Ed's Review Dot Com

DreamWorks Animation,

Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Jude Law, Isla Fisher, Chris Pine, Dakota Goyo

This is the story of the guardians of childhood, Santa, Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, Sandman, and Jack Frost. An evil spirit, Pitch, has changed Sandman’s dreams into nightmares and is convincing all the children in the world to stop believing and to be afraid. The gang band together to fight Pitch, and restore faith and belief to the world.

This is a pretty decent animated film with a lot of action, though it’s pretty dark in some ways. Pitch is not the most evil villain in the world, yet he might be a bit much for smaller kids. Santa is really strange. He’s a Russian guy who fights with swords and has a gang of Yeti for bodyguards. This is certainly not a usual depiction of Santa, and I doubt the kids will like him very much. Jack Frost is the key to the story, chosen to be the hero, but unsure of his origins. He has no memory of his past, and is concerned that he will be forgotten because he is invisible. He wants to be remembered. He’s sort of like a lost kid, who is out to prove his value. The story is not bad, just a bit weird. It’s a little artsy for most kids I think. But it’s not a bad story. I enjoyed watching it, but am not sure this will be a huge hit since it’s a little strange for the mainstream. It’s a little quirky, but quite beautiful. The animation is very good.

I might also add that I saw this in 2D animation, not the 3D version. From what I have heard, the 3D is pretty good. That might add a lot to the enjoyment of this film, I’m not sure. Due the the timing, I wasn’t able to catch a 3D version.

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Julijette, Xmas Heart Films,

Teri Polo, Paul Essiembre, Adam Hurtig, Tess Harper, Ty Wood, Arden Alfonso, Cruise Brown

Matt Norman (Ty Wood) is an athletic 15 year old with a undiagnosed heart problem. When he collapses on the basketball court, he is doomed without a heart transplant immediately. His younger brother and his parents and the whole neighborhood are hoping for a miracle. Meanwhile Jimmy Mars (Adam Hurtig) is a troubled young man who’s girlfriend is about to give birth and he’s in big trouble and needs to leave town in a big hurry. To top it all off, a huge storm is headed in on Christmas Eve making bringing in a new heart essentially impossible, even if one can be found.

This is a really good brand new Hallmark Christmas story. It’s a real tearjerker, and highly unlikely, but everything does come together as only they can in a Hallmark Christmas movie. But this is a really good film, with lots of life lessons, a mean grinchy guy, a hopeful kid with lots of faith and trust, and conflicted parents where Mom is a pillar of faith and Dad doubts there is even a God. There are a number of different stories going on, which naturally will all intersect at the final moment. Conflicts, doubts, faith, family, a little holiday spirit, and everything is in here. This is a great addition to the long, long list of Holiday movies, but probably one that won’t stand up to repeated viewings as other films do. It’s a little too sugary for repeated viewings, but certainly well worth the effort to watch out for this one this season! This is a movie with lots of redeeming qualities!

Here is the link to the official Hallmark page for this film.

ARO Entertainment, Barnholtz Entertainment,

Elisa Donovan, Gabrielle Carteris, Fred Willard, David O’Donnell, Sarah Thompson, Michael Gross, Chonda Pierce, Mo Gaffney, Michael Bergin

Lauren Lindsey (Elisa Donovan) is a working woman who is having a string of bad luck. She is hiding a dog in her apartment, and grumpy maintenance guy Harry (Michael Gross) finds out, turns her in, and she has to take her dog to the pound. She lost her job because her boss Jack Volara (Fred Willard) is a real jerk, and her co-worker Sandra (Gabriel Carteris) blames her for her own mistake. Most of all, she really wants her fiance to propose, but he has other ideas. He’s so focused on his work, and losing interest in the relationship. But Lauren meets a “life coach” named Noel (Chonda Pierce) who offers her 12 Wishes. Naturally, she squanders them and has to learn the hard way of the consequences of the choices we make.

This is a really cute little Christmas film which is very cleverly done. It’s a story about greed and redemption, that doesn’t smack you over the head. It’s light and breezy, and simply a lot of fun without preaching and in your face morality lessons. Instead it’s a smooth flowing story that is a lot of fun. It’s mostly due to the talent of Elisa Donovan who is exceptionally good in a role like this. She carries the story from beginning to end.

