Hi everyone! Similar to restaurants, movie theaters, and other food establishments, it’s closing time for The Food & Film Blogathon. This event was a success, as the turn-out this year was larger ! To everyone who participated in The Food & Film Blogathon, thank you for your contribution. Whether it was a movie review or an editorial, the union between film and food was showcased in many different ways. I will host a new blogathon in 2026! But the event’s details won’t be revealed until sometime next February. Until then, you can check out my upcoming reviews, editorials, and lists!
The Food & Film Blogathon banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original picture found on IMDB.
Are you looking for a fun blogathon that combines the subjects of food and film? Join my upcoming blogathon, The Food & Film Blogathon! Taking place from October 2nd to October 5th, there’s still time to join the event! With the connection between food and film providing a broad theme, plenty of topics are available to choose. If you’re interested in participating in The Food & Film Blogathon, click on the link below to learn more about the blogathon.
For this year’s blogathon, I had several potential topics within my reach. But as I sifted through those topics, my mind kept going back to one particular thought. There hasn’t been a time when film and food were not associated with one another. Think about it; have you ever been to a movie theater without a concession stand? Does your favorite movie feature a scene where characters share a meal together? Is the grey stuff from Beauty and the Beast truly edible? Food and film have been joined in a matrimony for many years, with this marriage taking on various forms. To celebrate this union, I am hosting the Food & Film Blogathon! While food themed movies typically come to mind, there is so much more to this theme. Here are some other ideas for those interested in participating in my event:
The Food & Film Blogathon banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original pictures found on IMDB.
Food-related movie promotions
The relationship between movies and the concession stand
Favorite meals from movies
Dinner & a Movie (either the show or the concept)
Recipes of meals from movies or associated with movies
Movie related food products (lunchboxes, reuseable cups, etc.)
Movie scenes involving food
Dine-In Theatres
The Food & Film Blogathon banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original pictures found in the video, “A Look at Bizarre Movie Tie-In Restaurant Foods”, from the Youtube channel, Seeker of The Lost.
If you’re joining The Food & Film Blogathon and found an idea you’re interested in writing about, please read the event’s official rules.
Please be respectful to the other participants and your chosen topic
Only new entries will be accepted
Participants can publish a maximum of three entries
Because of how broad this blogathon’s subject is, no duplicates are allowed
Creativity and fun are encouraged
Entries must be submitted between October 2nd-5th
If you plan on publishing your entry before or after the blogathon, please let me know as soon as possible
Share your entry idea in the comment section below!
Feature one of the four blogathon banners anywhere in your entry
The Food & Film Blogathon banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original pictures found in the video, “Fast Food Movie Tie-Ins and the History of the Summer Blockbuster!”, from the Youtube channel, PNP Videocast.
Participants of The Food & Film Blogathon
— Sally from 18 Cinema Lane — (Editorial) Fixing Food Related Movie “Gimmicks”
— Rebecca from Taking Up Room — (Movie Review) Burnt (2015)
— Le from Crítica Retrô — (Movie Review) Tampopo (1985)
— Ruth from Silver Screenings — (Movie Review) If You Could Only Cook (1935)
— Hamlette from Hamlette’s Soliloquy — (Movie Review) Chocolat (2000)
— Quiggy from The Midnite Drive-In — (Movie Reviews) Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978) and Attack of the Killer Donuts (2016)
— Virginie from The Wonderful World of Cinema— (Editorial) The Use of Food in Hitchcock Films
— Chloe the MovieCritic from Movies Meet Their Match — (Movie Review) Kung Fu Panda (2008)
The Food & Film Blogathon banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original picture found on IMDB.
While waiting for the arrival of Jeanette, Lucas asks Henry “you ever find yourself asking how you got here”? Henry responds by telling Lucas, “Just about all the time”. Lucas’ question was a very poignant inclusion in this episode. As When Calls the Heart is close to wrapping up their eleventh season and will soon embark on a twelfth season, it can be easy to think about and ask a question similar to Lucas’. Fans of a television show are so invested in what is happening on screen, they may not realize how much time has passed. When that realization dawns on a fan, they might wonder “where has all that time gone”? I guess Lucas’ question is a testament of the longevity of When Calls the Heart. Captivating stories and memorable characters have made each episode feel shorter than an hour.
Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.
