Tag: made-for-tv movie

Take 3: Dance ‘Til Dawn (1988) Review

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

You probably saw the title of this review, read the film’s synopsis on IMDB, and wonder, “What does this made-for-TV movie from the ‘80s have to do with the subject of neighbors”? What if I asked you to think about the subject of neighbors from Mr. Rogers’ perspective? On the television show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, the opening theme song was “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” The show’s overarching theme of neighbors is more about community and a sense of belonging to it. With this perspective in mind, the 1988 made-for-TV production, Dance ‘Til Dawn, fits this definition of neighbors. The story revolves around students and their families belonging to the community of Hoover High School. Most of the movie focuses on Hoover High School’s Senior Prom, showing different points of view throughout the event. Whenever I participate in a blogathon, I try to approach a given topic from a more unique perspective. With Dance ‘Til Dawn reviewed for The Neighbors Blogathon, hosted by Rebecca from Taking Up Room and Quiggy from The Midnite Drive-In, my entry will definitely show a different side to the subject of neighbors!

Dance ‘Til Dawn (1988) poster created by Konigsberg/Sanitsky Company and National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Things I liked about the film:

The cast’s adaptability: One of the selling points of Dance ‘Til Dawn is the gathering of actors and actresses from television shows that were popular around the movie’s premiere. While television stars are used to working alongside a large group of talent, they grow accustomed to working with their cast from their respective show. They even become familiar with the character they portray, especially if a television show develops a long lifespan. In Dance ‘Til Dawn, the cast was not only given new material to work with, they also had to portray characters that were different from those they were used to. Alan Thicke and Tracey Gold represent everything I’ve been saying. Both actors starred as father and daughter on the sitcom, Growing Pains. Alan Thicke graced television screens as a kind yet fair soul who tried to set a good example for his children. Meanwhile, Tracey’s character, Carol, had a friendly personality (from what I remember), a good candidate for her high school’s welcoming committee. Though Tracey and Alan starred in the same film, they shared very few scenes together. Alan portrayed Dan’s father, Jack, an extroverted, over-confident man who wants his son to be just like him. Tracey portrayed Angela, a young lady who was more introverted and had little confidence to stand up for her dreams. Through Alan’s and Tracey’s performance, as well as the performances from the rest of the cast, every actor and actress sold the illusion of how this talent was always meant to work together. They also sold the idea these characters were always meant to co-exist.

The costume design: A school’s prom provides an excuse for students to dress up in fancy attire and partake in glamour. This is no different for the characters in Dance ‘Til Dawn. The film’s costume designer was Taryn De Chellis and Gingiss FormalWear provided the movie’s prom attire. In collaboration with Patricia Wolfe (the movie’s costume supervisor) and Steve Hicke (the movie’s costumer), the Hoover High School prom attendants looked photogenic in their formal outfits. This was achieved by providing the cast with formalwear that complimented their natural features. Out of the actors portraying high school students, Christina Applegate was the only blonde actress. Wearing an off-the-shoulder gown in a shade that appears to be metallic cherry red, Christina’s blonde hair presents a nice contrast with the bold hue of her character’s prom dress. Though Tracey Gold and Alyssa Milano are brunettes, Tracey’s hair looks a shade lighter than Alyssa’s hair. Similar to Christina receiving a dress in a darker shade, Tracey wore a stunning black, sparkly, sleeveless gown. Meanwhile, Alyssa was given a strapless white dress, paired with white satin pump heels and a pink hair bow.

Different ways of celebrating Prom: In films about Prom, so much focus is given to the party itself that one of two things happen; either prom alternatives are not presented or prom alternatives are frowned upon. But that was not the case in Dance ‘Til Dawn. While Hoover High School’s Prom party was highlighted throughout the story, not every student chooses to celebrate Prom this way. Angela’s original plan was to host a sleepover with her friend, Margaret, spending all night watching movies. No one criticizes or questions Margaret and Angela for wanting to commemorate Prom in this fashion. In fact, the film’s script celebrates the uniqueness of prom festivities. The idea of Prom being what you make it is rarely found in stories about this event, so I appreciate Dance ‘Til Dawn’s creative team making this one of the movie’s themes!

The Neighbors Blogathon banner created by Quiggy from The Midnite Drive-In and Rebecca from Taking Up Room

What I didn’t like about the film:

Some cliched stories: Throughout Dance ‘Til Dawn, creative ideas were expressed, from the aforementioned uniqueness of prom festivities to several pieces of dialogue. However, there were some stories within the movie that were cliched. One example is Angela and Kevin’s story. Angela is asked to Prom by Kevin, who wants to date her for the wrong reasons. Before arriving at the prom party, Angela transforms from an introverted “geek” to a beautiful young lady worthy of being prom royalty. Attending an event under false pretenses, as well as a My Fair Lady-esque makeover, have become so common in stories about teenagers, they are cliches at this point. Personally, I wish Angela and/or Kevin’s story had taken a different route. A more unique story option would be having Angela asking an Italian exchange student to Prom, developing a friendship and a shared interest in Italian art.

The underutilization of Tempestt Bledsoe: As I mentioned earlier in this review, Angela originally plans to host a sleepover with her friend, Margaret. Portrayed by Tempestt Bledsoe, Margaret was a character with her own style and not afraid to speak her mind. But compared to the other characters, Margaret appeared in only a handful of scenes. In fact, Margaret wasn’t given much to do in this story. Not only was Margaret an underutilized character, Tempestt’s acting talents were underutilized as well. Like I said about Angela and Kevin’s story, I wish Margaret’s story had been a bit more creative. An example would be Angela daring Margaret to go to Prom, with Margaret having a better time than she expected.

Some things that don’t make sense: There were a few times in Dance ‘Til Dawn where things don’t make sense. A good example takes place in Shelley and Dan’s story. Because Shelley lacks a date for Prom, she spends most of the evening trying to avoid people from Hoover High School to prevent embarrassment. While in the drive-thru of a fast-food restaurant, Shelley recognizes the voice on the other end of the drive-thru menu; a student whose locker is next to Shelley’s. What didn’t make sense to me was how Shelley and Dan did not realize how close they were to the menu’s microphone, meaning the student on the other end would recognize Shelley’s voice. Maybe the screenwriters forgot how drive-thru menus worked?

Image of high school students dancing at prom created by Jan Sundstedt at freeimages.com. Photo by <a href=”/photographer/jansun-33414″>Jan Sundstedt</a> from <a href=”https://freeimages.com/”>FreeImages</a&gt;. Image found at freeimages.com.

My overall impression:

Throughout this review, I’ve been using Dance ‘Til Dawn to elaborate on Mister Rogers’ perspective on neighbors. Learning more about the production after watching the movie, I realized some of the cast members would be considered neighbors, as their shows aired on the same network. With stars from other networks joining the aforementioned cast members, the group as a whole provides a blend of talents, personalities, and perspectives. The film’s behind-the-camera team also adds to this blend of people. When they came together, they created a made-for-TV film that, in my opinion, was just ok. The movie didn’t go above and beyond enough to be considered good or great. But at the same time, it wasn’t offensive enough to be bad or even disappointing. The on-camera talent worked together to sell the illusion that they were always meant to act together and their characters were always meant to co-exist. The behind-the-camera team, such as the costume department, collaborated to make the movie look photogenic and feel cohesive. Looking back on Dance ‘Til Dawn, I wonder why there was never a film about the Disneyland attraction, Videopolis. In fact, the prom party in the 1988 film made me think about that place in Disneyland. Now that I completed this review, I guess I have a new mystery to solve!

