project from their filmography and publish that article on their birthday. This has given me an excuse to check out a movie or television show I haven’t seen before. Because July 11th is Stephen Lang’s birthday, I found a perfect opportunity to finally see the 1993 western, Tombstone! This is a movie I not only have heard of before, I have heard the movie receive consistent praise over the years. It’s even earned the coveted title of “classic” within the western genre. Though I have covered some movies from this particular genre on 18 Cinema Lane, I had no idea how Tombstone was going to stand out among those other titles. Now that I’ve seen the 1993 picture, I found an answer to that question. But you have to read my review to discover what that answer is!

    Tombstone poster created by Hollywood Pictures, Cinergi Pictures Entertainment, Alphaville Films, and Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

    Things I liked about the film:

    Historical accuracy: In my recent review of Young Washington, I praised the film’s creative team for effectively executing their project’s historical accuracy. Because of how well-done that storytelling element was, the creative team behind Young Washington successfully created an illusion of immersion. Tombstone also possessed the illusion of immersion due to the efforts of that movie’s creative team. From the construction of the town itself to the artwork on a wall at the Bird Cage Theatre, the appearance of the film and its finer details effectively reflect Tombstone’s respective time period of the late 1800s. An example of how this particular time period was brought back to life was through the characters’ wardrobe. In a scene where Wyatt Earp goes for a horse ride with Josephine, Josephine wears elegant yet practical riding attire. Sporting a black tailored jacket and a long black skirt, she adds a black and white polka dot scarf as well as a black top hat adorned with black and white ribbons. Finishing the ensemble is a pair of simple black gloves. Josephine even rode side-saddle, what would have been the appropriate way for a woman to ride a horse at that time. The example I presented in this review visually represents the research and attention to detail that went into Tombstone’s presentation!

    Interconnected stories: Tombstone is a movie known for its large cast of characters. At the beginning of the film, the characters are shown engaging in their own separate part of the story. Whether it’s the Cowboys rudely interrupting a wedding or Doc Holliday winning a poker game, the first minutes of Tombstone let the audience know everyone who is featured in the movie has an important role to play. As the film progresses, each separate story becomes interconnected. Characters who may seem like strangers are actually revealed to be friends. The actions caused by one character greatly impact another character. And crossed paths develop consequences. These interconnections between characters allowed on-screen interactions to contain a strong sense of intrigue. That intrigue kept me invested in what was happening in Tombstone!

    The acting: Because Stephen Lang is the reason why I’m reviewing Tombstone, I have to talk about his performance first. Though he appeared in the film for a limited period of time as Ike Clanton, Stephen’s portrayal was very memorable! This memorability was due to his expressiveness and animated reactions. Yet, Stephen’s animation never came across as over-the-top or too “cartoony”. Instead, he effectively utilized a variety of emotions which helped him stand out among the ensemble cast. One of Stephen’s best moments in Tombstone is when Ike is watching a play involving Faust, the confused look on Ike’s face appearing completely genuine. I also liked Sam Elliott’s portrayal of Virgil Earp, Wyatt’s brother. In a scene where Virgil receives bad medical related news, a combination of fear, anger, and sadness are present in his eyes, through the frown on his mouth, and even within the muscle control throughout his face. Virgil’s wife, Allie (portrayed by Paula Malcomson), is also upset by the news Virgil receives. Her tear-streaked face says so much without saying anything at all. Even as she yells at Wyatt, the anger in her voice holds an intensity that forces Wyatt (and the audience) to take her seriously. But besides these three performances I brought up, the cast as a whole gave solid portrayals throughout Tombstone!

    Since I’m reviewing Tombstone on Stephen Lang’s birthday, I thought including a picture of his character, Ike Clanton, in this review made sense. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

    What I didn’t like about the film:

    Glossed over parts of the story: There were a few parts of Tombstone’s story that became glossed over as the movie progressed. One of those glossed over parts involved Wyatt’s wife, Mattie. Toward the beginning of the film, Mattie seeks to receive laudanum in order to cure a headache. Yet, she refuses to visit a doctor when Wyatt suggests it. Later in the movie, Mattie is seen drinking a bottle of opium. These displayed behaviors imply she is battling an addiction. But none of the other characters, including Wyatt, address Mattie’s concerning issue. In historical/period stories like Tombstone, a storyline involving addiction will sometimes be woven into the script. Usually, these storylines will not only be addressed in that respective story, they will also be treated with a sense of respect, as addiction is a serious, real-world topic. With everything said, I wish Mattie’s part of the story had received some more attention within Tombstone’s overarching story.

    The underutilization of Billy Zane: In movies containing ensemble casts, an actor or actress may sometimes become underutilized due to how much screen-time the cast needs to share. The case of Tombstone shows Billy Zane as an underrated performer within the film. Portraying a stage actor named Mr. Fabian, Mr. Fabian represents something beautiful that came to the ugliness of Tombstone, according to Josephine. Billy’s appearances in Tombstone were so limited, he was present in only three scenes within the first half of the movie. He doesn’t show up in the film again until toward the end of the story, when the actions of the Cowboys and Wyatt’s group have taken their toll on Mr. Fabian. Taking Josephine’s words into consideration, I was disappointed Mr. Fabian wasn’t utilized more in the story, as a way to achieve peace within Tombstone. But I guess as a stage actor, there was only so much he could have done to find a solution to the town’s conflict.

    Half of the story feeling “slice of life”: The overarching conflict of Tombstone involves the Cowboys and Wyatt alongside his brothers and Doc fighting over control of Tombstone. But this conflict doesn’t really become the story’s central focus until the second half of the movie. In the film’s first half, the emphasis is placed on the “slice of life” aspect of the characters residing in Tombstone. While it was interesting to catch a glimpse of life within the late 1800s, the intrigue wasn’t as consistent in the movie’s first half as it was in the second half. In fact, as I watching the first half of Tombstone, I honestly wondered why this story wasn’t a television show instead of a movie?

