Movie Review: "A Heavenly Christmas"

Synopsis: It's the Christmas season, and Eve (Kristin Davis) is busy at work, as usual.  Worse yet, her devotion to her job, and ambition to reach a higher position, has led her to neglect her friends and family, and miss out on the holidays in general.  When she slips on some ice and hits her head, she is transported to heaven, where she is told to be a Christmas angel to another family.  Max (Eric McCormack) has custody of his niece, Lauren, after her mother, who also happened to be Max's singing partner, died in a car accident.  Lauren's grandparents are threatening to take her with them to Florida for good, and Max has completely given up on his music career, despite having serious talent.  Will Eve be able to save this family in need...and discover the true spirit of the holidays?
As seen on Hallmark Channel.

The Good: While this film's plot was quite similar to another Hallmark Yuletide movie I watched fairly recently, I still enjoyed it.  Kristin Davis was a wonderful leading lady, and the rest of the cast also did very well.  It also makes a very good point that many of us need to hear: Don't get so wrapped up in what's not all that important that you miss out on what's right in front of you! Also, the soundtrack was great.

The Bad: One unfortunate moment was thrown into the mix: When Eve first appears in heaven, she is seen wearing a very low-cut top.  Even if the location was different, that still doesn't feel right for a Hallmark movie.  Also, as you might expect, the theology of angels was skewed, and two or so uses of the euphemism "gosh" appear.

Conclusion: It's weird to see a former Sex and the City actress as the lead in a movie like this, but I still really enjoyed it as a whole.  If you're a fan of holiday telefilms, you've probably seen this plot before...but, then again, King Solomon once said, "There is nothing new under the sun."  People who prefer harder cinema won't enjoy this, but, for fans of clean-cut media, such as myself, this is worth watching, though maybe not purchasing.

Score: 4.5/5

Movie Review: "The Reckoning"

Synopsis: Katherine Mayfield (Katie LeClerc) is living the dream.  After discovering that her biological mother was the head of a multi-million-dollar charitable foundation, Katherine inherited it all after her mom's death.  Katherine is also very much in love with her significant other, Richard, who has just proposed marriage to her.  All seems to be as it should be...until Daniel Fisher, a boy from the same Amish community where Katherine was raised, and who was once pledged to be married to her, but was thought to be dead, appears, alive and well, and professes his love for her.  Will Katherine be able to make the right decision?
Based on the book by Beverly Lewis.

The Good: This film series has been great up to this point, and this last outing continues the trend.  A captivating plot; great acting; amazing sets; a likable heroine; wonderful morals; nothing profane or sexual (save for a brief reference to a honeymoon and another to an extramarital pregnancy, both of which are handled with serious decorum)...this is how I like my movies!

The Bad: Nothing, really.

Conclusion: If you've watched this series of telefilms up to this point, you definitely should continue with this one; I had a blast with it.  Not only is it very clean-cut, but it's a charmer.  I hope they make more of Beverly Lewis' books into movies; as long as they keep up the momentum they have going, the next films will be winners as well!

Score: 5/5

Movie Review: "Iron Man 3"

Synopsis: Tony Stark's past has come back to haunt him.  When he stood up a huge admirer of his on New Year's Eve 1999, Stark had no idea that his one-time fan would become the Mandarin, a ruthless terrorist who uses people as his weapons.  After Stark's house gets decimated and his girlfriend, Pepper Potts, gets kidnapped, he is bound and determined to stop the Mandarin once and for all...but, even all of his technology may not be enough to defeat his one-time biggest fan.
Based on stories from Marvel Comics.

The Good: As usual, the action scenes were excellent.  Robert Downey, Jr., does his usual fabulous job playing Tony Stark, and the rest of the cast also did well.  The film makes a great point about how past mistakes can come back to haunt you; something we need to hear more in this apathetic world!

The Bad: Unfortunately, the makers decided to add too much unnecessary content.  This flick is oversexed; too many women, including Pepper and some random nameless ladies, are seen in not very much clothing.  One scene even shows two women in bed together, and a guy who is just stopped short of climbing in with them.  An illicit relationship between Pepper and Tony is also implied.  Also, the profanity count is higher than many discerning viewers would be comfortable with; between d-words, h-words, and other expletives, alongside euphemisms such as "crap" and "screw it," the language was over the top.

