Tag: movies

Take 3: Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Disappearing Game Review

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

It seems like my posts and reviews about Hallmark Movies & Mysteries films are a big hit on 18 Cinema Lane. My most popular movie review is my Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Will to Kill review at 131 views and counting! The Word on the Street post about Marrying Father Christmas going into production is the most popular post on my blog at 212 views and counting! To keep up with this apparent demand, I decided to review Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Disappearing Game. Back in April, I reviewed Reap What You Sew: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery, giving the movie the score of 7 and receiving pretty good feedback on the review itself (that review got 3 likes and 10 views). Then, in May, I shared the official synopsis for Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Disappearing Game in a Word on the Street post. In that post, I speculated that Niall Matter’s character, Nick Miller, could replace Martin as Aurora’s love interest. Was my speculation correct? Solve this mystery by reading my review of Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Disappearing Game!

Aurora Teagarden Mysteries -- The Disappearing Game poster
Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Disappearing Game poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=143&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=Aurora+Teagarden+Mysteries+The+Disappearing+Game.

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: This cast was solid! Everyone in this movie gave such a memorable performance! While watching this film, there were two actors that really stood out to me. One of them was Niall Matter, who, I think, gave the best performance in any Hallmark movie he’s starred in this year (so far). There was one scene where his character, Nick, was talking to Aurora about the murder victim. In that moment, his eyes looked as if they contained so much pain, showing just how much emotion Niall gave to that portrayal. The other actor is Curtis Tweedie, who portrayed Brian, one of the students at Lawrenceton College. Curtis packed so much emotion into his role that my heart actually went out to his character, feeling bad for him whenever he was upset. Though Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Disappearing Game was Curtis’ first Hallmark movie, I would love to see him star in more Hallmark productions, especially a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie!

 

The interactions between characters: Something that always remained consistent in the Aurora Teagarden series is the various interactions between the characters. It’s always nice to see favorites from the series, such as Aurora and Aida, interacting with new characters, like their cousin/nephew Phillip. Anytime a new character is introduced in this series, it feels like they are effortlessly woven into each story or the series as a whole. The characters’ connections to each other and the conversations they share are always a delight, especially in Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Disappearing Game. Nick, for example, was introduced in this movie as a new character in the series. However, Niall not only fit in amongst the cast, but his character fit in amongst the different characters as well, whether they were new-comers or veterans to the series.

 

The mystery: In most mystery movies on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, the primary focus is placed on solving the murder mystery. With Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Disappearing Game, Aurora and her friends were also trying to solve a kidnapping case. This second mystery added a new layer to this series and told a story that is rarely written into a mystery movie on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Having more than one mystery also maintained the amount of intrigue that is expected in the Aurora Teagarden series.

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What I didn’t like about the film:

Arthur’s lack of screen time: For three years, the Aurora Teagarden series has introduced their audience to several memorable characters. One of them is Arthur Smith, who is portrayed by Peter Benson. Known as the husband of Captain Lynn Liggett-Smith and for telling Aurora to let the police solve the mystery on more than one occasion, Arthur has appeared in all nine Aurora Teagarden films. However, in Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Disappearing Game, it seemed like Arthur didn’t receive as much screen time compared to the other films in the series. In the latest Aurora Teagarden film, it felt, to me, like Arthur’s significance as a character got reduced.

 

Aurora and Nick’s limited amount of time together: Nick Miller, one of the newest characters in this series, is Aurora’s next-door neighbor. Throughout Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Disappearing Game, there were subtle hints to the idea of Nick and Aurora pursuing a romantic relationship. While it’s understandable for the screen-writers to take their time when developing this on-screen relationship, I feel that Aurora and Nick didn’t spend enough time together. The amount of time they spent together on-screen was so limited, it was hard to determine if Candace Cameron Bure and Niall Matter had good on-screen chemistry.

 

The mystery’s start time: Usually, the start of a mystery movie’s mystery takes place within the first few minutes of the film. For Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Disappearing Game, the start of the film’s mystery didn’t happen until about 20 minutes into the movie. Personally, I think this length of time was a little too long. The ideal amount of time for a movie’s mystery to start, in my opinion, is somewhere between 10 to 15 minutes.

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Library image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/stack-of-books-on-library-desk_2509490.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/school”>School image created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

I really enjoyed Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: The Disappearing Game! It was better than Reap What You Sew: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery and it continued to spark my interest in this series. Something that I’m definitely looking forward to seeing in these movies is the growth of Aurora and Nick’s relationship. As Rick said in Casablanca, “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship”. His quote can definitely be applied to Aurora and Nick’s friendship, as their story is far from over. As for the Aurora Teagarden series, I would still like to see an Aurora Teagarden Mystery Month, similar to the Garage Sale Mystery Month in August and Hailey Dean Mystery Month in June. The Aurora Teagarden series is still one of the strongest movie series on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, so I do think this idea could work. As long as there are stories to tell, there will always be a mystery for Aurora to solve.

 

Overall score: 7.7-7.8 out of 10

 

Have you seen the Aurora Teagarden movies? Which movie in the series is your favorite? Let me know in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Word on the Street: Movie news and a television show announcement from Hallmark’s Summer TCA Event

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Yesterday, on the 26th, Crown Media Family Networks held one of their most important events of the year. Stars from Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries gathered in Beverly Hills to celebrate the present and future of both networks. Hallmark fans stayed alert on social media, refreshing the webpage in the hopes of catching a new announcement about an upcoming project. A bi-annual event, Hallmark’s TCA (Television Critics Association) Event is when details about movies are revealed and new projects can spark the interest of many fans. This year’s Summer TCA Event brought fans a lot of news relating to Hallmark’s upcoming projects and business endeavors. Because of how much creative content was announced yesterday, I will focus on the announcements relating to Hallmark’s movies and a new television show. Along with these announcements, I will also share my thoughts about them. So, let’s start talking about these upcoming movies and television show!

