Tag: movie reviews

Take 3: Christmas at Pemberley Manor Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Because I’ve been busy preparing my editorial for the 2nd Disability In Film Blogathon and getting my reviews ready for my Halloween Double Feature, I haven’t been as active on my blog as I usually am. But, I wasn’t going to miss a beautiful opportunity to start reviewing movies within either of Hallmark’s Christmas line-ups! Both networks made no delays as they began airing Christmas movies last Friday. To start this Christmas movie season off on a well-intentioned note, the very first movie to premiere this year was Christmas at Pemberley Manor. When I first read the synopsis for this film, it sounded, to me, like a lot of other Hallmark movies I’ve seen or heard of before. Because this movie seemed to contain some of the same tropes that are usually found in Hallmark movies (businesswoman visits a small town and just so happens to find true love there, for example), I didn’t think I was going to enjoy this film. When I found out this movie was a modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, I was curious to see how this particular story would play out in the 21st century. Did this creative approach work in this movie’s favor? Did the tropes win in the battle of Originality vs. Formulaic? Let’s turn the page on my Christmas at Pemberley Manor review in order to find out!

Christmas at Pemberley Manor poster
Christmas at Pemberley Manor poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel. Image found at https://www.hallmarkchannelpress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=142&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=Christmas+at+Pemberley+Manor

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: The cast of Christmas at Pemberley Manor was great! Everyone was cast so well in their roles, with the portrayals of all the characters being memorably enjoyable. This is the second Hallmark Christmas movie of Jessica Lowndes’ that I’ve seen and I think her performance in this movie was much stronger than in A December Bride. This is also the second Hallmark Christmas movie of Michael Rady’s that I’ve seen and, just like in A Joyous Christmas, Michael’s performance was fantastic! I also think that Steve Larkin portrayed one of the best Santa-esque characters in Hallmark Christmas movie history!

 

The on-screen chemistry: I thought that Jessica and Michael performed very well together! The on-screen chemistry was one of the things that added to their performances, with this on-screen chemistry appearing very believable. As I watched Christmas at Pemberley Manor, I could see that Elizabeth and William’s relationship developed as the film went on. These characters looked like they truly cared about one another and their interactions were well-acted. I hope Jessica and Michael star in another Hallmark movie together again!

 

The writing: Even though there were some of the usual Hallmark movie tropes in Christmas at Pemberley Manor, there were times when it felt like the screenwriter was trying something new in terms of storytelling. For instance, in some Hallmark movies, there are two guys that, romantically speaking, like the same female protagonist. Out of these two guys, one of them almost always is portrayed as either a “workaholic” or not a nice person. In Christmas at Pemberley Manor, however, both of the guys that liked Elizabeth were genuinely good people. At one point, I honestly had no idea which love interest Elizabeth would end up with.

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Adorable Santa image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/christmas-background-with-funny-santa_1324597.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.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Very little resemblance to Pride and Prejudice: When I heard that Christmas at Pemberley Manor was meant to be a modern re-telling of Pride and Prejudice, I was interested in seeing how this story could be adapted for the 21st century, especially since the only re-telling of Pride and Prejudice I’ve seen is the “Mr. Darcy” series on Hallmark Channel. However, this movie didn’t feel like any form of the Pride and Prejudice story. The only connections I could find between the original story and this film were Elizabeth’s, William’s, and Jane’s name being the same as either a character from the book or its respective author and the “don’t-judge-a-book-by-it’s-cover” trope.

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Manor with white colored porch image created by Arkadiusz Frankowicz at freeimages.com. “FreeImages.com/Arkadiusz Frankowicz .”

My overall impression:

Christmas at Pemberley Manor was such a strong start to not only Hallmark’s Christmas movie line-ups, but also to the overall Christmas movie season! This movie was such a pleasant surprise that I ended up liking more than I thought I would! Looking back on it, this scenario reminds me of Hallmark Channel’s Christmas movie line-up from last year. The very first movie in that line-up was Marry Me at Christmas and before I watched this film, my expectations for it were low. This is because, just like how I originally felt about Christmas at Pemberley Manor, the movie sounded like a lot of other Hallmark movies I’ve seen and heard of before. When I did get the chance to watch Marry Me at Christmas, it became one of my favorite Hallmark Christmas movies from last year! I hope that Hallmark’s Christmas movies continue to surprise me the way Christmas at Pemberley Manor did, with more movies being better than expected.

 

Overall score: 8.2 out of 10

 

Have you seen Christmas at Pemberley Manor? What Hallmark movie are you looking forward to this Christmas season? Share your thoughts in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Love, of Course Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Since both of my reviews from this year’s “Fall Harvest” line-up have been pretty well-liked and since I don’t know if I’ll review any movies before my Halloween double feature, I decided to review Love, of Course. Like a lot of the movies I talk about on 18 Cinema Lane, I had low expectations for this film. While I’d seen Cameron Mathison and Mackenzie Vega perform in at least one Hallmark movie before, I had never seen any of Kelly Rutherford or Gabby Douglas’ acting performances. Also, the story of a parent spending time with their children at college is not new for Hallmark, as A Lesson in Romance was released four years prior to Love, of Course. However, I wanted to watch this film with an open mind, hoping that, at least, some creativity was incorporated into this story. Was Love, of Course the surprise waiting at the end of the corn maze? Let’s take the trip through this review to find out!

Love, of Course poster
Love, of Course 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=Love%2c+of+Course.

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: The entire cast of this movie was great! Everyone brought their A game to their specific roles, with all of the performances appearing natural and believable. The talents of the actors complimented each other, making the film even more enjoyable. Before watching Love, of Course, I was impressed by Mackenzie Vega’s performance in Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Beach House. Mackenzie’s portrayal of Cara was great in this film as well! I hope Mackenzie can appear in more Hallmark movies in the future.