Conclusion: Unless you've totally avoided superhero or action/adventure films over the past decade or so, you've probably seen fight or action sequences that were amazingly done, with CG and the whole nine yards.  While this film has that, and it's great, such scenes are a dime a dozen these days.  What isn't is clean content: movies and TV shows with little or no profanity or sexual content.  Too many flicks decide to "dirty it up" when they don't even need to.  This movie could have gotten "PG-13" without the unnecessary bits; still, the makers decided to push the rating as far as they could...which is just sad.  If you're looking for clean-cut superheroes, I suggest one of the Marvel or DC animated series, such as The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes or Batman: The Animated Series.  Those versions of comic book adventures feature characters I can actually admire, and stories I would want to revisit.

Score: 2/5

Movie Review: "November Christmas"

Synopsis: It's story time at the library, and a young woman is reading the book she wrote, about a time when she was younger that changed her life forever:  Young Vanessa is suffering from cancer, and her parents are afraid she won't live to see the holidays...so, they decide to bring the holidays to her! The whole town, including Vanessa's neighbors, celebrate Halloween and Christmas well in advance in her honor.  Even though Vanessa is overjoyed, her numbers seem to be dropping, and her parents are very worried.  Will she be able to defeat cancer?
A Hallmark Hall of Fame telefilm.

The Good: Films under the Hallmark banner--regardless of which channel they premiered on--are usually touching, sweet, and innocent stories...as is this one.  The actors all do well here, and the film has a lot of small-town charm.  As a lover of family-friendly entertainment, this is something that's right up my alley.

The Bad: Nothing, really.

Conclusion: If you like sweet, touching stories, you should try a Hallmark Hall of Fame telefilm sometime.  While they aren't all amazing--so, you probably should check reviews before trying one out--there are some really good ones...such as this one.  The library I work for has plenty more volumes in this series; I probably should check them out!

Score: 4.5/5

Movie Review: "Cancel Christmas"

Synopsis: Santa Claus (Judd Nelson) is almost out of a job! Receiving gifts has made kids too greedy, and the true spirit of Christmas is lost.  Santa is sent on a mission: to make three kids--two troublemaker best friends, and a handicapped boy--learn what the holidays are truly about...but, he can't give away his true identity.  Posing as a school custodian named Kris Frost, he and one of his elves have their work cut out for them...but, if they fail, Christmas will be a thing of the past!
As seen on Hallmark Channel.

The Good: Hallmark telefilms are usually good, clean fun, and that's what this is.  In our commercialized, greedy times, this is a message that people everywhere--especially kids--need to hear.  Even the characters learn big lessons, and not just the kids.  There weren't really any content issues, except...

The Bad: One scene features a young male elf dressing up as an old woman, which he refers to as "drag".  Also, the final scene, which features a grown woman acting like a little child, made me groan.

Conclusion: Holidays and Hallmark go together; no question.  Fans of other Yuletide telefilms from that brand will definitely enjoy this.  Not much to say other than that.

Score: 4/5

Movie Review: "Uncommon"

Synopsis: After the death of his brother in a school shooting, high school student Aaron Chase gets a fresh start at a new school.  Inspired by his late sibling's faith, he decides to start a Bible study group at his school, which leads to opposition from the faculty, who become even more irate when he decides to help the drama club put on a play based on stories from the Bible.  It seems that Aaron is facing an insurmountable challenge; will he be able to proclaim his faith in the halls of his public school?
Also starring Erik Estrada (CHiPs).

The Good: Not since the last God's Not Dead film have I seen a movie that illustrates the debate over the Christian faith as well as this.  Even though the law is on their side, Christian students often face opposition from the faculty, who don't want them to express their faith.  Aaron is a likable hero, and the friends he makes in the drama club become more likable as the movie goes on.  It's a treat to see screen legend Erik Estrada in this, though it's surprising to see him play something other than a police officer.  All in all, this was enjoyable, except...

The Bad: I would have liked to have seen more of the play they put on; all we see is one musical number, then, the credits roll.  Also, the closed captioning is really messed up; then again, that tends to happen with a lot of Christian films.

