A Heavenly Christmas

MacLaine (Being There) is a guardian angel who helps two people find love and their path in life. Davis (Sex in the City) and McCormack (Will & Grace) are the couple. The script is only ok - and the editing is choppy. MacLaine is off. All in all, I say: SKIP IT unless you love Hallmark movies like me.

Standoff

Jane (Expanse) is about to commit suicide when a young girl bursts into his home asking for his help from an assassin - Fishburne (Matrix). We never really figure out why the assassin is killing people, but the girl is a witness. Ballentine (Anne of Green Gables) is the witness. It's not bad for taking place in one small location. All in all, I say: STREAM IT on Netflix

Pure Genius

A medical show - I'm going to give it a season unless it gets too soap opera on me. It kind of mixes a lot of medical shows together. A young tech guy wants to change the world - really he wants a doctor to fix an un-fixable disease he has. He's kind of like the tech version of House in a way. Mulroney (Mozart in the Jungle) plays the wiser, older doctor who will makes things work out. Annable (You Again) and Shetty (Royal Pains) also star. All in all, I say: STREAM IT

Anne of Green Gables

Amazon writes, "Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert had decided to adopt an orphan. They wanted a nice sturdy boy to help Matthew with the farm chores. The orphanage sent a girl instead - a mischievous, talkative redhead who the Cuthberts thought would be no use at all. But as soon as Anne arrived at the snug, white farmhouse called Green Gables, she knew she wanted to stay forever. And the longer Anne stayed, the harder it was for anyone to imagine Green Gables without her."All in all, I say: READ THE ENTIRE SET

Follows (Reign) stars in the orginal movie version of the classic book. She went on to do all the movies. This is my favortie by far. Dewhurst (Annie Hall) played Marilla and Farnsworth (The Natural) did a stellar job at her brother Mathew. All in all, I say: SEE THEM ALL after reading the books.

The PBS 2016 version tarring Sheen (West Wing) is the first book up until they decide to keep her and not send her to the orphanage. The breaks in the movie are strange and sudden. The acting is only ok. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Christmas in Homestead

Rady (UnReal) is a small town inn keeper and mayor who doesn't want a Hollywood movie to be made in his town at Christmas. He is overruled and falls for the leading actress played by Cole (My Summer Prince). It's Hallmark and it's really well done. Pretty decent script, editing, directing, and acting. All in all, I say: SEE IT

A December Bride

Lissing (When Calls the Heart) falls in love but misses his chance until years later. He accidentally breaks up the engagement of the girl he likes with another man. To make it up to her -- he has her stage his house for a tour of homes. They fall in love. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it's pretty good

Broadcasting Christmas

Hart (Sabrina Teenage Witch) and Cain (Superman) both want to be the new host on a morning tv show. They are competing for the spot - they are also rekindling their love. It's well done. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Christmas Cookies

Wagner (Teen Wolf) is supposed to go to a small town where a cookie company employs the residents and shut down the factory. Brown (True Blood) owns the factory and doesn't want to sell or close it. It's Hallmark so they fall in love and save the day. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Great Indoors

McHale (Community) is an adventure report who has been out in the field until now. Fry (Love & Friendship) the owner of the magazine has had to put it entirely on-line and can't afford to have a reporter in the field. McHale has to adjust to the 21st century and the Millennials he now works with. All in all, I say: STREAM IT ondemand. It's kind of funny for a half hour show.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

This takes place before the Harry Potter series. This film is based on the life of the author of the textbook used in Harry Potter - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. This takes place in NYC in the 30s and it's awesome to be back into the magic. Redmayne (The Last Days of Night) is the UK author. Farrell (The Killing of a Sacred Dear) also stars as one of the government leaders. Miller (Suicide Squad) and Waterson (Steve Jobs) also star. I saw it in 3D which was cool. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you are a Rowling fan.

Edge of Seventeen

Steinfeld (Pitch Perfect 2), Sedgwick (Closer), and Harrelson (Zombieland) star, A girl who lost her father 10 years earlier is struggling with romance, school, friendships, and family relationships. Her scenes with Harrelson are my favorite the others are a little over dramatic. It's a teen film - I just hoped the writing would be worth it, but it falls short. If you an adult I say nope. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Love By Design

A Romanian woman becomes a fashion editor in NY, but is cut out by her competition. She goes home to start over. It's a cute romance movie - not Hallmark made, but kind of like that. Romantic and predictable. All in all, I say: SEE IT for a happy ending. I saw it on Amazon.

Paranoid

Varma (Bride & Prejudice) is a detective in a small England town. The series follows the squad as they look for a killer. It just got boring and I found after a couple of episodes that I didn't care. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Good Behavior

Dockery (Downton Abbey) is an addict and thief who wants her kid back. She tries to do the right thing and gets mixed up with a hitman. Kinney )Oz) is her parole officer. It's well written and acted. There is chemistry between the 2 main characters. All in all, I say: SEE IT

My Christmas Dream

I love my Hallmark movies at the Holidays. Hall (Day's Of Our Lives) is the boss and McKeller (The  Wonder Years) is the employee that wants a promotion. The editing is a little off, but not bad. The acting and plot are decent. IMDb writes, "Christina Masters is the manager of McDougal's flagship department store. She's determined to land the manager position for their new Paris location. She sets out to impress Victoria, the store's owner, by creating the best holiday display in McDougal's history. Fresh out of inspiration, Christina turns to a recently-fired store employee for help. As they work side-by-side, the business relationship becomes personal and she finds herself falling in love.
- Written by Green-Witch". All in all, I say: SEE IT

2 Animal Documentaries

A Dog's Life and Lion in Your Living Room

I watched them on Netflix  - they were short. They took a quick look at domesticated cats and dogs. If you have a cat or dog check it out. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Crossfire