Hallmark Summer TCA Event poster
Hallmark’s Summer TCA Event 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=2018+Summer+TCA. 

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries made two movie announcements on Twitter and the Crown Media Family Networks website. The first announcement was about a project that will star and be executive produced by Susan Lucci. This project will be a movie based on Charley’s Web, a book by Joy Fielding. When I first read this announcement, I didn’t know who Susan Lucci was and I had never heard of the aforementioned novel. The brief synopsis that is featured on the Crown Media Family Networks website doesn’t make the movie sound that much different from the other mysteries that air on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. On Twitter, the network also announced that a new mystery series was on the horizon, with Danica McKellar starring in “The Matchmaker Mysteries”. This series is the result of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ development deal with Patti Stanger (a.k.a. The Millionaire Matchmaker). Personally, I think there are too many mysteries series that are currently on and that are planning to air on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Hallmark should focus on the mystery series that are already ongoing (example: the Garage Sale Mystery series) and, possibly, conclude some of their stories so that new series can be introduced. Another announcement that came from Twitter was made by Josh Sabarra, who was the executive producer of Hailey Dean Mystery: Murder, with Love and Hailey Dean Mystery: Deadly Estate. In that tweet, which Hallmark Movies & Mysteries retweeted, Josh announced that more movies in the Hailey Dean series were coming in 2019! Having gained a new appreciation for the series after Hailey Dean Mystery Month, I am looking forward to these movies and seeing where the story goes after Hailey Dean Mysteries: A Will to Kill!

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

On Hallmark Channel’s Twitter feed, a tweet from Debbie Gibson was retweeted by the network. In this tweet, Debbie announced that the Summer of Dreams sequel, Wedding of Dreams, would premiere on September 8th. This piece of movie news was not surprising to me, as this release date and the film’s synopsis were announced on the Crown Media Family Networks website two days prior to the Summer TCA Event. However, I am excited that this movie is coming just around the corner! I have been following the development of this movie in my Word on the Street posts since March, so I’m glad to see Hallmark’s final product will premiere very soon!

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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.

A brand-new television show is on the way from Hallmark Movies Now! This show will be titled “When Hope Calls” and is a spin-off of When Calls the Heart. The project is currently in development and is scheduled for a 2019 release. “When Hope Calls” is actually history in the making: not only would this be the first original series from Hallmark Movies Now, but it would also be the first spin-off show in Hallmark history! It really doesn’t surprise me that this show would air on Hallmark’s streaming service, as the business people in charge of Hallmark are trying to find ways to entice their customers to purchase Hallmark Movies Now. However, I think it’s a smart business move, as this allows for Hallmark’s creative efforts to grow on more than one platform. Honestly, I hope “When Hope Calls” is about Tom Thornton and his adventures as a tire salesman.

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Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a> <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a> Image found at freepik.com

As I think about these pieces of movie and television news, as well as the other announcements that Hallmark made yesterday, I can’t help but feel disappointed. I was expecting more announcements about upcoming movies, such as those from the “Countdown to Christmas” line-up. The one project I was really hoping would be revealed at the Summer TCA Event was the new Hallmark Hall of Fame movie that will premiere around Christmas-time. I guess this movie is so special, Hallmark is choosing to keep it a secret for this long. I’m starting to wonder why Hallmark continues to host these events if they keep holding back on movie announcements, this occurrence happening more recently than in years past. Even this year’s Winter TCA Event was very underwhelming, with four movie announcements from Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, but none from Hallmark Channel. Now that I think about it, the movie announcements from the Winter TCA Event were not brought up at the Summer TCA Event. Though very few movie news stories were announced at Hallmark’s event, I’m pretty sure we’ll get more announcements about upcoming projects from the network as the days and weeks go on.

 

What are your thoughts about these movie news stories? Are you looking forward to any of these projects? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

If you want to check out these stories or any of the tweets I referenced in this post, you can visit Hallmark Channel’s official Twitter feed (by going to @hallmarkchannel), Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ official Twitter feed (by going to @hallmarkmovie), or by visiting this link: https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=142&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=2018+Summer+TCA

 

My Top 5 Dream Double Features at the Cinema

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Two months ago, Talk Film Society asked the following question on Twitter:

 

“If you could program your own double feature at a movie theater, what would it be”?

 

For weeks, I’ve been wanting to answer this question. However, I was waiting for the right opportunity to do so. This month, I reached the milestone of publishing 25 movie reviews (my review of The Dark Knight was the 25th)! To celebrate, I figured this would be the right time to finally answer Talk Film Society’s question. In the days and weeks leading up to this post, I put a good amount of thought into the potential double features I would choose to organize. I didn’t want any of the pairings to be painfully obvious (for example, having two movies be grouped together just because they have one obvious idea or concept in common). The double features that I would host would not only entertain the audience, but also engage and encourage them to think about what they’re watching. Five double feature pairings will be discussed in this post because I want to go into depth about why I would make a particular pairing. Now that explanations are finished, let the list finally begin!