    Birthday party set-up image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/food”>Food photo created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

    My overall impression:

    As I said in the introduction of this review, I chose to write about Tombstone in honor of Stephen Lang’s birthday. Therefore, I was looking forward to seeing his performance in this movie. While I did witness a very memorable portrayal of Ike Clanton, there is so much more this film gave me. The cast as a whole was strong, which made each performance enjoyable to watch. The research and attention to detail put into Tombstone’s historical accuracy allowed the movie’s creative team to achieve an illusion of immersion. Interconnections between characters’ stories added intrigue to characters’ on-screen interactions. Though the film gave me an enjoyable movie-viewing experience, there were flaws that held it back from being stronger. I wish the overarching story had consistently focused on the conflict for control over Tombstone. I also wish Mattie’s part of the story had received some more attention in the script. Seeing Billy Zane’s talents become underutilized was disappointing as well. But despite these flaws, I can recognize why Tombstone is highly regarded by fans of the western genre!

    Overall score 7.3-7.4 out of 10

    Have you seen Tombstone? Are there any films from the western genre you’d like to see me review? Let me know in the comment section!

    Have fun at the movies!

    Sally Silverscreen

    Take 3: Young Washington Review

    On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

    2026 marks the 250th birthday of the United States of America’s founding. Because of this major milestone, MovieRob selected July’s Genre Grandeur theme as “Red, White and Blue Movies”. This means a chosen film has to deal “with The American Revolution, American Patriotism or related to the 4th itself”. For my selection, Young Washington, I had planned to publish my review on July 4th. But because of my schedule at the time, I didn’t get the chance to see the 2026 picture as soon as I had hoped. Now that I’ve seen the movie, I can finally post my review for MovieRob’s Genre Grandeur Blogathon! As I already mentioned in this introduction, a chosen film for the event had to deal “with The American Revolution”. When George Washington appears in entertainment media revolving around this period in history, the story itself focuses on what led up to the signing of The Declaration of Independence. In Young Washington, however, the story explores the events that shaped George into the leader history remembers him as today. Reflecting on The American Revolution related pieces of entertainment media I’ve seen, heard, or read, Young Washington’s approach to this specific time period seems to have addressed a creative void.

    Young Washington poster created by Wonder Project, 2521 Entertainment, Angel, Provident Films, Radar Pictures, Red 56, Ten Ton Studio, and Wild Atlantic Pictures

    Things I liked about the film:

    Incorporation of the story’s natural landscape: IMDB lists Ireland as Young Washington’s primary filming location. Yet the story is set in Virginia. Since the majority of the movie takes place outdoors, the forest landscape of America’s tenth state was given center-stage through long and medium shots. Clear blue waters, rolling green hills, and what appears to be pine trees literally and figuratively represent the “calm before the storm”, as the Ohio Territories are at the center of a major conflict. This same landscape was also shown at different times of the day as well as in different climates. On a few occasions, snow covered the forest floor and trees. Paired with a gray-blue sky, this landscape visually presented a peaceful environment, despite the uncertainty this type of terrain brings. The incorporation of Young Washington’s natural landscape added natural beauty to the film. This creative decision also reminded me of Europe’s natural landscape receiving importance in I Am David, showing a side of the United States of America that could be easily taken for granted.

    The acting: As I just mentioned in this review, the Ohio Territories are at the center of a major conflict in Young Washington. The reason is because the French desire to claim the land as their own. In order to convince the French to leave, George is tasked with persuading a French military officer named Joseph Jumonville. In a scene where George negotiates with Joseph, Joseph, at first, appears very jovial. His huge smile, jolly demeanor, and laughter gives George (and the audience) the impression things will go George’s way. But as soon as George addresses the French residing on the Ohio Territories, Joseph’s attitude immediately changes. His intense stare and sharp tone of voice lets George (as well as the audience) know he means business. Joseph’s change in attitude causes a shift in the scene’s atmosphere, raising the stakes of the situation. Despite having a limited presence in Young Washington, Joseph became such a memorable part of the movie! That’s because the actor who portrayed Joseph, Clement Toyon, gave a performance that was captivating due to his flawless transition between attitudes. With that said, I wish Joseph made a few more appearances in the film.

    While George and a surveyor named Christopher are surveying the Ohio Territories, they cross paths with Half-King Tanacharison. Similar to Joseph Jumonville, Half-King Tanacharison appears in Young Washington for a limited period of time. Also similar to Clement Toyon’s portrayal of Joseph, Half-King Tanacharison was so memorable because of Ryan Begay’s performance! Whenever he showed up in the story, Half-King Tanacharison carried himself with a strong confidence, his demeanor letting others know how he should be taken seriously. At the same time, Half-King Tanacharison carried a gentleness which emphasized how he was a leader who sought fairness. These combined characteristics in demeanor allowed Ryan’s performance to contain a commanding presence. Because we’re on the subject of leaders, I must talk about William Franklyn-Miller’s portrayal of George Washington! Like I said about Liev Schreiber’s portrayal of Orson Welles in RKO 281 and Tom Hulce’s portrayal of Amadeus in Amadeus, William brought humanity back to George’s name by finding the heart of the “genius” and putting some genuine emotion behind it. What I also liked about William’s performance is how it possessed a strong sense of realism. This element didn’t show an actor portraying a historical figure, but, instead, a young man becoming the leader he was destined to be. Working in William’s favor as well is his understanding how to utilize emotion and when to increase or decrease the intensity of those emotions.

