Film Reviews

Friday Film Review: Blazing Saddles

Friday Film Review: Blazing Saddles

Blazing Saddles (1974) Genre: Comedy/Spoof Grade: A- “He rode a blazing saddle, he wore a shining star. His job to offer battle to bad men near and far. He conquered fear and he conquered hate. He turned dark night into day. He made his blazing saddle a torch to light the way.” It’s been a(…)

Friday Film Review: The Draughtsman’s Contract

Friday Film Review: The Draughtsman’s Contract

The Draughtsman’s Contract (1982) Genre: Drama/Period Piece Grade: B “There’s sex, snotty people and flamboyant costumes. What more could you want.” – Spanky and John Go to the Movies. I’m almost hesitant to recommend this film just because I know a lot of people probably won’t like it. Note I’m not saying you won’t get(…)

Friday Film Review: The Flame and the Arrow

Friday Film Review: The Flame and the Arrow

The Flame and the Arrow (1950) Genre: Adventure/Romance Grade: Kinda depends My recent review of The Crimson Pirate made me curious about TFATA. It had been years since I saw either film and I remember not liking this one *quite* as much as TCP. I found that I still liked TCP but what about TFATA?(…)

GUEST FRIDAY FILM REVIEW: Starman

GUEST FRIDAY FILM REVIEW: Starman

Starman: 1984 Starring Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen Genre: Science Fiction/Romance Grade: B+ Jeff Bridges’ star turn in CRAZY HEART got me thinking about all his other movies I’d enjoyed. From my memory banks, I pulled a favorite I had seen but once, STARMAN. Would it be as sweet a romance on second viewing? But(…)

What Jayne is Reading and Watching in late December and early January

What Jayne is Reading and Watching in late December and early January

Fruitcakes and Other Leftovers by Lori Copeland – cute name, right? I loved it too but the kooky aunt finally did me in. A little kook here and there in a story is fine but ‘all kook all the time’ wore on my nerves. They make medication for people like this. I also had issues(…)

Friday Film Review: Definitely, Maybe

Friday Film Review: Definitely, Maybe

Definitely, Maybe (2008) Genre: Romantic Dramedy Grade: B Definitely, Maybe is another film Netflix kept urging on me and I kept resisting. The star ranking was only slightly above an average of 3 and the description didn’t grab me. I like a HEA in a movie that looks to have romance in it and with(…)

Friday Film Review: Foul Play

Friday Film Review: Foul Play

Foul Play (1978) Genre: Comedy/Thriller Grade: Cute “Far out.” Yes, I remember this movie when it was first shown on HBO. I know that dates me but, what the hell. It’s kind of a comedy crossed with a thriller crossed with a view of life back in 1978 when people said “shake your booty” and(…)

Friday Film Review: Bachelor Mother

Friday Film Review: Bachelor Mother

Bachelor Mother (1939) Genre: Screwball Comedy Grade: B J.B. Merlin: I don’t care who the father is, I’m the grandfather! Finding a New Year’s Eve movie is tough and I’d almost given up until I remembered this one. It’s got humor, dancing, a sweet romance, a cute baby and one determined grandfather. Polly Parrish (Ginger(…)

Friday Film Review: Blackadder’s A Christmas Carol

Friday Film Review: Blackadder’s A Christmas Carol

Blackadder’s A Christmas Carol (1988) Genre: Spoof Grade: A “Bad guys have all the fun.” No, right now I’m not in a very serious Christmas mood. Let’s have some fun with it, I say. And what better way than with Edmund Ebneezer Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson), his trusty sidekick Baldrick (Tony Robinson) and most of the(…)

Friday Film Review: Holiday

Friday Film Review: Holiday

Holiday (1938) Genre: Comedy/Drama Grade: B This movie is really a bit of a fudge as a Christmas/New Year’s themed one since the main emphasis of the film isn’t the holiday season. Instead, the film is set from right around Christmas until shortly after the new year begins. But, what the heck. Read through to(…)

Friday Film Review: Bad Santa

Friday Film Review: Bad Santa

Bad Santa (aka Bad(der) Santa) (2003) Genre: Holiday/Crime/Comedy Grade: B “Can I at least take the hat off?” – Willie “No, I love the hat!” – Sue Don’t get me wrong. I love Christmas. I love decorating my trees and the outside porch. I love it when someone opens my gift to them and their(…)

Friday Film Review: My Cousin Vinny

Friday Film Review: My Cousin Vinny

My Cousin Vinny (1992) Genre: Romance/Comedy Grade: A “We’re famous for our mud.” OMG I love this movie. From the opening credits to the ending ones, this is one of the funniest and best films I’ve seen. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen it but I laugh out loud each time, delight in(…)

Friday Film Review: The Snow Walker

Friday Film Review: The Snow Walker

The Snow Walker (2003) Genre: Adventure/Drama Grade: B NOTE: This one has a bittersweet ending. If you’re okay with that, read on. At Susanna Kearsley’s urging I put this one in my Netflix queue months ago where it lingered and lingered. And lingered. She gently goosed me a bit about it in a comment on(…)

Friday Film Review: Emma (BBC)

Friday Film Review: Emma (BBC)

Emma (2009) Genre: Novel adaptation/Romance/Regency Period Grade: B This is the latest entry into the “Emma” canon, released in 2009 by the BBC. I guess it would be more accurate to call it a miniseries rather than a movie as it’s told in four roughly one hour parts. And while I didn’t think it would(…)

Friday Film Review: Operation Petticoat

Friday Film Review: Operation Petticoat

Operation Petticoat (1959) Genre: War comedy Grade: B Since today is Veteran’s Day in the U.S. and Remembrance Day in many other countries, I decided to pick a film to pay tribute to those who’ve served. But I didn’t want preachy so that ruled out such things as “The Americanization of Emily.” And it had(…)