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The Road to El Dorado & Atlantis: The Lost Empire: Different, but quite similar. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

1. The Road to El Dorado & Atlantis: The Lost Empire

For years, these films have been two of my favorite animated movies of all time! Also, in that time frame, Kida (from Atlantis: The Lost Empire) and Chel (from The Road to El Dorado) have become two of my favorite animated characters of all time! As time has gone on, I’ve noticed that Kida and Chel share some similarities between each other. I always wondered why these characters seemed so alike, especially since they were created by two different animators from two different animation companies. When I was thinking about what these characters have in common, I started to realize that their respective movies share similarities as well. These two movies being more alike than different is what this double feature would explore, whether these similarities were intentional or pure coincidence.

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Matthew Rogers (a.k.a. The Wild Boy): The tragic literary character before there was Bucky Barnes. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

2. The Wild Boy: Episode 1 and 2 & Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Ok, so I know this double feature contains a tv show episode, but trust me, this pairing makes sense. I saw Captain America: The Winter Soldier for the first time two years ago. At the scene where it is explained how Bucky became the Winter Soldier, my exact thought was “this is “The Wild Boy” all over again”. What I meant by that statement was Bucky’s backstory shared several similarities with Matthew Rogers’ backstory. Matthew Rogers is not only my favorite character from Little House on the Prairie, but he’s also the titular character in both parts of the episode “The Wild Boy”. The similarities between Bucky’s and Matthew’s backstories and journeys would be discussed in this double feature. Another point of discussion would be how providing an explanation for some characters’ behavior and actions can be beneficial in cinematic story-telling.

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The Dog of Flanders: Not well remembered, but definitely not forgotten. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

3. The Dog of Flanders (1997) & Tales from Earthsea

Last year, I was introduced to Tales from Earthsea and it was one of the best movies I saw in 2017! When I saw the film, the animation style reminded me of the 1997 animated movie The Dog of Flanders. Since the late ‘90s, The Dog of Flanders has held a special place in the heart. What’s interesting is I have heard almost no one talk about the film. The Dog of Flanders seems to be so underrated, that it has never been placed on a list of underrated animated films. Tales from Earthsea also seems to be underrated, as few people have talked about this film. This double feature would take a look at the similarities between each film’s animation style, as well as celebrate both movies and help them receive the recognition they deserve.

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Anastasia (1997): Familiar story, but creative execution. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

4. Candleshoe & Anastasia (1997)

Anastasia, from 1997, is not only one of my favorite animated films, it is my favorite 20th Century Fox film! While thinking about Talk Film Society’s question, I tried to figure out what would be the perfect movie to pair with this masterpiece. After some thoughtful consideration, I ultimately decided I would pair Anastasia with the Disney movie, Candleshoe. Both of these films share a similar plot, where a female protagonist teams up with a con-artist to pose as a wealthy individual’s long-lost relative. However, this is not the reason why I would pair Anastasia with Candleshoe for a double feature. Yes, the basic premise for both films sound similar to each other, but Anastasia and Candleshoe feel so different from one another because of the creative choices that were made. It’s inevitable that stories are bound to get repeated over time. The way that story is told, however, can determine if there is a new perspective that can be brought to the table. This concept is what the Anastasia and Candleshoe double feature would discuss.

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Happy vampire image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/several-vampires-ready-for-halloween_1317599.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/party”>Party vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

5. The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire & Queen of the Damned

Ok, so I’ve never seen these movies, but I’m considering doing a double feature movie review of each film around Halloween-time. While The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire and Queen of the Damned discuss the topic of vampires to a certain extent, I paired these movies together not just because of that singular reason. Both films were released in 2002 and they are non-canonical representations of their respective literary source material. This particular double feature would attempt to answer the following question: Despite being unfaithful to their source material, can The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire and Queen of the Damned contain any amount of enjoyment and merit as a film, not an adaptation?

 

What are your thoughts on my list? What would your dream cinematic double feature be? Please tell me in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

If you want to check out Talk Film Society’s website or find Talk Film Society on social media, here’s the link:  http://www.talkfilmsociety.com/

Blockbuster leaving Alaska; the Saddest Movie Related Article I’ve Read This Year

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

Recently, I read an article titled “For One Last Night, Make It a Blockbuster Night”. Justin Heckert from The Ringer chronicles the final days of Blockbuster video rental stores in one of the last states to enjoy their services: Alaska. This was not only one of the best articles I’ve read this year, but it was also the saddest movie related article I’ve read this year. As I read paragraph after paragraph, I found myself crying as some loyal customers, as well as employees, bittersweetly shared what they would miss the most about Blockbuster. In the article, some of the issues that Alaskans face were weak internet service, winters that kept neighbors stuck inside their homes, and the ways of viewing movies becoming much more limited. When I read this article, I felt really bad for these Blockbuster customers and wanted to do something to help them. However, I quickly realized that this particular problem, about one of Alaska’s movie viewing options going away forever, was too great for an individual blogger like me to attempt to solve.

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Postcard from Alaska created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/alaska-postcard-template-with-flat-design_2342327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/snow”>Snow vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

As the creator and author of 18 Cinema Lane, I’ve always had the best intentions whenever I review a movie or talk about a piece of movie news. A “standing ovation” is something I try to give a movie or movie related topic that I feel deserves it. So, reading about Alaskans losing a component to their movie going experience made me feel like what I was doing wasn’t good enough. Every time I review a movie, I try to select films that most people can easily watch, stream, rent, or purchase. When I talk about movie news, I always make sure to include sources and give credit where it’s due. But I just felt so powerless as I read about how the magic of movies is slipping out of Alaskans’ hands like sand. As a movie blogger, I also felt guilty when I read about how Alaskans have to deal with weak or no internet service. Like I mentioned before, I try to make things easier for my readers and followers, especially with the movies and topics I discuss. But because so much of my movie related discussions take place on the internet, I felt like I wasn’t really doing much to help Alaska’s movie viewing problem.