 

The on-screen chemistry: Kelly Rutherford and Cameron Mathison gave a great performance individually and as a pair. One thing that added to the portrayal of their characters was their on-screen chemistry. Amy and Noah’s relationship came across very convincingly. It also looked and felt like their relationship was developing over the course of the film. Watching Amy and Noah’s interactions was definitely one of the highlights of this film!

 

The fall and harvest themes: I thought the fall theme was incorporated really well in Love, of Course! There was a lot of fall related things in the movie; from the idea of someone going back to school to the desserts that Amy makes for the people around her. I also liked how this story focused on the theme of harvest. Farmer’s markets have been featured in Hallmark movies before. However, Love, of Course showed the process of how a farmer’s market participant prepares to sell their product at a farmer’s market. I found this aspect of the film very informative and interesting!

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Corn field image created by Rene Cerney at freeimages.com. “FreeImages.com/Rene Cerney.”

What I didn’t like about the film:

The under-utilization of Gabby Douglas: Even though Gabby doesn’t have as much acting experience as some of the other cast members in this film, I was disappointed by how little screen time she was given. Gabby is not only one of the top billed actresses in the film, she is also featured on the film’s poster. While watching this film, I noticed that Gabby was present in the movie for about five minutes or less.

Fresh Tasty Red Apples in Wooden Basket on Green Grass
Red apples in basket photo created by Valeria_aksakova at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/fresh-tasty-red-apples-in-wooden-basket-on-green-grass_1284495.htm’>Designed by Valeria_aksakova</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Valeria_aksakova – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

I’ve seen the majority of Hallmark’s 2018 “Fall Harvest” movies. Out of all those films, Love, of Course is the best one from this line-up! Outside of the Christmas season, the “Fall Harvest” line-up has been the strongest on Hallmark Channel! In fact, I think this year’s “Fall Harvest” line-up was better than last year’s. Even though Love, of Course had some elements that are usually found in Hallmark movies, there were also aspects within the film that were creative and interesting. It was also nice to see that the cast was made up of familiar faces (Mackenzie Vega from The Beach House) and new members of the Hallmark community (Kelly Rutherford). I’m hoping that these familiar faces can continue to work and thrive in the Hallmark community and that today’s new members can be the familiar faces of tomorrow.

 

Overall score: 8.3 out of 10

 

What are your thoughts on this year’s “Fall Harvest” line-up? Which movie has been your favorite? Let me know in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Darrow & Darrow: Body of Evidence Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

With Hallmark’s Christmas movie line-ups approaching and Halloween almost around the corner, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries is winding down their mysteries series to make way for the upcoming Christmas season. But before Christmas trees can be decorated and Eggnog can be prepared, the Darrow & Darrow series gave fans a third movie to satisfy their mystery solving desire until 2019. Even though Darrow & Darrow is only a year old, the series has proven they have what it takes to run the race alongside the long running Garage Sale Mystery series and fan favorites, like the Hailey Dean Mystery series and Signed, Sealed, Delivered. Because the latest Darrow & Darrow movie is about another murder mystery, it looks like this series has adopted the identity that a lot of the other mystery series, on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, have before them. Despite these series containing the same type of mystery, they have done a pretty good job at setting themselves apart from each other and incorporating as much creativity as possible. Did Darrow & Darrow: Body of Evidence contribute to helping this series stay creative and original? Keep reading in order to solve this case!

Darrow &amp; Darrow 3 poster
Darrow & Darrow: Body of Evidence poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Image found at https://www.hallmarkchannelpress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=143&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=Darrow+and+Darrow+Body+of+Evidence.

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Just like in the previous Darrow & Darrow film, the cast of this movie was really good! Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Tom Cavanagh successfully led this production with performances that appeared very natural. Once again, their on-screen chemistry was a highlight of this film! I was also really impressed with Jordana Largy’s performance in this film, as it was versatile and believable.

 

The mystery: I liked the creativity that was found in this mystery story! Usually, the murder victim’s deceased body is shown on-screen somewhere in the first half of the movie. In Darrow & Darrow: Body of Evidence, however, the audience never gets to see the body of the murder victim. Most of the mystery stories on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries are about crimes that are less than a year old. The murder mystery in Darrow & Darrow: Body of Evidence started a year prior to the events in the film.

 

The humor: Like a lot of the series on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, Darrow & Darrow: Body of Evidence incorporates humor into their story as to give the audience a break from the darkness surrounding the mystery. The humor found in this movie kept in line with the humor from the other two movies and was genuinely funny. One of the funniest moments in Darrow & Darrow: Body of Evidence was when, at Lou’s fundraiser, Chester believed that telling Lou to be safe was the equivalent of cheering Lou on.

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Paper Boats in the Sea image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/background-of-paper-boats-with-hand-drawn-waves_1189898.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.

What I didn’t like about the film:

A weaker first half: For the first half of Darrow & Darrow: Body of Evidence, Claire and Miles debate about whether or not Laura Graham murdered her husband. Also, Joanna helps out an employee at the Darrow & Darrow law firm and Lou tries to raise money for military veterans. Within this first half of the movie, it seems like these subplots, as well as Claire and Miles’ debate, overshadowed the mystery itself. It wasn’t until Joanna and Claire attended an auction that the story seemed to pick up in the second half of the film.

 

An inconsistent pace: Because the first half of the movie was weaker than the second half, the pace was slow for about half the movie. The first 25 minutes of the film being exposition heavy also contributed to the inconsistency of the film’s pace.