    Historical accuracy: Filmmakers have the ability to create the illusion of immersion. This illusion makes the audience feel immersed in a movie’s world, giving them a reason to stay invested in the story. One way to achieve the illusion of immersion is through historical accuracy. When a film’s creative team adopts that element of storytelling, research and attention to detail must be prioritized in order to effectively bring the chosen time period back to life. While watching Young Washington, the historical accuracy could be seen as well as felt! One of my favorite examples is when George attends a party at the Belvoir plantation. Every room within the plantation is lit by candles. Throughout scenes taking place at the plantation, the lighting was consistently dim. Looking back on the movies I’ve seen (and even reviewed) relying on historical accuracy, I never thought about how a film’s lighting could affect a film’s historical accuracy, let alone illusion of immersion. The example I brought up of the dim lighting in Young Washington allows the audience to grasp how different lighting options were in the 1700s.

    The dialogue: An underrated film-making element is the quality of a script’s dialogue. If the dialogue among a movie’s characters is good, it can become a memorable component of the movie itself. As I watched Young Washington, there was dialogue that stood out to me because of how good it was! When George applies for the British Army, he is ultimately rejected due to his social status. To prove his worth, George presents his collection of quotes he wrote down while being tutored by his half-brother, Lawrence. But George is told how an imitation of great men doesn’t make him one. This quote not only encourages George to forge his own path in life, it also foreshadows George’s future. Earlier in the story, Lawrence teaches George how to play chess. During the lesson, Lawrence says how a pawn can take a king. This quote was, once again, clever foreshadowing, as George’s role in the American Revolution helped the Thirteen Colonies break away from a king ruled government to form the United States of America. The two examples of dialogue I presented in this review show how much thought and effort went into the screenwriting as well as how the dialogue was delivered!

    Children holding American flags during a sunset image created by rawpixel.com at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/people”>People photo created by rawpixel.com – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

    What I didn’t like about the film:

    Inconsistent incorporation of subtitles: Earlier in this review, I brought up how George and Christopher cross paths with Half-King Tanacharison while surveying the Ohio Territories. Christopher and Half-King Tanacharison share a conversation, despite never meeting before. Half-King Tanacharison and Christopher’s conversation is not in English, yet no subtitles appear on the screen during their conversation. But any other time characters speak to one another in a language that isn’t English, subtitles are present on the screen. This inconsistency became noticeable to me by the third non-English conversation characters shared in Young Washington.

    A missing “And then what happened” segment: In movies based on true stories, there is sometimes a segment toward the end of the movie explaining what happened to the story’s key individuals after the events presented in the movie. But Young Washington lacked this kind of segment. Toward the end of the 2026 film, on-screen text reveals a few of the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. However, what happened to key people from Young Washington, like Sally Cary, David Frisk, and even Robert Dinwiddie, was not brought up. This creative decision left me disappointed, as I wanted to know more about the people in the story.

    Some underutilized talent: Before watching Young Washington, I knew Kelsey Grammer starred in the movie. From what I remember, he was heavily featured in the movie’s marketing. At the end of the film, Kelsey himself delivered a message on the film’s importance. Yet he appeared in Young Washington in two scenes as Lord Fairfax. One of my family members almost forgot Kelsey was cast in the movie due to his very limited screen-time. While I understand why Kelsey starred in the film for a short period of time, this was one example where, to me, talent was underutilized.

    Since colonial style hats were worn throughout Young Washington, including a photo of the small colonial style hat from my Oh Lil Christmas Tree collection made sense. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

    My overall impression:

    The best way I can describe Young Washington is a “hero’s journey” woven into a history lesson. Throughout the 2026 movie, the audience sees George experience both trials and triumphs. What the audience of Young Washington also sees is solid acting performances, immersive historical accuracy, and a beautiful forest landscape. They can hear dialogue that is well written and delivered, as well as good messages and themes. Another strength of Young Washington is the ebb and flow between action-heavy, suspenseful scenes and quieter, slower-paced scenes. This ebb and flow maintained the story’s intrigue, keeping me invested in what was happening on screen. There are flaws within the 2026 picture, like inconsistent incorporation of subtitles and some underutilized talent. But, in my opinion, there’s a lot Young Washington got right when it comes to film-making. Now that we’re at the halfway point of 2026, I can honestly say I’ve seen more movies, so far, I liked than didn’t. Young Washington is one of those films belonging to the first category of movies I liked!

    Overall score: 8 out of 10

    Have you seen Young Washington? Is there a movie set around the American Revolution you like? Please tell me in the comment section!

    Have fun at the movies!

    Sally Silverscreen

    Take 3: Playing with Fire (1985) Review

    On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

    Have you come across a movie that fell into your lap at the right place and time? That’s what happened before I reviewed the 1985 television film, Playing with Fire. This is a movie I not only had never seen, I had never heard of. But that changed when I listened to the Telehell Podcast episode, ‘The Top 8 Darkest Moments in Kids TV Cartoons’, as the upcoming episode about Playing with Fire was advertised at the end of the episode about the darkest moments from kids TV cartoons. According to Telehell’s episode, ‘Prologue of Fire (“Playing with Fire” PREVIEW)’, the 1985 movie was considered “lost media” up until 2024. As someone interested in the subject of “lost media”, I think it’s worth celebrating when a sought-after piece of “lost media” like Playing with Fire not only gets found, but is also archived on Youtube. For any “lost media” that was eventually found, however, one has to wonder why it was “lost” in the first place? In this review of Playing with Fire, I hope to find an answer to that question!

    Playing with Fire (1985) poster created by New World Television, Zephyr Productions, and National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

    Things I liked about the film:

    Characters who subvert expectations: In Playing with Fire, Mike Harris is a friend of the protagonist, David. Based on his personality and appearance, Mike would be considered a “bully” in other ‘80s entertainment media. Throughout the 1985 movie, he teases David, pulls pranks, and doesn’t seem to take school seriously. But when David starts a fire in a trash can (because he was upset Mike wouldn’t play basketball with him), Mike pulled David away from the fire as well as encouraged David to pull their school’s fire alarm in order to get help. Mike even warns a fellow student named Pamela about David’s issues. These actions and choices help Mike subvert expectations, showing the audience how, despite his initial introduction, he actually cares about David’s wellbeing.