I really feel this is a fun new story. It’s on ION TV this season under the name “12 Wishes of Christmas” but you will also find it all over the place with the title “12 Christmas Wishes for My Dog.” I searched, but have been unable to find an explanation for the differences in the title. The best thing is to watch out for both titles. It’s a very nice little Christmas story that is a lot of fun, and well worth seeking out. I enjoyed this a lot. The story has a lot of sub plots that come together all at the end. Even things you’ve forgotten completely about come back to bit you at the end. I recommend watching out for this one!

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DreamWorks Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Reliance Entertainment,

Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, Tommy Lee Jones, Jackie Earle Haley, John Hawkes, Jared Harris, Joseph Cross, Tim Blake Nelson, David Oyelowo, Bruce McGill

Abraham Lincoln (Daniel Day Lewis) was our 16th President, and presided over the United States during the darkest days of the nation. This film looks at the last months of the life of Abraham Lincoln. The war has been raging on, and he had released the Emancipation Proclamation declaring slavery had been abolished, but that was done as a time of war. It didn’t stop slavery truly, but rather stated that any slaves captured in battles would be free. But it was highly questionable to Lincoln whether he had the power to do this, especially if the war was over. So Lincoln was faces with a major dilemma. He must push for the 13th Amendment to the constitution in the house, to pass with a 2/3 majority, with not near enough votes to do it. He also had to do it before the war was over, because if the south rejoined the Union, they would certainly have enough power to block it. So Lincoln calls in all his favors, and even recruits his enemies, to attempt to pull off this coup. Lincoln may be able to stop slavery, or stop the war, but likely not both. This stunning documentary tells the story of a great American hero.

The similarities of the badly polarized congress to the situation the country is in today is so strikingly similar that it’s uncanny. This is one of the best films I have ever seen. The story is so gripping, and the performance of Daniel Day Lewis is certainly Oscar worthy. Sally Fields also shines as the trouble First Lady who has seen so much tragedy in her life that many deemed her insane. She was definitely a burden to the President, but also his strength. The performances here are certainly superior, and this film will be showered with honors this year, I am certain. There are so many wonderful actors in this movie that turn in amazing performances. Not the least of these is Tommy Lee Jones who is fabulous as the ornery representative from Pennsylvania. Spielberg has a sure hit here. This is a film that must NOT be missed!

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Front Street Pictures,

Emmanuel Vaugier, Carrie Fisher, Oliva Cheng, Rebecca Davis Carson Kressley

Carol Huffman (Emmanuelle Vaughier) is a heartless publishing executive who inspires terror on her struggling employees. She’s visited on Christmas Eve by her former boss Eve (Carrie Fisher) who ran the publishing house in a way different manner, not focusing on the bottom line, but rather with kindness a caring, unlike Carol. She plays the part of the ghost showing her her past, the future, and possible futures if she doesn’t learn her lesson. Eve wants her to take the time she has to look at the errors of her ways before it’s too late.

This is obviously another knock off of the Dickens novel A Christmas Carol. As you probably know, if you’re a follower of EdsReview, I am a total sucker for Scrooge stories. In my opinion, this is one of the greatest stories ever written. People have studied the origins of this Christmas ghost story, and it’s just about as fantastic as the story itself. Dickens sat down to write this story for one reason only. He was flat broke and needed the money very badly. So he sat down and penned a story that will live forever and many folks give him full credit for saving the Victorian Christmas we celebrate today, as it was nearly dead when he wrote this story. But this movie has some major differences from the original. That’s ok though, as this is one of the modern takes on the story likes dozens of others. Carol is a real meanie, and her conversion is sudden and abrupt. In fact, the weakness may be in that they went for so much background on the other characters that they didn’t have enough time to devote to the make-over that they should have. Still, it’s a pretty good story. It gets a bit annoying after a while to have Carrie Fisher play the role of all the ghosts, but I have seen other versions that play out this way, and it’s ok. Emmanuelle does do a pretty decent job in the lead role here, and it does fit in with the spirit of the season. So if you can take another modern day take on the old Christmas Carol, this is a brand new for 2012 version showing on Hallmark all month.

Here is the link for the Hallmark home page for this film.