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On-line movie purchase image created by Makyzz at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/on-line-order-cinema-movie-tickets_1577652.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/technology”>Technology vector created by Makyzz – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

As I look back and reflect on Justin’s article, I know that it was not meant to make a movie blogger like me feel bad about Alaska’s Blockbuster situation. It could have been the way Justin wove humanity and a human voice into this particular story that caused me to feel any spark of emotion. Maybe it’s because of how much I love the movie going experience and how much I want others to find the same amount of joy that I do when watching movies. Whatever is the case, I just hope the people of Alaska can find a way to still enjoy the magic and wonder of the movies. I know I don’t write heartfelt posts like this often, but I promise that my next post will be happier and more light-hearted. Talking about this particular article is something I wanted to do because most of us can relate to watching movies outside of a theater and with the people we care about. Recommending movies and engaging in cinematic discussions (which, according to the article, is something that Alaskans like to do face-to-face) is one of the best parts of belonging to the movie blogging community. The only thing that I can do is try to make 18 Cinema Lane as enjoyable for every reader and follower as possible.

 

If you want to read Justin’s article, here is the link: https://www.theringer.com/movies/2018/7/19/17588856/blockbuster-alaska-rental-netflix-soldotna-anchorage (just to let you know, there is some swearing and one inappropriate comment about a movie memorabilia item featured in this article)

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Word on the Street: Nickelodeon’s “Rugrats” heading back to the big screen; Hallmark’s “All of My Heart 3” currently in production

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

For my first Word on the Street story this month, I wanted to share two pieces of movie news that not only could spark feelings of nostalgia, but also talk about two franchises that each have a respective fanbase. One of Nickelodeon’s most beloved television series, Rugrats, has, recently, returned to the spotlight. This latest decision has caused many people to voice their thoughts and opinions on the internet. Meanwhile, Hallmark has plans to release a third movie in the All of My Heart series, resulting in a lot of positive responses from their fans. I will elaborate on both of these stories, as well as share my thoughts on each topic. So, start up the Reptar Wagon and return to the Inn, it’s time to talk about some upcoming movies!

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Movie themed image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/red-cinema-ribbon-with-movie-elements_847136.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/frame”>Frame vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found on freepik.com.

In a video on the official Youtube channel, ColliderVideos, Jeff Sneider and Christian Ruvalcaba, Collider News correspondents, reported on the Rugrats related creative decision made by both Viacom and Paramount. The two media companies announced that the 27-year-old show would not only be receiving a new 26-episode television series on Nickelodeon, but that a live-action movie was on the way! Very few details have been released about both projects. However, both Jeff and Christian mentioned that the original creators of Rugrats, Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó and Paul Germain, are coming back to this new TV series as executive producers. Jeff and Christian also said that David Goodman will write the film’s script and the movie itself will premiere sometime in November of 2020. As someone who was watched both Rugrats and All Grown Up!, the idea of one of my favorite Nickelodeon shows returning to the cinematic coliseum, as well as the television world, is very exciting! Like I said about the upcoming live-action Kim Possible movie, I do have my concerns about the possible alienation of the original show’s fans. I’m also a little bit skeptical of the film’s definition of “live-action”. Will the cast of the movie bring the animated characters to life (similar to Disney’s live-action remakes) or will the film consist of live-action actors co-existing in a world alongside the animated characters? While it’s way too early for either of those questions to be answered, let’s celebrate the Rugrats’ triumphant return to pop culture!

If you want to watch the video that I referenced in this post, you can either visit the ColliderVideos Youtube channel or type “Rugrats Movie & New TV Series in the Works” into Youtube’s search bar.

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The Rugrats Movie poster created by Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies. Image found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TheRugratsMovieposter.jpg

If you’ve been on Twitter recently, you would find excited tweets from All of My Heart fans expressing their feelings about the third installment in the series! On the website, What’s Filming, All of My Heart 3 was listed on Vancouver and British Columbia’s “In Production” page. The upcoming Hallmark movie started production yesterday (on the 21st) and will finish filming on August 17th. Right now, Hallmark has not released an official synopsis for the film and Lacey Chabert and Brennan Elliot are the only two cast members officially attached to the project. The first All of My Heart film caught me by surprise, as I thoroughly enjoyed the film more than I thought I would! I was one of the many fans who was a part of the movement to help All of My Heart get a sequel. When Hallmark finally granted our wish, I couldn’t have been more excited to see how the story would unfold. Unfortunately, All of My Heart: Inn Love was, to me, very disappointing. Because of how this sequel made me feel, my expectations for this third movie will be lower than for the sequel. But, who knows? Maybe All of My Heart 3 will catch me surprise like the first movie did and surpass my expectations!