    Entertainment media from the ‘80s that revolves around younger characters will sometimes feature a school principal who is a stickler for the rules. This creative decision may be made to either emphasize how much “cooler” the younger characters are or to show how the principal is holding the younger characters back from being themselves. But in Playing with Fire, Principal Sweeney subverts those aforementioned expectations. In a meeting between Principal Sweeney and David’s parents, Principal Sweeney acknowledges how intelligent David is. He’s also brutally honest about how it’s the responsibility of David’s parents to help David with his problems. Principal Sweeney even puts David on probation in an attempt to assist David in resolving his issues. Because of the subversion of expectations, Principal Sweeney is presented as a character who actually prioritizes the wellbeing of all his students.

    The role of Fire Chief Walker: Throughout Playing with Fire, Fire Chief Walker tries to solve the mystery of who started a series of fires around his neighborhood. He wants David to admit he’s responsible for creating the fires. But Fire Chief Walker doesn’t want David to tell the truth in order to arrest him. Instead, he believes David is worth saving. Fire Chief Walker encourages David’s family to seek out family counselling, in order to help them solve their personal problems. He also encourages David to talk to his parents about how he feels, acknowledging how David is causing fires for a reason. It would have been easy for the creative team behind Playing with Fire to show their protagonist simply facing the consequences of his actions. Instead, the role of Fire Chief Walker shows how there is more than one way to solve a problem, with a way being getting to the heart of an issue to resolve it as well as preventing it from escalating.

    Showing the reasons behind the behavior: The synopsis for Playing with Fire on IMDB gives David the label of “teenage arsonist”, due to how often he starts fires. The creative team behind the movie could have focused on David’s problematic behavior in order to give their project “shock value”. But instead, the script emphasizes the reasons behind the behavior. Sparks fly (literally and figuratively) due to David’s parents having marital issues. These issues cause a domino effect in David’s life, from failing grades at school to becoming easily angry. Starting fires is a manifestation of David’s unresolved feelings toward the problems within David’s parents’ marriage. By showing the reasons behind David’s behavior, the creative team behind Playing with Fire gives their audience a reason to empathize with David and his family.

    Campfire with marshmellows and shooting stars image created by macrovector at freepik.com.

    What I didn’t like about the film:

    David as a static character: As I already mentioned in this review, showing the reasons behind David’s behavior gives the audience a reason to empathize with David and his family. But for the majority of Playing with Fire, David remained a static character. He doesn’t come to terms with his decision to start fires until an hour and forty-seven minutes into an hour and fifty-five-minute movie. This means he spends more time remaining bitter and angry about the problems in his life instead of transforming his life for the better over the course of the story. I recognize resolving problems like David’s takes time. But the static status of David held back his character development.

    Fire related scenes feeling like PSAs: David starts multiple fires over the course of Playing with Fire. While these moments are frightening due to how dangerous they are, it felt like the story shifted to present a somewhat subtle PSA (public service announcement) about fire safety. One way this feeling is achieved is how causes of fire or safety measures are heavily emphasized. In a scene where David causes his first fire within his home, his mother asks him how the fire started. David explains how an overloaded electrical socket was likely the cause, followed by a close-up shot of an overloaded electrical socket. This approach to the fire related scenes made the overall movie kind of seem like an “afterschool special”.

    The disappearance of Mike and Pamela: Like I mentioned earlier in this review, Mike is a friend of David who actually cares about his friend’s wellbeing. Pamela is also a friend of David, someone who kind of understands how David feels due to her parents’ divorce. Both of these characters were interesting. While Mike was subverting expectations, I wanted to see where Pamela’s character development went as the story progressed. But Pamela and Mike disappear from the story after about the film’s halfway point. Even though Pamela returns toward the end of Playing with Fire, she’s only on screen for almost four minutes. I wish Mike and Pamela played a more consistent role in the story, as they could have represented what to do if someone is afraid to speak up or doesn’t know how to help a loved one.

    Breaking heart image created by Kjpargeter at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/broken-heart-valentine-background_1041991.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Kjpargeter – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

    My overall impression:

    In the introduction of my review, I said I hoped to find an answer to the question of how Playing with Fire became “lost” in the first place. Now that I’ve seen the movie for myself, I think the movie just, simply, fell through the cracks of time. The way I feel about the 1985 movie is similar to the way I felt about the 1988 television film, Dance ‘Til Dawn; it didn’t go above and beyond enough to be considered good or great, but it wasn’t offensive enough to be bad or even disappointing. While there were elements of Playing with Fire I liked, such as how showing the reasons behind David’s behavior gives the audience a reason to empathize with David and his family, there were flaws that held the movie back from being a stronger picture. Some of these flaws include keeping David a static character for the majority of the movie, fire related scenes feeling like somewhat subtle PSAs, and Mike and Pamela disappearing from the story. At best, Playing with Fire is ok. It seems like the creative team behind the 1985 presentation had their hearts in the right place. But, at worst, the film feels like an hour and fifty-five-minute PSA about fire safety. There was even a video message at the end of Playing with Fire where Gary Coleman (the actor who portrayed David) explains the dangers of arson. With everything said, it’ll be interesting to hear what the consensus what will be for the movie on the Telehell Podcast.

    Overall score: 6-6.1 out of 10

    Have you seen Playing with Fire? Is there a piece of “lost media” you’d like to see become discovered? Let me know in the comment section!

    Have fun at the movies!

    Sally Silverscreen

    If you want to check out the podcast episodes I referenced in this review, visit the Youtube channel, Telehell Podcast, and listen to the episodes, ‘The Top 8 Darkest Moments in Kids TV Cartoons’ and ‘Prologue of Fire (“Playing with Fire” PREVIEW)’.

