Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer – Review

Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer – Lifetime – 2 hours and 2 minutes

On February 13, 2013, Oscar Pistorius screamed at an intruder and fired multiple shots into a bathroom. He discerns the person in the bathroom may not be an intruder but his girlfriend Reeva. Then he breaks down the door to save her but it was too late. Reeva died. As the police take his story, they don’t believe him because his hands are clean.  They look into Reeva and Oscar relationship through text message, witness accounts, and police reports.  When they piece together all the evidence, the police believe Oscar shot Reeva on purpose.  Now it’s left up to the court to determine his innocence.

Oscar rose to fame as the first double amputee to race with able-bodied racers.  He was a hero in South Africa and admired by all.  But admiration doesn’t equal love or trust.  Reeve was a lawyer and beautiful.  She wanted to help her mother and gain recognition in her own right as a model and actress.  She was on her way to being a household name when she was killed.  While this creates a great set up for a Lifetime movie, this movie was average at best.  It was slow, had bad effects, and just didn’t grab your attention the way you wanted it to.  With biopic movies the watchers know the ending, so everything leading up to the crime must be extremely compelling.  This movie just seems to miss the mark.

I give it 2 out of 5 stars

I’m not always a gentleman – Oscar

I hear you may be hard of hearing – Reeva

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Christmas in the Air – Review

Christmas in the Air – HMM – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Personal organizer Lydia has her life on her phone and everything neatly stored away.  She helps her clients to the same.  So when she hears Robert, a toy inventor, talk about his “busy life” and commandeering her new whiteboard, she hands him her card.  He only accepts after he misses a dress rehearsal for his daughter Amelia’s play.  When they meet he tells Lydia he has to prepare for the following events: his daughter’s play, his son’s Christmas cookies, and create a dinner for a potential buyer.  All this while, creating a new toy for the holidays and being a full-time single dad.  So, Lydia applies her 3 C’s: Contain, Concentrate, Control.  She starts to organize his life, while he teaches her that a little disorganization can spark great creativity.

This movie is a how-to organize.  You will get a lot of tips for organizing your own life.  So get your pens and notepads ready.  Like with most Hallmark movies, you know the two will end up together, so the plotline must grab your attention.  When toys are introduced, you will be captivated and hope they are real.  When organization tips are given, you will take note.  But the love story itself feels like a subplot more than the main focus.  While this is a good movie, it’s not the best this season.  Put this on your DVR and watch later.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars

Why would I worry – George

You got to get some new material dad – Amelia

Ah, too much to do – Robert

Love you, mom – Lydia

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The Perfect Christmas Present – Review

The Perfect Christmas Present – HMM – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Tom “Mr. Christmas” Jacob makes peoples dreams come true by finding the perfect gift.  Christmas is his biggest time of the year.  He prides himself on his ability to stay anonymous.  So when his frat brother Paul ask to get his girlfriend Jenny a gift in 3 weeks, Tom hesitates.  But with a little prodding, Tom agrees.  After his typical Personality Profile Worksheet, Tom has a big problem: Paul knows little about Jenny.  Paul suggests that Tom meet Jenny face-to-face so he can get more information.  Again, he reluctantly agrees.  Tom tells Jenny he is a consultant, Jenny gets an idea to have Tom consults with her for her charity’s party in two weeks.  Paul tells him to agree.  So Tom has to find Jenny’s perfect gift and plan a party in two weeks.  As Tom and Jenny spend every day together they get closer, and soon there will be a ring in between them.  Just not in the way you imagine.

Now, this is a good Christmas movie that pulls at the heartstrings.  You love the chemistry between Tom and Jenny.  Also, when you hear Jenny’s connection to her father, you know the perfect gift for her.  And you hope Tom can find it.  On the other side, don’t count out Paul or Victoria.  Paul is not horrible, just a workaholic.  Victoria may throw shade but you might just want a friend like her in your corner.  And let’s not forget Meg.  The best advice giver in a Hallmark movie.   This movie will make you say “awe” and get misty-eyed.  It is the happy ending you always wanted.  Check this one out today

I give it 5 out of 5 stars

Getting her out of the country for an entire season. I didn’t realize that I would be getting a gift out of this as well – Victoria

Ok, what LA considers history is an 80-year-old hot dog stand – Jenny

How could I miss it – Tom

I’m sorry this is nowhere near done – Paul

So how is that relevant to my question – Meg

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Christmas Festival of Ice – Review

Christmas Festival of Ice – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Emma is working at her mother’s law firm while waiting for her bar exam results. She loves the Christmas season, especially her town’s ice sculpture competition. When she was a little girl, she and her father would enter the contest. These are some of her best memories. But for the last 3 year, Emma could not participate because she was in law school. Now that she is back, she is shocked to learn that the competition was canceled. She speaks to Councilman Harvey and learns it will take $20,000 to have the competition. Harvey can only squeeze $5,000 for the competition, and Emma will have to raise the rest. So, Emma goes to everyone one in town. Including her best friend Sarah, Nick, and his friend Lonny. Nick, taking over his parent’s Christmas tree business, has caught Emma’s eye. Although she likes Nick, Emma is focused on her test scores, her mother’s law firm, raising money, and finding competitors. Yes, she has to find competitors too. So when Emma sees Nick’s brother ice sculptures, she wants to meet him. But Nick says he his antisocial and they don’t get along. So, Emma is determined to find him. With everything going on, Emma has left one person out, her mother. She doesn’t want to tell her mother that she is competing, raising money, or having second thoughts about being a lawyer. This Christmas may change Emma’s relationships forever.