Link to What’s Filming’s “In Production” page for the Vancouver and British Columbia area: http://www.whatsfilming.ca/inproduction/ (if you visit this page after August 17th, All of My Heart 3 will be taken off the list)

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What you think about these pieces of movie news? Are you looking forward to any of these upcoming projects? Let me know in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: The Dark Knight Review + 10 Follower Thank You

On By 18cinemalane4 Comments

Before my hiatus last week, I shared that I had finally reached my 10-follower milestone! Like I did with my Saving Mr. Banks review, I chose to, once again, review a movie that correlated with the follower milestone. Now, it’s time for me to talk about a film that was released 10 years ago (in 2008). Since July 18 marks the 10th anniversary of The Dark Knight and with San Diego Comic Con also starting on July 18th, I figured this particular Batman movie would be the appropriate film to discuss while celebrating these two occasions. The Dark Knight is the only Batman film in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy that I have never seen in its entirety. For years, both film and Batman fans have sung the praises of this movie and applauded certain performances, Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker being the most notable. But in a cinematic world where the Marvel superheroes have become the kings and queens of the theatrical coliseum, does The Dark Knight still have what it takes to stand the test of time? I’m glad you flew in, because that’s exactly what we’re about to find out.

The Dark Knight poster
The Dark Knight poster created by Warner Bros. Pictures. Image found at https://www.warnerbros.com/dark-knight

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: I think the whole cast in this movie was great! Every single actor and actress stepped up their A-game to bring the best that their acting abilities had to offer. In The Dark Knight, the villains were definitely the highlights of this film! For 10 years now, Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker has been well-liked by many movie-goers. I agree with those movie-goers, as Heath’s performance was one of the best parts of this film. The Joker reminded me a lot of Thanos from Avengers: Infinity War, a man who not only felt and came across as unstoppable, but also a man who thought that his actions and way of thinking was justifiable. Heath’s performance itself was very chilling and, at times, made the Joker appear really disturbing. Aaron Eckhart also shined in The Dark Knight with his portrayal of Harvey Dent. Aaron effortlessly brought the versatility and the right amount of emotions to his role, effectively bringing those ingredients to a multi-dimensional character like Harvey Dent.

 

The pace: The Dark Knight is a two-and-a-half-hour film, but it never feels like it drags on for too long or ends too quickly. There are enough stories within this movie to satisfy the film’s time limit, with these stories being drawn out at just the right length.

 

The right amount of exposition: Because The Dark Knight was released three years after Batman Begins, exposition was going to be a necessary component. However, there was enough exposition in this film to give audience members the ability to follow the story with little to no confusion. Also, the exposition was dispersed throughout the movie instead of just clumped into the first few minutes.

2 joker cards
Pair of joker playing cards created by Outanmax at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/2-joker-cards_1127202.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Outanmax – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

An imbalance between dialogue and action: In The Dark Knight, I felt that there were more scenes devoted to dialogue and less scenes with action in them. While the dialogue-based scenes were well-written, the time gap between moments of dialogue and action was greater than I had wanted. Most of the action scenes took place toward the end of the movie, making the majority of the dialogue-based scenes seem like steady, but long, build-up.

 

Lack of lighting in the action scenes: While the action scenes in The Dark Knight were exciting to watch, I had difficulty seeing what was going on. This is because most of these scenes took place during the night. Even when there was light in some of these action scenes, it wasn’t enough to fix the problem.

 

The editing: There were some scenes in The Dark Knight that, I felt, ended too quickly. The editing of these scenes was choppy, making the flow between scenes feel interrupted. A number of quick-cuts were used in this movie, especially during action scenes. This sometimes made it difficult to see what was happening on the screen.

American One Dollar Coin
Silver coin image created by Welcomia at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/american-one-dollar-coin_1180385.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/money”>Money image created by Welcomia – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Since the release of The Dark Knight, we’ve seen the rise and reign of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), the struggle of the DCEU (D.C. Entertainment Universe), and the cinematic playing field drastically shift. Despite all of those changes, Christopher Nolan’s second Batman film has, indeed, stood the test of time. The Dark Knight is still a topic of cinematic conversation, even to this day. Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker has been considered, for good reason, one of the most memorable movie villains of all time for 10 years and counting. The Dark Knight has certainly won over the hearts of many, no matter who your favorite superhero is. There was something that Harvey Dent said in this movie that really got my attention. During a dinner scene, toward the beginning of the film, Harvey mentioned that Batman probably doesn’t want to be Batman forever. This made me think about how we’ve gotten another Batman after Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy ended (Ben Affleck in the DCEU) and the potential for a new Batman in Matt Reeves’ future Batman film. As Warner Brothers prepares to enter the halls of San Diego Comic Con, they will also be celebrating the birthday of one of their beloved films. Thank you to all of my blog followers! This review, as well as this blog, would not have been possible without you!

 

Overall score: 8.3 out of 10

 

What did you think of my review? How are you celebrating The Dark Knight’s 10th anniversary? Share your thoughts in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar Review

On By 18cinemalane4 Comments

Now that I’m back from my week-long hiatus, it’s time for me to get back to doing what I love: talking about movies! As the first order of business, I will review Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar, my first post since jumping back into blogging after my temporary break. The first time I talked about Signed, Sealed, Delivered’s latest installment was back in May, when Hallmark Movies & Mysteries gave the film an official movie page on their website. I also talked about Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar in two June Word on the Street posts: when the film’s synopsis was released and when I shared my thoughts on the movie’s trailer. As I’ve mentioned before, Signed, Sealed, Delivered is a series that I find to be very hit-or-miss. But, like I do with every movie I watch, I gave it a fair chance and watched it with an open mind. With that said, all I have to do now is put a stamp on this review and send it out to my readers!