    Why ‘Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries’ is One of the Worst TV Shows I’ve Ever Seen

    On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

    In March of 2023, I wrote an editorial explaining why the mystery movie, Francesca Quinn, PI, is, in my opinion, the worst Hallmark movie I’ve ever seen. Three years later, that editorial has become my most popular one at over ten thousand views! But I honestly didn’t think I would publish another editorial like my Francesca Quinn, PI editorial. That changed, however, when I saw UP Network’s television series, Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries. Before this particular program debuted as a TV show, a preceding movie titled Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries: Blessings in Disguise premiered on UP Network. When I reviewed the film last year, I found it to be just ok. However, I saw potential for Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries: Blessings in Disguise to lead a series, as UP Network had an opportunity to bring something new to the table of made-for-TV mystery films. When I discovered Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries would become a television series, I believed I would get what I wanted; a continuation of the story that learned from the movie’s flaws while maintaining the strengths the movie put in place. But the longer I watched the show, I saw how I wasn’t getting what I wanted the way I wanted it. Before I explain why Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries is, in my opinion, one of the worst TV shows I’ve ever seen, I must make it very clear that everything said in this editorial is not meant to be disrespectful or mean-spirited. The purpose of this editorial is to, simply, express my honest opinion about a television show delivering wasted potential.

    Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries (2026) poster created by American Cinema Inspires

    A Broken Illusion of Immersion

    The visual elements of filmmaking, such as costume design, set design, and even establishing shots are woven together to create a specific illusion. This illusion makes a film’s or television show’s audience feel immersed in the story’s world, as if they are alongside the characters as the movie or show progresses. But a mishandled detail can break that illusion, preventing the audience from becoming truly invested in the story’s world. It’s established in the Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries TV show, and even in Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries: Blessings in Disguise, that the story takes place in Sugarcreek, Ohio, a state known for possessing the four seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter). Yet, in the first three episodes of Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries, taking place between Thanksgiving and Christmas, every establishing shot of Sugarcreek shows a very green landscape; green leaves on trees, green grass, and even green fields. If there was, for example, a lack of funds to purchase/rent a machine to create fake snow, why didn’t the screenwriters attempt to craft their story around the Spring and Summer time? Then, featuring green landscapes as establishing shots would have built the illusion of a warm climate environment. A consistent part of Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries is the Swiss Miss, the store the show’s protagonist, Cheryl, works at. The view outside the windows is a large sheet with a picture of buildings surrounding the Swiss Miss printed on it. But this illusion is broken because, in a scene where a character leaves the store, a medium shot reveals edges of a gray wall, the borders of the sheet shown through one of the windows. The broken illusion of immersion found in some moments of Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries sometimes took me out of the show.

    This establishing shot is from the Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries trailer. I included it in my editorial as an example of the type of establishing shot featured within the show’s first three episodes (taking place between Thanksgiving and Christmas). Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries establishing shot found on IMDB.

    Stripping Away the Movie’s Creative Identity

    When I reviewed Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries: Blessings in Disguise, I praised the movie for pairing Cheryl, an English woman, and Naomi, an Amish woman, together as amateur sleuths. As I said in my review, this pairing was a creative way to avoid some of the tropes and clichés of made-for TV mystery films, such as a story’s female and male protagonist working together to solve the mystery, with these characters eventually forming a romantic relationship. When Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries became a television show, Naomi returned to the story but wasn’t really involved in solving mysteries alongside Cheryl. Instead, her role on the show consisted of sharing tidbits about Amish culture and quoting Scripture. Similar to Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries: Blessings in Disguise, I liked the incorporation of Amish culture. I also liked the inclusion of Scripture quotes, as it felt reminiscent of Hallmark’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered series. But not allowing Naomi and Cheryl to work together to solve mysteries strips away the movie’s creative identity which lay the blueprint for the television series. Not only does this creative decision do the character of Naomi a disservice, it also does the actress who portrays her, Denise Gossett, a disservice.

    Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries: Blessings in Disguise poster created by American Cinema Inspires

    Inconsistent storytelling

    The biggest flaw of the Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries TV show is the writing. One specific weak spot within the script is the inconsistent storytelling. I remember toward the beginning of the show’s first episode, ‘The buggy before the horse’, Naomi finds a silver necklace on the floor of her family’s barn. This necklace plays no role in the episode, let alone the rest of the series. An important detail about Cheryl that was established on the Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries television show and in Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries: Blessings in Disguise (from what I remember) is how interested she is in the mystery genre. She even listens to a true crime podcast on her way to work. While amateur detectives are likely to make mistakes, the mistakes Cheryl makes don’t add up for someone who seems to consume a lot of mystery genre stories. A glaring example is when Cheryl touches evidence after her office at the Swiss Miss was vandalized, despite Sugarcreek’s police chief’s, Chief Twitchell’s, warning not to do so. When parts of the story don’t match up, it can become a distracting detail. Because the inconsistent storytelling happened on several occasions throughout Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries, I couldn’t stay fully invested in the story.

    Detective work image created by Photoroyalty at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/investigation-background-design_1041877.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Photoroyalty – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

    Lack of urgency

    As I shared my overall impression of Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries: Blessings in Disguise, I said if UP Network is serious about creating a series out of this movie, they need to fix the lack of urgency. But when Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries became a TV show, the creative team behind the program doubled down on that lack of urgency, choosing to prioritize the story’s wholesome moments over the mysteries themselves. This imbalance between the mysteries and wholesome moments negatively impacted the story to the point I couldn’t take it seriously. In the show’s fourth episode, ‘Off the Beaten Path’, an FBI agent is desperately trying to find his grandmother, believing she boarded a bus full of tourists that went missing. The FBI agent fears his grandmother may be in danger, acting as if finding her is his top priority. Yet, he can somehow find the time to feed the goats on Naomi’s family’s farm, causing the momentum of the FBI agent’s frantic search to come to an abrupt halt. I recognize the brand of UP Network emphasizes family-friendly content. Even though there is a time and place for family-friendly content, this emphasis overshadowed the mysteries, causing the episodes to receive a slower pace and even feel boring.