Overall score: 6 out of 10

Have you seen Dance ‘Til Dawn? Are there any stars you wish had appeared in the movie? Please let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans Review

On By 18cinemalane1 Comment

Despite Hallmark Mystery creating less mystery series, the Curious Caterer series is, in my opinion, the strongest film collection the network currently releases. While I found the first and third film to be fine, I quite liked the second film. So, I was very excited when I discovered Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans was on the horizon! What intrigued me about the newest chapter was how the story revolved around a costume party. There have been costume parties featured in other Hallmark Mystery productions. However, these parties have played such a minor role in the overall story. Based on the film’s promotional photos and trailer, it looked like the set and costume design were being taken seriously by Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans’ creative team. But I didn’t want to get my hopes up too high, as Hallmark Mystery’s presentations have, so far, been underwhelming. Was Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans Hallmark’s “diamond in the rough”? The only way to solve this mystery is to read my review!

Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans poster created by Timeless Pictures, Basset Hound Distribution, and Hallmark Media


Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Throughout the Curious Caterer series,
Nikki Deloach and Andrew W. Walker have had consistently strong on-screen
chemistry. What has made this chemistry work is how Nikki and Andrew give solid
performances individually and together! Now that Goldy and Tom’s relationship
has progressed to being a dating couple, there are more romantic, even flirty
interactions between the characters. A great example is when Goldy is setting
up the appetizers at the costume party. Attempting to impress Goldy, Tom recites
Shakespearian poetry. But during the recitation, Goldy discovers the poem is written
on Tom’s hand. The interaction was not only humorous, but also a sweet moment
shared by Tom and Goldy.  This sweetness
feels genuine, as smiles and a mutual fondness are presented through the
expressions and emotions Nikki and Andrew share on screen!

Besides the main stars, the supporting cast gave good
performances throughout Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans. One performance I
was really impressed with came from Brock Morgan! Introduced in Curious
Caterer: Fatal Vows as Detective Dave Trach, Brock reprises his role in
this new chapter of the series. Between these two films, Brock consistently
presented Dave with a serious persona. In Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans,
emotion was incorporated in more subtle, yet effective ways. While pursuing a
suspect, Dave’s father becomes injured. As the wound is being treated, Dave
shares a conversation with his father. If you look closely, you can see Dave is
shaking during this conversation, showing how the situation affected him.
Another scene shows Dave receiving terrible news. Throughout that scene, Dave
is visibly upset, his mouth formed into a frown and his eyes showing a look of discouragement.
But as the scene progresses, tears slowly appear in Dave’s eyes. After watching
this movie, I wish Brock Morgan was given a starring role in a Hallmark
production!


The mystery: As I brought up in the introduction, the story
of Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans revolves around a costume party. But
during this party, a snowstorm forces the guests to stay in a castle with
little to no technology. These elements create a locked room mystery, with the
characters utilizing the skills and tools they have at their disposal. While
trying to piece the mystery together, Goldy and company use tapestry as a
mystery board. Name cards, antique looking paper, and even caricature drawings
make up profiles for each suspect. Because Tom, Dave, and even Mason are guests
at the party, they don’t have their detective supplies with them. However, they
are able to use some of Goldy’s kitchen utensils, such as disposable gloves,
mason jars, and tweezers, to solve the case.  The ways the characters adapt to their environment
showcase the creativity of the film’s writing!


The incorporation of fencing: The costume party in Curious
Caterer: Foiled Plans was a fundraiser for Elk Park Prep Academy’s fencing
team. There were even fencing matches held during the party. Though it was
given a smaller role in the story, I liked the incorporation of fencing. In my
opinion, fencing is such an underrated sport, especially in the world of Hallmark
movies. Because the fencing team’s coach was one of the mystery’s suspects,
some brief insight into fencing was provided in the script. This served as a
short introduction of the sport for the film’s audience.


The humor: Adding humor to a Hallmark mystery program can be
tricky. Not enough humor may make a film too serious in nature. But incorporate
too much humor and the movie might feel too goofy. With Curious Caterer:
Foiled Plans, the overall humor was sprinkled throughout the story. This gave
the audience breaks from the darkness of the mystery while allowing the script
to be taken seriously. After the mystery had been introduced, Tom wonders who
among his group has a notebook with them. Because of the snowstorm, they can’t
reach their cars to retrieve a notebook. As everyone denies having a notebook
with them, Mason tells Tom how his pants don’t have pockets. This random comment
was funny because Mason answers Tom’s question without answering his question.

Castle photo created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/old-castle-in-the-mountians_1286237.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/tree”>Tree image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

A random attraction: When Dave Trach was introduced in Curious
Caterer: Fatal Vows, he did not like Goldy’s friend, Marla. This dislike
was caused by Marla helping Tom with a case. In Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans, however, Marla and Dave act really friendly with
one another. They are so friendly, it feels like they are in a dating
relationship. To me, this attraction felt random because, from what I remember,
there were no hints that Dave and Marla were romantically interested in each
other. My guess is the film’s creative team made a weak attempt of including
the “enemies to lovers” trope.


Things that don’t make sense: After the story’s murder
victim was discovered, Dave’s father instructs the party’s guests to travel through
the castle in pairs. Later in the movie, Goldy’s daughter, Olive, finds a key
clue in the case. When this discovery was made, Goldy criticized Olive for
wandering the castle. Yet Olive did follow the instructions of Dave’s father,
as she made the case’s discovery while exploring the castle with a friend from her
school’s fencing team. This is just one example of parts of the story not
making sense.


An overshadowed crowd: A snowstorm causes the party’s guests
to remain stuck in the castle. The longer the mystery is drawn out, the more
frustrated the guests become. But this frustration isn’t really highlighted in
the story. Instead, the script focuses on the frustrations of the mystery’s
suspects. Because the crowd itself isn’t given as much attention in the story,
the magnitude of the crowd’s feelings is not felt. Though Goldy calms the crowd
by baking cookies and making hot chocolate, the crowd’s collective emotions remain
the same for most of the movie.

Magnifying fingerprints image created by Balintseby at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/glass”>Glass vector created by Balintseby – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/fingerprint-investigation_789253.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

When I reviewed Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch, I
shared how, at the time, I wasn’t impressed with Hallmark’s new mystery movies.
I was also not impressed with One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery,
as I found the film disappointing. After almost four months of underwhelming
productions, Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans was a much-needed breath of
fresh air! There are so many things this movie got right, such as the
creativity of the mystery itself. Other elements of the film were also well
delivered, like the set and costume design. I would say Curious Caterer:
Foiled Plans is the best chapter in this series. In fact, I’d say this is the
best mystery movie Hallmark has released this year, so far! Because the bar was
raised so high in Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans, I’m not sure how Curious
Caterer’s creative team will be able to top this film. But not matter where
the story goes, I’m pretty sure the Curious Caterer series will maintain
the momentum they’re currently traveling on!


Overall score: 8 out of 10

Have you seen Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans? Would you like to see more movies in the Curious Caterer series? Let me know in the comment section!


Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen



Concluding my Double Feature: 2004 Edition

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It’s time to wrap up another double feature, as both chosen titles, Hallmark’s Frankenstein and I Am David, have now been watched and reviewed! In the introduction, I brought up the following question:

Based on these two movies, how has the cinematic landscape changed in twenty years?

Looking back on each movie, a realization came to me. One thing I Am David and Hallmark’s Frankenstein have in common is the timelessness each story contains. It also helps how these stories are more straight-forward, which makes it easier for the audience to understand what is happening on screen. Realizing these statements could also be applied to The Polar Express, my answer to the aforementioned question is how, back in 2004, it seems like there was a desire on the cinematic landscape to create timeless entertainment. Now, twenty years later, studios and film companies are competing with one another to make the most relevant titles possible. On the current cinematic landscape, it’s all about capitalizing on trends and fads, creating titles for the here and the now. The problem with this film-making approach is how five, even ten plus years from that movie’s release, that movie will be dated on arrival. This film-making approach also makes movies seem more disposable instead of a long-lasting product with more opportunities to be revisited.