Conclusion: What is the true meaning of separation of church and state? Not what some people would lead us to believe, as this movie illustrates very well.  Fans of movies such as the God's Not Dead series will likely enjoy this; I know I did.  This film challenges its viewers to live out and express their faith in the face of opposition; we need more movies that do that.  Are you listening, Christian cinema people?

Score: 4/5

Movie Review: "Hidden Secrets"

Synopsis: After the death of their friend Chris, these friends will never be the same.  Jeremy (David A.R. White) is torn between his current girlfriend and his old flame.  Gary (John Schneider, Smallville) isn't sure what to make of this whole Jesus thing.  Rhonda is a mother-to-be who can't stop condemning the sins of everyone else.  When all of them end up staying in the same house, everything changes.  Will it be for the better...or the worse?
Also starring Reginald VelJohnson (Family Matters).

The Good: Pure Flix's movies are usually a delight, and this one is no exception.  This film portrays Christians as the flawed people they really are, and shows that even those of the Way have a lot to learn.  I know many people--myself included--could glean a lot of wisdom from the character of Rhonda.  While past sins are uncovered, they're vilified for just what they are.  An appearance by CCM band Building 429 and artist Rachael Lampa are a plus.

The Bad: The wardrobe is a bit immodest; supposedly Christian female characters wear tops that are low-cut, albeit slightly.  Also, the closed captions, which have plagued many a film by this studio, are too small and poorly done.

Conclusion: Pure Flix has given Christian cinema a serious jolt; their movies attract mainstream talent, and (almost) never suffer from the poor production values that have negatively affected many films in the genre, such as the dreadful C Me Dance.  While some cinephiles may not care for such flicks, as a longtime lover of morally decent entertainment, I find their productions to be wonderful.  After seeing this, I'm excited to see their interpretation of the story of Samson from the book of Judges; it should be amazing!

Score: 4.5/5

Movie Review: "My Sister's Keeper" (2002)

Synopsis: Judith (Elizabeth Perkins) and Christine (Kathy Bates) are two very different sisters.  Chrissy has Schizo-Affective Disorder, which causes her to hear voices and experience all sorts of mental trauma, even being checked into a mental hospital at a young age.  When they become adults, Judy tries to live her own life...but, Chrissy's neediness gets in the way, especially after the death of their mother (Lynn Redgrave).  Will the two sisters ever be able to get along?
Also features Hallee Hirsh (Flight 29 Down) and Kimberly J. Brown (Halloweentown).

The Good: The performances in this movie are great; the two Disney actresses do a wonderful job as young Judy and Chrissy, and they're portrayed just as amazingly when they're older.  This film does a fabulous job of portraying a real-life disorder, and shows what a family goes through when one member suffers from such a thing.  The content is mostly as clean as you'd expect from a Hallmark Hall of Fame telefilm, except...

The Bad: Two sexual references pop up: one about the size of the sister's chests, another about an illicit relationship.  However, the main problem is with the ending; it's far too pat, and leaves too much unresolved.

Conclusion: A week or two ago, I watched the old-school Hallmark Hall of Fame telefilm The Promise, which, ironically, is also about schizophrenia.  This film is much better: cleaner content, a better portrayal, characters who are much more likable, etc.  Still, on its own, it's not very good; the ending ruined things for me, even though the beginning was fabulous.  Unless you're fanatical about anything with the Gold Crown stamped on it, I suggest watching something else.

Score: 2.5/5

Movie Review: "The Christmas Secret"

Synopsis: Christine Eisley (Bethany Joy Lenz) is in a serious predicament.  After her divorce, she packed up with her kids and moved to a small town where her father, whom she never knew, reportedly grew up.  As a single mom struggling to make ends meet, her ex is hounding her about spending more time with their kids.  When an unfortunate circumstance leads to her being late to her job, she gets fired, only to get hired at a place called Betty's Bakery.  She soon meets a guy who she feels a connection with, but, one thing or another prevents their first date from happening.  Will they ever fall in love? Will Christine be able to keep custody of her children, and keep her household financially afloat?
Based on the book by Donna VanLiere.  As seen on Hallmark Channel.