    Living room interior image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/house-s-living-room-with-flat-design_1195527.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/design”>Design vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

    Like I said in the introduction of this editorial, I honestly didn’t think I would publish another editorial like the one about Francesca Quinn, PI. This is because I never thought I’d come across another program that was so bad (in my opinion), it warranted its own editorial explanation. As someone who not only wrote about Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries: Blessings in Disguise, but was also looking forward to the Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries TV show, saying the television program was a disappointment is an understatement. To quote Alan from the Youtube channel, Film Threat, Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries is “profoundly awful”. Besides the flaws I pointed out throughout my editorial, this TV show was plagued by other errors. Some of these errors are repetitive storytelling (Cheryl’s office at the Swiss Miss gets robbed three times over eight episodes), a consistently weak performance from Galadriel Stineman (the actress who portrayed Cheryl), and parts of the story that don’t make sense (a character named Lacey perfectly fits into an outfit designed for Naomi’s daughter, Esther, who is several inches shorter than Lacey). According to Net, from the blog, It’s a Wonderful Movie, the creative team behind Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries has been filming a second season. However, I haven’t heard any official word if the show has indeed been renewed. If Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries does receive a second season, I’d like to see the show’s creative team learn from their mistakes. A few ways to do this are maintaining the illusion of immersion, telling a more consistent story, and incorporating more urgency into the script. At the same time, I would like to see Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries embrace what made Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries: Blessings in Disguise unique, like having Naomi become more involved in solving mysteries alongside Cheryl.

    Have fun on television!

    Sally Silverscreen

    Take 3: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Review

    On By 18cinemalane8 Comments

    June’s theme for Genre Grandeur is “Movies With Genre Bending themes”. I spent a lot of time researching potential titles due to how specific this theme is. But with this month’s Genre Grandeur overlapping with the Legends of Western Cinema Week Blogathon, I chose the 2007 movie, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. According to an article of The 10 Best Genre-Bending Movies Of All Time from the website, Taste of Cinema, “What makes the film [The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford] one of the true genre-bending westerns is how it chooses to present it mythology of the west”. The author of the article, Mark Serravalle, explained how “The characters are more life-like and complicated than how they are made out in the stories that are told about them”. I will admit that, even though I’ve heard of him, I know very little about Jesse James. In fact, the titles I’ve selected for past Legends of Western Cinema Week Blogathons have revolved around either fictional or fictionalized stories. Therefore, reviewing The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is not only a learning opportunity for 18 Cinema Lane, it’s allowing my blog to travel newer paths within the realm of blogathons.

    The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford poster created by Warner Bros., Virtual Studios, Scott Free Productions, Plan B Entertainment, Alberta Film Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Pictures International

    Things I liked about the film:

    The acting: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford received two nominations at the 80th Academy Awards. One of those nominations was given to Casey Affleck for his portrayal of the titular Robert Ford. Looking back on the 2007 movie, I can agree with the Academy’s decision! What I liked about Casey’s performance is his ability to say so much without saying anything at all. A perfect example is when Robert is reflecting on the similarities he and Jesse share. Throughout this recollection, Robert appears disappointed and even defeated. His eyes and the slight frown his mouth adopts give these feelings away. But every now and then, a smile shows up on Robert’s face and his eyebrows even move upwards. This moment effectively illustrates how Robert has become disillusioned by the reality of who Jesse really is, yet fondly remembers his fabricated image of him.

    If I had to be brutally honest, I think Brad Pitt should have been nominated for his portrayal of Jesse James. This is because, through his acting talents, Brad presented Jesse as the opposite of what one might expect. When it comes to legendary figures like Jesse James, presentations of being “larger than life” and a “showman” could give the impression Jesse was an untouchable, unstoppable force. But Brad’s portrayal of Jesse emphasizes the human he was; capable of feeling fear, making mistakes, and constantly looking over his shoulder. A perfect example of this point is when Jesse is interrogating Robert’s cousin, Albert. When Albert claims he doesn’t know Robert’s whereabouts, Jesse beats Albert up because he thinks Albert is lying. During the beating, the anger on Jesse’s face is very evident. But as he realizes Albert is, indeed, telling the truth, Jesse’s face quickly goes from angry to confused. He adopts a “thousand yard stare” as well as a look of disbelief, wondering how he could be so wrong. Several minutes later, as he’s preparing to leave on horseback, Jesse bursts into tears, realizing he just crossed a line.

    The cast of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford gave performances that were well-done. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see Jeremy Renner star in the film as Wood Hite! Before reviewing the 2007 film, I had seen Jeremy’s portrayal of Clint Barton/Hawkeye throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and his portrayal of Aaron Cross from The Bourne Legacy. But what was different about Jeremy’s portrayal of Wood is how he had to rely more on emotion in order to carry the character through the story. During an exchange between Wood and Robert, Wood shares how his mother is Jesse’s father’s sister. He tries to use his familial connection as leverage against Robert, smugly smiling and his tone of voice sounding very arrogant. When Robert questions this familial connection, Wood’s face quickly changes to a look of shock. His tone of voice becomes defensive and his eyes grow wide. This example shows how, even though Jeremy appeared in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford for a limited period of time, the versatility of his acting talents were on full display!

    The cinematography: Remember when I said The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford received two nominations at the 80th Academy Awards? Well, the other nomination was given to Roger Deakins for the Cinematography category. Once again, this is a decision I agree with the Academy on! Two of the best examples of the cinematography’s mastery in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford happens during a train robbery taking place toward the beginning of the movie. When the train stops right in front of Jesse, only the train’s front light is shining. White smoke forms around both the train and Jesse. Because of the minimal lighting, Jesse is presented as a silhouette. He’s presented as a silhouette again when he’s walking beside the train, emerging from the aforementioned white smoke. Only the light from the train’s window illuminates the scene, giving the scene itself a warm, orange glow. Through the cinematography, these two examples elaborate how Jesse was depicted by those who didn’t know him well; a mysterious myth who seized the attention of others.