Pink jump rope lies by black snickers on white floor
Jump rope and sneakers image created by V.ivash at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/pink-jump-rope-lies-by-black-snickers-on-white-floor_1114248.htm’>Designed by V.ivash</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by V.ivash – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

As good as Darrow & Darrow: Body of Evidence was, I still believe that Darrow & Darrow: In the Key of Murder was the stronger film. Nevertheless, I’m glad to see that this series is continuing on with strength and creativity! Though Hallmark has not yet announced any upcoming movies in this series, I am looking forward to solving more mysteries alongside one of Hallmark’s favorite sleuthing teams! Who knows, maybe we could see a Christmas themed Darrow & Darrow movie one day? If the Murder She Baked series could receive a Christmas movie, anything is possible. For now, all we, the audience and fans, can do is anticipate the Christmas movies from Hallmark and look forward to the other projects both networks have to offer.

 

Overall score: 7.6 out of 10

 

Did you watch Darrow & Darrow: Body of Evidence? Would you like to see a Christmas themed Darrow & Darrow movie? Let me know in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Without a Trace Review + 35 Follower Thank You

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Because I received 35 followers on 18 Cinema Lane earlier this week, it’s time for me to review a film that turned 35 years old in 2018! While looking at my options for which film to watch, I came across a film from 1983 called Without a Trace. After reading the movie’s synopsis, I became intrigued by the mystery aspect of the film. As a fan of the mystery movies on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, I do enjoy a story that is intriguing and engaging. My interest for Without a Trace grew when I discovered that it was loosely based on a true story. I was curious about how this real-life event would influence the film. Keep reading to see how I feel about Without a Trace!

Without a Trace poster
Without a Trace poster created by 20th Century Fox. Image found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Without_a_Trace.jpg

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: The whole cast in this movie was good! Kate Nelligan’s portrayal of Susan Selky was definitely one of the highlights of this film! Her performance was so emotional and versatile, that it felt like her character’s emotions were being transferred from her own personal feelings to the audience, allowing viewers to worry about Alex’s fate alongside Susan. I also thought that Kathleen Widdoes’ portrayal of the psychic, Ms. Hauser, was captivating and memorable. Kathleen’s acting talents were so versatile, it had the power to keep viewers engaged in the events happening on-screen.

 

The story: The basic premise of Without a Trace is figuring out what happened to Alex Selky. This story is treated like a mystery, where anyone could be a suspect and every possibility is explored. The way this narrative is written allows the audience members to solve the mystery alongside the characters. Because there are few scenes that feature Alex, it encourages viewers to ask “whodunit” and keeps them engaged as the story unfolds.

 

Comparisons and differences between the early ‘80s and today: Because this movie was released in 1983, I knew there was going to be some differences between the depicted world in the film and the world outside the film today. However, I was surprised by how many of the film’s topics were those that are still being brought up 35 years later. In a scene where Alex’s parents and Detective Al Menetti are being interviewed by several journalists, one journalist asks Al if Alex, a 6 year old child, was too young to be walking to school all by himself. As I watched this film for the first time in 2018, I found myself asking this exact same question. It was also interesting to see and hear how things appeared differently in the early ‘80s compared to today. In one scene, Jocelyn, Susan’s friend, asks Susan why the police aren’t using computers to solve missing persons cases. Because computers have a larger presence in society now than they did 35 years ago, I would have assumed that most crimes are solved with the use of computers. But, it stood out to me how the screenwriters were thinking that far ahead into the future at how some situations, such as those found in Without a Trace, could be improved upon.

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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.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Lack of suspense: When I first read the synopsis for Without a Trace, I was expecting a mystery story with suspense and intrigue throughout the film. While this movie did have intrigue, there was very little suspense that was found. There was such a lack of suspense that it made the characters appear like they didn’t have a sense of urgency. This is not a good thing, especially when a film’s plot revolves around a kidnapping.

 

The run-time: Without a Trace is a 2-hour long film. This caused the movie to contain scenes that felt like were included just for the sake of satisfying this run-time. This run-time also made the movie feel longer than it was probably intended. Personally, I think that Without a Trace’s run-time should have been an hour and 25 to 30 minutes. This way, it would allow the story to be more suspenseful and keep the intrigue going throughout the film.

 

The pace: Without a Trace’s pace was slow. This pace made some scenes drag on longer than they might have been intended. It was also the result of a longer run-time, where these scenes were possibly drawn out to fill Without a Trace’s 2 hour long time-frame.

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Newspaper image created by Zlatko_plamenov at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-psd/newspaper-mockup_1386098.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/mockup”>Mockup psd created by Zlatko_plamenov – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Without a Trace is an ok film. Yes, this movie did have its flaws. However, I could tell that the effort, from the movie’s creative team, to make a compelling and thought-provoking film was there, even if that effort was not as strong as I would have hoped. When looking back on this film, I still can’t get over how some things have stayed the same. Trends change, popularity rises and falls, and style evolves. But certain subjects and messages are the things that remain everlasting. As I mentioned earlier, I knew there were going to be differences between the world of the ‘80s that appeared on my tv screen and the real world of 2018 that I’m living in today. Despite these differences, it’s the similarities that left a lasting and the biggest impression on me as I share this film with all my readers and followers. Thank you, once again, for making this review possible. 18 Cinema Lane would not be the same without you.

 

Overall score: 6.5 out of 10

 

Have you seen Without a Trace? What’s your favorite mystery story? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Falling for You Review

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

With my Truly, Madly, Sweetly review receiving 3 likes and 9 views, I thought I’d continue to keep the interest in “Fall Harvest” alive by reviewing Falling for You! As a Warehouse 13 fan, I was so excited to see Tyler Hynes join the Hallmark family (in case you don’t know, Tyler portrayed Claudia’s brother, Joshua, on the show). Because of Tyler’s appearance in Falling for You, I decided to watch this movie with an open mind and review it on 18 Cinema Lane. This is the third Hallmark movie of Taylor Cole’s that I’ve seen. While I was not a fan of One Winter Weekend, I did enjoy My Summer Prince. Falling for You caught my attention because this is the second Hallmark movie to feature radio within the film’s main plot. This incorporation of story elements that haven’t been told in a while increased my interest in the film. Did I “fall” in love in Falling for You? Keep reading to find out!

Falling for You poster
Falling for You 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=Falling+For+You.

Things I liked about the film:

  • The incorporation of the fall theme: In my review of Truly, Madly, Sweetly, I talked about how the fall theme had a minimal presence in the film. Falling for You, however, was filled with almost all things fall related! While there were lots of fall themed decorations featured in and around various Pleasant Valley buildings, there was also fall themed activities, such as apple-picking, and even Lacey encouraging Zac to incorporate fall-esque flavors into his Bake-Off recipe, like cinnamon and pumpkin. These touches and details made Falling for You truly feel like a “Fall Harvest” film!

 

  • The humor: Falling for You’s humor was light-hearted and good spirited, keeping in line with the humor that’s typically found on Hallmark Channel. There were some moments in this movie that were laugh-out-loud funny. However, the best line in this movie was when Pete, the owner of the apple orchard, responds to Lacey’s question about how he injured his arm by saying, “It was Fall and I fell”.

 

  • The protagonists’ views on technology and radio: When Zac is being interviewed in preparation for the Bachelor Bake-Off, he revealed that he created his new budget app in order to help people become more technologically literate. At the apple orchard, Lacey shares with Zac that she feels radio is all about helping people connect with their community. Zac’s views on technology and Lacey’s views on radio brought a new perspective to two things that affect most people’s lives. I can only speak for myself, but these views made me think about technology and radio in a different way.
Fresh Tasty Red Apples in Wooden Basket on Green Grass
Red apples in basket photo created by Valeria_aksakova at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/fresh-tasty-red-apples-in-wooden-basket-on-green-grass_1284495.htm’>Designed by Valeria_aksakova</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Valeria_aksakova – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

  • Lack of on-screen chemistry: While Taylor Cole and Tyler Hynes gave a fine performance in Falling for You, I was never given the impression they had on-screen chemistry. While it looked like Lacey and Zac got along well (for the most part), the build-up to their romantic relationship wasn’t as present as it could have been.

 

  • A prolonged presence of the Bake-Off: In Falling for You, the Bachelor Bake-Off was the most talked about event. In fact, there was so much talk surrounding this event that I was starting to question whether or not this Bake-Off would happen. While this event did make a presence in the movie, the Bake-Off only appeared during the last ten minutes of the film. Even when the Bake-Off was taking place, the entire coverage of the event felt very rushed.

 

  • A slow pace: The overall pace of Falling for You was slow. This made the film feel longer than the typical Hallmark Channel movie. What didn’t help was how drawn out some parts of the film seemed to be. For example, the planning process surrounding the Bake-Off was given a lot more screen time than the Bake-Off itself. This took away from the excitement of seeing this event come to life.
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Baking essentials image created by Olga_spb at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/background-with-elements-of-the-bakery_903718.htm’>Designed by Olga_spb</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Olga_spb – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Falling for You is, at best, ok. While I don’t think it’s as good as Truly, Madly, Sweetly, it’s a much better film than Yes, I Do and Falling for Vermont. Even though Falling for You has its flaws, there are good things that can be found within this film. As I mentioned earlier, Taylor Cole and Tyler Hynes gave a fine performance in the movie. However, I think their performances could have been stronger. While it’s unknown if Taylor will star in any Hallmark Christmas movies this year, Tyler will make his Hallmark Christmas movie debut in It’s Christmas, Eve. Based on the film’s synopsis, it sounds like the movie will be a little more dramatic than Falling for You. I’m hoping that Tyler can pull off a good performance in that movie so he can appear in many more Hallmark movies to come.

 

Overall score: 6.6-6.7 out of 10

 

What are your thoughts on “Fall Harvest” so far? Are you looking forward to It’s Christmas, Eve? Share your thoughts in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Truly, Madly, Sweetly Review

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

With Hallmark’s “Fall Harvest” line-up finally here, I figured I should get started with reviewing some of these films! Since Ron Oliver is directing this year’s Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas movie, Christmas Everlasting (yes, the movie got a title change) and since I talked about Truly, Madly, Sweetly in a Word on the Street post back in April, I thought reviewing this movie would be a great place to start! In that post, I mentioned that Dylan Neal, one of the stars of the film, hinted at a fall release date for Truly, Madly, Sweetly. Because this movie is the very first movie in this year’s “Fall Harvest” line-up, it looks like it got a fall release date after all. Out of all the Hallmark Channel movies premiering during the fall season, Truly, Madly, Sweetly is the movie I was anticipating the most, especially since the story reminded me of the first All of My Heart movie (which I really enjoyed). Did Truly, Madly, Sweetly meet or exceed my expectations? Let’s keep reading to find out!

Truly Madly Sweetly poster
Truly, Madly, Sweetly 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=Truly%2c+Madly%2c+Sweetly

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: The cast in Truly, Madly, Sweetly was really good! I’ve seen Nikki Deloach’s performance in The Perfect Catch, so I knew she had what it takes, talent wise, to lead a Hallmark movie. Once again, Nikki gave a really good performance, but in her second lead role in a Hallmark movie outside of the Christmas season this time. Her portrayal of Natalie appeared very natural and versatile. I’ve also seen Dylan Neal’s performances in the Gourmet Detective series as well as on Cedar Cove. For his first lead role in a Hallmark Channel movie outside of the Christmas season, I think Dylan gave a really good portrayal of his character, Eric. Dylan brought a good amount of believability to his role that truly added to the enjoyment of his performance.