The Good: Hallmark Channel telefilms are usually right up my alley; much like Disney Channel Original Movies--aka DCOMs--they're morally decent and well-made.  This one is no exception: no profanity, save for one misuse of God's name; sex is limited to kissing; no violence, though there is a threatening situation; no drug use, except for adults presumably drinking alcohol (it's not really clear).  More than that, this TV movie has a great story that draws you in.  Even the revelation at the end was a complete surprise to me.  The characters are easily likable, except for the ex, who is appropriately despicable.

The Bad: Other than the minor moral qualms mentioned above, nothing, really.  I will say that this probably isn't worth a purchase.

Conclusion: I mentioned in a previous review that my mom, who instilled in me the value of media discernment, usually loves Hallmark's telefilms.  After watching this, I think that's something she and I can agree on; with smut on nearly every channel on our Verizon services, it's nice to have a channel that sticks to morally decent shows and movies, especially since adults are the target audience as well.  If you're looking for something sweet to watch with your sweetheart or family this Yule, check this one out.

Score: 4.5/5

DVD Review: "Is Your Love Tank Full?"

Synopsis: Is your love tank full...or are you loving on empty? With his usual down-home, humorous style Dennis "The Swan" Swanberg tells of his experiences loving people in their own love language.  Whether he is shopping at the mall for a gift for his wife, or hugging his mother, hilarity abounds!

The Good: What "The Swan" has done well before in previous recorded live performances I've watched, he continues to excel at here.  His good-natured, clean humor is always a delight, especially in a time when even some "Christian" comedy is far too smutty, as was the case with Thou Shalt Laugh 3.  Mr. Swanberg has a way of looking at life through a humorous lens, which is something we all should do more often.  It's easy to see why he is a beloved Christian comic; I particularly enjoyed his impressions of Sesame Street characters.

The Bad: As good as this is, I do have one complaint: Some of the jokes here are ones I've heard in other videos of his.  If you're new to his material, you won't mind; however, longtime fans may be disappointed in the occasional rehash.  Also of note: There are no closed captions or English subtitles on this DVD, which may disappoint deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers.

Conclusion: I've talked before about growing up hearing the comedic stylings of Mark Lowry, Taylor Mason, and, yes, Dennis Swanberg.  Maybe I'm biased, but, I had fun with this one, even though he did reuse some material.  Fans of Christian comedy will enjoy this.

Score: 4/5

Movie Review: "The Case for Christ"

Synopsis: While out to dinner with his wife, Lee Strobel experiences a miracle: his young daughter's life being saved by Alfie, a nurse who happened to be there, even though she had planned to go to a different restaurant.  Leslie, Lee's wife, believes it's divine providence and starts attending church with Alfie; Lee, however, has always been a stickler for the facts--he is an investigative reporter, after all--and has trouble believing in something he can't see, hear, or touch.  So, he decides to investigate Christianity: Did Jesus really die? Did He rise from the dead? Did all of those ancient witnesses really see Him resurrected? Lee may be bent on disproving it, but, he and his family are in for a big surprise...
Based on a true story.  From Pure Flix (God's Not Dead, Jerusalem Countdown, Revelation Road, etc.)

The Good: Pure Flix's movies are usually top-notch when it comes to production values, and this movie is no exception.  The entire movie takes place during the 1980s, but, the sets, clothes, and hairstyles were very authentic; I had to remind myself that I was watching a film just released this year.  As you'd expect, the flick makes a fabulous case for the Christian faith; it shows how even a hardened investigative reporter can find the Way.  All of the performances were outstanding.

The Bad: Nothing, really.

Conclusion: With an exception here and there (Hollow, for one) I always enjoy Pure Flix's movies.  Even ones with Rapture theology, which I don't agree with, are presented in a much more accessible way than other attempts at the same message, such as the Left Behind mess.  As much as I like the studio's other films, this one is a step up even higher for them.  It probably doesn't hurt that they had a mainstream studio (Universal, in this case) helping them out.  Fans of Christian movies are definitely in for a treat with this one.

Score: 5/5

Movie Review: "The Gospel of John" (2014)

Synopsis: It's the most beloved of the Gospels...come to life! John, the last of the four Gospels, gives a different take on the life of Jesus.  Watch as Christ comes into the world, starts His ministry, gains followers, is persecuted for speaking the truth, gets killed on a cross, and rises again! Word-for-word from the Bible, and shot on location using actors from the Holy Land, this is the greatest story ever told...as you've never seen it before!