While this seems like another Hallmark loves story, the love story is only the subplot.  It’s Emma’s self-discovery and relationship with her family that plays out.  While she opens up to her father, disappointing her mother is her biggest fear.  Every time her mother mentions “law”, “deposition”, or “bar exam”, you see Emma’s face change.  She knows this isn’t for her.  But as everyone reveals themselves, she opens up to the people she loves.  Have a blanket and cocoa ready to watch this movie.  The actors will make you feel the cold.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars

Sure what’s a little frostbit for the sake of good coffee – Sarah

Why does this bother me so much – Emma

See what I mean, total Grinch – Lonny

Emma, you are my Christmas wish – Nick

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Miss Christmas – Review

Miss Christmas – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Holly is known in Chicago as Miss Christmas.  As the creative director, it is her job to find, transport, and decorate the perfect Christmas tree.  She did a magnificent job last year and the pressure is on to top it.  With the pressure on, Holly is on edge but tries to believe everything will be ok.  Until she gets a picture of the tree.  A crane hit the tree and removed a significant amount of branches.  She must now find a new tree that can make the height, color, and size in few days.  Holly goes through her fan mail and finds a letter from Joey with a picture of their family tree.   It is everything she is searching for in the Perfect Christmas tree.  She decides to travel Joey’s family farm and see the tree in person.  Within a few hours, she finds Joey, the tree, and the Grinch.  Her Grinch is named Sam.  Although the family is willing to get the tree go, Sam is the holdout.  Holly must change Sam’s mind before she loses her reputation as Miss Christmas and her job.

Based on the book, Miss Christmas by GiGi Garrett, this is a sweet story about determination.  Now bear in mind, you have an idea of how the movie will end but the journey is full of heart and Christmas spirit.  While Holly is from Chicago, she is a small town girl at heart, so she never brushes their feelings aside for her job.  She truly understands how important family and tradition is.  Especially around the holidays.  So get some cocoa and enjoy with the whole family.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars

Sorry, I just want you to spend the holidays with someone – Erin

Erin, this is what I do. I am Miss Christmas – Holly

If it were up to me, I would skip December altogether – Sam

Grandpa didn’t think she would come – Joey

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Michael Jackson’s Halloween – Review

Michael Jackson’s Halloween – CBS – 1 hour and 2 minutes

Vincent works as a stock boy in his family grocery store.  He dreams of being a DJ but puts his dreams aside for his dad’s vision of carrying the family’s legacy.  Victoria has given up dancing to be another faceless, nameless person at Megacorp. Both are on errands for their job when they bump into each other.  They roll down a hill and causing Igor (Victor’s boss’s dog) to run away with Vincent’s helmet.  They are lead to the “This Place Hotel” which happens to be the place where Vincent had to make is delivery.  They go inside to deliver the food and find the dog and get help from Bubbles, the talking monkey.  He directs them to get on the elevator and follow the music to discover the truth.  This path will lead them to a living pumpkin patch with zombies, dancing, spiders, scientist, and Conformity.

This movie is a mixture of the Wizard of Oz and Footloose (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Some symbols of Michael Jackson are obvious like his silhouette, Dangerous album cover, and songs.  But what you may miss is the 3 characters Vincent and Victoria meet are parts of Michael Jackson’s career.  Hayman is MJ’s The Wiz scarecrow.  Meriwether is MJ during the military, one-glove phase.  And Franklin Stein is MJ’s creative side in a Bad outfit.  They all represent his talent for singing, dancing, and creating.  The overall message in this Halloween film is to never give up on your dreams and never conform.  While you are watching the film, you can’t help but dance and sing along to the songs you know so well and some you don’t.  This reviewer was able to identify 17 songs.  Most of them are on the MJ Scream album (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).  How many can you name?  This is a fun movie for all ages with a good message.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars

I like you, Vitoria. You’re funny and sad – Mrs. Grau

It’s always been my dream to be a nameless, faceless cog at Megacorp – Victoria

You remember when the weirdest thing in our lives was a talking monkey – Vincent

The elevator took the dog – Bubbles

Heros are always so modest – Hayman

Is this what you’re looking for – Conformity

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Marry Me at Christmas – Review

Marry Me at Christmas – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes

Maddie and Isabel own a bridal shop but worry that if the business doesn’t pick up, they won’t make it to January.  Soon, Ginger walks into the bridal shop with a tough request.  She needs a wedding dress in just a few weeks for her marriage to Oliver.  The more time Ginger spends around Maddie, she believes Maddie would be a great wedding planner.  And with a little help from a townsperson and Isabel, Maddie agrees to do it.   Maddie is in the process of planning when she meets the brother of the bride, Johnny.  Johnny is a famous actor, who leaves Maddie at a lose for words.  Once Maddie is over being star struck, she learns that Johnny is a fast-paced guy who is trying to stay out of the limelight while paying for Ginger’s wedding.  Maddie agrees to keep his presence secret and plan Ginger’s dream wedding in a few weeks.  While Ginger and Maddie have ideas for a small, low-key, intimate wedding.  Johnny dreams of giving Ginger the biggest and most lavish money can buy.  Although as Johnny spends more time around Maddie, his views on everything change and they grow closer.  Two mistakes and two misunderstandings will put the budding relationship in jeopardy.

Based on the novel Marry Me at Christmas by Susan Mallery, this is a sweet story of hurt, loss, understanding, and love (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).  And Johnny trips over himself by buying wedding dresses and invitations, he learns the importance of family and friends; and not just money.  Johnny realizes that this small town can do him some good.  Also, Maddie has a lot to learn from Johny.  He makes her business savvy, open-minded and free.

I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars

No, no we can’t – Maddie

I’ll buy you a massage – Barbara

It’s not just white – Ginger

DO IT!!!!!!! – Isabel

I’m sorry. It’s just that usually people want something from me – Johnny

I don’t think ninjas have to study this hard – Oliver

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