Popcorn and movie ticket image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/cinema-tickets-in-bucket-with-popcorn_2303439.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/layout”>Layout image created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Hallmark’s Frankenstein (2004) Review (Double Feature: 2004 Edition Part 2)

On By 18cinemalane1 Comment

Thank you for joining me for the second part of Double Feature: 2004 Edition! Similar to my review of Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird, this review of Hallmark’s Frankenstein will be spoiler-free. If you’re curious about why I chose Hallmark’s Frankenstein for this double feature, you can check out the introduction in the link below.

Introducing my Double Feature: 2004 Edition!

Hallmark’s Frankenstein poster created by Hallmark Entertainment, Hallmark Channel, Silverstar Ltd., Larry Levinson Productions, and RTL

Before I start this review, I need to explain why I’m referring
to this version of Frankenstein as ‘Hallmark’s Frankenstein’. On
Wikipedia, there is a page chronicling all the Hallmark Channel movies released
between 2000 to 2015. In the section listing Hallmark Channel’s films from
2004, Vincent Perez is listed as one of the stars of Hallmark’s version of Frankenstein.
But if you click on the italicized title of Frankenstein, the link goes
directly to Wikipedia’s page about the Hallmark movie starring Alec Newman. While
Vincent did star in an adaptation of Frankenstein released in 2004, it
is not the Hallmark version. I didn’t discover this error until after I had
seen Vincent’s film.

The reason why I included this screenshot in my review is to show my readers how Hallmark’s Frankenstein is listed on Wikipedia. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

1. What are your thoughts on 2004 as a cinematic year?

2004 was a year where “event entertainment” took place. When I say “event entertainment”, I mean television or movie premieres that are popular enough to become anticipated events. I remember when full print ads would boast a new Hallmark Hall of Fame production, marking the movie itself as “must see television”. Four sequels for popular predecessors were released in 2004, earning a spot among the top ten highest grossing films of the year. Twenty years later, consumers have more options when it comes to entertainment. This provides fewer opportunities for “event entertainment” to take place. Even events that have always been considered “event television” are struggling to capture audience’s attention.

2. Frankenstein premiered on Hallmark Channel on October 5th and 6th, 2004. How has the network evolved since the movie’s release?

When Hallmark’s adaptation of Frankenstein premiered, Hallmark Channel was three years old. At the time, the network didn’t have the distinct identity it does today.  This allowed content to be less restrictive when it comes to creativity. 2004 saw the debut of Hallmark’s second network, Hallmark Movie Channel. On that network, a lot of Hallmark Channel’s previously aired programming made up Hallmark Movie Channel’s catalogue, as well as Hallmark Hall of Fame titles and acquired content. But in the twenty years this second network has existed, the channel’s name has changed twice, with the network now known as Hallmark Mystery. With Hallmark creating two channels, it provided more opportunities to create movies. As time passed, both networks adopted a more distinguishable identity.

3. Is there anything about Frankenstein you liked or didn’t like?

While I think the acting was one of the strengths of this movie, the two strongest performances came from Alec Newman and Luke Goss! Alec’s portrayal of Victor Frankenstein was so captivating because of the wide range of emotions incorporated into the role. His versatility made Victor feel like an authentic human being. From crying over the loss of a loved one to playfully teasing Elizabeth, Alec’s performance allowed Victor’s interactions with other characters to be interesting, with each interaction appearing genuine. Meanwhile, Luke utilized emotion to make The Creature a complicated character like he was in the novel. In fact, Luke’s emotionality spoke volumes in scenes where dialogue wasn’t required. One example shows The Creature after he escapes from Victor’s laboratory. When he seeks refuge in a barn, The Creature bursts into tears, overwhelmed by the fear and rejection directed toward him.

When Frankenstein premiered on Hallmark Channel, it was released as a two-part mini-series. The first part revolved around Victor’s desire to create life, leading up to The Creature coming to fruition. But the second part was more drawn out, with scenes either longer than necessary or completely unnecessary. Frankenstein’s second part features a wedding reception that lasts about five minutes. I understand why that scene was included in the adaptation. In my opinion, though, the wedding reception should have been cut shorter or omitted from the script.

4. In your Word on the Street story about a potential sequel for The Polar Express, you talked about the technology applied to that film. Could you detect any technology incorporated into Frankenstein?

There were a few scenes where it appears CGI (computer generated images) was included in the film. Other than that, it didn’t look like technology (besides cinematography, sound editing, etc.) was relied on to create this adaptation.

Snowy mountain image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/landscape-background-of-snow-track-and-mountains_968656.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.

5. Did you develop any thoughts and/or questions while watching this film?

In one of Victor’s science classes, Victor claims the brain is the most important body part because of its electrical connections between nerves and other body parts. As he is attempting to create life, Victor collects various body parts from the morgue and the graveyard. When The Creature is awakened, wouldn’t he remember his life and identity prior to passing away? Wouldn’t The Creature recognize the body Victor gave him is not the body he was born with? With Victor’s statement about the brain, wouldn’t the nerves in The Creature’s brain not connect with the rest of his body? I never thought of these questions until I saw Hallmark’s adaptation of Frankenstein.

6. You’ve mentioned reading Frankenstein, but seeing few adaptations of the story. How does Hallmark’s version compare or contrast to the Frankenstein related movies you’ve seen?

Besides Hallmark’s adaptation of Frankenstein, I’ve seen three films that incorporate elements of Mary Shelley’s story. But because The Curse of Frankenstein follows the source material closer than the other two films, I’ll be discussing that movie alongside Hallmark’s version of Frankenstein. When I reviewed The Curse of Frankenstein last year, I was disappointed by the creative liberties the film’s creative team adopted. One of these creative liberties was presenting The Creature as a bumbling, destructive machine. As I mentioned in answer number three, The Creature was a complicated character in the novel. While he was destructive, The Creature’s actions were not always impulsive. In Hallmark’s adaptation of Frankenstein, Luke’s performance and the screenwriting illustrated how complicated The Creature is. The Creature’s intelligence was also highlighted in this adaptation, adding to The Creature’s complexity. Shortly after he escapes from Victor’s laboratory, the audience can hear how The Creature already understands the English language, grasping concepts like God and Heaven, as well as reading Paradise Lost.

7. Hallmark’s adaptation of Frankenstein is a made-for-TV production. Has there been a change in small screen cinema from 2004 to now?

In the same year Hallmark Channel premiered their version of Frankenstein, Hallmark Hall of Fame movies debuted on major networks. But fast forward to 2024, Hallmark Hall of Fame is no longer utilized by Hallmark, even after moving to Hallmark Channel in 2014. These decisions are examples of how made-for-TV programming has become more exclusive. Since 2004, Hallmark Channel has grown into one of the biggest creators of made-for-TV content. In fact, Hallmark Channel and its two networks, Hallmark Mystery and Hallmark Family, are three of the few places creating and/or distributing made-for-TV movies today. Rewinding to twenty years ago, major networks were still willing to include made-for-TV programs in their schedules. With the changing television landscape, including the invention of streaming services, major networks are just trying to stay afloat.

8. Now that it’s been twenty years since Frankenstein premiered, has it stood the test of time or become a product of its time?