Signed Sealed Delivered To the Altar poster
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=143&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=series&ShowTitle=Signed%2c+Sealed%2c+Delivered+To+the+Altar

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: An element to this series that has remained consistent is the quality of the acting performances! Whether it is the main cast or guest supporting actors, everyone involved in these movies brings out the best in their acting abilities. Specifically, in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar, two actresses that really stood out to me were Kristin Booth and Jessica Sipos! Ever since the very beginning, Kristin has always been one of the strongest actors in the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series. Especially in this latest film, Kristin effortlessly brought the versatility and emotion to the multi-dimensional role of Shane McInerney. For her very first Hallmark movie, Jessica pulled off a great performance! I have also seen Jessica’s performance on Chesapeake Shores, where she has proven to be a great addition to the series!

 

The on-screen chemistry: Throughout this series, the characters of Oliver, Shane, Norman, and Rita have grown as individuals and in their respective relationships. This particular movie focused a lot on Norman and Rita’s relationship, as they were the engaged couple who were about to get married. Geoff Gustafson and Crystal Lowe always appear as if their characters truly love each other. Each of Norman and Rita’s quirks complement one another and their relationship comes across as sweet and genuine. Kristin and Eric Mabius also had great on-screen chemistry! Both of them effectively gave a convincing performance of two people in a growing, as well as blossoming, relationship. What helps is each of these on-screen couples has consistently appeared and worked together throughout the lifespan of the series, giving each actor the time to truly get to know their characters and the significance they have in the lives of the others characters.

 

The messages and themes: The Signed, Sealed, Delivered series is known for delivering (no pun intended) messages and themes that are inspirational and uplifting. That was prevalent in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar. Some of the messages featured in this film deal with inner strength, the foundations of a happy marriage, and the various displays of love. These messages and themes are shared in a way that can make the audience feel good about the program they are watching. The messages and themes are effortlessly woven into the story, making it feel like they are not delivered in a preachy or overbearing way.

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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:

A slow pace: Most Signed, Sealed, Delivered movies have drawn out stories, as to flesh out creative ideas and character development. Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar, however, felt like the stories were drawn out for too long. Because of this, it made the movie feel longer than intended.

 

The POstables owning the spotlight: Anyone who knows anything about the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series would know a good portion of the movies revolve around the four main characters (Oliver, Shane, Norman, and Rita). But last month, I shared one of my biggest critiques of this series, which was more screen and story time being devoted to the POstables than to the film’s respective mystery. In Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar, I felt there was an imbalance between the story of the POstables and the mystery surrounding the wedding dress. Because Norman and Rita were finally getting married, their story took the most precedence out of all the plots in the movie. The mystery of the wedding dress was well-written, but it, ultimately, ended up getting overshadowed.

 

The under-utilization of Carol Burnett and Keb’Mo’: In my blog post about the Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar trailer, I said that not only was Keb’Mo’ featured at the beginning of the trailer, but that Carol Burnett’s appearance was also mentioned. However, I was really disappointed by their lack of screen time. In Carol’s case, her character spent the majority of her time in the movie interacting with the other characters via video-chat. As for Keb’Mo’, his character, Gabe, only appeared in one scene to sing a song. Also, Gabe’s story from Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Higher Ground was shared by a secondary character to other minor characters, denying Gabe the opportunity to express his gratitude and appreciation to the POstables.

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Envelope with hearts image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/hearts-and-pink-envelope-for-mothers-day_1950691.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/love”>Love image created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

As decent as Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar was, I can’t say it was anything worth writing home about (again, no pun intended). Because of the things I didn’t like about the movie and having the mystery of the film spoiled for me by a video on the official movie page for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar, I couldn’t enjoy the film as much as I had wanted to. Just like how the trailer made me feel, the movie itself also made me feel like this could be the last Signed, Sealed, Delivered movie. My feelings about the potential finale to the series are based on things like what some of the characters said in the film and the montages during Norman and Rita’s wedding. I have not heard of any official news about new movies coming in the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series, but anything is possible. Whether this series stays or goes, it really doesn’t matter to me, as I think Hallmark Movies & Mysteries have movie series that are stronger than Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

 

Overall score: 7 out of 10

 

Have you seen Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar? Do you want the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series to continue? Let me know in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Christine Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

On 18 Cinema Lane, most of the movies that I’ve reviewed so far have been Hallmark movies. While I enjoy watching and talking about these kinds of films, I also try my best to provide a variety of movies to discuss on my blog. Recently, I had the chance to watch Christine and felt that it would be a good opportunity to talk about something new on 18 Cinema Lane. This was the first time I had ever seen a John Carpenter directed film, but I have definitely heard of his cinematic projects over the years. While I don’t review rated R movies often, I watched a TV-14/PG-13 version of this film, so I consider Christine to be an exception. Now that we’ve gotten through the introductions, let’s buckle up and cruise through my review of Christine.

Christine movie poster
Christine poster created by Columbia Pictures. Image found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ChristinePoster.jpg

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: I thought the cast of Christine was talented! The one actor that stood out to me, though, was Keith Gordon! His portrayal of Arnie Cunningham was so memorable and captivating, his performance stayed in my memory long after I watched the film. Arnie’s evolution was showcased so well in this movie, with Keith bringing the right amount of versatility that a role like this could have asked for. This is definitely one of the best acting performances in any of Stephen King’s book-to-film adaptations!

 

The soundtrack: Though most of the music in this movie was meant to sound and feel like tunes from decades past, I think it was a great component to the film! The collection of songs that was featured in the movie was all great! Whenever Christine was reacting to a particular situation, there was always a perfect song to match what she was thinking. I also liked the instrumental tunes that were used during suspenseful moments, as they really set the tone that the film wanted to achieve.

