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Thomas Kinkade's Christmas Cottage, a review by Danae Cassandra

Thomas Kinkade's Christmas Cottage
Year of Release: 2007
Directed By:  Michael Campus
Starring: Jared Padalecki, Marcia Gay Harden, Peter O'Toole, Aaron Ashmore
Genre: Drama

Overview:
Returning home from college one Christmas, young artist Thomas Kinkade (Jared Padalecki) is dismayed to learn that attempts to promote local tourism have failed and his mother (Marcia Gay Harden) is dangerously close to losing the family cottage to foreclosure. Inspired by his mentor, Glen (Peter O' Toole), a famous artist who lives next door, Thom accepts a job painting a mural of his small, idyllic hometown. With Glen's help, Thom not only discovers his calling as the Painter of LightMy Thoughts:
I observed once that no one appreciates sentiment any more.  We have uplifted cynicism in its place.  I think perhaps that accounts for some of the reason this film has gotten poor reviews.  Yes, it's sentimental, and maybe a bit schmaltzy, but I enjoyed it and thought it was pretty good.  It's a Christmas movie, and one should expect sentiment in such a film.  The film and its characters felt very real to me, these small town eccentrics and their rivalries and friendships.  If Peter O'Toole is the standout, the entire cast did a good job with their characters.

For those who have said this isn't a "family movie" because of some very brief, and very mild, language, and the portrayal of the town hussy, you are missing the forest for the leaves.  The film is filled with the value of love and community, of putting aside those things that hold you back from others and coming together.  And that makes it a good Christmas film.  Recommended, unless you're a total prude living under a rock, or too-cool for old-fashioned sentiment.

Bechdel Test: Pass

Overall: 3/5

(From Yuletide 2013 on December 19th, 2013)

Guardians of the Galaxy, a review by Dragonfire

Guardians of the Galaxy

5 out of 5 stars

I went to see Guardians of the Galaxy on opening day.  I loved it.  I want to see it in the theater again and I will definitely be adding it to my collection.

Peter Quill, who likes to call himself Star Lord, ends up in all sorts of trouble after he finds an orb that others are after.  He ends up working with a strange group including an assassin, two bounty hunter/mercenaries, and a maniac to save the galaxy. 

There is a scene after the end of the credits that ties back into something from earlier in the movie.  Another Marvel character is shown.  I knew who the character was immediately, though I have no idea what Marvel is planning where that character is concerned.  I certainly wasn't expecting that character to show up.  I thought maybe it would be someone that will be in one of the next few confirmed Marvel movies.

The plot is fun and entertaining, though it also has some more emotional moments as well.  There is a lot of humor throughout the movie and it works wonderfully well.  This movie made me laugh more than 22 Jump Street and Tammy.  There is a decent amount of action and adventure going on.  There is some violence, but nothing too extreme or graphic.  At one point, a character does make an obscene gesture.  It is done in a humorous way.  Even with that bit in the movie, it seems more family friendly than some of the other PG-13 rated comic book movies.  The movie is a bit...odd or even bizarre at times, but it works.  The oddness makes the movies more interesting and entertaining.  It is really one of the best movies of the year.

I did see the movie in 3D.  I did notice some 3D effects and think it was used well throughout the movie.  There are a lot of cool scenes throughout the movie and the 3D does add to some of them. 

Several older songs are heard throughout the movie.  The way the songs are used works very well and adds to what is going on.  Personally, I would have liked to have heard more of some of the songs. 

The characters are interesting and different from anything in any of the other comic book movies I've seen.  There is a small connection to the other Marvel cinematic universe movies through Thanos.  It seems like something in particular is being set up for him in future movies, though I don't know how at least one of the confirmed movies will connect to that. 

Guardians of the Galaxy is a very fun, entertaining movie that is well worth seeing.  It is awesome.

5 out of 5 stars

I did post a longer review on my blog.

Guardians of the Galaxy


(From Guardians of the Galaxy on August 3rd, 2014)

Twilight Zone, a review by addicted2dvd

90. The Fugitive (3/9/62)
Old Ben is a fugitive from outer space with a heart of gold. He risks it all to help a crippled little girl - without fear that alien pursuers from his home planet will find them out!

My Thoughts:
This is one of the few episodes I have seen before. And it a good one... I enjoyed it very much. Attached to the end of this episode is a public service announcement asking your help to support the college of your choice. The only special feature added for this episode is an isolated score.

91. Little Girl Lost  (3/16/62)
A six-year-old girl who can be clearly heard, but not seen, has vanished into a fourth dimension and is trapped there while a hole between the two worlds rapidly closes...

My Thoughts:
This one on the other hand.... I never seen this episode. But it is an excellent episode! I enjoyed every second of it. This one will be ranked up probably in the top 10 favorites on what I seen so far. Attached to the end of this episode is a TV Spot for Gunsmoke. The only extra available for this episode is once again an isolated score.

92. Person or Persons Unknown  (3/23/62)
David Gurney (Richard Long) wakes up to find himself in a nightmare: no one - not even his wife or his mother - knows him, and all evidence of his identity has disappeared.