IMDb writes, "When National Guard soldier Samantha Harrison returns from the front lines of Iraq, she realizes that none of her training helps her deal with PTSD or the struggles of returning to a normal life. Samantha comes home to find out she's being blamed for a friendly fire incident that killed two Americans and she becomes the target of an obsessed soldier seeking revenge for their deaths. She tries to reassemble her fragmented memories of that horrific night in order to convince everyone, including herself, that she didn't do it. Who do you turn to when you can't trust your own memories and the few people you do trust are being killed off one by one?". I think if this film had focuses on her PTSD and getting back memories and spent NO time on the cheesy murder type mystery it would have been 1000% better. The mystery was just predictable and bad. The acting wasn't much better - it's a Canadian film. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Pinkertons

IMDb writes, "A father and son team up with America's first female detective to solve crimes in the Wild West.". I tried - I gave it like three episodes, but the writing, acting, and editing were so bad. Considering it was 2014 you would think the Canadians would have gotten better, but it was pretty bad. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Black Road

IMDb writes, "In 2029 an ex-military drifter risks his life to protect a woman from her dangerous ex in the lawless State of Jefferson. He's aided by his A.I. implant Clyde who proves partner and friend.". It is confusing and annoying. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

1984

Orwell in 1948 wrote about what a dangerous future we were headed toward - a lot of this has come to pass. It's eerie. It's also well written. All in all, I say: READ IT

The Late Bloomer

A man who never went through  puberty has a tumor removed and goes through his teens years quickly. It had some funny parts, but overall it was a bit ridiculous. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Personal

Book 19 of 20. Reachers has been asked to find someone he once put away - a sniper who hates his guts. He goes to London and takes on a couple of gangster in order to kill his man. Everything was ok until the last couple of chapters and the way he finds the sniper through the gang bosses was lame. All in all, I say: READ IT - if you are reading the series.

Uganda Be Kidding Me

In this book she takes friends and her sister to Africa for a trip. She gives a hilarious play by play in each chapter. I am listening to it and Handler does the voice. All in all, I say: LISTEN TO IT

Equals

In a futuristic society pills and science keep everyone emotionless. Until the human body starts to over ride its programming. A few people catch an illness - human emotions - two find each other and chose exile over programming. It's slow going to make its point. Stewart (Cafe Society) and Hoult (Watership Down) star. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Animal Farm

Classic, fairly quick read - it's symbolic of oh a hundred different real world examples of people that overthrow a dictator only to be ruled by a dictator of their own making. All in all, I say: READ IT

An animated film based on the book - teachers use it at school after students read the book - it's ok...All in all, I say: SKIP IT

The Mistletoe Promise

Macfarlane (Killjoys) stars in this Hallmark Christmas movie that made me smile and feel happy. IMDb writes, "Based on the bestselling book by Richard Paul Evans. Two strangers who don't enjoy Christmas meet at work and to avoid being lonely during the holidays make a pact to deal with holiday events together. But as they get to know each other they are able to begin enjoying Christmas. They soon realize that their contract may lead them down a road that neither expected resulting in questionable feelings". All in all, I say: SEE IT

Doctor Strange

The next film in the Marvel series. Dr. Strange is a NYC doctor who gets into a crash and can no longer use his hands to do his work. He seeks assistance in Nepal with an ancient one. And so his sorcery begins. And the audience gets further and further into the Marvel universe and the story that will tie them all together. Two extra scenes which was nice. I saw it in 3D. Cumberbatch (The Current War), McAdams (Spotlight), Ejiofor (2012), Swinton (Trainwreck), Mikkelsen (Rogue One), and Wong (Marco Polo) all star. All in all, I say: SEE IT on the big screen.

Bad Moms

Kunis (Jupiter Ascending), Bell (House of Cards), and Applegate (Crash Pad) star in this comedy that consists mostly of women. Three moms have had enough of all their obligations and take some time for themselves. It's funny and an easy weekend end film to enjoy. I saw it on Directv OnDemand. All in all, I say: RENT IT

Fortitude

Only about 700 people live in this town in the Arctic Circle. Scientists, miners, and some "locals". There is a murder - it started off good and interesting - then....it turned out to be an ancient virus that turned people crazy - boring. I saw it on Amazon. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Daylight's End

It seemed like it might be good - vampires, action...but it was bad. IMDb writes, "Years after a mysterious plague has devastated the planet and turned most of humanity into blood-hungry creatures, a rogue drifter on a vengeful hunt stumbles across a band of survivors in an abandoned police station and reluctantly agrees to try to help them defend themselves and escape to the sanctuary they so desperately need.". All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Worth Dying For

Book 15 in the Jack Reacher series. Reacher gets caught up in a powerful families illegal business when he thinks one of them is hitting his wife. The stuff with the family, the town, and the missing girls was enough, but they add some stupid illegal trucking stuff in there that makes it - surprise, surprise (not) an overly complicated plot that becomes too unrealistic. I didn't like the trucking stuff, but the rest was good. All in all, I say: READ IT if you are reading the series.

Gone Tomorrow

This is the 13th book in the series for Jack Reacher. Jack comes across what he thinks is a suicide bomber, but she ends her life. He gets hooked into a complex plot that is just really stupid. As what seems to happen more times than not - I like the beginning, several of the action scenes in the middle, but the plot itself is just unnecessarily complicated. All in all, I say: READ IT if you have started the series.

The Magnolia Story

It's a autobiography from both Chip and Joanna's point of view starting from when they meet. They focus on their ups and downs, as well as, their keys to success in life and in business. It was well written and paced. It was an easy read - it seemed genuine, too. There is "God" stuff in this, but it doesn't distract from a very human message for how to live your life. All in all, I say: READ IT even if you haven't seen the show.