 

The on-screen chemistry: As I’ve already mentioned, Nikki Deloach and Dylan Neal gave really good performances individually. They also gave a good performance as an on-screen pair. Nikki and Dylan’s on-screen chemistry came across very believably in the film. Because of this, it truly felt like Natalie and Eric’s relationship was growing. I definitely would like to see Nikki and Dylan star in another Hallmark movie together!

 

The story: Before I saw Truly, Madly, Sweetly, I knew there was going to be similarities between this movie and All of My Heart. As I was watching Truly, Madly, Sweetly, I noticed there were more differences than similarities between these movies. For instance, Eric and Natalie are enthusiastic about the idea of working together to restore the bakery within the first half of the movie. Meanwhile, in All of My Heart, it takes Brian and Jenny the entire movie to figure out what they are going to do about Emily’s house. There are other things within Truly, Madly, Sweetly that made the story feel unique from other Hallmark movies with a similar story, such as Natalie’s cupcake food truck and the inherited business being a bakery.

 

“Easter Eggs” from the director: On social media, Ron Oliver has mentioned that he likes to put “Easter Eggs” in his films that relate to his dog, Crawford T. Manchester. In Truly, Madly, Sweetly, the daughter’s school was named ‘Crawford T, Manchester Elementary’. In another scene, there was a wine bottle with Crawford’s picture on the label and the wine was called ‘Straight Outta Palm Springs’ (a location Ron mentioned in an Instagram post featuring Crawford). Small details like these add character and a unique touch to the film, giving audience members who are familiar with Ron’s directing work something to look forward to.

8_Cupcakes1-01
Cupcake with hearts image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/delicious-cupcakes-illustrations_779154.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/food”>Food vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

A slower pace: In Truly, Madly, Sweetly, the pace was slower than in most Hallmark Channel movies. Because of this, it made the story feel longer than it might have been intended. For example, it took more than half the movie for the characters to start renovating the bakery. Personally, I think the bakery renovation should have happened at the film’s half-way point.

 

Minimal use of the fall theme: Even though Truly, Madly, Sweetly is a part of Hallmark’s “Fall Harvest” line-up, it felt like the fall season theme didn’t have as much of a presence as it could have had. While there were fall inspired decorations within the film as well as a fall festival at the daughter’s school, the overall theme of fall appeared as an extra in the movie. None of the characters in Truly, Madly, Sweetly seemed to pay much attention to what season was supposed to be portrayed throughout the film. If this story were placed in any other movie line-up from Hallmark, it wouldn’t have made a difference.

43345-O3TNL5
Bakery image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/facade-bakery-shop_845112.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/vintage”>Vintage vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Truly, Madly, Sweetly was a good start to this year’s “Fall Harvest” line-up! Excluding the Christmas line-up, because it hasn’t premiered yet, the start of the “Fall Harvest” line-up is the strongest out of all the seasonal line-ups that have premiered on Hallmark Channel this year! While there were little references to the fall season in this movie, the film has more merits than flaws. Truly, Madly, Sweetly has gotten me even more excited for Christmas Everlasting because of Ron Oliver’s involvement in this film! From the “Easter Eggs” to the dialogue, everything felt like it has handled with great care and effort. I’m definitely looking forward to the rest of the “Fall Harvest” films and it will be interesting to see which one ends up being my favorite.

 

Overall score: 7.8 out of 10

 

Did you see Truly, Madly, Sweetly? Are you enjoying “Fall Harvest” so far? Please tell me in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Oliver & Company Review + 30 Follower Thank You

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

I received 30 followers on 18 Cinema Lane two weeks ago! It’s time for me to review a film that was released 30 years ago (in 1988)! Because I’ve never reviewed a Disney animated film on my blog before and since the last time I reviewed an animated film was Rugrats Go Wild (for my 15 follower thank you review), I chose Oliver & Company for this milestone post. Oliver & Company is a film that I’ve only seen bits and pieces of, so I was looking forward to seeing this movie in its entirety. While choosing which movie I would talk about for this particular post, I realized that Oliver & Company was released the year before the start of the “Disney Renaissance”: when The Little Mermaid made its film debut. I came across a review of Oliver & Company from the blog, Reviewing All 56 Disney Animated Films And More!. In that review, Rachel, the creator and author of the blog, provided some insight into the importance of Oliver & Company. This insight made me interested to see the type of foundation that this film possibly put in place for the “Disney Renaissance” and beyond. Keep reading my review of Oliver & Company to see how I felt about the movie as a whole!

Oliver and Company poster
Oliver & Company poster image created by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution and The Walt Disney Company. ©Disney•Pixar. All rights reserved. Image found at https://movies.disney.com/oliver-and-company

Things I liked about the film:

The characters: There were several likable characters in Oliver & Company! I liked how they each had their own unique personality and it was fun to see the various interactions between the characters. Some of the creative choices that were made in relation to the characters were interesting. For instance, there are times when a character who is a bulldog could be portrayed as a mean-spirited and tough individual. In Oliver & Company, however, Francis (who is a bulldog) is an aspiring actor who has a deep appreciation for the theater. This character stood out to me because I had never seen a bulldog, in television or film, portrayed this way before.

 

The animation: The animation style in Oliver & Company felt very reflective of the art styles and pop culture that could have been found around the film’s release (mid to late ‘80s). This reflection made the movie feel like an idea of what the ‘80s might have been like, shown to the audience as if they were looking at a snapshot. There were a lot of bright colors in this film that I felt complimented the movie overall. The use of light and dark colors was also well done. An example can be found toward the beginning of the film, when Oliver is left by himself in the middle of a rainstorm. In this scene, Oliver’s bright orange fur stood out against the dark blue background of the city. These choices relating to the use of specific colors added to the artistry of the animation!

 

The music: I really liked all of the music in Oliver & Company! While “Good Company” is a sweet and gentle song, the rest of the songs are upbeat and fun to listen to! To me, all of the music added to the entertainment value of this film. I can definitely see myself listening to Oliver & Company’s soundtrack long after the credits have rolled!

newyork4
New York City skyline with letters image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/new-york-skyline-typographic-silhouette_719554.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Lack of character development for the human characters: In Oliver & Company, there are only four human characters within the story. As I was watching this movie, I found myself wanting to know more about these characters. How Jenny felt about her parents, apparently, putting more emphasis on their dog, Georgette, than her was something that I was curious about. I also wanted to know more about how Fagin ended up in his particular situation as well as see him move out of poverty in order to achieve a comfortable life for him and his dogs. I understand this story is primarily about the animal characters. But, when it comes to character development for the human characters, I felt there was more to be desired.

 

A limited presence of the villain: When it came to the villain in this movie, I thought that Sykes was unsettling. However, compared to other Disney villains (and even some non-Disney villains), he wasn’t as terrifying as he could have been. In fact, I found his Doberman side-kicks, Roscoe and DeSoto, to be scarier than Sykes himself. This is because Sykes has a very limited presence on-screen and doesn’t receive a lot of character development. For these reasons, Oliver & Company doesn’t seem to have a lot of high stakes.

 

The run-time: There were a few times in Oliver & Company where situations seemed to happen too quickly. An example of this is when Oliver learns, at a fast pace, how to steal hot-dogs alongside Dodger. This issue is a result of the film’s shorter run-time. The other aforementioned things that I didn’t like about this film are also the results of a shorter run-time. Oliver & Company is one hour and fourteen minutes, which, as I look back on the film, made me feel like the movie went by very quickly. If this movie would have been an hour and 30 or 35 minutes, the human characters could have received a little more character development and the villain could have been featured more in the film.

nature &amp; animals
Orange cat image created by Freestockcenter at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/ginger-cat_883376.htm’>Designed by Freestockcenter</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/gold”>Gold image created by Freestockcenter – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

As a Disney animated film, Oliver & Company is fine. As a movie in general, it’s good for what it is. I know that there are other Disney animated films that are stronger than Oliver & Company, but I would never consider Oliver & Company to be the worst or weakest movie from the Disney animated catalog. I like to think of this film as the older sibling to The Little Mermaid. While Oliver & Company was the pioneer for what a Disney animated film could and should be (at that time), The Little Mermaid was able to enjoy the fruits of Oliver & Company’s labor because of those important building blocks that were set in place before the “Disney Renaissance” began. Oliver & Company’s efforts should be celebrated, which is why it’s receiving a “standing ovation” on 18 Cinema Lane! As always, thank you to each and every one of my 30 followers as well as my readers! 18 Cinema Lane and this review would not be the same without you!

 

Overall score: 7.4-7.5 out of 10

 

What is your favorite Disney animated film? Which movie from 1988 do you like the most? Let me know in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

 

The link to Rachel’s review of Oliver & Company: https://54disneyreviews.com/2014/09/11/movie-27-oliver-and-company/

Take 3: Jurassic Park Review + 25 Follower Thank You

On By 18cinemalane10 Comments

Two weeks ago, I received 25 followers on 18 Cinema Lane! Like I’ve done with my other blog follower dedication reviews, it’s time for me to review a film that was released 25 years ago (in 1993). Because Fathom Events coordinated a special 25th anniversary screening of Jurassic Park, I decided to pick this movie for my 25-follower dedication post! This was my first time attending a Fathom Events screening, so I was pretty excited to partake in a new cinematic experience. However, the actual event itself was not as special as I had expected. Before attending this screening of Jurassic Park, I thought it was going to be more of an event than it ended up being; from announcers getting the audience excited about the film they were about to watch to contests with cool prizes and giveaways (such as Jurassic Park themed gifts, movie theater gift cards, etc.). This entire experience was just a typical weeknight screening of a well-known film. As thankful as I am that Fathom Events gives movie-goers these unique theater experiences, my experience left more to be desired. So, what about the movie itself? Did the film make me feel the same way my theater-going experience did? Keep reading my review of Jurassic Park to find out!

Jurassic Park poster
A special poster for a special screening. Picture taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: The acting from all of the cast members was great! Everyone’s reactions and emotions appeared and felt so genuine as well as believable. I liked how this cast was multi-generational, as it allowed for various perspectives to be incorporated into this narrative. Each character has such a unique personality and a set of characteristics that made them interesting. Each actor’s portrayal of their character brought these personalities and characteristics to life, which helped to establish a likability to their character. This allowed for memorable character interactions that added to the intrigue of the story.

 

The special effects: The special effects in Jurassic Park are like a fine wine: it ages well with time. All of the dinosaurs in this movie looked so realistic, like they actually co-existed alongside the human characters. Sometimes, an action/adventure movie can either rely too much on special effects or put too much focus on the human characters. In Jurassic Park, however, there was a nice balance between featuring both the human characters and the dinosaurs enough to satisfy the audience.

 

The cinematography: This movie has really good cinematography! One of my favorite shots in Jurassic Park was when DNA codes from one of the computers were projected on a dinosaur. This not only looked cool on screen, but it provided context and significance to the film’s narrative. Shots like this make me, as an audience member, feel like the creative team behind this movie put a good amount of effort and care into the project they were creating.