My Thoughts:
Going into this one I couldn't remember if I seen this one before or not. Turns out that this is one of the many that I have never seen. Though it is a very good episode. I enjoyed every minute of it. It is an interesting story. And I got to say... I really got a kick out  of  the ending.... sure I expected it... but it was the perfect ending to use on this story. Attached to the end of this episode is a public service announcement about not littering. The only extra available for this episode is once again an isolated score.

93. The Little People  (3/30/62)
Spaceship Commander Peter Craig (Joe Maross) declares himself a god when his ship lands on a planet populated by people smaller than ants. After he orders his co-pilot (Claude Akins) to leave, he learns the true nature of power.

My Thoughts:
Once again this is an episode I never seen.  It is a good episode... though not quite as good as the previous episode. But I must admit... I really liked the ending of this one... and for some strange reason I didn't see it coming. Attached to the end of this episode is a TV Spot for Gunsmoke. Extras added for this episode is a Marc Zicree interview with Buck Houghton and an isolated score.

94. Four O'Clock  (4/6/62)
Political fanatic Oliver Crangle (Theodore Bikel) has determined that at 4 p.m. he will eliminate all his enemies by shrinking them. But his plan proves to be a little shortsighted.

My Thoughts:
Going into this one I knew it was an episode I never seen before. This one I really didn't care much for. It was kinda boring really. And had an obvious ending. Attached to the end of this episode is a Public Service Announcement for the Red Cross. Extras added for this episode includes an isolated score and a Twilight Zone Radio Drama of this episode.

95. Hocus-Pocus and Frisby  (4/13/62)
Andy Devine is Frisby, a loud-mouthed braggart whose boasts attract the attention of aliens. Perhaps he should have read the story about the boy who cried wolf before embarking on his greatest adventure...

My Thoughts:
And yet another episode I never seen before. There is a familiar face in this episode. None other then "Floyd" form The Andy Griffith Show. Though he did have a small part. While better then the previous one... it is still not as good as most episodes. Attached to the end of this episode is a TV Spot for Gun Smoke. The only extra for this episode is an isolated score.

96. The Trade-Ins (4/20/62)
An elderly couple (Joseph Schildkraut & Alma Platt) visit the New Life Corporation, hoping to transplant their personalities into youthful artificial bodies. But they can only afford one.

My Thoughts:
What you know... one I actually have seen before. I was on a bit of a roll there for a while. But it is one I never cared too much for... never really cared for the storyline. Attached to the end of this episode is a public service announcement to get support for mental health programs. The only extra for this episode is an isolated score.

97. The Gift  (4/27/62)
An alien who crash-lands into a remote mountain village stirs up the villagers' fears and animosity, but he befriends a little boy and gives him a mysterious present.

My Thoughts:
And now we come back to one I never seen before. But unfortunately it is another one I really didn't care much for.I just found the story slow and boring. Though it is a story with a message. Attached to the end of this episode is TV Spot for Gunsmoke. The only extra listed with this episode is an isolated score.



Episodes I seen for the First time on this set include:

   1. Judgment Night (Episode 10)
   2. And When The Sky Was Opened (Episode 11)
   3. What You Need (Episode 12)
   4. I Shot an Arrow into the Air (Episode 15)
   5. The Hitch-Hiker (Episode 16)
   6. The Purple Testiment (Episode 19)
   7. Elegy (Episode 20)
   8. Mirror Image (Episode 21)
   9. A World of Difference (Episode 23)
  10. Long Live Walter Jameson (Episode 24)
  11. People Are Alike All Over (Episode 25)
  12. Execution (Episode 26)
  13. The Big Tall Wish (Episode 27)
  14. A Nice Place to Visit (Episode 28)
  15. Nightmare as a Child (Episode 29)
  16. The Chaser (Episode 31)
  17. Mr. Bevis (Episode 33)
  18. The Mighty Casey (Episode 35)
  19. A World of his Own (Episode 36)
  20. The Man in the Bottle (Episode 38)
  21. A Thing About Machines (Episode 40)
  22. The Howling Man (Episode 41)
  23. A Most Unusual Camera (Episode 46)
  24. Dust (Episode 48)
  25. Back There (Episode 49)
  26. The Whole Truth (Episode 50)
  27. Twenty-Two (Episode 53)
  28. The Odyssey of Flight 33 (Episode 54)
  29. Static (Episode 56)
  30. The Rip Van Winkle Caper (Episode 60)
  31. The Silence (Episode 61)
  32. Shadow Play (Episode 62)
  33. The Mind and the Matter (Episode 63)
  34. Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up (Episode 64)
  35. The Arrival (Episode 67)
  36. The Mirror (Episode 71)
  37. Still Valley (Episode 76)
  38. The Jungle (Episode 77)
  39. A Quality of Mercy (Episode 80)
  40. Dead Man's Shoes (Episode 83)
  41. The Hunt (Episode 84)
  42. A Piano in the House (Episode 87)
  43. Little Girl Lost (Episode 91)
  44. Person or Persons Unknown (Episode 92)
  45. The Little People (Episode 93)
  46. Four O'Clock (Episode 94)
  47. Hocus-Pocus and Frisby (Episode 95)
  48. The Gift (Episode 97)

(From Twilight Zone on March 29th, 2010)