For the most part, Hallmark’s adaptation of Frankenstein stands the test of time! It helps how this project is bringing to life a story that is iconic and timeless. I mentioned in my review of The Curse of Frankenstein how an overarching message in Mary Shelley’s novel is some good intentions possibly leading to bad results. This message also overarches Hallmark’s adaptation of Frankenstein, as Victor strives to do the impossible. There are other timeless messages in this version of Mary’s story, such as prioritizing what is irreplaceable.

9. After watching Frankenstein, is there anything you can take away from your movie viewing experience?

Similar to my review of I Am David, I will describe Hallmark’s version of Frankenstein in one word. That word would be ‘immersive’. This production made me feel like I was transported to another time and place. A combination of the acting performances, set design, costume design, and screenwriting achieved the illusion of an immersive experience. As someone who has read Mary Shelley’s novel, I appreciate how close to the source material Hallmark’s project is. From what I remember, the majority of the book’s key events and elements were included in the script. With that said, I understand why Hallmark chose to split Frankenstein into two parts. But, in my opinion, the second part was weaker than the first part. Looking back on Hallmark’s adaptation and I Am David, Frankenstein is a more underrated film that was not only forgotten by time, but also overshadowed by other titles released in 2004, like A Boyfriend for Christmas and Love’s Enduring Promise. I’m hoping my review inspires other fans of Hallmark to discover this hidden gem!

Popcorn and movie ticket image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/cinema-tickets-in-bucket-with-popcorn_2303439.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/layout”>Layout image created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen



The 6th Annual Gold Sally Awards are Here!

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Since 2024 is a Leap Year, I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to publish the Gold Sally Awards on Leap Day! For new readers of 18 Cinema Lane, the Gold Sally Awards are one of my blog’s annual traditions to commemorate 18 Cinema Lane’s anniversary. These award categories are created by me, based on topics I’ve brought up on my blog. While most of the awards are the same as in 2023, a few of them have changed. For those awards, I’ll explain the significance of those categories. But just like last year, I will discuss why I chose each recipient. So, now, the moment you’ve been waiting for! The 6th Annual Gold Sally Awards are about to begin!

6th Annual Gold Sally Awards Winners created by me, Sally Silverscreen.

The “She Won’t Give Me My Chocolate” Award

(Best Quote from a Movie)

“Heroes know who they are” – Evel Knievel, Evel Knievel (1971)

In my review of the 1971 biopic, Evel Knievel, I mentioned how surprised I was by the story’s messages and themes. One example I provided was when Evel explained to Linda why he doesn’t want a lettermen sweater. To elaborate how he doesn’t need to prove he’s a hero, Evel says to Linda, “heroes know who they are”. This quote is not only though-provoking, it is also profound without trying too hard to be. To me, that quote (as well as that scene) was given a lot of thought by the biopic’s creative team!

The Standing Ovation Award

(Character Most Deserving of Receiving Their Full Potential)

Sydney Carton from Hallmark Hall of Fame’s A Tale of Two Cities

My favorite character from Hallmark Hall of Fame’s A Tale of Two Cities is Sydney Carton! Because of his personality, I wanted to know more about him. I was also curious to see where his story would go. Without spoiling this movie, though, all I’ll say is Sydney deserved more than the story provided him. Similar to Kili from The Hobbit trilogy, Sydney is, in my opinion, the MVP of A Tale of Two Cities!

The They Deserve an Award Award

(An Actor or Actress Who Deserves Recognition)

Sarah Drew (for her performance in Guiding Emily)

In the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries film, Guiding Emily, the protagonist loses her eyesight. This prevented Sarah Drew, the actress who portrayed Emily, from using her eyes for emotional expression. However, she used other acting techniques to her advantage; such as body language, vocal inflections, and movements of the mouth. Sarah’s performance in Guiding Emily was so good, I specifically highlighted it in my review of the 2023 movie! Through versatility in her acting abilities, Sarah’s portrayal of Emily appeared believable! In fact, I think Sarah should have, at least, been nominated for an award.

The Cowboy Award

(Character Who Makes an Unnecessary, Drastic Change)

Margot from Christmas at Castle Hart

Cowboy, from the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, A Painted House, is a character I’ve mentioned on 18 Cinema Lane. The context was when he was featured in the dishonorable mentions section of my list of the top ten characters ruined by Hallmark. Because I won’t spoil the aforementioned Hallmark Hall of Fame film, all I will say is Cowboy makes an unnecessary, drastic change that, in my opinion, was jarring to witness. It was also jarring to watch Margot, from Christmas at Castle Hart, drastically change. For most of the 2021 movie, Margot comes across as a somewhat annoying character obsessed with Irish stereotypes. But when her sister, Brooke, confronts her about how they should stop lying, Margot becomes a selfish and manipulative person. She even convinces Brooke into believing that if their lies fall apart, it will be Brooke’s fault. In an instant, Margot became a character who cared more about her career than about how others would be affected by her lies.

The “Based on a Book I Haven’t Read Yet” Award

(Movie Based on Source Material I Have Not Yet Read)

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Caroline?

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Caroline? became my favorite movie of 2023! After watching the film, I remembered how it was based on the book, Father’s Arcane Daughter by E. L. Konigsburg. As well as trying to check out as many Hallmark Hall of Fame movies as I realistically can, I’d like to read as many books based on Hallmark Hall of Fame movies as possible. In fact, I even created a Hallmark Hall of Fame reading challenge! Since I haven’t read Father’s Arcane Daughter yet, I need to find an excuse to finally seek this book out.

The Edward Boult Award

(Missed Opportunity in Cinema)

Not Addressing Bullying in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

If you’re going to create a story for a younger audience, you need to be mindful when it comes to addressing serious, real-world issues. That’s because a younger audience can be very impressionable. The creative team behind the 1983 television production, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, should have kept this in mind when they chose to not address bullying in their film. As I talked about in my review, the Herdman children bully their peers. The bullied children don’t stand up for themselves against the Herdmans. It also doesn’t help how the adults in the story do not resolve this issue. Because of everything I just said, some younger audience members might believe they shouldn’t bring up bullying if it occurs in their life.

The Top Gun: Maverick Award

(Movie That Exceeded My Low Expectations)

A Biltmore Christmas

When I included Top Gun: Maverick in my list of the top ten best movies I saw in 2022, I admitted how skeptical I was about the movie’s quality. As I said in that list, sequels released over ten years after their predecessor can be hit or miss. But Top Gun: Maverick exceeded my expectations, becoming my second favorite picture from that year! In 2023, I was skeptical about A Biltmore Christmas due to its hype and publicity. Similar to Top Gun: Maverick, A Biltmore Christmas was so good, it ended up in the top three of my year end best movies list! Like I said in my list of the best movies I saw in 2023, there were so many things Hallmark got right in this Christmas movie. It also helps how the story provided a different type of narrative for Hallmark’s Christmas presentations. Because of how much I liked A Biltmore Christmas, I’m looking forward to seeing what Hallmark has in store for this year’s Christmas season!

The Dishonorable Mention Award

(Worst Movie from the Dishonorable Mention Category)

Christmas at Castle Hart

Because I didn’t see enough movies to include an honorable mention category, I wasn’t able to award a winner for the Honorable Mention Award. Since my worst movies of 2023 list featured a dishonorable mention category, I was able to find a recipient for this year’s Gold Sally Awards. Christmas at Castle Hart is the most disappointing film to not make my worst films of the year list. In my review of that movie, I stated how I had waited since 2018 to see Stuart Townsend star in a Hallmark production. Sadly, the final product Hallmark gave me wasn’t worth the wait. Stuart’s acting talents were underutilized to the point where his character, Aiden, spent most of the story driving the female protagonist around Ireland. Christmas at Castle Hart contained other flaws, such as bad CGI and an underutilized subplot. Looking back on the Dishonorable Mention Award, I realized how both recipients were Hallmark films.

