Midnitewolf

VIP

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?

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.

If you love your light hearted romance, or, RomComs (I don't really understand that. Because they are really comedic, but a few laughs along the way) then I think you will love this.
I think it was well written, well thought out, quite clever, without trying TOO hard to be the smartest ever. You know? They didn't over complicate it all.
A great movie, to snuggle up with the one you love, after a hard day at work, or to relax with on a quiet Sunday.
Great, light hearted romance has been a little lacking lately. Possibly due to COVID? But this one was simply wonderful.
Ok, so, like most, it was slightly predictable and has been done before in different guises and budgets, different actors, different places.
But it was unique enough to stand up and stand out.
The actors were all great and believable as their characters. Very much so. So, you can sort of be a fly on the wall, really watching it unfold. Almost be part of it. Absolutely no complaints about any of them. The chemistry was there with all of them.
Together with the whole team of crew and people involved, should consider this, a great product, well wrapped, nicely polished, sound was great, with no music louder than the talking (I hate that) no hollow echo, lighting was natural and worked to improve the movie, rather than trying to be noticed.
One small thing that didn't work for me. Which is ironic, considering the characters job. The make up was really awful in places, for the mail lead. We were joking about him being a cage fighter in his down time and needed to cover the cuts and bruises! I don't know if he had been unwell and pale maybe? The make up was so heavy, we thought maybe it was COVID, so make up had to work from a distance and put it on a spade and throw it at him from 10 feet away.
Because of the overall quality of this movie, I guess there must of been a reason and I apologise if my little dig causes offence! Not that anyone will read this, especially not people in the movies!
I gave it a 9/10 because it was excellent overall. But the predictable story, while comfortable and still enjoyable, something completely different would be a brave and risky, it would be refreshing.
Really really great film. Gentle, clever, well polished and presented, great sound and light, character, storytelling, everything was almost perfect. But is perfect even possible?

I thought this was an excellent example of a "Cozy Mystery"
Yes, there is a death. But no gore, no swearing. Minimal violence. No sexual content, although, perhaps a suggestion of it, vaguely. But no nudity or more than a kiss.

The acting, in parts, was a little O.T.T. in parts, a little more like on stage, where it is exaggerated, so people at the back of the theatre can see them.
But some how, it worked? Or maybe my love of theatre made it understandable?
The lead was excellent, really. Just perfect. Some big names appear, that surprised me, because this didn't seem like a huge budget movie.
The story was excellent, up until the end. The end, I thought was a little lack lustre and unimaginative. Without giving a spoiler, it is hard to explain. But a certain lack of some twists and turns, maybe let the movie down a little?

I am always looking for "Cozy Mysteries"
I find that they are easy to watch, bring you in to the mystery. There is not too much "Reality" to them. I find that very refreshing. I get more misery in the real world! I don't always want to see reality, warts n all, bad language, gore, nudity. That kind of viewing, may be more realistic. But they are also a dime a dozen.

A good Cozy Mystery, you don't have to mute it if children or parents walk in. Most people would, I think, be happy to sit down with their family to watch it, without fear or embarrassment.

Great great great movie if you love the genre, Christmas decorations, gnomes and a good movie to relax.
I rated it 8 out of 10. But I would love this to be a returning movie series. Or at least, the people involved, continue making "Cozy Mysteries".
They made this an amazing and enjoyable viewing for this very under served genre.
I don't understand why there isn't more. You don't need a block busting budget. You don't need a star studded cast. Just a few respected or able actors, with a fair cast behind them. The stories don't even need to be mind blowing.
This did have some big names and they were brilliant.
Please! This growing fan base need more! More and more people are looking to leave all of the violence, bad language and reality at the door. Then sit cozy and step in to a world of mystery, where even murder, is quaint. I don't need to see the insides of the victim. Just a loving, caring people, and try to figure out, which one is a killer, thief, naughty person underneath the facade.

I really wanted to give this more than 8, but I think it is fair.
As a "Cozy Mystery" it is a 9.
But as a movie, 8 is very respectable and I really hope the people behind it, learn from it and make many, many more