 

The cars: Even though the movie is all about Christine, she ended up stealing the show. The red car that was used to portray the titular character was absolutely gorgeous! Besides Christine, there were other nice-looking cars as well, such as Dennis’ blue car and Buddy’s silver car.

21494-NTOUHB
Antique car image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/red-classic-car_803652.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.

What I didn’t like about the film:

The underutilization of Dennis: John Stockwell did a good job portraying the character of Dennis Guilder! This character was not only well-acted, but also well-written. However, Dennis was not in the movie as much as I would have hoped. While the movie primarily focuses on Arnie’s transformation, it seems like most of Dennis’ significance is to, simply, be Arnie’s friend. Dennis does gain an important role in Christine, but that comes toward the end of the film.

 

The bullies: Similar to what I said about Dennis, each of the bullies in this film were well-acted. But I don’t feel that the bullies were well-written characters. To me, it seemed that these characters being mere bullies is what defined them. If that definition were to be taken away, these characters would be pretty weak. There also wasn’t any depth to these characters, like they were written into this story just for the sake of Arnie needing to have a conflict.

 

An anti-climatic ending: I’m not going to spoil anything if you haven’t seen Christine, but I thought the ending was very uneventful. For starters, this movie wasn’t as “scary” as I had expected. I know a story about a villainous car can sound silly, but this story was based on the novel by Stephen King, who is known for such literary works like Misery and The Shining. The plot itself did have some intrigue, but I just couldn’t take the idea of an angry car very seriously.

175939-OW5Y4E-659
Scary movie screening image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/small-skeleton-with-popcorn-and-tv_1323292.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

John Carpenter is known for directing some pretty scary films, such as The Thing and Halloween. Stephen King is famous for writing some pretty scary stories, such as Misery and The Shining, which were previously mentioned. On paper, this sounds like a one-in-a-million, horror movie “dream team”. Because of Mr. Carpenter directing a movie based on one of Mr. King’s books, I expected Christine to be scarier and more frightening. In reality, this movie did not reach my personal expectations. Though the film fell short of being remotely scary, I don’t think it was a terrible film. I have seen other movies based on Stephen King’s stories and while I don’t think it’s one of the best adaptations, it’s definitely not one of the worst. I think that a story about a villainous car was a creative concept, but in the end, it felt more silly than scary.

 

Overall score: 6.5 out of 10

 

Have you seen Christine? What’s your favorite Stephen King adaptation? Let me know in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Yes, I Do Review

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

Now that Hallmark’s “June Weddings” line-up has come to an end, it’s time for me to offer my opinion on this particular collection of films as well as my review of the “June Weddings” finale, Yes, I Do. Last month, I shared the synopsis for this movie and said that it sounds too ridiculous for my liking. But since there was interest expressed in that Word on the Street post (it received 3 likes), I decided to review Yes, I Do. I also saw the trailer for the film and I was as unimpressed with it as I was with the film’s synopsis. Despite these less-than-stellar pieces of advertising, I chose to watch this movie with an open mind. In my review of The Beach House, I said that my expectations for the film were lowered because of the weak marketing campaign. Because of my lowered expectations, The Beach House ended up being such as pleasant surprise for me! Did I feel the same way about Yes, I Do? If you want find out, keep on reading my review!

Yes I Do poster
Yes, I Do 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=Yes%2c+I+Do

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Yes, I Do had a good cast! The three stars that stood out to me were Marcus Rosner, Jen Lilley, and Jessica Lowndes! The first time I had ever seen Jen perform in a movie was when I saw Lifetime’s The Spirit of Christmas. After I saw that movie, I realized just how talented Jen is! I have seen most of Jen’s Hallmark movies and even though they haven’t been my favorite movies, she still finds a way to give a good performance. As I’ve mentioned in the Word on the Street post about the Yes, I Do synopsis, Marcus has proven that he has what it takes to be a leading actor in a Hallmark movie. He certainly proved that he can lead a Hallmark movie, as he gave a very good performance in Yes, I Do! Because of this, I hope that he gets more lead roles in Hallmark movies! Jessica gave a good performance as well, especially for her first supporting actress role in a Hallmark movie and her first Hallmark movie that was not Christmas themed!

 

Diversity of occupations: In my Word on the Street post where I shared Yes, I Do’s synopsis, I mentioned that I liked how the job of a chocolatier was being highlighted in a Hallmark movie, especially since that occupation has never been featured before. This movie did a good job in not only highlighting a chocolatier’s job, but also showing the different components of that job. I also liked how the job of a helicopter mechanic, another occupation that has never been featured in a Hallmark movie before, was showcased in this film. It was nice to see both protagonists have unique occupations that are rarely seen on Hallmark.

 

The marriage aspect of a wedding: When it comes to these wedding themed movies, the important component of marriage is usually glossed over in favor of the wedding itself or for the preparation of the wedding. This is because the pretty aesthetics that are shown in these movies can sometimes get in the way of the moral and symbolic aspects of a wedding. I liked the scene where the priest is talking with Jen’s character, Charlotte, about the seriousness and importance of making that decision to marry someone. It was a breath of fresh air to have at least one character remind some of the other characters in the film, as well as the audience, about the reason for a wedding.

Delivery Stickers Set
Helicopter sticker image created by Macrovector at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/delivery-stickers-set_1539060.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/banner”>Banner vector created by Macrovector – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

The plot: Last month, I confessed that the synopsis for Yes, I Do sounds, to me, too ridiculous for my liking. When this synopsis was played out on-screen, it still seemed ridiculous to me. This movie felt like it was more about an adolescent trying to catch the attention of their crush and less about two businesspeople choosing to take the next step in their relationship. The incorporation of the planning-a-wedding-in-an-unrealistic-time-period cliché (one of my least favorite Hallmark movie clichés) into this story didn’t add any enjoyment. Also, Jessica’s character, Nicole, didn’t provide any explanation for why she wanted to date James again, making that aspect of Nicole’s story seem very random in the movie overall.