The Far and Few Between Award

(Best Movie from a Genre, Film Category, or Decade Not Often Covered on 18 Cinema Lane)

Frankenweenie (2012)

Even though 18 Cinema Lane has been around for six years, there are some areas of cinema that are not often covered on my blog. One of those areas is animation. While it’s rare for an animated movie to receive a movie review, it’s even rarer for an animated movie to appear on my best films of the year list. 2012’s Frankenweenie achieved these feats in 2023, presenting a collection of good creative choices as well as heart. This movie was such a pleasant, memorable surprise, which surpassed my expectations. I’m thankful I took the chance to write about it!

The Hallmark Hall of Fame Award

(Movie That Feels Like It Belongs in the Hallmark Hall of Fame Collection)

Guiding Emily and A Biltmore Christmas

When I shared my overall impression of Guiding Emily, I said how the movie felt reminiscent of Hallmark Hall of Fame projects of yesteryear. This is because the film tells a more unique story from what Hallmark typically creates today. In the case of A Biltmore Christmas, the story provided a different type of narrative within Hallmark’s Christmas films. It also included a historical component to the story. When Hallmark Hall of Fame was in its prime, historical/period films or movies with inspirational themes were added to the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection. If this collection still existed, Guiding Emily and A Biltmore Christmas would have been chosen as 2023’s Hallmark Hall of Fame presentations.

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers Review

On By 18cinemalane5 Comments

It’s been stated before on 18 Cinema Lane that my Hallmark related content is some of my most popular content. I’ve also mentioned how the mystery genre is the most popular one on my blog. Whenever Hallmark releases a mystery film through Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, that has, usually, been a recipe for success for my movie reviews. With all that said, I chose to write about the second Hallmark Movies & Mysteries film to premiere in 2024; Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers! In my review of True Justice: Family Ties, I brought up how Hallmark’s newest mysteries boasted distinct identities. With Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers, it is Hallmark’s first historical fiction mystery title! As I stated in my Word on the Street article about CrimeTime: Freefall, these new mystery movies from Hallmark Movies & Mysteries have the potential to start a new series. So, let’s take a carriage ride and solve a mystery, as I review Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers!

Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers poster created by Front Street Pictures and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Once upon a time, Ali Skovbye starred on When Calls the Heart, portraying Abigail’s daughter, Becky. By appearing on the show, Ali was given the opportunity the work alongside various actors and actresses. While watching Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers, I could tell Ali’s television experiences worked in her favor! Throughout the movie, Ali was able to maintain good on-screen chemistry and camaraderie with the other cast members! After Emma’s half-brother, Brady, is arrested, Emma visits Brady in jail. During their visit, Brady appears frightened, fear displayed in his eyes and concern woven into his speech. Not only is concern seen in Emma’s eyes, a mixture of concern and reassurance can be heard in her voice. Any time Brady and Emma interact, Ali Skovbye and James Drew Dean’s on-screen camaraderie shown through, thanks to their acting talents! In the film, Emma interacts with her friend, Harriet. Portrayed by Amira Anderson, Emma and Harriet’s friendship appears genuine, making the audience believe these characters were friends long before the events of the movie. Once again, the on-screen camaraderie worked because of Ali and Amira’s acting abilities!

The wardrobe: Attention to detail can make or break any movie, especially a historical/period film. One way attention to detail can be showcased is through the wardrobe. Emma is surrounded by elite society in Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers. This social status is reflected in the characters’ attire. However, how wealthy a character is can be found in specific details. While Emma is connected to the Vanderbilt family, she doesn’t enjoy the financial benefits of being a Vanderbilt. At a debutante party, Emma wears a simple blue gown, displaying smaller details such as a lace collar, sparkly appliqués, and a little diamond necklace. Emma’s cousin, Gertrude, is also a wealthy relative. But her dress is a light pink gown covered in lace and featuring bigger puffy sleeves. Gertrude not only wore a bigger diamond necklace, she also wore a diamond tiara.

The set design: Wardrobe is not the only department where a film’s creative team can display attention to detail. In historical fiction or period specific movies, the set design can give the audience the illusion they traveled back in time. A creative team’s attention to detail can successfully pull off this illusion, as well as feature interesting design choices! In some of the homes in Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers, stained-glass windows could either be seen in the background or in exterior shots. At Emma’s house, beautiful stained-glass windows featuring grapes were shown in the kitchen. Some homes also included fireplaces, boasting unique styles and designs. At Uncle Cornelius’ office, engraved wood patterns framed the fireplace. In another house, mosaic tiles surrounded the fireplace.

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.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Keeping track of who’s who: In any mystery story, there are a collection of characters. Most of these characters serve as potential suspects for the audience to speculate over. An abundance of characters were featured in Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers. But some of these characters did not make frequent appearances in the film, with their names being brought up more than they were shown on screen. It should also be noted how this movie had a larger cast. All this made it difficult to keep track of who’s who.

A dialogue heavy story: Dialogue is an important component of any film. For the mystery genre, dialogue can contain clues and necessary information about the film’s case. In Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers, there were few physical clues included in the story. This forced the characters to rely on dialogue to solve the mystery. The movie having a dialogue heavy story also forces the audience to pay attention to what the characters are saying. If an audience member misses one piece of dialogue, they will be confused by what is happening in the film.

A low sense of urgency: There is, typically, a sense of urgency in murder mystery stories. This is because the characters express desire to catch the guilty party quickly, in order to prevent more people from getting hurt. While there is a murder mystery included in Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers, the overall sense of urgency was low. Emma’s involvement in elite society is prioritized throughout the story. The low sense of urgency in the movie also caused the story to feel a bit drawn out.

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My overall impression:

Because Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers is Hallmark’s first historical fiction mystery title, it allows the movie to stand out among the network’s other mystery programs. While this uniqueness can encourage viewers to check the movie out, the true question lies in if this uniqueness can serve a movie series. It’s unknown at this time if Gilded Newport Mysteries will inspire more than one film. But only speaking about Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers, the 2024 release emphasizes style over substance. It’s obvious the creative team behind the movie cared about the presentation of their project. The finer details of the set and costume design allowed the film to feel immersive, giving the audience the illusion they traveled back in time. When it comes to the mystery itself, however, it could have been stronger. Keeping track of who’s who and a dialogue heavy story could leave some viewers confused as the movie moves along. The low sense of urgency within the story makes the film kind of feel drawn out. If there is another chapter given to Gilded Newport Mysteries, I’d like to see a crossover between Gilded Newport Mysteries and A Biltmore Christmas! Since both titles have some connection to Vanderbilt, it would be interesting to see the protagonists of both movies interacting with each other!

Overall score: 6-6.1 out of 10

Have you seen Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers? Would you like to see Gilded Newport Mysteries develop into a series? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Top Ten Hallmark Movies That Should Have Received a Sequel

On By 18cinemalane5 Comments

Last September, my review of Guiding Emily became my 350th movie review! While I wanted to acknowledge this milestone, I wanted to acknowledge it by writing an article that was Hallmark related. Guiding Emily is based on a book that is the first novel in a trilogy. As of the publication of this article, Hallmark has made no announcements about the trilogy’s adaptation. The possibility of Guiding Emily receiving a sequel made me think of other Hallmark films I wish were given more than one story. That led to the creation of my list of the top ten Hallmark movies that should have received a sequel! For my list, a sequel doesn’t just mean a second part to a stand-alone story, but a continuation within an established story. Films on my list are categorized based on when they premiered. Because it’s still the beginning of 2024, I excluded Hallmark movies released in 2023, as it’s unknown at this time if Hallmark will grant any of those movies a sequel. My list is also based on my opinion, featuring titles I have seen and liked.