The Good: In the same vein as The Gospel of Mark, this movie is a faithful representation of the fourth Gospel.  The DVD allows you to choose between the KJV and NIV, which is an excellent use of the technology.  All of the scenes are appropriately dramatized, and the sets and performances are wonderful.

The Bad: For some people, the filming style may be bothersome.  Instead of hearing the actors speak the dialogue in English, like in the Visual Bible films, this one features foreign actors speaking in the original tongues while a guy narrates.  That, in my opinion, makes it inferior to the previously released Gospel of John movie, though this is still great for what it is.

Conclusion: The makers of this movie series have been busy; I recently saw online where they made a celluloid version of Luke, as well.  Though it may be different than what many viewers are used to, it still makes for an excellent teaching tool.  As long as you don't go into this expecting it to be like the Visual Bible films, you'll likely enjoy it.

Score: 4.5/5

Movie Review: "The Promise" (1986)

Synopsis: After the death of his mother, Bobby (James Garner) is obligated to fulfill a promise he made to her: to look after his brother, D.J. (James Woods).  The only problem is: D.J. suffers from schizophrenia, and is rather difficult to handle! Bobby tries and tries to help his brother out, but things keep getting out of hand.  Will he be able to get through to D.J.?
Part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame series of telefilms.

The Good: This film garnered serious critical acclaim upon its release, and the acting is superb, especially James Woods as a mentally challenged man.  Not since Tony Shalhoub's portrayal of "defective detective"Adrian Monk have I seen a psychological condition portrayed that well.  The other actors also do well, but, it's pretty much D.J.'s show here.  Also, the production values are great for an old-school telefilm.

The Bad: If only the moral content matched up to the rest of the movie.  Profanity abounds, ranging from at least six or so uses each of the d-word and h-word, plus a misuse of God's name or two, alongside euphemisms such as "gee" and "butt".  One scene shows Bobby engaging in sexual activity with a woman--he isn't married--which gets interrupted when D.J. walks in; the woman is later referred to as "a whore," though she really isn't one.  Plus, the emotional scenes, especially the fighting between D.J. and Bobby, can be hard to watch at times; then again, maybe that's the point.

Conclusion: Several Hallmark telefilms--The Love Letter, Follow the Stars Home, The Christmas Card, etc.--are among my mom's favorites.  Not only are they sweet romances, but they're very clean when it comes to content; the former one barely even earns its "PG" rating.  My mom believes in media discernment--she's the one who instilled that value in me--so, I thought that a classic Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie like this would be right up my alley (and hers, too)...but, it wasn't.  You'd think that old-school media would be cleaner than the newer stuff; well, not in this case.  Though the performances were fabulous, the "PG-13" (even by modern standards) content ruined this for me.

Score: 2/5

Movie Review: "Christmas Magic"

Synopsis: Carrie (Lindy Booth, The Librarians) is focused on her job--event-planning--and her job only.  All of that changes when a car accident leads to her appearing in purgatory.  An angel sends her on a mission: Help a failing restaurant owner turn his business around...and help him rediscover Christmas as well.  She is given until Christmas Eve to do so...but, she soon falls for the single guy and his adorable daughter, Abby.  Carrie doesn't want to leave them so soon, but, it seems that she has no choice but to enter the afterlife once Yule comes around.  Will the family make it without her?

The Good: Hallmark Channel movies are usually good, clean fun, and this one is no exception.  It serves as a parable of what's truly important in life, and how we often lose sight of it.  The content is so clean, I doubt this would have gotten anything other than "G" from the MPAA: as sexual as it gets is kissing; no violence (the accident is implied); no profanity (at least, not the kind they would care about; more on that later); and, no drug content, aside from adults occasionally drinking alcoholic beverages.  All in all, great viewing, except...

The Bad: It's unfortunate that six or so misuses of God's name made it into this film, especially since as profane as it gets otherwise is "butt".  Also, some may be bothered that the theology of angels is skewed, but, when does secular Hollywood ever get that right?