 

The character of Charlotte: While Jen gave a good performance in Yes, I Do, I was not a fan of her character. Charlotte, the protagonist of the film, was very unlikable. She never really gave any explanations for choosing to not get married, but, instead, provided excuses. There was one moment of the film where she seriously contemplated if she was allergic to weddings (I’m not making this up). Speaking of allergies, the part about Charlotte’s chocolate allergy was poorly written to the point of appearing very unrealistic. Charlotte is more “book smart” than “street smart”. However, this character’s lack of “street smarts” doesn’t come across as charming, but rather annoying.

 

Lack of on-screen chemistry: In Yes, I Do, Jen Lilley and Marcus Rosner didn’t have any on-screen chemistry, even though both of them gave good performances in the movie. It seems like their characters spent more time apart than together. I thought that Marcus had better on-screen chemistry with Jessica Lowndes than with Jen. Until after I saw Yes, I Do, I never realized how much I wanted to see a Hallmark movie starring Marcus Rosner and Jessica Lowndes.

 

Too many plots: There were five major plots in Yes, I Do. Because of this, some stories felt like they were more overshadowed than others. An example of this is James trying to find his grandfather’s beloved car. I thought this was the best story in the movie (I would have wanted to see a Hallmark movie with that particular story as the main plot), but it didn’t receive as much attention as some of the other stories in this film. Also, there were stories that were never resolved, such as Charlotte’s attempt to win a chocolate contest from a renowned magazine.

Counter of sweets
Chocolates and sweets shop image created by Bearfotos at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/counter-of-sweets_1328775.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/food”>Food image created by Bearfotos – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Yes, I Do was not a good movie. It was so bad, I chose to fast forward through a few moments of the movie just to get through it. This is the second year in a row that the “June Weddings” line-up has ended with a movie I didn’t like (I was not a fan of My Favorite Wedding). Speaking of the “June Weddings” line-up, this year’s collection of movies is, to me, weaker than last year’s. I think Hallmark relied too much on sequels to previously released films that had a strong fan following. For me, each of those sequels were disappointing to a certain extent. Love at First Dance was decent, but it felt like it was missing something and seemed to get overshadowed by the “June Weddings” sequels. Hallmark will start their “Summer Nights” line-up in late July, which I’m hoping is stronger than not only the “June Weddings” line-up, but the other seasonal line-ups that have premiered on Hallmark Channel so far.

 

Overall score: 4.3 out of 10

 

What are your thoughts on Hallmark Channel’s “June Weddings” line-up? Are you excited for the “Summer Nights” line-up? Let me know in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Word on the Street: Hallmark’s official trailer for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar is released

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

While both Hallmark networks are preparing to begin their “Christmas in July” marathons and with the “June Weddings” line-up coming to an end, one movie’s release date has been approaching very quickly: that being the premiere of Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar. An official trailer for the film has been posted recently on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ website. With this trailer being the last piece of the film’s official webpage, the online record of Signed, Sealed, Delivered’s newest movie is now complete. Earlier this month, I talked about how both of the descriptions for the next Signed, Sealed, Delivered movie didn’t add any excitement or anticipation for me. Did the trailer do what the descriptions couldn’t (in terms of raising my interest for the movie)? Keep reading to find out what my thoughts are about the trailer for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar!

Vintage postcard wedding invitation background
Wedding postcard created by Kraphix at freepik.com.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/postcard-for-a-wedding-invitation_1058640.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/wedding”>Wedding vector created by Kraphix – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar’s trailer was quite underwhelming. Very little intrigue was featured and most of the focus was on the “POstables” (Oliver, Shane, Rita, and Norman), causing the mystery surrounding the wedding dress and letter to be overshadowed. One of my biggest critiques of this series is that more time seems to be spent with the “POstables” and their stories, while less of that time is spent on the “missions” and the stories that come from them. With this trailer, however, it makes me feel like this movie could be the unofficial end to the series, making it appear as if Hallmark wants Signed, Sealed, Delivered to end on a positive note. With the narrator’s first line in the trailer being, “their journey together has led to this life-changing moment” and with Rita and Shane saying things like “the first chance to have the rest of our lives” and “maybe it’s time to come home”, I wouldn’t be surprised if this movie also doubled as a sort of finale, where characters’ stories are wrapped up in nice little packages and a sense of closure is given to Signed, Sealed, Delivered’s main story arc. What also leads me to this belief is the return of characters from movies or episodes past. Not only was Keb’ Mo’ (who portrayed Gabe in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Higher Ground) featured at the beginning of the trailer, but Carol Burnett’s appearance was also mentioned (Carol portrayed Norman’s grandmother on the episode “A Hope and A Future”). As of June 2018, the fate of Signed, Sealed, Delivered is unknown and the quotes that I mentioned from the trailer could be taken out of context. However, if this movie is truly the end of the series, I hope the story of Shane and her sister gets resolved or, at least, addressed.

 

If you want to watch the trailer for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar, here is the link: http://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/signed-sealed-delivered-to-the-altar/videos

 

Have you seen the trailer for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar? Do you think this could be the beginning of the end for Signed, Sealed, Delivered? Share your thoughts in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen