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The National Tree, a review by addicted2dvd

The National Tree (2009/United States) Gaiam (United States) Director: Graeme Campbell Writing: David Kranes (Original Material By), Lloyd Fonvielle (Story By), J. B. White [J.b. White] (Screenwriter) Length: 87 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen :1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: None

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Stars:
Andrew McCarthy as Corey Burdock
Evan Williams as Rock Burdock
Kari Matchett as Faith
Paula Brancati as Katie
Jayne Eastwood as Lana

Plot:
Facing hardship and adventure as they travel America's heartland, father and son discover a bond they never knew existed and the true meaning of Christmas. Full of holiday spirit, The National Tree is a heartwarming and inspiring film for the entire family.

Extras:

• None

Another Hallmark Channel Movie.This one originally aired November 28th, 2009. While I am sure there is some notable names in this one.... none that I am familiar with. Out of the 4 movie box set I got this in... this is the one I was most concerned about enjoying. While it is a slow paced film... it is one that grew on me. The longer I watched t the more I liked it. So of you try this one, be sure you stick with it.



(From Christmas 2017 on December 1st, 2017)

The Good Girl, a review by addicted2dvd

The Good Girl
Jennifer Aniston turns in "a fantastic performance" ('US Weekly') in this quirky comedy about first encounters and second chances. Thirty-year-old Justine Last (Aniston) longs for a life more fulfilling than the one she leads with her boring husband (John C. Reilly) and dead-end job at the Retail Rodeo. But when a passionate young co-worker (Jake Gyllenhaal) catches her eye and steals her heart, Justine's good-girl existence takes a turn for the worse -- with unexpected and comical results.

My Thoughts:
This one I didn't care much for. It was in my opinion OK at best. I found the storyline not only depressing... but also stupid. I can say this much though... I got this movie shortly after it's release used for $5.00 when the video store I managed went out of business (Along with Chasing Amy) I bought it sight unseen for one reason... because I am a fan of Jennifer Aniston.  And I have to agree with the overview... Jennifer Aniston did do a fantastic job in her role. I thought she had a very strong performance... I just wish she had a better storyline to work with. The overview ends with this line... "...with unexpected and comical results" I don't know... this is of course only my opinion... but I didn't find a single thing in this movie I would call comical.

(From Weekend Movie Marathon: 9/28 - 9/30 on September 29th, 2007)

The IT Crowd: Version 3.0 - (mini) marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Jen has a builder in her home and Roy is quite sure (99% ... 60/40) that he's seen him on "Builders from Hell". Now Jen can't let him out of her eyesight. Meanwhile Moss is bullied by some guys in the park and Douglas shoots himself in the leg with his father's service revolver.

My Opinion: A great start to the new season. Love to see Jen getting more and more paranoid and Roy re-evaluating his surety. And I loved Moss' role-playing and trying to find a snappy comeback. I never cared much for Douglas though. I liked his father better.

Synopsis: Moss has found a website that allows him to use the right sentences about last night's football game. Roy tries it, too and gets them both to hang out with a bunch of real men. But these new friends are not what they appear to be. Meanwhile Jen is dating a guy that looks like a stage magician.

My Opinion: I am a German and I never cared much for football either. This week a player returned from FC Barcelona to the VfB Stuttgart and a friend of mine couldn't be happier about it - I couldn't care less, the only thing I found interesting was that the player's name is "Hleb" which is a transcription of the russian хлеб* and means "bread". Back to topic. I enjoyed to watch Roy panicking in the car after the robbery and also in their hideout. And I found it hilarious that Moss took the money just to count it.

* Remember when Christopher Plummer said "to be or not to be" in klingon? The "Х" letter sounds pretty much like the "H" in taH pagh taHbe'.

Synopsis: Jen is applying for a new job in a different company but fails to explain what "IT" stands for. Meanwhile Roy crashes a minute of silence for a dead colleague and lands himself on the streets not even having a shirt anymore. And Moss is in his "happy place" while Douglas gets tasered every time he gets aroused.

My Opinion: What I liked about this episode was Roy's "walkabout" in the streets and Jen's attempts at not having to say what "IT" actually stands for . But I didn't really like the entire harassment storyline and Moss' part in it.

Synopsis: Jen was awarded with the "Employee of the Month". But now she has to give a speech to the shareholders. And the speech is about her area of expertise - meaning IT. Roy and Moss are so generous and lend her "the internet", a black box (wireless of course, everything is wireless nowadays) that what demagnetized by Stephen Hawking himself.

My Opinion: One of my favourite episodes of the show. I simply love the entire scene when they let Jen borrow "the internet" (Youtube). And I love it when their prank totally backfires on the shareholder assembly.

Synopsis: Jen has joined Friendface, a social networking site where you find all the people you never wanted to see again. Roy and Moss join also and soon Roy has to face a woman he dumped because she looks like Batman's Joker. And Jen is invited to a class reunion where she can't show up without her husband - Moss.

My Opinion: An obvious pun on Facebook which I really liked, especially the part about persons you'd rather not see again. Especially the "Joker" and Roy's attempts at "winning over" Jen made me laugh so hard.

Synopsis: In order to organize a charity fundraiser the girls of the seventh floor want to make a nude calendar and Roy gets to photograph them. But Jen sabotages it and convinces the girls that it would be a far better idea to photograph their grannies - until she becomes responsible for the success of that calendar.

My Opinion: The Geek Calendar shooting was so funny, how Roy had to convince Moss and the others to get into certain poses was so hilarious.

The Season - My Opinion: Too bad that UK seasons are always this short, I am quite certain that the writers would have no problem to come up with more ideas. But it is as it is.

(From The IT Crowd: Version 3.0 - (mini) marathon on July 31st, 2009)