Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost - 2011

Another enjoyable addition to the films based on Chief Jesse Stone in the books by Robert B. Parker. After being encouraged to retire as Police Chief of Paradise, Jesse (Tom Selleck) is still working to get his life together. Although this film had two different mysteries alternating throughout the story, it moved along at a much slower pace than most of its predecessors. Neither mystery actually had much substance, focusing more on Jesse's reactions to both. The bulk of the film could probably stand alone, but the background story behind Jesse Stone was definitely entered “mid-stream”. Without the earlier “Stone” films, it would be difficult to have much of an emotional connection to Stone or to follow the underlying drama. Selleck is definitely well-suited to the role of Chief Stone but except for the dog, the supporting roles were a little thin this time around. The cinematography and musical score again surpass the usual made-for-tv films. This one ends with a very mild cliffhanger but only in that you know Jesse is not done with Paradise. Even with its weaknesses, this is a great addition to the “Jesse Stone” films. (7th in series)  ***

Wife Vs. Secretary - 1936

Delightful classic romance. This was an intelligent and well written film that included a wonderful blend of humor, warmth and drama. Surprisingly, the storyline managed to focus on an obviously happy couple and their romantic marriage without resorting to often used cheery fluff. Plus, it avoided the typical addition of the home-wrecking "other woman", allowing gossip and suspicion to provide the conflict. Although filmed in the 30's, the story was amazingly timeless and felt as if could have been filmed today. Performances were outstanding! This was probably one of Clark Gable's most lovable characters while Myrna Loy was at her best as the intelligent and loving wife. The chemistry between them was especially appealing! Plus, the excellent performance of Jean Harlow as the smart, driven secretary really added depth to the story. It was also fun to see Jimmy Stewart early in his career. Whether a fan of classic film or of any of these wonderful actors, this is one not to be missed.  ****

Conquest - 1937

Interesting but rather dull historical drama highlighting the story of Napoleon (Charles Boyer) and his legendary mistress, Countess Walewska (Greta Garbo). It is obvious early on in this film that no expense was spared for this film. The costumes are lavish with great attention to detail, as are the varied sets. The B&W lighting and filming are exceptional and add a richness to what is happening on screen. The story of Napoleon himself is very condensed, with the events of years occurring in just 2 short hours on screen. In fact, a personal knowledge of Napoleon and his campaigns is necessary to follow the on screen story of the Emperor and his mistress. The film's greatest strength is the performances of the title characters. Charles Boyer was perfectly cast as Napoleon Bonaparte, giving an Oscar worthy portrayal of the infamous Emperor, while Greta Garbo proves again that she can command the screen, even when her role is really secondary. Their on screen chemistry is extraordinary. In its day, this was a failure at the box office but if you like lavish historical dramas, you should enjoy this one.  ***

Jesse Stone: No Remorse - 2010

Another enjoyable addition to the films based on Chief Jesse Stone in the books by Robert B. Parker. While suspended, Jesse (Selleck) works with State Homicide to solve a serial killing. Although fairly well written, this film certainly had a weaker story and moved along at a much slower pace than its predecessors. The bulk of the film could probably stand alone, but the background story behind the characters was definitely entered “mid-stream”. Without the earlier “Stone” films, it would be difficult to follow the underlying drama. The performances by the entire cast continue to be right on the mark. Selleck is definitely well-suited to the role of Chief Stone. The cinematography and musical score again surpass the usual made-for-tv films. As with “Thin Ice”, this also ends with a mild cliffhanger. Not uncommon in films except it’s really just the same cliffhanger restated and consequently comes across a little flat. Even with its weaknesses, this is a great addition to the “Jesse Stone” films. (6th in series)  ***

Jesse Stone: Thin Ice - 2009

Another enjoyable thriller based on the character in the Jesse Stone books by Robert B. Parker. Chief Stone (Selleck) is wounded after being shot during a stake-out. This well written film is the first not based on an actual novel but it is certainly a great addition to both the books and the earlier films. Exceptional performances by the entire cast. Selleck is definitely well-suited to the role of Chief Stone. Beautiful cinematography and a superb musical score that enhance the story and certainly surpasses many of the made-for-tv films you usually see. As with its predecessors, this one is definitely worth your time. On a side note, although this film could technically stand alone, the earlier "Stone" films would fill in some of the storyline gaps and make this one more enjoyable. It also definitely has a mild cliffhanger conclusion.  (5th in series) ****

Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise - 2006

Entertaining thriller adapted from the books by Robert B. Parker. Chief Jesse Stone (Selleck) is determined to find the killer of a young murdered girl. This addition to the “Stone” tv films is definitely as well made as its predecessors. Superb performances by the entire cast, but especially Selleck as Jesse Stone. His portrayal of the emotionally troubled police chief is right on the mark. Exceptional cinematography and musical score that enhanced the story and certainly surpasses many of the made-for-tv films you usually see. Not to be missed! On a side note, although this film could stand alone, we found it enjoyable to have seen the earlier “Stone” films. (3rd in series)  ****

Jesse Stone: Sea Change - 2007

Another great thriller adapted from the books by Robert B. Parker. Chief Jesse Stone (Selleck) re-opens a case involving the murder of a bank teller. Although there is a certain predictability with the “Stone” series of films, this new addition is definitely as well made as its predecessors. Selleck is right on the mark with his portrayal of the troubled Jesse Stone, as well as excellent performances by the supporting cast. Outstanding cinematography and musical score that enhanced the story and certainly surpasses many of the made-for-tv films you usually see. Enjoyable addition to this series of films. On a side note, although this film could stand alone, we found it enjoyable to have seen the earlier “Stone” films. (4th in series)  ****

Jesse Stone: Stone Cold - 2005

Enjoyable thriller based on the books by Robert B. Parker. Chief of Police Jesse Stone (Selleck) works to solve a series of senseless murders. This was a thoughtful, well written story that involves the viewer in both the plot and the characters right from the beginning. Selleck gives a strong performance as the Chief of Police, perfectly balancing the character’s keen insights into police work as well as his personal problems. Great character development both for the main and the supporting cast. Superb cinematography and musical score! Definitely worth your time! On a side note, although filmed for television, this particular “Jesse Stone” film carries an R rating. We watched this on tv but do not know if anything was edited. All the films in this series seem similar in adult content and are certainly not family friendly regardless of rating. Consider your audience. Note: Although filmed first, this one occurs 2nd chronologically.  ****

Jesse Stone: Night Passage - 2006

Enjoyable thriller based on the books by Robert B. Parker. Former detective Jesse Stone (Selleck) arrives in a small town to be their chief of police. This was a thoughtful, well written story that involves the viewer in both the plot and the characters right from the beginning. Selleck gives a powerful performance as the troubled, alcoholic cop who manages to be commanding in spite of his own personal problems. Great character development both for the main and the supporting cast. Superb cinematography and musical score that surpass most tv movies! Definitely worth your time! Note: Although filmed after “Stone Cold”, this one takes place first. ****

Murder by Numbers - 2002

Ok drama/suspense movie with a tiny bit of drama and a tiny bit of suspense. Two bored teens decide to commit the perfect murder and then plant clues to lead the police to someone else. Even though the premise is pretty good, the storyline of this film is very predictable and moves along slowly with very little or no suspense. I’m known in my family for closing my eyes during even remotely suspenseful moments but watched this one with eyes wide open; never a moment with even a little suspenseful tension. The parts of the teens (Ryan Gosling and Michael Pitt) were actually portrayed fairly well but the police side of the equation (Sandra Bullock and Ben Chaplin) was barely believable. Little of the script supports the conclusions of the police as they try to solve the crime. We did watch this on TV so some of the R rated factors were edited but that wouldn’t have changed the storyline or acting. Just an Ok film.  **