 

The soundtrack: The music that was found throughout this film was fantastic! Though most of it is instrumental, the music effectively conveyed a particular scene’s tone and added to the atmosphere of the film. The musical talents of John Williams help Jurassic Park and the dinosaurs within it feel larger-than-life. These pieces of music definitely fit in the overall context of the film.

 

The suspense: There are several suspenseful and intriguing moments throughout this film. It definitely left me on the edge of my seat and kept me invested in the story. Sometimes, Jurassic Park feels like a horror film, with the movie relying on atmosphere, tone, and a few jump-scares to get a reaction from the audience. This movie also has the right amount of excitement that is usually expected in an action/adventure film. I think the combination of thrills and excitement worked really well in this film.

Various animal toy figures in a colorful background
Colorful dinosaur image created by Rawpixel.com at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/various-animal-toy-figures-in-a-colorful-background_3011200.htm’>Designed by Rawpixel.com</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Rawpixel.com – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

A delayed introduction to the dinosaurs: In Jurassic Park, it takes about 20 minutes for the movie to give its audience a good look at any of the dinosaurs. While this time was used to introduce the characters and provide the film’s exposition, it made the movie feel like it had a slow start.

 

The under-utilization of some of the characters: While Jurassic Park has several likable characters, there were some of them that seemed to be under-utilized. Two examples are Malcolm and Tim. At the beginning of the film, Malcolm was introduced as a rock-star-esque mathematician. Because of this introduction, I found Malcolm to be an interesting character. Unfortunately, he was never given an opportunity to use those math skills to resolve some of the conflicts within this film’s narrative. Tim’s interest and enthusiasm about dinosaurs was such a great component to his character. However, Tim was never really given a chance to apply this knowledge about dinosaurs to help the characters around him.

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Dinosaur birthday image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/birthday-background-with-elements_1718067.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

The Jurassic Park logo. Without even trying, this logo has become a cinematic symbol of the possibilities of film-making, hope for the future of cinema, and the wonder that can come from the magic of the movies. I never knew how much I would love this movie until I saw it for the first time (yes, you read that right). While there were a few things I didn’t like about the film, there was far more to love about it. After watching Jurassic Park, I can now fully understand the success of Jurassic World. However, I don’t understand how Jurassic Park, a movie with a definitive and well-executed ending, could have been the basis for sequel films. Since I haven’t seen these films, maybe there is a way to continue this story that I’m not familiar with. Thank you so much to all of my 25 followers as well as my readers! Like always, this review and 18 Cinema Lane would not be possible without you!

 

Overall score: 9 out of 10

 

Have you seen any of the Jurassic Park movies? What do you think is the best movie from 1993? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Wedding of Dreams Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

On 18 Cinema Lane, Weddings of Dreams is a movie that I have talked a lot about. I first talked about the sequel to Summer of Dreams back in March, when I reported on the film’s production start date in a Word on the Street post. A month later, in another Word on the Street post, I talked about Weddings of Dreams again. This time, I reported on the film’s production dates being pushed back to May. Because of these production date changes, I said that Weddings of Dreams would likely not premiere in Hallmark’s “June Weddings” line-up, but could premiere in the “Summer Nights” line-up like Summer of Dreams did. While I correctly predicted the absence of Weddings of Dreams from the “June Weddings” line-up, I was wrong about the film’s inclusion into the “Summer Nights” line-up. With the movie finally being released and belonging to no seasonal movie line-ups, I watched Wedding of Dreams yesterday and will now give you my honest opinion about the film.

Wedding of Dreams poster
Wedding of Dreams 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=Wedding%20of%20Dreams&IsSeries=False.

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: I thought the entire cast of Wedding of Dreams was great! Just like in Summer of Dreams, I was impressed with Debbie’s acting performance! Debbie brought so much believability to her role, as her portrayal of her character came across so naturally on-screen. Debbie’s musical performances were also a treat to see and hear in this film! Another performance that I was impressed with was Robert Gant’s. Similar to Debbie’s performance, Robert brought a lot of believability, as well as versatility, to his role.

 

The on-screen chemistry: In Wedding of Dreams, Debbie and Robert’s on-screen chemistry was great! Their on-screen relationship appeared as if they not only were each other’s best friends, but also like they truly cared about one another. Debbie and Robert’s comedic timing was also fantastic and their interactions were a joy to watch on the screen.

 

The wedding proposal: Noah’s marriage proposal to Debbie at her music studio was one of the best proposals in Hallmark movie history! By having Noah incorporate Debbie’s love of music into the proposal, it made the occasion feel personalized and the proposal itself feel creative. What Noah said during this proposal made the situation feel heart-felt. This entire scene was one of the best scenes from any of this year’s Hallmark movies (so far)!

 

The messages and themes: Hallmark is known for incorporating messages and themes into their films that are uplifting and inspirational. Wedding of Dreams is no exception, with Debbie providing messages of being true to one’s self and finding your passion in life to other characters as well as herself. These messages and themes are relatable and can make the audience feel good about watching this film as they see the characters applying these same messages and themes into their own lives with positive results.

Beautiful wedding dance
First wedding dance image created by Teksomolika at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/newlyweds-dancing-at-their-wedding_983404.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/wedding”>Wedding image created by Teksomolika – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Reduced focus on Debbie’s music class: What was so charming about Summer of Dreams was the story about Debbie and the students in her music class. In this story, we, the audience, not only got to see Debbie’s interactions with these students, we also got to know some of the students and see how music came to influence their lives. In Wedding of Dreams, there was not as much story-time given to Debbie’s music class like in the first movie. We don’t get to see Debbie interact much with her class and we aren’t given the chance to get to know some of the students, but only become familiar with them. While it’s understandable that this film had two interconnecting plots and that the incorporation of the aforementioned subplot would have made the movie feel like there was too much going on, it feels like some of the identity from the first movie was absent.

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Wedding couple image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-wedding-invitation-with-happy-couple_1259848.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/wedding”>Wedding vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

If you would have told me, two years ago, that Hallmark would give Summer of Dreams a sequel, I would have debated with you on why For Love and Honor was the most deserving movie out of those six films of receiving the achievement. However, I thought Wedding of Dreams was even better than the first movie! While thinking about both Summer of Dreams and Wedding of Dreams, I realized that Hallmark has created a special series out of these two films! Though Hallmark has, so far, not made any announcements about any future films in this series, I would love to see a third movie called “Christmas of Dreams”. Just the thought of Debbie Gibson singing Christmas songs in a Hallmark movie makes me really happy! Seeing a Youngstown Christmas appear in a “Countdown to Christmas” line-up would truly be something special.

 

Overall score: 8.4-8.5 out of 10

 

What are your thoughts on Summer of Dreams and/or Wedding of Dreams? Would you like to see “Christmas of Dreams” become a reality? Let me know in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: The Bad Seed (2018) Review

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

Once upon a time, back in early March, I reported in a Word on the Street post that Lifetime was remaking The Bad Seed. In this post, I did share my thoughts about this movie news story, doubting that a remake of this classic film could work at all. Five months later, I reported in another Word on the Street post the release date for The Bad Seed remake. This time, my opinions about the potential of the film changed after I saw the trailer. I talked about how, based on the trailer, the film looked like it would not only be as dark as the original film, but that this new film would add more terror to the narrative. Now, Lifetime’s remake of The Bad Seed has finally arrived. Since I had a chance to watch this film recently, I can now talk about how I feel about this film. Did The Bad Seed meet or exceed my expectations? Keep reading my review to find out!

The Bad Seed 2018 poster
The Bad Seed (2018) poster created by Lifetime Entertainment Services. Image found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Bad_Seed_2018.jpg

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: In The Bad Seed, the acting was really good! The biggest highlight of this film was Mckenna Grace’s performance! Even though she was one of the youngest cast members in this film, Mckenna brought so much believability to her role. Mckenna’s portrayal of Emma was so unique from the original 1956 film, with the characteristics of Emma appearing as a combination of the sophistication of Matilda (from the ’96 film) and the cynicism of Wednesday Addams (from the Addams Family films). If there are any upcoming award presentations where The Bad Seed could get nominated, I hope Mckenna receives an acting nomination!

 

The cinematography: I was pleasantly surprised by how good the cinematography was in this film! Some of the shots were beautifully filmed, the use of color adding to the overall appeal of the cinematography. An example of this is any time Emma is in the forest. Her outfits of bright colors provide a really good contrast to the darker colors of the forest. These creative decisions relating to the film’s visuals show how much thought and detail was placed on this aspect of the film.

 

The creative choices: Because The Bad Seed is a remake of the 1956 film, there are differences and similarities between Lifetime’s 2018 production and the original movie. However, the creative choices that the creative team behind this movie made helped this movie feel unique from its predecessor. One of these choices was Emma’s father being a widower. In the original movie, Rhoda’s family consisted of her, her mother, and her father. However, Rhoda’s father was in the military for the majority of the film. This creative choice allows for a new perspective to be told and a new voice to be added to the narrative. In both films, there is a character that suspects, from the beginning, the dangers caused by the child. While this character in the 1956 film was a caretaker at the apartment complex where Rhoda lived, a nanny named Chloe played the role of this skeptical character in the 2018 film. Even though these two characters have the same significance and demise, the differences between the characters themselves highlights the creativity and interesting perspectives that were incorporated into the Lifetime movie.

Terrified friends watching horror movie in cinema
Scared audience image created by Katemangostar at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/terrified-friends-watching-horror-movie-in-cinema_1027311.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/people”>People image created by Katemangostar – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

An inconsistent pace: The Bad Seed is known for being a suspenseful story. In the 2018 movie, however, there are more non-suspenseful moments throughout the film. Because of this, it made the pace of the film feel inconsistent, with some scenes feeling slower than others. For me, this didn’t bother me much. But for someone who is a fan of thrillers, it may be a little disappointing.

 

Emma’s father’s relationship status playing a small role: As I’ve already mentioned, one of the creative choices that was found in 2018’s The Bad Seed was Emma’s father being a widower. From a story-telling perspective, I was hoping that this creative choice would play a larger role within the context of the story. Maybe the boy who drowned could have been the son of a single mother who Emma’s father was interested in dating. The idea of the parent figure in The Bad Seed being a single parent was present, but not explored enough in Lifetime’s film.

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Winner’s medal image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/golden-awards-set-with-colors-details_844356.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/gold”>Gold vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Movie remakes can be hit or miss. For me, a good remake has to be able to do two things: 1. Respect the original film and 2. Do something new with the story and provide your own voice to the narrative. Lifetime’s remake of The Bad Seed succeeded in applying both of those steps into their film! As someone who had their doubts about this film, The Bad Seed is just as good as the original. While the voice of the original can definitely be heard, this new voice accompanied that 62-year-old voice in a harmonious duet. I won’t spoil this movie for those of you who haven’t seen it yet, but the way this movie ends gives Lifetime the opportunity to create a sequel if they choose to do so. I would, honestly, like to see a sequel to The Bad Seed, as it would allow this story to travel down creative avenues where the original film wasn’t able to go. But, going back to 2018’s The Bad Seed, this is one of the best remakes I’ve ever seen! I would definitely recommend this film, especially if you are a fan of the original movie!

 

Overall score: 8 out of 10

 

Have you seen The Bad Seed? Which version of the film is your favorite? Let me know in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen