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tardusty
Reviews
Dreams Lost, Dreams Found (1987)
romantic and kinda entertaining
I was lucky enough to catch this movie on Encore instead of paying massive amounts of money since it is out of print. I loved reading Harlequin novels and romance novels in general so I always want to watch the film adaptations.
I'm 28 years old so naturally I'm accustomed to watching more modern and fast paced movies. However, I already knew what to expect since this was a 1987 movie.
Let me say that despite it being old, I enjoyed the movie and I'm glad I woke up 6am in the morning just to catch it. It had a medium pace, not as fast but not slow either. The acting was good. The relationship and chemistry were believable as well as the scenery. And of course, I always love happy endings, hahaha.
When I watched it at first, I was a little dismayed to see the heroine having short hair. I like my heroines to have long hair because they seem more feminine, womanly, etc. Shorter hair feels like the woman is a feminist/independent/etc. However as I analyzed the movie even though its not really a deep movie to think about for all this analysis, I realized maybe the short hair was a good idea. Even though you think the heroine seems independent and strong, inside she is actually scared and weak (at first anyway regarding men and love, etc.) Anyhoo, thats my analysis for the heroine. Otherwise the actress did a great job in portraying her character.
On to the hero - well, I usually prefer my heroes, with dark hair. Blondes just doesn't do it for me, they don't seem as manly or hunky. Although this hero had that deep voice and rather big body, if they colored his hair it would have been cool. However, despite my soso-ness on his hair color, the hero did an EXCELLENT job. He was pretty attractive and manly despite being a blonde and yep, I believed his character. At first, he was sort of arrogant and a player, but I believed it when he kinda fell for the heroine and I thought it sweet and AWWWWW when he barged in and just demanded the heroine that he has to take her home no ifs and buts hahaha...!! Then of course the fact that later on he carries that other woman on his shoulder and dumps her outside, I was like, right on!! And of course when he was trying to find the heroine and then later they meet and super kissed, it was sweet ^_^
Now the scenes with the horses, it was a little clichéd/cheesy - the whole hero riding horseback for the heroine through the waters, but I guess those scenes had their own charm. Oh yes, i was shocked that the heroine could afford a castle, but maybe it was discounted because of the ghost? -_-
As for the story itself, at first I was worried it would be lots of ghosts rattling, ghosts appearing kinda movie, but thankfully it wasn't. After a few ghost scariness (not even that much) the story definitely focused on the characters, how they fell in love, the ghost story past and the present, etc. Oh yah, and lets not forget the heroines' past marriage situation and sister situation.
Anyway bottomline is this movie was definitely cute and entertained me. I am glad I watched it.
Leopard in the Snow (1978)
Keir Dullea is quite hunky!
Even though this movie was made in 1978, I loved it! I actually have the book and I read that first. Then I found out it was turned into a movie so of course I had to get it too! My only complaint is that the movie seemed so fast so the love connection seemed a bit impossible but I guess since its a movie they had to speed it up. And yes, I guess the movie does look sorta old with the characters fashion and hair. Also, I wish they would have showed me a bit of the "after the happy ending" like they kinda did in the book, but of course its a happy ending so I'm still happy. Oh yeah, did I say Keir Dullea was hunky? He sorta looks like that guy in Lord of the Rings, Viggo Morstensen.
At the Midnight Hour (1995)
Very cute!
Now I've watched four Harlequins Romance (Broken Lullaby, Diamond Girl, Hard to Forget) I thought At the Midnight Hour had a very cute story and solid acting from everyone. Richard sorta wasn't my type (he looked like a mix of Jeff Bridges, Kurt Russell and Nick Nolte) I guess Ilike dark haired guys, but we was still good. Liz was definitely good looking. I believed the chemistry between them. Although based from watching the previous Harlequin romance series I thought they would have some sort of sorta R rated love scene again when they got together. But they didn't. They did kiss in the library couch (woohoo) and after that they cut to the day after which they showed them with blankets on each other. Of course you know by that picture that they slept together. However no partial nudity, etc. was ever shown. I think that's good because the whole movie was very sweet. It would have detracted from its sweetness. The story was definitely good and also that whole mystery of Richard's wife. All in all very enjoyable and cute! Oh yeah, and I agree with the previous reviewer - Liz just seemed so kind and good and wonderful.
Diamond Girl (1998)
Yes yes yes!!!
Finally, I watched a Harlequin turned TV movie that was pretty cute and romantic!! Let me just say that I found out VERY VERY late that the Harlequin series was turned into TV movies. They had the "Shades of Love" series done in the late 80's and of course the Harlequin series for the 90's. I watched one of the Shades of Love series, and it was OK, but unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to enjoy it that much anymore. I still have two more 80's tapes coming that I ordered so who knows I might change my mind. Then I watched one of the Harlequin series (A Matter of Marriage and Broken Lullaby) which I also reviewed - they were both alright, but I wasn't really that impressed - yet. Now DIAMOND GIRL. This DVD I ordered (along with So Hard to Forget which I shall watch later this week!) because I liked the plot and I saw it got good reviews. Well, if you are a Harlequin romance lover, you like hunky men and like cute plots, then you will like Diamond Girl! First off, Regan is EXTREMELY hunky and cute. GREAT body. I thought he personified the mean sorta arrogant hero type VERY well. Claire is definitely cute in her own way and she I think the actress gave the Claire character justice. She was spunky, perky and a bit sarcastic - which was cute! A definite great match to Regan. Now Denny, the playboy brother - yup - he was perfect too. The way he talked was a bit too, smarmy or syrupy - cant find the perfect word to describe but the Denny actor definitely looked and acted the part. As for the story it was VERY cute. Just like in a romance novel ya know? There were no boring parts, and the scenery looked great. All in all I RECOMMEND this movie. If your a sappy romance lover, this one is for you!
Shades of Love: Lilac Dream (1987)
A bit unbelievable and and rather corny/barfy
So I finally watched a Shades of Love title. Unfortunately I'm more than 10 years too late. I've watched modern movies with special effects, better acting, etc. so to go back and watch an 80's movie with 80's style etc. was a little hard for me. However, I still watched because I used to be a super duper romance novel addict. Dack Rambo (the man from nowhere) was handsome and the heroine was pretty looking. Their acting was also okay, but I felt as though Dack wasn't "manly" enough. I guess he seemed like a little child in the movie - maybe because of the amnesia? I don't know. I'm used to having macho men as the hero - one of those tough man and the woman doesn't like him but in the end they fall in love blah blah. As for the story, I guess its alright too. But I was sorta barfing a bit at the scenes. Yeah, I guess they were a little corny and when she said "make love to me" I guess I'd rather read those lines in the book. I can't imagine anyone actually saying that! I was also irritated at Dack Rambo because he didn't really seem to want to know about who he was, etc. If that was me, I wouldn't be dilly dallying riding on horses etc.! And yeah, I can't see how they could have fallen in love so fast. Almost like a rebound thing for the heroine definitely so it was pretty bad of Dack Rambo. But they do end up together so its all good, right? Anyway, you REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY have to love romance novels to be able to watch this one.
Broken Lullaby (1994)
No chemistry, not an interesting story for me
I originally had no interest in the plot when I read it. I only watched Broken Lullaby because the DVD was available in my library and I wanted to see what Harlequin TV movie was like since I bought Diamond Girl and So Hard to Forget (which I am still waiting for and will review as soon as I watch it.) POSSIBLE SPOILERS First off I thought the heroine was a little too hard looking for me. She had a tough girl/strong woman to her. The hero was definitely good loooking and charming however I didn't feel any romantic chemistry between the two. The love scenes just seemed forced. And like I said, the heroine just seemed too "strong" for the hero. I guess the characters in A Matter of Marriage had more of a chemistry (even though I didn't think so at first) than Broken Lullaby. The pacing once again was fast/not boring which was great. I had no problems there. Otherwise, I am STILL glad I watched this movie because I love/used to love Harlequin romance novels when I was a kid. So when my other two dvds arrive, I'll definitely (Id better!) be blown away. As usual, will review Diamond Girl and So Hard to Forget as soon as it comes.
This Matter of Marriage (1998)
It was alright... give it a B-/C+,
I used to be a SUPER ADDICTED romance novel reader back when I was 12 years old. (I'm 26 now) Naturally, I've became cynical through the years so I don't really read romance novels anymore. HOWEVER, a week ago I found out that about this Harlequin romance novels turned into TV movies. I was like WHAAAATT???? Where there hell was I and why didn't I find out about this sooner?! Of course I just had to watch ^_^ I guess I still love my memories of Harlequin romance novels! So what's my review (POSSIBLE SPOILERS) The pacing of the movie was good. There were no boring parts. As I was watching it, I was trying to imagine if I was actually reading the book - you know when the main characters are saying their lines, etc. The female heroine, Hallie, is very pretty. The hero who Hallie ends up with, Steve I think is his name, is cute in an outdoorsy rugged kinda way. All the actors were very good and acted well. Now as for the story, I didn't really like the story. I thought the hero, Steve, was pretty ordinary. I don't understand why Hallie didn't end up with her college crush and I agree with the other reviewer. Too many divorces. Ack! In my opinion, how they are able to go from one relationship to the other with a recent divorce is sorta ?? But overall, I'm glad I watched this movie. I don't know how similar the book and the movie is but if it is similar then obviously I just don't like the story and I probably wouldn't have bought the book. Now I plan to watch other Harlequin Romance turned to TV. I'm pretty excited because I liked the plot of Diamond Girl (which I bought) and I'm getting soon hopefully. I also got So hard to forget. As soon as I watch those two, I'll write a review.