The 15:17 to Paris

I completely agree with Sullivan from Entertainment Weekly. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Step Sisters

IMDb writes, "Jamilah has her whole life figured out. She's the president of her sorority, captain of their champion step dance crew, is student liaison to the college dean, and her next move is on to Harvard Law School. She's got it all, right? But when the hard-partying white girls from Sigma Beta Beta embarrass the school, Jamilah is ordered to come to the rescue. Her mission is to not only teach the rhythmically-challenged girls how to step dance, but to win the Steptacular, the most competitive of dance competitions. With the SBBs reputations and charter on the line, and Jamilah's dream of attending Harvard in jeopardy, these outcast screw-ups and their unlikely teacher stumble through one hilarious misstep after another. Cultures clash, romance blossoms, and sisterhood prevails as everyone steps out of their comfort zones.". It's a Netflix original - and yes, it's a little cheesy. I like step so I thought I would check it out. It had potential, but fell short are being even ok. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

The Mars Generation

A documentary about a group of kids at NASA's space camp. It also looks some at the history of space and the barriers to the US going to Mars. It is very White. But, it is interesting where we are headed. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you like anything with space.

The Wild Card

Amazon writes, "In this book, Wade and Hope King show you how to draw on your authentic self--your past experiences, personality quirks, interests, hobbies, and strengths--to deliver your content creatively. If you are a high school teacher or a kindergarten teacher, the seven steps in The Wild Card will give you the knowledge and the confidence to bring creative teaching strategies into your classroom. You'll learn...

• Why the deck is not stacked against you, no matter what kind of hand you've been dealt
• Why you should never listen to the Joker
• How to identify the "Ace up your sleeve" and use it to create classroom magic
• How to apply the "Rules of Rigor" in order to fuse creativity with learning
• How to become the Wild Card that changes the game for your students

". A friend recommended this book - it gives you some inspiration although not enough specifics in my opinion. It led me in one direction to find the specifics. All in all, I say: READ IT - if you're a teacher.

Hostiles

Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart) wrote and directed this western gem. Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) is a pioneer woman. Angry, criminal Natives attack her family land and kill all her kids and her husband. Later, hunters come across her and some other women, they are kidnapped and raped. The hell she goes through is very real, horrifying, and make her an extremely complex character. Christian Bale (The Promise) is subtle, strong. and powerful in his role. He's about to muster out of the service. He fought in the civil war and then fought in the west. His last job is to take a Chief - he fought against most of his career - to his final resting place. You can see in their faces all the realizations the characters come to during this long and dangerous journey. Every bit of it looks and feel so authentic. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Winter's Dream

IMDb writes, "Former pro skier, Kat, is asked to coach a younger skier, named Anna, and finds love with the girl's widowed father, Ty". Dean Cain - once Superman - is an over-protective dad. He does ok in this role - not great, but it's Hallmark and there is a step by step procedure to this. Kristy Swanson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) does a good job - I liked seeing her again. It was simple and sweet and innocent. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Alienist

Daniel Bruhl (Inglorious Bastards) is the doctor searching for a child serial killer in the 1800s in New York. Dakota Fanning (Taken) is the young female police officer trying to deal with single life and life in a man's job.  Luke Evans (Beauty & the Beast) is doing the most amazing job in his role. He is the most like his character in the book. Simply amazing! There are a few things that seem a little unlike the book, but it's not at all bad. All in all, I say: READ IT and the SEE IT on TNT.

One Winter Weekend

IMDb writes, "A recently dumped travel writer goes on a ski getaway with her best friend and they find themselves double booked with two eligible men. When they are snowed in, love ensues, as it always does". It's a Hallmark movie so you know the plot. It's not bad, but kind of awkward in the middle. Taylor Cole (The Originals) does a good job. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Non-Transferable

A young travel blogger plans the perfect European trip and is excited to share with her boyfriend whom she believes will propose to her on the trip. He breaks up with her, so she goes in search of someone with his same name to take all his tickets - which she can't get the money back for. They travel together and fall in love. Everything was going good for me - it was really well done for a low budget independent film - until the end. The ending was horrible - it was just confusing and all mixed up. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Hello I Must be Going

Melanie Lynsky (Sunshine) is a divorced woman - her husband decided to marry his mistress - she never knew he was unhappy.  While staying with her parents she meets and falls for a younger man, Christopher Abbott (The Sinner). Because of the age difference they decide it's not really love. She moves on to live her life the way she wants and he os left to get his shot together. I hated the ending - I felt like it really was love and they could have found themselves together. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars

PBS continues the tale in the sequel. Martin Sheen (West Wing) does a good job. The girl who plays Anne Shirley is nothing like the original and favorite, but not bad. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Frozen In Love

IMDb writes, "Bad boy hockey player Adam and struggling book-store owner Mary must work together to help rehabilitate each other's image. Their mutual animosity, and attraction, sees them struggle to achieve their goal.". I like Rachael Leigh Cook (Robot Chicken) and I like Niall Matter (Eureka), but the editing and flow of this movie was off. It got kind of annoying and honestly felt unrealistic - well, more unrealistic than usual. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Past Malice: An Emma Fielding Mystery

IMDb writes, "Archaeologist Emma Fielding is hired to consult on the acquisition of a castle-like estate that local legend states is cursed. But she finds herself in the middle of a murder case after discovering the body of the archaeologist she was hired to shadow in a secret chamber in the bowels of the huge building. Assisted by her friend, FBI special agent Jim Conner, Fielding must sift through clues and a long list of suspects, each of whom has their own reason for wanting the man dead, to determine who is the killer.". Courtney Thorne-Smith (Fresh Off the Boat) does an ok job with the script she's given. She isn't 100% believable, but she tries. James Tupper (American Woman) is well, himself. I think that's the only way he can act...to act as himself. They are terribly exciting mysteries. All in all, I say: SKIP IT