    More unique ideas brought to the Western genre’s table: It seems like the two most common settings in the Western genre are deserts and plains. But what if I told you a forest is where parts of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford take place? While there were plains in the 2007 film, I’d argue forests were featured in the story the most. Because forests are usually not known for being a Western genre location, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford brings something more unique to the genre’s table. In Western genre films revolving around legendary figures like Jesse James, the script typically focuses on the prime of the figure’s life, highlighting the most exciting, thrilling parts of their story. But The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford showcases Jesse and his gang’s life after crime. Even the train robbery I referenced earlier was not presented as a thrilling, exciting event. Instead, that train robbery is shown as a scary event full of uncertainty, fear, and even violence. These screenwriting choices gave the 2007 movie a sense of honesty that isn’t always found in the Western genre.

    Legends of Western Cinema Week banner created by Hamlette from Hamlette’s Soliloquy and Heidi from Along the Brandywine

    What I didn’t like about the film:

    The run-time: As listed on IMDB, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford’s run-time is two-hours and forty-minutes. Similar to my thoughts about Gods and Generals’s run-time, the 2007 film’s run-time can definitely be felt. The story of Jesse James and his gang’s life after crime is told at a slower pace. That paired with the aforementioned run-time causes The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford to feel unnecessarily stretched out. I found myself zoning in and out while watching the movie, concerned I’d fall asleep during my movie-viewing experience. One solution to this flaw would have been to trim scenes that linger, such as a scene where Jesse stares at his brother, Frank, for what seems like a minute.

    A somewhat misleading title: When I recently reviewed The Naked Jungle, I criticized the movie for its somewhat misleading title. Even though the titular jungle played a role in the story, it didn’t appear until about the last forty minutes of the hour and thirty-five minute film. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford possesses the same flaw. Based on the title alone, one would believe the titular event would serve as the story’s primary focus. But that event doesn’t end up happening until the film’s last twenty-seven minutes. This means during The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford’s two-hour and forty-minute run-time, most of that time is spent leading up to the event itself. The audience is forced to wait over two hours for Jesse’s other shoe to drop.

    The dialect: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford takes place during the late 1800s. This setting in time encouraged the film’s creative team to adopt historical accuracy. While that aspect of filmmaking was achieved visually, it was also achieved vocally, as the cast spoke with the dialect (as well as the dialogue) of the story’s time. Despite these historically accurate achievements, there were times I found it difficult to understand what the characters were saying. Because I don’t hear that dialect (and dialogue) consistently, I was forced to actively pay attention to what was being said. Otherwise, there’s a good chance I would have missed important context.

    Sheriff badge image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/brown-cowboy-label-set_1543252.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/vintage”>Vintage vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

    My overall impression:

    The more I think about The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, the more it reminds me of Gods and Generals and The Naked Jungle. Not only does the 2007 movie possess a run-time that is, in my opinion, too long (like Gods and Generals), its title is also somewhat misleading (like The Naked Jungle). While I appreciate the creative team’s efforts to make their film look and sound historically accurate, I sometimes found it difficult to understand what the characters were saying. But despite these flaws, it’s evident there was merit put toward the project. Besides the historically accurate appearance of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, the cinematography made the film visually interesting. The train robbery scene proves how the movie’s creative team took advantage of film’s visual medium to present their intended ideas. The cast as a whole gave good performances, especially Casey Affleck, Brad Pitt, and Jeremy Renner. But what I appreciate the most about The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is how more unique ideas were brought to the table of the Western genre. From setting parts of the story in a forest to showcasing Jesse and his gang’s life after crime, these creative choices prevent the Western genre from becoming stagnant. It also illustrates how creatively diverse the Western genre can be.

    Overall score: 6 out of 10

    Have you seen The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford? What creatively unique ideas from the Western genre have stood out to you? Let me know in the comment section below!

    Have fun at the movies!

    Sally Silverscreen

    Here’s the link to the article I referenced in this review if you’re interested in reading it: https://www.tasteofcinema.com/2023/the-10-best-genre-bending-movies-of-all-time/

    Take 3: The Naked Jungle (1954) Review

    On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

    This is my third time participating in the Luso World Cinema Blogathon. Back in 2021, I wrote about the 2005 film, Ladies in Lavender, which I thought was just ok. Then last year, I reviewed Jasmine Guy’s episodes of Touched by An Angel. While the episodes, “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Lost and Found”, were fine, “Clipped Wings” became my least favorite Touched by An Angel episode reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane, so far. But these previous entries for the Luso World Cinema Blogathon were chosen based on a particular actor’s or actress’s involvement in a project. For this year’s event, I decided to select a movie based on its location. Therefore, I picked the 1954 film, The Naked Jungle! According to the criteria for the Luso World Cinema Blogathon, The Naked Jungle takes place in Brazil. The movie was also recommended to me by Maddy (from Maddy Loves Her Classic Films). Both Charlton Heston and Eleanor Parker are no strangers to 18 Cinema Lane. Not only have I covered 1959’s Ben-Hur, I’ve also written about Interrupted Melody, The Man with the Golden Arm, and Return to Peyton Place!

