Midnitewolf

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4

I don't know what is going on these days. While I personally find NCIS world has got kinda dull. For me, NCIS started going down hill slowly, right back when Abbey left. NCIS L.A. was the next best for me.

However, it is still one of the best things on TV these days. I think it is unfair to compare Hawaii with NCIS viewing ratings. It was the highest rating in it's time slot. Why cancel that, because of yet another addition to the NCIS universe, before they know what ratings NCIS Origins will get? It may be a complete miss.
It would of made more sense to give Hawaii another season, to give them time to see what ratings Origins get.

They just keep making new ones, to watch established ones burn to the ground.

Is it not obvious that there isn't enough demand for the supply of another new one?
Sydney pops up, L.A drops out. Origins pops up, Hawaii drops out to make room. I really don't think that is a very good way to treat your actors and everyone else that is now without work.

I noticed the status changed to cancelled. Now it has been changed back to returning? Do you know something we don't?

I have been reminiscing and digging up TV shows from the 70s and 80s. Straight away, I noticed that the series, used to have a lot more episodes per series. I think that is one reason why so many series are being cancelled. you don't have time to get in to them, before they finish again for another year.
back then, there was 9 months on TV and 3 months off. So you would have more time to get in to the show, less time to forget everything, so less time needed to get back in to them.

The other totally unfair and stupid thing they keep doing is stopping it for 2 weeks here and a week there. People lose track and lose the show.

You want the audience to invest in the show, 1st, you have to invest in the show. Show some loyalty and respect to the people who work for you, some consistency in the days it's on.

People have kept saying that the characters haven't got much in the cohesion. I am not surprised really. They are never sure if they will be the next to face the axe.
how can the characters and actors bond, under these disloyal, disrespectful and ungrateful human calculators? I know they aren't a charity and I am certainly not saying they should keep paying good money for rubbish. But this was top in it's time slot. what more do the calculators want from a show?

This isn't the typical Christmas movie for me. I love a good "Cheesy" movie, as people call them.
This breaks down age barriers, to appeal to the pre-teen as well as teen audience, while catering to parents with a pinch for the parents parents.
It moved this jaded old wolf. Which isn't always easy!
Most "Feel good" romantic Christmas movies, are admittedly, often the same story, just in a different small town. A Dr, instead of a baker.
A big city character comes to a small town etc.
I don't mind that too much. They are, by their nature, a little predictable. Predictable isn't always bad. You know what to expect, to nice cozy viewing, following two main characters really.
I thought this one was very clever and really mixed it up. A teenage girl, her Dad, and a adult pop star. Even a grandma!
The difference here, is, the main focus, that shifts between the daughter, the Dad and the star. Christmas and a quinceañera, (a latino girls 15th birthday celebration and rite of passage, that symbolises a girl's entrance into womanhood. It's cultural root in Mexico, becoming more popular now in other area's. Just a note to anyone who hasn't heard of it. Like me, until last year!)
Also a perfect mix of Spanish and American. (is Spanish correct? or Mexican? or Latin? or Latin American? or Latino? I am not trying to be offensive, although I understand why you may think I am. I am honestly just ignorant. There is no-one I know that I can check with. So I would be delighted to be educated. If anyone can let me know, I promise I will correct it immediately)
I am, sadly an English speaker. I was born in the UK, where, sadly, they are very lazy and arrogant, seem to expect everyone else to speak in English when they are near by. Even in a foreign country, they just expect everyone to speak English. So, a film in English, with someone frequently talking in another language, without subtitles, I don't have a clue what they are saying.
But the little bits of Spanish they use, well, the way it is said, the way they express it, is universal, Thanks to some really Stella acting.
I have to say the three main women in this movie were explosive. They didn't read the lines, they acted them with the tone voice, body language and facial expressions that really dragged me in the movie. I almost felt part of it.
The music wasn't, by any means, my kind of music. But there were two or 3 beautiful songs.
So, no Santa. No elves. No Dr's or bakers.
But it breaks all the rules, crosses all boarders, breaks out of the mould.
An original Christmas/Navidad/quinceañera, pre teen/ teen/ adult romance.

9/10 full moons, from Midnitewolf

It is always difficult to rate movies. This one is a great example of why.
This isn't aimed at the over 25s (and, oh boy, am I over 25 and feeling every year of it)
So it is hard to rate, for every one.
If I was lower aged and less jaded, this would probably be an easy 10.
It stars a person, that was pretty much born on the big screen! Luckily, it appears that she is still loving every scene of it! Either that, or she really is gold.
I am talking about, of course, the great Bailee Madison. I find she always seems to lift the whole production, especially the cast, to a very pleasing energy level.
Either that, or it is just coincidentally high level.
You can make your own mind up!
I actually enjoyed this, possibly more than an old man child should!
The cast were great together, the story, while not exactly unheard of, was a different and quite a new twist on the norm.
On the romance aspect, it was a slow burn and not the main focus, but still, it gave a sweet moment that many that has romance as the main feature have been missing.
It is a really good, solid movie to snuggle in with, in the matching onesies and warm log fire.
Christmas however, is not featured as a main theme either, so, if you are a family that likes to make Christmas last as long as you can, I would suggest watching this at the end of November, as a suggestion of upcoming Christmas and time for Santa to see who is being naughty and nice.
Save the Christmassy Christmas movies for December.