Wonderfalls - 2004

Quirky, offbeat series. Inanimate objects begin to talk to an insolent clerk in a tourist shop, who tries to resist their suggestions but eventually ends up helping others, much to her dismay. Although the premise for this series was amusing, the majority of the episode plotlines seemed pretty thin (even for a comedy) and really never reached their potential until near the end of the season. There were definitely some witty and entertaining moments, but not enough to keep the first episodes from cancellation. Since this is a common problem with a new series, it surprises me that so much time and money would be put into a potentially great series and then the plug pulled before the final episodes had been aired and the show had even been given a chance. Performances were Ok but never really became fully developed. For me, the main character, Jaye (Dehavemas) seemed “over-the-top annoying” rather than “over-the-top comical”, which was certainly a weakness. My favorite was actually Jaye’s brother (Pace), although his character was just starting to emerge when the series ended. Special effects were pretty good, although by the end they did not play as big a role in each episode. Enjoyable but just Ok. NOTE: Contrary to what you might expect from the synopsis, this is NOT a family friendly series. When my boys were young they were sent to their room for using the kind of language that flows in every episode. (So please don’t tell them I watched this :-) or I will never hear the end of it!) And most of the stories definitely have very adult situations. It is probably equivalent to a PG-13 rating. Definitely consider your audience.  ***

The Moon-Spinners - 1964

Enjoyable film of suspense and intrigue based loosely on the novel by Mary Stewart. While on holiday on the island of Crete, Nikki (Mills) becomes involved in trying to find a fortune in stolen jewels. If you have read Stewart’s book and are looking for a faithful adaptation, you will not find it here. However, Disney did a great job of creating an intelligent screenplay that matched the spirit of the story. Great performances by all, but especially that of Hayley Mills, who definitely demonstrated her ability to move into older roles. Personally, though, I would have preferred to see the strength her character showed in the book and a little less screaming. :-) The filming was excellent with some wonderful scenes of Crete and the local culture. Loved the edge-of-your-seat windmill scene! This is definitely a great family friendly film that we would enjoy watching again in the future. ****

The Seeker: Dark is Rising - 2007

So-so family fantasy/action film but POOR adaptation of the well loved book by Susan Cooper. Although I love books almost more than movies, I’m usually tolerant of changes made to bring a novel to the big screen. Not so with this film. It is obvious that the timeframe of a film would not allow the depth in this book, but the very essence of the story was missing. There seemed to be little effort made to keep the “heart” of this incredible novel.  Just one small example would be Will's family. In the book Will had a close, caring family, nor was he the neglected youngest child. The book was a wonderful example of a family sustaining each other during difficult times. Instead, this movie made his family extremely rude and uncaring, to the point of being physically and mentally threatening! Definitely unsure why it was felt this would be more entertaining. Nor did the film ever portray the growth that occurred in Will as he came to understand his role in defeating the Dark. This was such an integral part that having it cut defeats the whole point of the story! And last, but not least, the thoughtful, dramatic ending was tossed out in order to go for the totally cheesy! On the filming side, the special effects are pretty good and the performances are Ok. If you are unfamiliar with the novel you might even find it enjoyable. Those in our family who had not read the book, however, just found the movie confusing and trite.**

Bye Bye Birdie - 1995

Mildly entertaining musical. Since the storyline has always seemed a little silly, this has never been one of my favorite musicals. Even so, it still had several strengths. This version definitely stays closer to the original play and includes the musical numbers that were cut in the ’63 film. There were several strong performances, including Jason Alexander, Vanessa Williams and Tyne Daly. Unfortunately, the weakest performances were that of Chynna Phillips and Marc Kudisch. As Conrad, Kudisch had a wonderful singing voice, but his dance moves were very stilted. As the teenage Kim, Phillips looked and acted completely out of place. She was simply too old for the role and it was glaringly obvious. Since these were two of the pivotal roles, it definitely weakened the entire film. Just Ok. **

Bye Bye Birdie - 1963

Mildly entertaining. Since this storyline has always seemed a little silly, it has never been one of my favorite musicals. Even so, it still had several strengths, with the superb performances of Dick Van Dyke and Ann Margaret probably being at the forefront. Unfortunately, there were several equally weak performances that detracted from the film. The music was enjoyable with some great humor, but several of the numbers from the play have been cut in this film version as well as several major storyline changes. Just Ok. ***