When Calls the Heartseason eleven poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 11
Episode: 10
Name: What Goes Around
Major stories:
Allie still has her heart set on meeting her father, Dylan. Though she has money for a train ticket, Angela gives Allie more money to afford a hotel room if necessary. At the Jack Thornton School, Elizabeth organizes a day to restock school supplies, with some of her students volunteering to help. But when Allie doesn’t show up, Elizabeth and Nathan become concerned with Allie’s whereabouts. Angela confesses Allie’s plan to Nathan and Elizabeth. Nathan finally realizes why he received a phone call about Grandville prison earlier in the episode. When Elizabeth and Nathan arrive at the prison, they find Allie in tears. Allie tells Nathan Dylan didn’t want to see her. This crushing reality hurts Allie for most of the episode. As she wonders why her own father would reject her, Nathan explains to Allie how Dylan made a mistake by refusing to see his daughter. Nathan also stresses how lucky he has been to have received the opportunity to raise Allie. Toward the end of the episode, Nathan thanks Elizabeth for supporting both him and Allie. Elizabeth tells him how she will always to there for them.
As a last resort, Lucas agrees to meet with Jeanette about her hotel bid. Even though Henry claims everything seems legitimate, Lucas still has his doubts. Similar to his meeting with Montague, Lucas wants to keep this meeting a secret. This secrecy concerns Lee and he turns to Maisie to share these concerns. For the first time, Maisie and Lee agree on something. They come together to create a statement pulling their support for the hotel. After Lucas receives this statement, he regains his memory. Lucas not only remembers Jeanette visiting him the night he got shot, he also remembers a man named Casimir Shaw shooting him. When he confronts Jeanette about these memories, she confesses how Casimir forced her to work with him. Jeanette shares Casimir’s involvement in the hotel bid as well. In response to all this news, Lucas cancels the hotel indefinitely. He also encourages Jeanette to leave Hope Valley in the middle of the night.
Faith spends one more day with Lily before Dora comes to retrieve her. One of the things they do is have ice cream at the Ice Cream Parlor. Later in the episode, Dora arrives in Hope Valley. Though Lily is excited about her grandmother’s return, she’s also heartbroken about leaving “Auntie Faith”. Seeing how upset Lily is about saying goodbye to Faith, Dora and Faith come to a mutual agreement: Lily will permanently stay with Faith. Dora also agrees to visit Lily from time to time.
At the Queen of Hearts Hotel, Maisie tells Mei how her and Mike’s mother would love to meet Mei. Brother and sister agree for Mei and their mother to meet over dinner in a few days. Despite being put on the spot, Mei accepts the offer. While Mei comes up with a meal plan for the dinner, Mike confesses to Mei how Maisie invited the whole family to meet Mei. Even though she receives unexpected news, Mei still agrees to the dinner. When the dinner finally arrives, Mei not only meets Mike and Maisie’s mother, she also meets Maisie and Mike’s sisters. After all the curve balls during the planning process, the dinner itself is a success.
In my last Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap post, I stated how the hotel was not worth losing friends over. I still stand by that statement. But from a production perspective, it seems like the creative team behind the show made a promise they likely couldn’t keep. As I said in one of my re-cap posts from this season, creating a television show is like trying to solve a math equation. One aspect of that equation is figuring out how to utilize funds and manage a budget. Building a set piece, whether it’s the Jack Thornton School or a hotel, costs money. The longer a television show stays on the air, the more money required to keep that show running. With all that said, I wonder why the show’s creative team would entertain the idea of a hotel if they probably couldn’t afford to create one?
Back in season five, one of the overarching subjects was the creation of a train depot. Since this depot had been heard but not seen, I honestly didn’t think it would ever appear on the show. However, this is the second episode this season where Hope Valley’s train depot was featured! It actually looks like a nice location. Plus, the train depot proves how Hope Valley has become a desirable travel destination since the show began in 2014. With Hope Valley and Benson Hills merging in the future, I wonder what will happen to the train depot?
Strong acting performances have been showcased throughout the lifespan of When Calls the Heart. But in this episode, I thought the strongest performances were Kevin McGarry’s and Jaeda Lily Miller’s! One of the best scenes this season was when Nathan explains to Allie why Dylan didn’t want to see his daughter. The emotion expressed between these characters appeared genuine. The sincerity of Allie and Nathan’s emotions and expressions were the result of Jaeda and Kevin’s acting talents!
Shortly after Lee became Mayor, Rosemary suggests organizing an event to allow Hope Valley’s residents to have a one-on-one meeting with Lee. She creates a list of notable people who she’d like to invite, calling these folks “Very Important Hope Valley People”. While some of these “Very Important Hope Valley People” include Mike, Mei, and Ned, this quote from Rosemary brings up an excellent point. There are several characters on When Calls the Heart that have returned season after season. Over the years, characters like Elizabeth, the Coulters, and Lucas have become beloved within the Heartie community. Well liked characters, such as Tom Thornton, Jesse, and Clara have left a memorable impression during their time on the show. An argument can be made how every character, whether they’ve made a brief appearance in Hope Valley or have made the town their permanent residence, makes up the “Very Important Hope Valley People”. The talents, skills, personalities, and connections of every character make When Calls the Heart what it is today!
Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.
When Calls the Heartseason eleven poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 11
Episode: 6
Name: Believe
Major stories:
With the Jack Thornton School being integrated into the valley school district, Elizabeth is expecting a visit from Mr. Wilcox, the valley school district’s superintendent. Plans change when Thomas Higgins becomes the new superintendent and pays Elizabeth a visit instead. The purpose of the visit is to inform Elizabeth of the “guidelines” schools in the valley district must follow. Because there is a history between Thomas and Elizabeth, he tries to use intimidation to get Elizabeth to make certain choices. In a meeting about these “guidelines”, Elizabeth addresses the use of standardized tests. She fears these tests will limit her students’ academic potential, as she believes her students learn best with more individualized teaching methods. Thomas doesn’t agree with Elizabeth, suggesting how some students should be placed in specialized schooling instead. Shortly after this meeting, Thomas meets Anna, who is still working alongside Elizabeth. Later in the episode, Anna agrees to go back to teaching college with Thomas. Anna explains to Elizabeth how Thomas is organizing a recruiting opportunity for her career after college. Concerned for Anna’s safety and Thomas’ constant intimidation, Elizabeth turns to Nathan to share her history with Thomas. While attending teaching college, Elizabeth caught Thomas’ attention. Since Thomas was the head of the teaching college at the time, he possessed power and influence. At first, Elizabeth was flattered by the attention she was receiving from Thomas. But over time, he became more obsessed with Elizabeth, to the point where he adopted unprofessional behavior. With this information in mind, Nathan and Elizabeth organize a meeting in an attempt to get Thomas to confess to his poor choices. This plan works and Nathan warns Thomas of the charges he’ll be given. To utilize the power he has, Thomas turns to Lucas and shares this meeting between him, Elizabeth, and Nathan. Lucas states how he believes Elizabeth as well as the other women that were intimidated by Thomas. Because Thomas tries to intimidate Lucas into taking his side, Lucas informs Thomas of other charges he will receive. Thomas leaves Hope Valley a less powerful man than before he came to town.
While organizing a meeting between Lee and Hope Valley’s residents, Rosemary is still investigating Lucas’ case. One day in town, she makes a trip to town hall and delivers more documents relating to Pike. Rosemary shares with Bill how she made a request to speak with Pike in jail, but the request was denied by the judge. Later in the episode, Rosemary visits Bill at the saloon with an important piece of information. According to Pike’s employment records, he worked for Union City Holdings, the company Montague owned in season ten. This fuels Bill and Rosemary’s belief that Montague may have played a role in Lucas’ case.
Joseph attempts to write a letter to his brother, Jacob. His attempts haven’t been fruitful, the words not coming to Joseph easily. In order to help her husband, Minnie asks Joseph what he’d like to tell his brother. Joseph shares how he would like to go back to the way things were. He also isn’t aware of how his feud with Jacob started. Meanwhile, Mei is missing her brother, who is a Merchant Marine. At the café with Mike, she reflects on her mom’s cooking. This reflection inspires Mei to create a home cooked meal for Mike. Though she has to specially order some ingredients and borrow a wok from Florence, Mei accomplishes her goals and hosts a dinner date. Mike is not only impressed with the food itself, he’s also impressed with Mei’s efforts to make the date special. Mike proclaims how he’d like to be a part of Mei’s whole life.
· As I mentioned in this re-cap, Anna leaves Hope Valley to return to teaching college with Thomas. Before she leaves, Anna explains to Elizabeth how Thomas is organizing a recruiting opportunity for her career after college. But during this explanation, Elizabeth doesn’t warn Anna about the kind of person Thomas is. She also doesn’t share her story with Anna, in the hope of preventing Anna from being in harms way. Even though Elizabeth confronted Thomas, I wish Elizabeth had said something to Anna before she left Hope Valley, especially since she knew what Thomas was capable of.
· With the eleventh season of When Calls the Heart at the halfway point, I’d like to make an observation. It seems like there are more sibling related stories this season compared to past seasons. First, we have Mike dealing with the sibling rivalry of his sister, Maisie. Then, Angela and Cooper worked through a feud after hearing a story about Joseph and Jacob. Mei brought up her brother in this episode and Tom Thornton will come to Hope Valley in the next episode. This overarching theme is one I definitely did not expect this season!