Because of the low romance content, this doesn't score as highly as the movie deserves as a Christmas movie. But possibly more than the lack of romance should, in a list of Christmas romance movies!
I have gave it a full, family friendly

7/10 midnitewolf full moons.
.

It looks like Hallmark is on its way back back to the "King of Cozy"
While being really quite different to their other Cozy Mysteries. But they are well acquainted with different periods in time.

I wasn't too sure when I saw it was historic. I admit, I do love the clothing. They really knew how to dress up back then! But how the hell did men get away with treating women like that?
I wince just thinking about a man talking that way to a lady now!
Hell hath no fury!

Anyway, back to Hallmarks latest cozy mystery, set in the 1800s
Obviously, that means amazing, flamboyant, beautiful outstanding clothing, rampant sexism. Yet no racism. I thought there was a lot back then.
Being "Hallmark" and a Cozy mystery, there is no bad language, no nudity, no gore, but on this occasion, the story needed to show the head injury, with blood for a few seconds.

This stood out to me, because I thought it was really clever and different. The clues were all presented clearly to the audience. Leaving us to piece them together to try to figure out "whodunnit"
I know, most do. But this one seemed to be very clear, giving the audience the clues, rather than the characters solving one clue that leads them to the next clue.
This one seems to get all of the clues, like jigsaw pieces, to reveal the picture at the end.
I liked that.
I like the costumes.
I like the locations.

The actors were all solid and interacted well. Kudos to the leading lady, who gave the character many different edges that could become excellent character building foundation.
IF!!! If Hallmark will finally give us a new film series, rather than keep giving us one off Mysteries. You don't have time to invest in the characters and really start to enjoy seeing the characters for each new one is added to the series. Like welcoming home a friend.
I think this has potential,. Run with it!

10/10!!! This has broken through to get a perfect score! I may have to rethink my scoring system! There is no way up!

Ok, just today, I was saying there is a lack of originality in romcoms.
I asked if a rating of 10/10 was achievable.
Well, I rated the last one as 9, losing a little due to predictability.

This one broke all of the stereotypical boundaries. This aimed high and hit the bullseye.

A fresh, original, exciting and risky, beautiful, amazing movie!

Based, in part, in the world of aerial silks.
When done right, a beautiful display of art, dance, strength, bravery, exhilaration and expression. No safety net. Nothing between you and the ground, apart from 2 strips of silk.

This art is occasionally seen in the background of shows and movies.

This one, decided to really challenge the actors, to act, dance and aerial silks! Simple!

While the male lead, actually had a background in the world famous live show Cirque, the female lead has a history of ballet, I could not find any references to her doing any aerial work.
The male lead has obvious strength, you really can't miss it, even before the silks! If anything, I would think his arm muscles would make him too big and bulky for the, some what elegant art of silks.
The female lead is obviously very, Very fit and strong, but Aerial silks make you use muscles you never knew you had, after an hour, muscles you wish you didn't have!

I cannot even start to think how many hours they must have put in to learning these skills.

A stretch too far? Asking too much of them physically?
I would say to the first, absolutely not for this pair! To the second, Absolutely!! It is absolutely too much to expect two actors to be able to learn the silks until their muscles go in to spasm and take days to recover from the lesson! Then repeat! Then make a movie. It is simply too much to ask of anyone.

Yet, they made it work! Not just work, in fact, they made the film fly.

While the time frame in the film, made the evolution a little unbelievable, I would guess it took them hundreds of hours of hard labour, which wouldn't really make a great film! So I will happily allow that artist licence.

I don't want to give any hint of spoilers, so I will just say, that either a rehearsal, or the show itself, they show an almost tear pulling, beautiful, heart confusing ( heart in your throat, while also pounding And missing a beat, all at the same time! Heart confusing!) Seamless, amazing display of timing, strength, beauty, smooth, dazzling, gravity defying risky dance in the air.

While I did see that stunt doubles were used in part, you could easily see the actors were able (or maybe, allowed) to do the lower level tricks, therefore, they have both learned the skills needed to do the same thing, higher up the silks. So, I guess, insurance or health and safety decided that the risk of injury, leaving them unable to complete the movie, was definitely a possibility.

What can I say? Even if you have no respect for actors, (then, you have obviously never acted on stage, or not put your heart in to it. You have to become a different person, you take on the characters pain, anger, love, confusion. Then show all of that, to an audience or camera, feeling the characters feelings, then wait for the judgement of the audience. It isn't as easy as just reading lines. It is like going to work at the office naked and waiting to see if people look impressed, laugh or turn green) You have to give these actors so much respect and praise for the strength, work and train, to be so good in these hugely difficult characters.

I am in awe. I know they will never read this, but huge praise to them. Heck, doing the splits is impressive to me! Doing the splits, with absolutely no support, other than your heels in a loop of silk, 6 feet off the ground? Come on folks! Respect is due here.
The female lead, very beautiful, fluid, flexible, ballet probably had a part to play. So much strength, without bulky muscle.
The male lead, obvious strength and muscle, yet able to still be graceful.

And on top of all that, with help from the cast and crew and associated persons required, they made a great movie.

New, original, fresh, exciting, exhilarating, powerful yet elegant and beautiful movie.

I would love to see a second movie about what happens next! Please! With new tricks, higher ceilings and original storytelling.