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1. Ordinary Miracles (2005)

Long before I became a movie blogger, I saw (and liked) Ordinary Miracles. Looking back on the movie almost twenty years later, this story made me wonder what happened to the characters after the film’s events. How did Sally move forward with her life? Did Kay continue to be a judge or did she choose a new career path? What ever happened to Sally’s boyfriend? Did he ever face accountability for his actions? With this story producing so many questions, it would have been interesting to revisit some of these characters and witness how their lives changed. Though as I previously mentioned, Ordinary Miracles premiered almost twenty years ago. Therefore, it’s highly unlikely this story will receive a sequel.

2. Perfectly Prudence (2011)

Perfectly Prudence is the sequel of the 2008 movie, Dear Prudence. Despite the tonal shift between the first and second films, I remember liking both titles! The reason why Perfectly Prudence is on this list is because of the movie’s abrupt ending. Toward the end of the 2011 film, Prudence was about to tell her daughter, Annie, who her father was. Right before Prudence shared this information with Annie, the story ended. I’ve always been curious how Annie would have accepted this news. But since Perfectly Prudence premiered thirteen years ago, I don’t think that mystery will ever get solved.

3. For Love & Honor (2016)

When I think of military academies featured in entertainment media, they have, typically, appeared in a stand-alone movie or television show episode. For Love & Honor is one of these programs, as Hallmark never continued this story beyond a first chapter. With the school’s commandant and academic dean working together to save their facility, each sharing the goal of improving their students’ lives, I think there was potential for the 2016 movie to start a film, even television, series! The main story could have revolved around a group of academy faculty, including Tom Brennan and Caroline Foster, trying to solve professional and personal problems. Stories involving some of the students may have served as the series’ subplots. If For Love & Honor had led to a series, it would have differed from a program like When Calls the Heart, as an academic setting would be more prominent.

4. Cooking with Love (2018)

Cooking with Love is one of only two movies to receive a perfect score on 18 Cinema Lane! Since its premiere in 2018, I’ve always wanted to see this movie receive a sequel! Because the story focuses on the behind-the-scenes process of creating a television show, there are so many directions a second chapter could go. The moral aspects of Valentine’s Day were prioritized in Cooking with Love instead of the holiday’s aesthetic, allowing another story to be told any time of year. When this movie premiered, its viewership numbers were on the lower end of the ratings spectrum. However, if Hallmark desperately needed ideas for future films, maybe they could consider revisiting the world of Cooking with Love.

5. Royally Ever After (2018)

Royally Ever After is the best movie I saw in 2018! The film’s choice to avoid a lot of cliches and tropes from Hallmark’s royal stories left such a good impression on me! Within the film, Sara and Prince Daniel become engaged. They even entertain the idea of wedding plans toward the end of the movie. In my opinion, Hallmark missed an opportunity to turn Royally Ever After into a series. The sequel would have focused on Prince Daniel and Sara’s wedding, appropriately titled “Wedding Ever After”. Other films would chronicle the couple’s journey, boasting titles such as “Christmas Ever After” and “Family Ever After”. Had Royally Ever After become a series, it would have provided something new for Hallmark Channel, as none of Hallmark’s royal movies have received more than one film.

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.

6. Wedding of Dreams (2018)

Yet another sequel joins the list! This time, it’s Wedding of Dreams, the second chapter of 2016’s Summer of Dreams! Ever since I saw the 2018 movie, I always wanted to see a third film. Likely titled “Christmas of Dreams”, the story could have prioritized Debbie and Noah’s first Christmas together. Debbie Gibson could have even created new Christmas tunes exclusively for the movie! Reflecting on this idea, I think “Christmas of Dreams” would have been a great addition to Hallmark Channel’s ‘Countdown to Christmas’ line-up. With all that said, this, in my opinion, was a missed opportunity for the network.

7. Rome in Love (2019)

Rome in Love was not only the best Hallmark movie I saw in 2019, it was one of the best movies I saw that year! Similar to A Biltmore Christmas and This Magic Moment, the story revolves around the process of making a movie. Unlike This Magic Moment, a movie premiere was not included in the story. Therefore, the characters from Rome in Love attending the premiere of the story’s film (a remake of Roman Holiday) could have served as the plot of a sequel! Along with this plot, Philip could propose to Amelia, ending the story with an engagement. Amelia’s sister, Kathryn, could come to Italy and fall in love, a story that would be the movie’s subplot. With Rome in Love being released five years ago, I don’t know what this movie’s chances are of receiving a sequel. But if Hallmark is looking for ideas for future projects, a second chapter for Rome in Love could be one of them!

8. Poisoned in Paradise: A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery (2021)

In some of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ series, overarching mysteries were incorporated to give viewers a reason to follow the story. In the Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries series, Jeff is trying to figure out who shot him when he was a detective in Boston. As the story progressed, it seemed like Jeff was one step closer to solving his mystery. But because Poisoned in Paradise: A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery was the last movie from this series to premiere, Jeff’s mystery was never resolved. The Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries series was abandoned by Hallmark in favor of producing stand-alone films. If the network knew they weren’t continuing the Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries series, they should have, at least, created one movie to give Jeff’s mystery some closure.

9. Mystery 101: Deadly History (2021)

Since the film’s release in 2021, fans of the Mystery 101 series have been curious about the cliffhanger ending of Mystery 101: Deadly History. They’ve even begged Hallmark Movies & Mysteries to create at least one more movie to resolve this mystery and provide the story with some closure. Unfortunately, the network unceremoniously cancelled the Mystery 101 series, leaving fans frustrated by the lack of answered questions. As a fan myself, I wish Hallmark Movies & Mysteries had given the Mystery 101 series a film to end the story on a strong note. The movie likely would have attracted good viewership numbers, as the Mystery 101 series was a successful series due to television ratings. Similar to what I said about Royally Ever After and Wedding of Dreams, choosing not to make one more Mystery 101 film was one of Hallmark’s missed opportunities.

10. Cut, Color, Murder (2022)

When I talked about how Poisoned in Paradise: A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery should have received a sequel, I mentioned how the Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries series was abandoned by Hallmark in favor of producing stand-alone films. While some of these movies have delivered interesting ideas, there are a few titles that I think could have lent themselves to a series. Cut, Color, Murder, in my opinion, has potential for more than one story. The chemistry among the cast, as well as their banter, made these characters charming. Even though I won’t spoil the movie, I will say I’m curious to see which direction Chelsea’s story goes. If Hallmark decided to expand Cut, Color, Murder beyond the first chapter, I’m hoping the story is from Chelsea’s perspective, as her part of the story was more interesting that Ali’s.

Cut, Color, Murder poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

What are your thoughts on my list? Which Hallmark movies do you wish received a sequel? Please tell me in the comment section below!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: True Justice: Family Ties Review

On By 18cinemalane6 Comments

Recently, I’ve been referencing the newest Hallmark Movies & Mysteries title, True Justice: Family Ties; within my list of the top ten best movies I saw in 2023 and when I talked about CrimeTime: Freefall in a Word on the Street story. Because the mystery genre is the most popular one on my blog and since I haven’t reviewed a mystery film since last October, I chose True Justice: Family Ties as the first movie to review in 2024! The 2020s has, so far, not been a strong decade for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. When it comes to their mystery programs, the network has produced more stand-alone films, leaving only two series to continue. But as I mentioned in my aforementioned Word on the Street story, the three new mystery films premiering on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries this year, so far, have potential to create a multi-story series. It should also be noted how each of these three movies seem to have their own unique identity, allowing them to stand out against one another. Could True Justice: Family Ties be the start of a new chapter for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries? Turn the page on this review to find out!