· In my re-cap for this season’s first episode, I commented on how the sign for the café changed from ‘Abigail’s Café’ to ‘The Café’. This is not the only establishment in Hope Valley to receive a new sign. The day care was given their own sign and the ‘Queen of Hearts Saloon’ is now the ‘Queen of Hearts Hotel’. It makes me wonder if any more signs in Hope Valley will change?
In this episode of When Calls the Heart, Lucas told Elizabeth “a good solution is a deal that everyone wants to take”. After he said this, I took note of how several characters in this episode were searching for the right solution to their dilemmas. From the Coulters looking for the perfect name for their daughter to some of Hope Valley’s children trying to come up with a compromise for the hot springs, there are always conflicts that need to be resolved. Conflicts make a story interesting. But the solutions that are discovered can also add intrigue to the story. In the end, the resolutions made in Hope Valley have, more often than not, benefitted all parties involved. This allows Hope Valley’s residents to keep the peace. Now, let’s re-cap this episode of When Calls the Heart!
Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.
When Calls the Heartseason ten poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 10
Episode: 6
Name: The Heart of the Problem
Major stories:
Rosemary and Lee are still trying to find the perfect name for their daughter. They try giving her several nicknames, but none of them are a good match. While shopping with her daughter at the Mercantile, Rosemary discovers a music box. When she hears the box’s tune, Rosemary recollects on a memory from her past. Later that day, at a check-up appointment, Rosemary confides in Faith how the birth of her daughter has caused her to reminisce about her mother, who not only left her family when she was five, but also passed away when she was eighteen. Faith states to Rosemary how she is grieving her mother’s loss. After the appointment, Rosemary talks about her mother with Elizabeth. Lee even tries to cheer his wife up. In his attempt, Lee learns that Joseph has kept Rosemary’s chest, the same chest Rosemary wanted to get rid of in this season’s third episode. When Rosemary and Lee look through the chest, they discover the contents belonged to Rosemary’s mother. Through a conversation with Elizabeth, Rosemary shares her parents separated when she was younger, which explains why her mother left the family. She also states how she now feels closer to her mother. At the end of the episode, Rosemary and Lee decide to name their daughter Marigold Elizabeth Coulter, calling her “Goldy” for short, in honor of Rosemary’s mother.
Toby, Cooper, Ally, and Angela look forward to visiting the hot springs before and after school. Due to the tourists arriving in Hope Valley for the hot springs, the children are frustrated by the tourists’ inability to share. Elizabeth and Lucas encourage the students to come up with a compromise, with Elizabeth using this experience to create a lesson for her class. While brainstorming a solution, Lucas offers Angela, Ally, Cooper, and Toby some useful advice; figuring out what the tourists want before sharing what they want. Taking this advice, the children try to create a schedule for the hot springs. This plan doesn’t work, as the tourists don’t want to give up their time at the springs. However, the children discover the reason why the tourists go to the springs; they feel visiting the springs is the only way to spend their time in Hope Valley. At the community barbeque, Lucas organizes some games for all the attendants, such as corn-hole and tug-of-war. The success of these games opens the door for other activities for the tourists, like an exercise class. A new schedule has been set up for the hot springs as well, which makes everyone happy.
While working at the Mercantile, the young bandit, who Nathan refers to as “Harry”, shares with Nathan the troubles at his hometown, Eagle Creek. Due to a drought that took place a year ago, a company called Union City Holdings has attempted to purchase farm land. Someone from the company even tried to purchase Harry’s family’s land, which they refused to sell. Because of the poor land, families have left Eagle Creek. Even the town’s pastor left. During one of Harry and Nathan’s conversations, Madeleine seems to be eavesdropping on what they are saying. She looks worried when Union City Holdings is brought up.
Bill gives Madeleine the official papers for his land. During this exchange, Bill invites Madeleine to Hope Valley’s community barbeque, with Madeleine accepting Bill’s invitation. However, she is reconsidering her decision to stay in Hope Valley. Madeleine shares her thoughts with her son, Jamie. Jamie doesn’t want to leave Hope Valley, as he doesn’t feel lonely in the town. At the barbeque, Madeleine sees how much fun her son is having while playing a game of football, a clear sign of what decision Madeleine should make. Meanwhile, Bill still has his suspicions about Madeleine. He shares these thoughts with Nathan one evening.
Because of how successful business has been at the café, Minnie suggests hosting another community dinner. This time, Joseph and Minnie agree to prepare barbeque, St. Louis and Kansas City style. Leading up to the barbeque, some of Hope Valley’s residents try each style of barbeque. It seems like more people like the Kansas City barbeque the best. But the Canfields put each barbeque to the test, allowing residents to vote for their favorite barbeque. At the community barbeque, Minnie and Joseph discover the vote is tied. Upon hearing this news, Bill confessed how he mixed the barbeque sauces, claiming to like this new sauce.