The Haunted Mansion - 2003

Lackluster attempt to capitalize on a Disney favorite. When real-estate agent Jim Evers (Murphy) visits an old mansion with his family, the ghostly owner (Parker) believes Sara Evers (Thomason) is his lost love. There was incredible potential with this film but the story itself was boring, predictable and slow moving, with very little suspense. We found ourselves rolling our eyes more than once. The attempts at humor fell completely flat and were actually grating. The miscasting of Eddie Murphy was probably their first mistake. His acting style was totally out of place for the story. Most of the performances were average, with possibly the exception of Nathaniel Parker of Inspector Lynley fame, and Terence Stamp as the butler. Surprisingly, the children were pretty irritating. One of Disney’s strengths has always been the children in their films, but both the characters themselves as well as the performances were unappealing. The films only redeeming qualities were some great special effects which would probably add 1/2 star. Not enough to save the film, however.  **

March of Penguins - 2004

Fascinating! This was an exceptional film on the cycle of the Emperor Penguin that will certainly become a classic in its genre. Although it really doesn’t have what you would refer to as a plot, this well written, thoughtful film still managed to have a beginning and an end, almost as if you were watching a family history. You certainly felt connected to the lives of these amazing creatures. The extraordinary cinematography captured the conditions of the Antarctica and you practically shivered along with the huddled penguins. The filming was so well done that I regret not having seen this on the big screen! Superbly narrated by Morgan Freeman, his mellow voice told the story without trying to become the star and/or focus of the film. Something narrators don’t always achieve. This is certainly a film not to be missed! *****

Mail Order Bride - 2008

Lackluster romantic drama. This very unbelievable story was painfully predictable with plenty of plot holes, and certainly lean on both romance AND drama. Performances were Ok but the chemistry between characters was practically non-existent. Nor were any of them very appealing, even the main characters! Made it hard to care one way or another about the outcome. The film included mild language and violence, which was definitely less than many films but also more than expected from a Hallmark film. Better choices out there. **

Facing the Giants - 2006

Struggling in both his personal and professional life, Coach Grant Taylor (Kendrick) turns to his Christian faith for guidance. This was an entertaining film with both strengths and weaknesses. Any movie produced by a small film company certainly faces many challenges, the least of which is the pool of actors to choose from. Performances ranged from just Ok to good, but for the most part were better than is often found in other films of this type. Filming was fairly good with some great football sequences that rival many bigger productions I've seen. Its biggest weakness, however, was probably the misconception you might gain from its main theme. Its focus, that our Heavenly Father will strengthen us during difficult times, was basically a good message. However, the film seems to promote the idea that if we'll just be good that all our dreams will come true. In my own life, I've certainly discovered trials do not magically disappear, even when I'm doing my very best to "be good". Surprisingly, sometimes those very trials became my greatest blessings because of what they teach me. On the other hand, almost every good miracle that happened in this film, I have either experienced myself or witnessed happening to someone I know: from the new truck, to the change in job status, to a pregnancy in the face of all medical facts to the contrary! I've just never seen that many miracles happen all to the same person! :-) Because I've certainly had my own miraculous wonders, I could look past the overzealous portrayal of these same types of events in the film. Perhaps the real message is simply that we can all turn to Him when times are tough to receive the strength we need. Even with its weaknesses we found the film enjoyable. ***

The Coward - 1915

Compelling film of a young man whose fear brands him a coward even in the eyes of his father. This was truly a remarkable film of the inner struggle this boy felt (and most of them were just boys) when presented with the realities of war. The story is a fairly simple one with little character development except for that of the father and the son. At only a little more than an hour, the story moves along quickly; perhaps a little too swiftly, but the impact of the story is still present. The film itself is color-toned black & white and includes very few title cards. Most of the story is told simply by the actions of the characters themselves. Certainly the moment the boy faces his inner demons strikes a chord in each of us and includes a perfect title card: "The blood of his fathers, the shadowy hands of past generations of fighting men shatter the fetters of cowardice, and the last of the house of Winslow stands forth unafraid." The ending is a little abrupt but typical of the silent era. Although not for everyone, this is a wonderful part of our cinematic history. I'm not aware of this film available separately but it can be found with a collection of silent films of the Civil War.  ****