Conclusion: After having a blast with the first season of The Librarians two months ago, I came across this movie while shelving, and figured it would be right up my alley...and, it was.  Fans of sweet holiday telefilms will have a blast with this...but, you already knew that, right?

Score: 4.5/5

Movie Review: "Yellow Sky"

Synopsis: While on the run from the law, a group of Old West criminals find the town of Yellow Sky, once a thriving place, but now largely abandoned, except for a young woman (Anne Baxter) and her aging grandfather.  The guys start falling for her, but she is a force to be reckoned with; she can shoot a pistol with the best of them.  When the criminals discover gold behind the woman's house, one of them cuts a deal with her and her grandpa...but, the other guys don't want to honor that deal.  Who will strike it rich?

The Good: The sound and video quality on this DVD version are excellent.  Even on my iPad with Apple earbuds, the film looks and sounds amazing, with more detail than you'd expect from a black and white flick.  It's also a treat to see the legendary, late Gregory Peck in a starring role.  Since this is an older movie, the violence is handled with "PG" decorum that you often don't see in newer cinema.

The Bad: If only the rest of the movie was along the same lines.  Along with two uses of "jacka--," there were some scenes that seemed to imply sex, possibly rape.  The guys often drink whiskey, as well.  My biggest complaint, however, was that this film was largely dull.  Its quiet moments went on for too long, and even the action was a bit uninteresting.

Conclusion: They don't make them like this anymore.  Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Yes.  While the old-school decorum made this more enjoyable, the negative aspects and the overall blandness made it less so.  Gregory Peck's performance is excellent; the film simply isn't.  Unless you're an old-school Western fanatic, I can't recommend this one.

Score: 2/5

Movie Review: "Christian Mingle: The Movie"

Synopsis: Gwyneth Hayden (Lacey Chabert) has been very unlucky in love; her friends have all gotten engaged or married, while she hasn't even had a serious relationship in a while.  In hopes of finding Mr. Right, she joins the dating site Christian Mingle; problem is, she doesn't know much about the Christian faith, and hasn't been to church in years.  Soon after joining, she meets Paul, who she immediately falls for.  She tells Paul and his family that she is a Christian, hoping that they'll believe her.  When her ruse is discovered, will it be permanent splitsville for Gwyneth and Paul?

The Good: The only compliment I have about this movie is its soundtrack; it's great to hear songs from Christian artists ranging from TobyMac to Mandisa to Andraé Crouch, though it's also a shame that such good music is wasted on this effort.

The Bad: Wow; where to start? The Christians in this movie do not act like people of the Way should; instead of guiding Gwyneth to the faith, they judge her.  Paul, who is supposed to be her Mr. Right, is a jerk and rather despicable; after what he said to her toward the end of the movie, she should have never spoken to him again.  One of the "Christian"characters is even played by Morgan Fairchild, who played a temptress in a live production of The Graduate, for crying out loud.  The ending is too pat, and a post-credits scene shows Gwyneth and Paul kissing passionately while sitting on their couch under a blanket, when they're not married; I'm a lifelong single, but I know what that could lead to!  Even the closed captioning is among the worst I've seen in twenty years of watching shows and movies with it turned on; it was both lagging and poorly written! The biggest complaint I have, though, is that this film makes light of non-Christians pretending to be of the faith, which is not a good thing, and something I have personal history with; more on that in the next section.

Conclusion: Those of you who know me know that I'm a child of divorce; what you may not know is that, though my mom was raised in the church and became a Christian at a young age, my biological father never was...though they met in a church building, and got married because he conned her into thinking that he was a member of the Way.  It's a decision I'm sure she still regrets to this day.  Due to that family history, I've always been wary about sites such as Christian Mingle; while I know many people--including some friends--have found true love that way, I'm afraid that I might go to meet someone who I think is my dream girl, only to end up robbed at gunpoint, raped, or fatally stabbed.  You may call that paranoia, but look at the history I just described; can you blame me? So, for this film to make light of people who aren't of the faith joining a Christian dating website is just unthinkable; it's pretty much a slap in the face, and makes me even less inclined to join such a site, especially since the "Christian" characters are judgmental jerks.  If it weren't for the soundtrack, this would be tied with C Me Dance as the worst Christian movie I've ever seen.

Score: 1/5