As I mentioned in this re-cap, the Canfields create both St. Louis and Kansas City style barbeque. When Joseph said he was from Kansas City, I understood why that detail was brought up on When Calls the Heart. Not only does Kansas City and St. Louis have a real-life rivalry, Kansas City is also the location of Hallmark’s headquarters. This was a clever way of incorporating a Hallmark related “Easter egg” on the show!
While watching this episode of When Calls the Heart, I realized how much Harry’s story is reminiscent of Jesse’s story from season three. In the commercial for the next episode, it was revealed Elizabeth’s former student, Rosaleen, is returning to Hope Valley. Because Rosaleen and Harry appear to be around the same age, I wonder if these characters will pursue a romantic relationship? The show doesn’t have a younger couple included in the story. Christopher and Rachel have been the only younger couple in recent seasons, but they only appeared in one season.
Prior to the community barbeque, Joseph invites Henry to the event. During this conversation, the plant boxes that were built in the previous episode are shown on screen. I really like how these boxes turned out! The biggest box has sunflowers painted on the side. The smaller boxes double as benches, creating a spot for residents and visitors to admire the plants. When Calls the Heart’s prop department definitely deserve credit for these plant boxes!
I first discovered the Murder, She Wrote Cookalong on Wide Screen World. At the time, I thought, “What’s a cookalong”? I learned from Rich, the creator of the aforementioned blog, that a cookalong is pretty much a blogathon. Only this time, participants are required to cook a meal from a list of pre-selected recipes. Since I’ve never heard of on event like this before, I decided to join in on the fun! Out of all the recipes that were selected by Jenny, the creator of the cookalong and the blog, Silver Screen Suppers, I chose to make Martha Scott’s Coffee Ice Cream a la Star! After picking this recipe, I discovered that Martha Scott starred in 1959’s Ben-Hur, the movie that I reviewed back in January. The episode that Martha Scott guest-starred on, “The Days Dwindle Down”, was requested by Robin from Pop Culture Reverie. So, I was very excited to create this dessert and talk about this episode! Since the recipe itself is so short, I decided to review Martha’s episode of Murder, She Wrote. But first, let’s showcase the reason why this article exists: the step to step instructions of how to make the Coffee Ice Cream a la Star!
(all of the pictures in this part are screenshots I took with my phone)
Ingredients
Vanilla Ice Cream
Instant Coffee
Step 1. Leave vanilla ice cream out of the freezer until it is slightly soft.
Step 2. Put 2 pt. of vanilla ice cream into a bowl
Step 3. Take another bowl and put 4 teasp. of instant coffee in it.
Step 4. Put a few tablesp. of ice cream into the same bowl as the instant coffee.
Step 5. Mix the ice cream and the instant coffee with an electric mixer. After pouring the blend into the bowl with the vanilla ice cream, mix the batch with the electric mixer. It’s important to not let the ice cream melt.
Step 6. Pour the blend into an ice cube tray. After that, place the tray in the freezer until the serving is consistent.
I tasted the dessert before I put it in the freezer and I absolutely enjoyed it! It reminded me of a milkshake style coffee drink found in cafes or created by national chain coffee companies. I’m very thankful that I picked this recipe because it was not only easy to make, but it also tasted so good! Now onto the second part of this post, my review of “The Days Dwindle Down”!
Episode Name: The Days Dwindle Down
Season 3, Episode 21
Premiere Date: April 19th, 1987
Unlike other episodes of Murder, She Wrote, this intro had a lighter tone and style. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.What I liked about this episode:
Before watching “The Days Dwindle Down”, I was told, by Robin, that this episode was a “sequel” to the 1949 movie, Strange Bargain. I had planned to watch the film prior to the episode. However, I was unable to rent the movie. Fortunately, clips from Strange Bargain were incorporated into “The Days Dwindle Down” as a way to explain what was happening on screen. This helped eliminate any confusion for audience members, like myself, who are not familiar with this story. The movie clips themselves were placed at moments that made sense within the context of the overall narrative. It never felt like Murder, She Wrote was trying to capitalize on the pre-existing material. The way the movie’s story was treated as an event from Jessica’s world and not as a film was very creative.
What I didn’t like about this episode:
The mystery within “The Days Dwindle Down” was a cold case. This means that the climatic moments of this story have already happened. The chosen direction of this episode caused the mystery to not feel as interactive as mysteries from other episodes. Very few clues were featured and the story was dialogue-heavy. While Jessica’s interactions with each suspect played an important role in this narrative, the overall mystery felt observant rather than engaging.