True Justice: Family Ties poster created by Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Katherine McNamara portrays the film’s protagonist, Casey. Throughout the movie, she tries to prove her brother, Marcus, was falsely accused of committing a murder. Even though Casey and Marcus shared only a few scenes together, both Katherine and Sam Ashe Arnold, the actor who portrayed Marcus, sold the idea their characters were siblings who truly cared about one another! In the scenes where Casey visits Marcus in prison, there is very present fear in Marcus’ eyes. You can even hear concern and uncertainty in his voice. While in prison, Marcus seems shaken up due to his surroundings. Meanwhile, the tears Casey sheds for her brother appear genuine. She looks and sounds heartbroken by Marcus’ fate. Because of Sam and Katherine’s performance, I wish these characters shared more scenes together.

True Justice: Family Ties is about a team of characters who come together to solve the film’s mystery. In order for this idea to work, it’s important to cast a group of actors who will make that on-screen teamwork appear believable. That was achieved in this movie, as the friendship among the “Justice Warriors” felt genuine, showcasing the camaraderie between these characters! One example presents Sarah and Liam discussing their plans for the future and what inspired them to make certain choices in their life. With Sarah being a law school student and Liam having his own private investigation business, differences are set aside to show them forming a friendship and getting along well with each other. Because of Alexander Nunez’s charisma and Marisa McIntyre’s believable performance, I could honestly see their characters forming a romantic relationship if True Justice: Family Ties became a series!

Utilized talents and skills: As I previously mentioned in this review, True Justice: Family Ties is about a team of characters who come together to solve the film’s mystery. To create a story with a good team of characters, each character needs to receive an opportunity to utilize their respective skills and talents. This movie allows Casey and her friends to use their talents, skills, even their intern/business experiences to their advantage. Because each character brings something different to the table, every character plays a role in solving the case. Sarah is a law school student who is also an intern at a forensic office. She is able to utilize her knowledge of the law and her internship to find fingerprints and rule out suspects. This was a great way to make Sarah a valued member of the “Justice Warriors”!

A unique perspective: A decade ago, Hallmark created the Darrow & Darrow mystery series. In that series, the characters solved mysteries by approaching each case from a legal perspective. If someone were to only read the synopsis of True Justice: Family Ties after watching Darrow & Darrow, they would wonder what the difference between these two titles are. Casey and her friends are law school students in True Justice: Family Ties. The only exception is Liam, as he has his own private investigation business. The overarching story in the Darrow & Darrow series primarily revolves around Claire Darrow and Miles Strasberg. As I mentioned in this review, the story of True Justice: Family Ties focuses on a group of characters instead of just the male and female protagonist. These creative differences allow the 2024 mystery film to adopt an identity that sets it apart from its predecessors and other current mystery titles!

Law school textbooks image created by Peter Skadberg at freeimages.com. “FreeImages.com/Peter Skadberg.”

What I didn’t like about the film:

Situations happening too quickly: Fans of the mystery series from Hallmark Movies & Mysteries will know that solving a mystery is a process. This process involves multiple steps, with these steps broken down to allow the audience to solve the mystery alongside the protagonist(s). In True Justice: Family Ties, however, situations happened too quickly. From discovering suspects to finding clues, these steps were sped up, making the mystery solving less interactive. Even the reveal of the guilty party happened so fast within the film’s last ten minutes.

Weak on-screen chemistry: In most of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ mystery series, the main male and female protagonist will form a romantic relationship over the course of the series. Sometimes, the foundation of that relationship will be set up in a series’ first film. If True Justice: Family Ties becomes a series, it is assumed Eli and Casey will become the main romantic couple. But, in my opinion, Katherine McNamara and Markian Tarasiuk did not have strong on-screen chemistry. This is because their characters went back and forth between disliking each other and being friends. I recognize the screenwriters were attempting to incorporate the ‘enemies to lovers’ trope into the story. But in True Justice: Family Ties, that trope was not effective.

A random romance: Nikki Deloach and Benjamin Ayres star in True Justice: Family Ties as Professor Ambrose and D.A. Quinn. When returning to class to retrieve her notebook, Casey discovers Professor Ambrose and D.A. Quinn are sharing a romantic relationship. To me, this part of the story was random. That is because a) prior to that scene, there was no indication these characters even knew each other and b) these characters appeared in only a handful of scenes. Maybe if D.A. Quinn and Professor Ambrose had been given their own subplot where they built their relationship over time, their romance wouldn’t seem so sudden.

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My overall impression:

As of the release of this review, two other mystery films are scheduled to premiere on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries; Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers and CrimeTime: Freefall. These movies, including True Justice: Family Ties, have potential to spark a multi-story series while boasting distinct identities. Even though it’s too early to determine what is in store for these titles, I can share my thoughts on True Justice: Family Ties! The first film to be released on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries this year was, in my opinion, just ok. The mystery wasn’t interactive enough for the audience because situations happened too quickly. Not only was D.A. Quinn and Professor Ambrose’s romance random, Katherine McNamara and Markian Tarasiuk’s on-screen chemistry was weak due to the screenwriting. However, the movie did have its strengths, such as the acting performances and how each character was able to utilize their skills and talents. It was also nice to see a story focus on a group of characters, providing a different type of story for Hallmark’s collection of mystery titles. At the end of the year, it’ll be interesting to see how True Justice: Family Ties compares to Hallmark’s other 2024 released movies!

Overall score: 6 out of 10

Have you seen True Justice: Family Ties? Are you excited for Hallmark’s other mystery movies? Please tell me in the comment section below!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Word on the Street: Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Adds Third Film to Their Programming Schedule

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

In my list of the top ten best movies I saw in 2023, I mentioned two upcoming mystery films from Hallmark Movies & Mysteries; True Justice: Family Ties and Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers. Now, the network has added a third title to their current programming schedule! The new movie, CrimeTime: Freefall, will premiere on February 23rd. Led by Luke Macfarlane and Lyndie Greenwood, the story is about an actress who moves to a small town and uses her acting experiences to solve mysteries. After reading the film’s synopsis on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ website, I took note of two things.

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In the 2020s, so far, Hallmark has come up with ideas for their mystery movies that work well enough as a stand-alone story. But once that story is told, it is difficult to expand that idea into a multi-movie series. With each new movie premiering on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries in 2024 so far, it seems like these films have the potential to tell a multi-part story. In the case of CrimeTime: Freefall, the synopsis sounds simplistic enough to allow the story to travel in many directions. A decade ago, when Hallmark Movies & Mysteries created some of their most beloved series, there were mystery series that took place in a small town. Some notable examples are the Garage Sale Mysteries series, the Aurora Teagarden series, and the Mystery 101 series. Like those aforementioned titles, CrimeTime: Freefall takes place in a small town, according to its synopsis. To me, this indicates Hallmark is utilizing creative elements that worked for their mystery stories in the past.

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What are your thoughts on this new movie? Do you think it could become Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ next series? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Source article for this story: https://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/crimetime-freefall/about-crimetime-freefall

The Top Ten Best Movies I Saw in 2023

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

As I mentioned in my list of the top ten worst movies I saw in 2023, I saw enough films to create a best movies of the year list! But because I saw more movies I disliked than liked, there aren’t enough films to create an honorable mentions section. When I look back on the best films I saw this year, I realize the majority of the titles are made-for-TV productions. Looking specifically at the top three best movies of 2023, I noticed a shared theme; all of the movies contain historical fiction stories. Since I reviewed most of the films on this list, I will provide the links to those reviews in this article. So, as the sun sets on 2023, let’s start my list of the top ten best movies I saw this year!

