Movie Review: The Christmas Pageant (2011) with Melissa Gilbert

Man I have missed Melissa Gilbert.  Of course I miss the Little House on the Prairie Melissa Gilbert, and this movie is not her; however a couple times this movie took me back.  Gilbert plays Melissa Parks, a Broadway director, who is down on her luck and down on opportunities because of her sour personality.  In the end, she takes the only thing available, a gig directing a Christmas Pageant to the north.  There she meets her old boyfriend (Jack Harmon), who left because he realized Parks was married to her career and didn't need marriage.  She also befriends the boyfriend's daughter (Lennon Wynn) who is wise beyond her years before realizing who she is.  Her birth mother has passed away.  (It seems single parents is common in Hallmark movies.  The landlords where the director is staying are played by Candice Azzara and Edward Herrmann. 
The biggest test with this show comes when a Broadway job finally does come through.  Parks leaves the pageant production a few days before the presentation, to return to New York.  What happens from there? 

Movie Review: 48 Christmas Wishes (2017)

Here is a made for TV Christmas movie which really seemed quite lame throughout.  Two elves must collect the Christmas wishes from a town face-to-face because the accidentally burned up the Christmas wishes from the town.  It has it attempts at humor, but the show doesn't seem to be going anyplace, until they have to discover the last Christmas wish.  This wish didn't come from a child; but from the mother of two children who are struggling to keep the memory of the father who passed away six years prior.  It was very touching at the end. 
I am not sure of the history of this movie, but it aired on BYUTV. 

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Illustrated Version

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling, illustrated by Jim Kay, Arthur A. Levine Books, an Imprint of Scholastic, New York, 2015, originial publication 1997.
For Christmas, Sheri purchased the first two illustrated versions of the Harry Potter series.  I quickly fell in love with these books again.  I read the originals, when they were first coming out.  Sometimes we had to buy several copies of the books so the kids and we parents wouldn't have to fight over them.  It was always a race to get them read.  The illustrated version add so much.
J.K. Rowling introduced us to a new world with "The Sorcerer's Stone."  An so many exciting characters, starting with Harry Potter, the boy who lived, and who lives in a closet.  And then Ron who becomes his friend, and Hermione, who starts out bossy, but mellows rather quickly; and so many characters at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft.  This book entertains, and delights, and they added pictures make it even more delightful.  I enjoyed the new read, as much as the old, and even more so with the pictures jumping out at you.  I especially like pictures of Hagrid.  I think he is my favorite character, with his oversized body and oversized heart, and always doing things to help others and animals. 

Movie Review: **^Finding Christmas (2013)

Sheri and I were commenting that these Hallmark Christmas movies all have a very similar plot.  This plot is the same, but it does it twice.  Some house swapping, leads two men to meet different woman, and the sparks begin to fly.  Country musician Owen (JT Rogers) heads for the city, and city advertising man Sean (Mark Lutz) heads for the country.  Sean meets Owen's sister, Ryan (Tricia Helfer), and Owen meets Sean's assistant, Mia (Cristina Rosato).  The only fly in the ointment is Sean's ex fiancé, who has a change of heart. 

Movie Review: ****^ Darkest Hour (2017)

I could not recommend this film more highly.  It is fantastic.  This is a war movie, without showing much of the war.  It focuses on the politics behind the war, during Britain's darkest hour.  They stood alone against the Nazi war machine, as Belgium and France were conquered, and the United Sates still feeling protected by the oceans.  From this point, with most of Britain's troops surrounded at Dunkirk, comes Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman) to the forefront.  This film deals with the relationship between Churchill and Chamberlain (Ronald Pickup), King George VI (Ben Mendelsohn), his secretary (Lily James), his wife (Kristin Scott Thomas), Parliament, the House of Commons, and last the British people.  I was left in tears at one point by the interaction between Churchill and the people of England. 
Fascinating story.  After seeing this I vote Oldman best actor of the year.  I still chuckle at the "state of nature" line.

Movie Review: ***Christmas Song (2012)

this is a Christmas Movie from Hallmark, where two schools have merged, with two choir directors, and two different methods of teaching.  Both directors enter a team into a local competition which offers a grant to the winners.  There is a lot of feuding, and even sabotage, but in the end, our two groups come together, as do the choir directors. 
These Hallmark Movie have similar plots, but even so, I find myself attracted to them.

Music Review: Nat King Cole: The Christmas Song

N one sings "The Christmas Song" better than Nat King Cole.  It is just pleasing to listen to.  There are two version, one with his daughter Natalie Cole and the other single.  "Away in a Manger" is done with such reverence and humility it is one of my favorite.  A choir takes over the second verse, but aCole sings the first and third.  While in a contrary vein, but also works is the upbeat version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen."  "I Saw Three Ships" is also very nice.

Music Review: Christmas Around the World

Putamayo Present: Christmas Around the World, 2001.
This is a nice selection of different musical styles and instruments, around the theme of Christmas.  I wouldn't say it is all inclusive of the world.  It is weighted heavily to Latin cultures, especially Cuba, and American Cajun music.  Instruments featured include violin, steel drum, accordion and banjo.  Styles include Twoubadou, Cuban nueva trova, CajunTrinidad steel drum, Cuban jazz, gypsy rumba Flamenco, Cuban campesino and banjo driven music.
I enjoy this different sounds and genres.  I am really attached to Latin sounds. 

Movie Review: ****Justice League (2017)

Something is coming and with Superman dead, who is going to keep things in order.  Batman (Ben Affleck) is desperate to build a team.  He puts together a pretty good team with Aquaman (Jason Momoa), The Flash (Ezra Miller), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher).  It is still not enough as they face Steppenwolf and his minions who feed on fear.  Steppenwolf is seeking three boxes with incredible power.  Batman and his team use the box they possess to bring Superman back to life.  His body did not decompose even though he was dead.  Something about his cells.
This movie is fun.  There is plenty of action and struggle, and teamwork.  Each gets to be a hero and save others.

	Ben Affleck	...	Batman / Bruce Wayne
	Henry Cavill	...	Superman / Clark Kent
	Amy Adams	...	Lois Lane
	Gal Gadot	...	Wonder Woman / Diana Prince
	Ezra Miller	...	The Flash / Barry Allen
	Jason Momoa	...	Aquaman / Arthur Curry
	Ray Fisher	...	Cyborg / Victor Stone