    The Naked Jungle (1954) poster created by Paramount Pictures

    Things I liked about the film:

    The acting: In this review’s introduction, I stated how both Charlton Heston and Eleanor Parker are no strangers to 18 Cinema Lane. After reviewing three of Eleanor’s movies, what I’ve noticed is how Eleanor uses emotion to her advantage. Despite only writing about one of Charlton’s films, Ben-Hur, I can appreciate the consistency of his acting strengths. These compliments can be applied to Eleanor’s and Charlton’s portrayal of Joanna and Christopher in The Naked Jungle! Throughout the 1954 picture, Christopher is a stoic man who prioritizes his plantation. So, when Joanna comes into his life, he carries frustration, pride, and even entitlement in his eyes, through his voice, as well as his body language. Meanwhile, Joanna is a sweet and gentle woman who is open-minded to her new life with Christopher. But when Christopher becomes argumentative with her, Joanna shows little to no fear, effortlessly replacing sweetness with fierce confidence. Because of how strong both Charlton’s and Eleanor’s performance was, their characters were interesting to watch! One of my favorite scenes in The Naked Jungle is when Joanna meets a Commissioner who happened to board the same boat as her. Portrayed by William Conrad, the Commissioner had the charisma and friendly personality to brighten up a room. I could even sense nice on-screen chemistry between William and Eleanor. These factors made me look forward to scenes featuring the Commissioner!

    The set design: When it comes to set design, sometimes less is more. This was definitely the case for The Naked Jungle! My favorite set was Joanna’s room because of how pops of color were incorporated into the space. Standing out against the white walls and shutters were gold sconces, dark wood furniture, and bright hued chairs. The vanity area was, in my opinion, the most impressive! An ornate, gold mirror proudly hung on the wall. Right underneath the mirror was a dark wood vanity table, nicely complimenting the mirror’s shiny frame. A chair with green cushions provided a visually appealing bridge between the darker and brighter hues. Though all the pieces of décor were simplistic in design, the overall room presented an elegant, classy, and timeless space!

    The dialogue: I sometimes come across films where some of the dialogue is so clever, it sticks in my memory. The Naked Jungle happens to be one of those films! An example of memorably clever dialogue is when Joanna arrives in Brazil for the first time. As Christopher’s “number one man”, Incacha, introduces himself, even bringing up his title, Joanna addresses herself as Christopher’s “number one wife”, as she desperately wants to know where her husband is. The quick response and immediate play on words make this response cordial and somewhat hilarious. Another great example arrives after Joanna and Christopher meet. When Christopher tells Joanna how the tropics have their own schedule, Joanna asks, “What time is bedtime”? Christopher replies by saying, “Whenever you wish, madam”. Joanna then tells Christopher with a hint of playful sarcasm, “I wouldn’t want to upset your schedule”. This comeback works because of the screenwriting and Eleanor’s performance!

    6th Luso World Cinema Blogathon banner created by Le from Crítica Retro and Beth Ann from Spellbound With Beth Ann

    What I didn’t like about the film:

    Lack of on-screen chemistry: As I previously talked about in this review, I liked the acting performances of Charlton Heston and Eleanor Parker. But what I didn’t like about their portrayals of Christopher and Joanna was their lack of on-screen chemistry. In this case, the fault lies in the screenwriters. Not only was the relationship between Joanna and Christopher tense, this tension between them lasted the majority of the movie. By the time Christopher and Joanna finally got around to appreciating the other’s company, this renewal of chemistry came too little too late. That writing choice made it difficult, for me, to determine if Charlton and Eleanor truly possessed any on-screen chemistry.

    The “locals” as background characters: “Locals” of the story’s Brazilian setting make appearances throughout The Naked Jungle. But these “locals” aren’t given much to do in the story. Among them was a gentleman who not only possessed Mayan ancestry within his family tree, he also carried around a small head known as his “treasure”. Because of these details, I thought he’d make a fascinating addition to The Naked Jungle’s script, using his family history and maybe even his “treasure” to help resolve the film’s overarching conflict. Unfortunately, this gentleman barely said anything in the one scene he was featured in. Even Incacha, the “number one man” of Christopher, receives a smaller role within the script. Despite dealing with a personal conflict of his own, that conflict has little bearing over the movie’s plot. I was disappointed by the creative decision to turn the “locals” into background characters. This is because their inclusion in the film made me want to learn more about their culture and perspective.

    A somewhat misleading title and synopsis: According to The Naked Jungle’s synopsis on IMDB, “a 2-mile-wide, 20-mile-long column of army ants” plan to destroy anything in their path, including Christopher’s plantation. With a movie titled, The Naked Jungle, one would think the titular jungle would play a significant role in the story. But the jungle doesn’t actually appear in the movie until about the last forty minutes. Meanwhile, the “army ants” I previously brought up aren’t shown on screen until about the last thirty minutes of the movie. Keeping in mind The Naked Jungle has a run-time of an hour and thirty-five minutes, this means the majority of the script prioritizes the tension between Christopher and Joanna. These creative choices I talked about make the title and synopsis seem kind of misleading.

    String of musical notes image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/pentagram-vector_710290.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a> <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com. 

    My overall impression:

    Have you ever seen a movie where it wasn’t bad, but it just didn’t meet or exceed your expectations? That’s how I felt after watching The Naked Jungle. Before reviewing the 1954 film, I expected a story where a husband and wife worked together to solve the problem of an ant infestation. But what I got instead was a movie that prioritized the tense relationship of Joanna and Christopher, the aforementioned husband and wife. While there was an ant infestation and the titular jungle did play a role in the story, these parts of the script didn’t arrive until toward the end of the movie. But as I waited for these arrivals, I came to appreciate certain aspects of The Naked Jungle. Not only did I like the “less is more” approach to the set design, I also liked how clever some of the dialogue was. I even liked the acting performances, including those from Eleanor and Charlton. When it comes to The Naked Jungle, however, I was left desiring more. Maybe I’ll review a film where the “locals” are given center stage.

    Overall score: 6 out of 10

    Have you seen The Naked Jungle? Is there a movie from Charlton Heston’s and/or Eleanor Parker’s filmography you’d like to see me review next? Please tell me in the comment section!

    Have fun at the movies!

    Sally Silverscreen