The mystery itself:
As I just said, the mystery in this episode was a cold case. While this type of mystery had its flaws, I liked seeing Murder, She Wrote take a creative risk. In most episodes, the mystery takes place in present time, while a good portion of the story revolves around answering the question of “whodunit”. “The Days Dwindle Down” focused on figuring out the truth behind the mystery’s final verdict. This made the story very unique from others on the show. It also brought a sense of variety to Jessica’s overarching narrative.
The other factors from this episode:
In “The Days Dwindle Down”, there was a brief discussion about justice and trying to achieve that idea. Murder, She Wrote is not known for introducing thought-provoking dialogue and encouraging conversation. But the way this concept was incorporated into the story brought some interest into the episode.
If you read my post called “Sally Watches…Murder, She Wrote”, you would know how impressed I was by the locations featured in the episodes. The Jarvis house is yet another location that looked appealing on screen. The interior of this house was eye-catching as well, appropriately fitting the role of a regal style for a wealthier group of people. Whoever scouted locations for this show deserves a Lifetime Achievement Award!
I like how some of the original cast members from Strange Bargain appeared in this episode! It gave this story a sense of authenticity and it satisfies the role of a continuation.
My overall thoughts:
I found myself liking “The Days Dwindle Down” more than I thought I would! This episode told a type of story that isn’t often found on Murder, She Wrote. Yet, it made this chapter of Jessica’s journey interesting and, at times, thought-provoking. I’ve never seen a tv show try to incorporate a movie into an episode’s story where the movie itself was not treated as a movie, but rather as a part of the tv show’s world. But it helped make “The Days Dwindle Down” stand out from the other episodes. As much as I enjoyed watching this mystery upfold, I’ll be one of the first people to admit it wasn’t perfect. The biggest flaw was how it wasn’t interactive. Despite this, I think this is one of the best episodes I’ve ever seen!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
The Jarvis house was so large in scale, that it couldn’t fit in one frame. However, this doesn’t take away it’s grandiose nature, with both interior and exterior. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.
As the sun sets for December, as well as 2018, lots of movie bloggers have participated in creating the lists of movies that they have liked and disliked. What I’ve noticed about these lists is that they’re filled with movies that are newly released films. While I have also decided to partake in making end-of-year movie lists, my lists will be slightly different from the rest. This difference is any movie that I saw within the year of 2018 is fair game. Like I said in my Top 10 Worst Hallmark Movies of All Time post, both of my end-of-year movie lists are not only based on my opinion, but also based on movies that I have personally seen. Before I talk about the list itself, I just wanted to mention that both of my movie lists were not created to be mean-spirited or negative toward anyone’s opinions/cinematic preferences. These lists are simply a way for me to be honest about the films that I liked and disliked within 2018. Now, as the title suggests, this is the list where I will share the Top 10 Best Movies I saw in 2018. I’ve been very grateful to have had a really good year in terms of movie-viewing. I’m not going to lie, this list was not easy to create. There were a good amount of films I saw, and sometimes reviewed, this year that I really liked. However, with the nature of any Top 10 list, there are bound to be movies that don’t make the cut. Speaking of which, let’s begin with this short list of 2018’s Honorable Mentions:
Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Christmas Everlasting, The Dark Knight, Love, Of Course, Christmas at Pemberley Manor, Darrow & Darrow: In the Key of Murder, Escape to Witch Mountain, Return from Witch Mountain, Shoelaces for Christmas, Flicka: Country Pride, Strangers on a Train, Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Will to Kill, Pearl in Paradise, The Bad Seed (2018), Christmas on the Coast, Love, Once and Always, and Runaway Romance
Now, the moment has come to start the official list! Let’s start with number 10:
10. Wedding of Dreams
Like I mentioned in my review for Wedding of Dreams, I said that, in 2016, I would have debated about why For Love and Honor was more deserving of a sequel than Summer of Dreams. However, Wedding of Dreams was not only a good movie individually, but also a great continuation to this particular story! One of my least favorite clichés that Hallmark has ever incorporated into their films is the “planning-a-wedding-in-an-unrealistic-time-period” cliché. While this cliché does appear in Wedding of Dreams, it was written in a way that actually makes sense for that specific story. What also helped this movie is not having this cliché be the primary focus. Instead, it serves as an interconnecting subplot that works together with another subplot. To me, this was the best wedding themed movie that Hallmark released in 2018!