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10. Curious Caterer: Grilling Season

Out of all the movies in the Curious Caterer trilogy, I’d say Curious Caterer: Grilling Season is the best film! It improves on some of the predecessor’s flaws, like adding more humor into the script. The film also made different creative decisions, such as giving Marla more involvement in the mystery, that proved this series still has many ideas at the creative team’s disposal. One of the strengths of the Curious Caterer series, including the sequel, is the quality of the acting performances! From the main actors to the supporting talent, each on-screen interaction appeared so natural, it allowed the story to feel immersive. As of late 2023/early 2024, there have only been two mystery movies announced by Hallmark Movies & Mysteries; True Justice: Family Ties and Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers. Hopefully, the network will consider continuing the Curious Caterer series.

Take 3: Curious Caterer: Grilling Season Review + 455 Follower Thank You

9. Christmas Princess (2017)

Revisiting this film after seeing it for the first time six years ago, Christmas Princess still holds up! What works in this movie’s favor is how it focuses on Donaly’s journey to the Rose Court. This creative choice not only prevented the 2017 made-for-TV project from adopting several Christmas related tropes and cliches, it also gave the movie a chance to tell a more unique story for a Christmas production. Other good creative decisions include Donaly’s wardrobe and providing a thorough explanation of the Rose Court process. Looking back on Christmas Princess, I’m surprised there hasn’t been more movies made related to the Tournament of Roses. It’ll be interesting to see if a studio or network finds a story inspiring enough to adapt into a film!

Take 3: Christmas Princess (2017) Review

8. Frankenweenie (2012)

As I’ve said in past reviews, I rarely receive an opportunity to write about animated movies. So, it is even rarer for an animated title to appear on my best of the year list. What made 2012’s Frankenweenie so memorable was a collection of good creative choices. Some of them include the creatures within the story, presenting the film in black-and-white imagery, and sprinkling “Easter Eggs” throughout the movie. But another reason why Frankenweenie landed on my best movies of the year list is how much heart this story contained. Sure, I knew this project would be a cute take on Mary Shelley’s book. However, the heart-filled nature of the film’s story was such a pleasant surprise!

Take 3: Frankenweenie (2012) Review + 470 Follower Thank You

7. Mystery on Mistletoe Lane

After the release of Murder, She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery, I’ve always wondered why Hallmark Movies & Mysteries didn’t create more Christmas themed mystery films. Mystery on Mistletoe Lane proved that the network should, at least, consider making more mystery stories that take place around Christmastime. With festive clues and well-written riddles, the mystery itself left me on the edge of my seat, curious to see how the mystery would be resolved. I also liked the movie’s subplot, as it was interesting to see the creative ways Christmas activities were incorporated into the story. Another factor that worked in the favor of Mystery on Mistletoe Lane is how the mystery provided lower stakes. This allowed the movie to maintain the cheerful and light-hearted tone most viewers expect from Hallmark’s Christmas offerings.

6. RKO 281

Toward the end of my review of RKO 281, I said good films leave a lasting impression. Not only did the 1999 movie leave a lasting impression, it earned a spot on my best of the year list! There are many aspects of RKO 281 that are so good, you will find yourself saying, “Wait, this is an HBO film”? Every component of this movie goes above and beyond, looking and feeling like it should have received a theatrical premiere. For every “classic” or “iconic” film, there is a journey for how that film came to exist. The journey shown in RKO 281 made me appreciate the efforts taken to bring Citizen Kane to the big screen. Reflecting on both Citizen Kane and RKO 281, it makes me wonder if other well-known movies have an incredible behind-the-scenes story worthy of its own film?

Take 3: RKO 281 (1999) Review

Curious Caterer: Grilling Season poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

5. Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major

When I talked about Jesse Stone: Night Passage in my top ten worst movies I saw in 2023 list, I mentioned how, for me, 2023 was not the year for mysteries. However, there were a few stand-out mystery movies, with Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major being one of them. In the 2020s so far, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries have premiered mystery films that lack the “coziness” viewers have come to expect from the network’s mystery projects. Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major brought that “coziness” back, filling a void Hallmark Movies & Mysteries have been abandoning. Because the story incorporates a ghost, it gives this movie a unique identity and adds more creativity to the realm of Hallmark’s mystery library. As I said earlier in this list, there have, so far, only been two mystery movies announced by Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Sometime in 2024, I hope Hallmark turns Haunted Harmony Mysteries into a series, as there is so much potential for this story to lend itself to a multi-chapter title!

4. The Great Muppet Caper

If I could describe The Great Muppet Caper in one word, it would be “joyful”. That’s because, as I said in my review, this movie exudes so much joy! Each Muppet character had a specific purpose within the story, making every Muppet feel important. The jokes were well delivered, thanks to clever writing and solid acting. The Great Muppet Caper contains a simpler story that is easier to follow. But because of how good other aspects of this film are, that simplistic story works in The Great Muppet Caper’s favor. Since I liked the 1981 movie, maybe, in 2024, I’ll check out other productions featuring the Muppets!

Take 3: The Great Muppet Caper Review (The Great Muppet Guest Star Caper Double Feature Part 1)

3. A Biltmore Christmas

Similar to Top Gun: Maverick, I had low expectations for A Biltmore Christmas. Hallmark’s decision to give the 2023 Christmas movie a lot of hype and publicity made me skeptical of the movie’s quality. When I finally checked the film out, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was! There was so many things Hallmark got right; from the strength of the cast to the attention given to historical accuracy. While this type of story is nothing new for romance films, it does provide Hallmark Channel with a different type of narrative for their Christmas pictures. Within the 2020s so far, I noticed how Hallmark is creating more projects that have historical fiction elements. I’m interested to see what the network’s next big, historical fiction, Christmas movie ends up being in 2024!

2. Hallmark Hall of Fame’s A Tale of Two Cities

When I shared my overall impression of A Tale of Two Cities, I stated how both Oliver! and Nicholas Nickelby found a place in my year-end best movies lists. I also stated how that tradition would continue, as the Hallmark Hall of Fame adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities left such a good impression on me. However, this is the first time a Charles Dickens adaptation has earned a spot in my best list’s top three! Even though this film is longer than most Hallmark productions, it never feels like two hours and thirty-six minutes. Instead, A Tale of Two Cities feels like a well-paced, well-written, and well-acted depiction of Charles Dickens’ work. The creative team’s attention to detail also added to the movie’s great quality. It showed me the people who created this adaptation cared about the project they were working on. I have said before how I wanted to see as many Hallmark Hall of Fame productions as realistically possible. I hope to find more Hallmark Hall of Fame movies that are just as good as A Tale of Two Cities!

Take 3: Hallmark Hall of Fame’s A Tale of Two Cities Review

1. Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Caroline?

I know there’s no such thing as the “perfect” Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. But 1990’s Caroline? is the closest thing to it! The strengths of the project far outweigh the flaws, coming together to create a film that is intriguing, creative, and even thought-provoking. I liked seeing the characters’ interactions, as they made the movie captivating to watch. Similar to Hallmark Hall of Fame’s A Tale of Two Cities, the creative team behind Caroline? gave attention to detail. In the case of the 1990 film, this attention to detail was placed in differentiating between the past and the “present”. In my opinion, Caroline? is one of the more underrated Hallmark productions. I also believe it should have been re-released on DVD.

Take 3: Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Caroline? Review + 460 Follower Thank You

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Caroline? poster created by Hallmark Hall of Fame productions, CBS, and Republic Pictures Home Video

Have fun in 2024!

Sally Silverscreen