Charms for the Easy Life (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)This film surprised me in a lot of ways. The title makes it sound "fluffy" but there's a lot of punch in the story.
It's about 3 strong-willed women as they live their lives and interact with each other and the world around them. The grandmother, Charlie Kate (Gena Rowlands) is the pivot of the story. She's tough but not uncaring. She knows who she is and what she wants from life. Her daughter, Sophia (Mimi Rogers), is also strong but in a different way. Margaret (Susan May Pratt) is the granddaughter, who blends the best of her grandmother and mother.
There's a lot of humor in the film and a fair amount of pathos as well but it's neither a comedy nor depressing. There is a lot to admire in all 3 women and how they respond to each other and live their lives.

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Lorna Doone (2001) Review

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(More customer reviews)Fortunately I was able to catch this originally when it ran on A&E and was so captivated I pre-ordered both the video and DVD. The video version differs only slightly from the DVD; the color is not as good. That's it. Overall it's a very good purchase at a reasonable price for such an excellent film.
Fans of A&E's lush romances like Pride & Prejudice, Victoria & Albert, and Emma will enjoy Lorna Doone. It's a blend of romance, adventure, mystery, and something of the sinister, with a Romeo & Julietish twist. The acting is stellar, particularly in the casting of Aidan Gillen as Carver Doone. He completely overpowers the screne whenever present and makes a loathable and yet empathetic villain. Richard Coyle is doubly good as the heroic John Ridd, and Amelia Warner proves she can play leads effortly as the spirited but puzzling Lorna.
It's a film my entire family enjoyed... there was enough romance for the girls, some action scenes for the guys, and enough lush English countryside and magnificent costuming for one and all. Rent it, buy it, borrow it -- see it.

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A rollicking romantic adventure set in 17th century England.Thecountry is torn by civil war, and the countryside is ruled by the bloodthirsty Doonefamily.As a young boy, John Ridd sees his own father murdered by the Doones.Yearslater, he falls in love with a beautiful country girl, never suspecting that she is theannointed Queen of the Doones.Based on the novel by Richard Blackmore, LORNA DOONE is a classic tale of romanceand bravery, vengeance and villainy

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My Uncle Silas: Series 2 (2001) Review

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(More customer reviews)My Uncle Silas series 2 staring Albert Finney is a great look at the relationship that can develop between a young boy and his older although not especially wiser great uncle. As Uncle Silas, Finney is excellent at showing his great nephew Edward, played wonderfully by Joe Prospero, the way not to carry on as a proper gentleman. Although set in England in the time before World War 1 the stories and the lessons that they teach are timeless. Take the time and sit back and relax and enjoy the delightful tales that playout in this series.

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Wyvern Mystery (2000) Review

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(More customer reviews)"The Wyvern Mystery" is from the PBS "Mystery!" series, based on J. Sheridan Le Fanu's gothic novel of the same title published 1869. It stars Derek Jacobi, Naomi Watts, Jack Davenport, and Iain Glen.
The story is aptly convoluted (but changed to suit the running time, especially the latter half of the film). Being orphaned, Alice Maybell (Watts) is brought to the mansion of austere Squire, Henry Fairfield (Jacobi), who locks up her in the dreary wing. Grown-up Alice is wooed by the Squire, but finds a new and secret love in one of the Squire's son, Captain Charles Fairfield (Glen). They find a new home in Carwell Grange, bleak house where no one visits except Charles's brother Harry (Davenport), but there is another secret hiding in this place, which sooner or later Alice is to find out behind the wall of her secluded room.
Le Fanu's original story is so complex particularly in the last one-third of the novel, so the film changed the whole story into more conventional form. That works to some extent, even though the spooky touch of this Irish writer, who really led a hermit-like life in his country, is somehow missing from the result. But the good acting from the leads, and the effective costumes and locations help us to be enticed to the gothic world, where the heroine is gradually threatened by weird things and the mental depression as their consequences. And Naomi Watts looks splendid in costume. Her fans should not miss it.
Le Fanu's most famous (and best) novel will be "Uncle Silas" which was also filmed (under the title of "The Dark Angel", not to be confused with Jessica Alva TV) early in the 1990s starring Peter O'Tool.

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An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving is one of Hallmark's better holiday movies. Not as "sweet" and predictable as most Hallmark movies; this one has some "bite" to it, and that makes it believable. All of the actors are excellent, giving their characters depth--even the youngest boy is very, very good. As always, Jacqueline Bisset is a pleasure to watch--she is always so compelling in any of her roles. To be believable as a grandmother is a feat in itself, for she doesn't seem old enough even now.
Having never read the Alcott story this is taken from, I have no idea how closely it stays to the short story, but it is a fine movie on its own. I definitely give it 5 stars!

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Inspired by a short story, Isabella Caldwell is a high-society woman in late-1800's New York. When Isabella's estranged daughter Mary becomes ill and is too proud to ask her mother for assistance, Mary's daughter, Tilly, takes it upon herself to contact her grandmother and plead for help. Isabella's arrival causes an upheaval in many lives, but may also lead to reconciliation within the family.

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