9. Avengers: Infinity War
Despite the fact that I wasn’t a fan of this film’s ending and end-credit scene, I still found it to be an enjoyable film. All of the key components of Avengers: Infinity War looked and felt like they are handled with great care. Every detail, from the acting to Thanos himself, were put at the right place and time in order to create an entertaining cinematic experience! Besides the ending and end-credit scene, I was disappointed by the movie being more of a “set-up” film than I had expected. But, as I said in my spoiler-zone review of Avengers: Infinity War, I will take Dale Travers’ advice to “trust the timing” as I patiently wait for the arrival of Avengers: Endgame.
8. Oliver!
Yes, I know I just reviewed this movie recently. But, when I look back on all the movies that I’ve seen, and reviewed, in 2018, Oliver! just makes me smile. Honestly, this has quickly become one of my favorite movie musicals, with an engaging story and memorable songs. Even as I list these movies one by one, I still think of the song “Consider Yourself”. A great thing about movies is they can have the ability to find a special place in your heart. For me, this is exactly what Oliver! did, finding a special place in my heart in order to be carried and remembered as time goes on. As I mentioned in my review, this movie is one of the reasons why I’m thinking about reading Oliver Twist in 2019!
7. Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa
Out of all the Christmas movies that were released from Hallmark in 2017, Christmas in Evergreen was one of the last movies I would have expected to receive a sequel. However, this sequel pleasantly surprised me by how good of a film it was! What’s so great about Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa is that it adds something new to the story, as well as expand the world of Evergreen. It was nice to see two interesting, on-going mysteries in this film, with one of them leading to one of the best plot-twists in Hallmark movie history! Hallmark has proven that Evergreen is a truly special place, creating a likable environment filled with likable characters. I really hope Hallmark considers continuing the series, as I’m sure more stories can be found within this precious town.
6. Cowgirls ‘N Angels
This year, I was pleasantly surprised to find two horse themed movies that I really liked! One of these films was Cowgirls ‘N Angels, a movie that I had heard about, but never seen until 2018. The story within this movie was very sweet and emotional, keeping me invested throughout this cinematic journey. Bailee Madison’s performance was so great, it was actually one of her best acting performances that I’ve ever seen! Even though she was the youngest cast member in Cowgirls ‘N Angels, she still found a way to bring so much versatility and emotion to her character. It makes wish to see Bailee receive a dramatic role in a Hallmark movie. Yes, I know Bailee is an important member of the Good Witch television show. But, it’s been two or three years since we’ve seen Bailee star in a Hallmark movie that wasn’t Good Witch affiliated.
I think it’s safe to say that my friends, Bucky and Bucky, had a pretty good 2018! Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.
5. L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables: Fire & Dew
I have seen all of PBS’s Anne of Green Gables films starring Ella Ballentine, with the first movie being good and the second movie being just decent. However, I thought this third movie was the best one in this trilogy! Something that really impressed me about this story was the messages and themes that were found within the film’s narrative. These messages and themes, such as the importance of education, were not only worth promoting, but were also presented in a way that seemed very realistic. This made me feel good about what I was watching, like that time was well spent. I hope that PBS considers creating more movies for this series, as I would definitely like to see Anne’s story continue. For the most part, this particular Anne of Green Gables series has had a pretty good track record when it comes to quality. PBS has proven that they have what it takes to make entertaining and meaningful films.
4. Jurassic Park
I had such a great movie-going experience when I saw Jurassic Park at a Fathom Events screening. One of the reasons why is how great of a movie this was! For me, Jurassic Park has almost everything I could want in a movie, making the movie itself such a memorable masterpiece. I mentioned in my review that I saw Jurassic Park for the first time in 2018. Looking back on this film, I’m glad I chose to review this movie when I received 25 followers on my blog. Otherwise, I might have missed out on a truly spectacular film! I have not yet seen the other films within this series, so I might have to make time to see them in 2019.
3. Saving Mr. Banks
This is a film that I’m so glad to have finally seen! I said in my review of Saving Mr. Banks that I have wanted to see this film for a while. When I received five followers on 18 Cinema Lane, I decided to make the time to see this movie. I can only speak for myself, but I think I made a wise choice. There were several great things about this film that helped make it the gem that it is. Similar to what I said about Avengers: Infinity War, everything about Saving Mr. Banks seems like it has handled with such great care. Because of this, my experience with watching this film ended up being a great one!
2. Cooking with Love
This was the first movie to receive a perfect score (10 out of 10) out of all the movies I reviewed in 2018! Even after all these months later, I can still remember how excited I was to share my thoughts about Cooking with Love with all my readers and followers. This movie took something that I love (the Hallmark movie, This Magic Moment) and added even more creativity to it. There were so many great elements in this film, that it truly makes me smile just thinking about the film as a whole. While there were a few things that I didn’t like about the movie, these things were minor and didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the movie. I would definitely love to see Cooking with Love receive a sequel, especially since there are enough story elements within this narrative to naturally lend itself well to a second chapter.
1. Royally Ever After
While Cooking with Love was the first movie to receive a perfect score on 18 Cinema Lane, it was definitely not the last. Royally Ever After also received a score of 10 out of 10! There is no such thing as a “perfect” Hallmark movie. But, to me, this film was the first Hallmark movie I’ve seen in quite a while to be as close to “perfect” as possible. The best part of Royally Ever After is how the creative team behind this project went out of their way to use as few “Hallmark royal movie” clichés as possible. It felt like Hallmark had taken a concept that had been told so many times and give it a much welcomed “breath of fresh air”. Like Cooking with Love, Royally Ever After has enough story elements to naturally lend itself towards a sequel. Besides, as far as I know, Hallmark has never made a movie that featured a royal wedding. This would be a great way for this movie to, potentially, be the start of a new series!
Royally Ever After poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel. Image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=142&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=Royally%20Ever%20After&IsSeries=False.
What did you think of my list? What was the best movie you saw in 2018? Please let me know in the comment section!
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of viewing one of Hallmark’s newest releases, Cooking with Love. I cannot wait to share my thoughts on this movie with you! In fact, this is the first time I’ve reviewed a movie for 18 Cinema Lane that I was truly excited to talk about! This movie made me remember how much I enjoy sharing my love of movies with others. Well, when there’s too many cooks in the kitchen, then that’s my cue to review Cooking with Love!
Cooking with Love poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel Image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=142&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=Cooking+with+Love
Things I liked about the film:
The acting: Cooking with Love’s cast was fantastic! From the leading actor and actress to all the child actors, everyone brought the best of their acting abilities to Hallmark’s table (get it? Tables? Cooking?). Ali Liebert has come a long way since appearing in her very first Hallmark movie six years ago and, as a Hallmark fan, I couldn’t be prouder. Her character reminded me so much of Belle from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (1991) in terms of her mannerisms and how Ali’s character interacted with the other characters. Brett Dalton pulled off an amazing performance, especially for his first time starring in a Hallmark movie! A much-deserved kudos to everyone in this cast!
The incorporation of Valentine’s Day: Even though this movie was a part of Hallmark Channel’s “Countdown to Valentine’s Day” line-up, the film’s use of the holiday didn’t come off as overbearing. Also, the story was fueled on the moral aspects of Valentine’s Day instead of relying on the typical visuals and symbols (such as heart decorations, conversation candy hearts, etc.). Things like being kind, helping others to be the best they can be, and getting to know someone and keeping their best interests in mind are aspects to Valentine’s Day that don’t always get prominently showcased in a Valentine’s themed movie. However, these elements are what made Cooking with Love seem like a breath of fresh air.
The behind-the-scenes element: The majority of this movie featured a peek behind the curtain of the process involved in creating a television show. Hallmark doesn’t tell stories like this often, but when they do, it’s a real treat (see what I did there? Treats? Cooking?)! This aspect of Cooking with Love reminded me of one of my favorite Hallmark movies, This Magic Moment, where a good portion of the film explored the filming of a movie from a behind-the-scenes perspective. I felt this behind-the-scenes look at television shows made Cooking with Love’s story educational in an engaging and entertaining way!
The messages and themes: I really liked the story of Cooking with Love! One of the reasons why I found this story captivating is the messages and themes that were effortlessly woven into the script. Ideas such as the power of kindness, making a positive and influential difference in someone’s life, and not being afraid to speak up are morals and beliefs that Hallmark should continue to promote! These morals and beliefs made the story not only feel believable, but also uplifting.
There’s only a few, minor things in this film that bothered me. However, I need to point out that these things did not affect my overall enjoyment of the film. The things that did bother me are the following:
Not showing anyone who was cooking washing their hands beforehand, as well as not mentioning hand washing
The two-or-more-people-taste-testing-the-sauce-with-the-same-stirring-spoon cliché
Not featuring an elimination process for the show’s contestants
Even though it’s only February, this is, so far, the best Hallmark movie I’ve seen in 2018! It’s also one of the best Hallmark movies I’ve ever seen! The all-around quality of this film has instantly made it one of my new favorites. I really hope Cooking with Love gets released on DVD and I would love it if Cooking with Love got a sequel.
Overall score: 10 out of 10
Did you watch Cooking with Love? What are your thoughts on it? Please let me know in the comment section!
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