Citizenmars Reviews

A Cozy Christmas Inn (2022 TV Movie)

Painfully Insulting

[4/10 · 25 January 2024]

If you've read the reviews you'll get the gist. This is a slap to the face of Candace Cameron Bure's Hallmark Christmas movies. This is not only a sequel to her Christmas Under Wraps (2014) but has the same plot as her Let It Snow (2013).

Erika McNicoll played by CCB's Full House/Fuller House's co-star Jodie Sweetin to further her career as a property developer must go to Garland, Alaska to obtain her ex-boyfriend's inn. Her boss Sharon (Vivica A. Fox) has promised her the promotion to Executive VP if she gets it done by Christmas, exactly the same opening premise as Let It Snow (2013).

Andy played by a returning David O'Donnell has now become the local Inn keeper and is struggling with the bills. His father, again played by Brian Doyle-Murray has become the chief investor in the Inn urging Andy to hear out the offer.

I won't spoil the rest but all the same Christmas magic hints as it's predecessor as strewn throughout this sequel but a bit more ham-fisted. What I will say is that this movie really stamped on the happily ever after ending that we all enjoyed of Candace Cameron Bure's Christmas Under Wraps (2014). I feel real sorry for the returning cast as their acting really has a "pay check" feel to it. I got the feeling they couldn't say no if they wanted to get more work from Hallmark. This movie is vapid and painful to watch. If you skip it you won't miss much.

Kitchen (2007 TV Movie)

Awful

[4/10 · 12 September 2023]

Eddie Izzard is the only good thing about this 2 part show.

The script is a muddled piece of overused melodramatic troupes you've seen in every "dark and brooding" show. To make this quick and short it's centred around a young, troubled man on probation, manipulated by his evil parole officer and his sexually abusive bi polar wife who've recently lost a son in a car accident, hated by his sous chef because he's more talented than the evil bald man, twenty something Scotsman. His head Chef (Eddie Izzard) is an alcoholic, going through a divorce because of affairs on both sides, falling culinary star, being usurped by his sous chef and has lost faith in everything.

But still knows the kid is going to be a superstar.

It is so tiresome writing this review, just avoid this headache of a disaster.

Play Dodgeball with Ben Stiller (2017 Video)

A Charity Commercial

[2/10 · 9 August 2022]

An old Omaze charity fundraiser where you can literally play dodgeball with either Ben Stiller's Purple Cobra's or Vince Vaughn's Average Joe's. Just a few callbacks to the original movie. Not really funny and only 4 mins. Forgettable and you really don't have to bother. If you've seen the original movie, you've seen this before.

Voyagers (2021)

Lord of the Flies in Space

[5/10 · 6 March 2022]

My 5 star rating is perfect. This isn't a good film or bad one. It is a retelling of Lord of the Flies for this generation. Every generation seems to have a version of this film which makes me hope and pray that people will pick up the book after watching these films and enjoy a much more gratifying story. If you haven't read the book please stop here.

So this film's story is so blatantly a "re-imagining" of the book I feel foolish getting into detail to explain the analogies. The division of order and chaos factions, the upfront human condition debate, the killing of reason or Piggy for those who get the reference, even the "alien/pig" hysteria are all present in this script. It is really an abridged copy of the book.

I will say for a film that was shot obviously on a small set it utilized its surroundings quite well. There was some old school cinematography in place for mood and pacing here. The CGI seemed minimal to blend in with the set design but when you really pay attention it was seamlessly placed in. The production values were outstanding for a budgeted feature.

My overall opinion of this movie will be considered a classic for this generation as they watch Lily-Rose Depp, Tye Sheridan and Fion Whitehead build their talent and credits. If these 3 leads continue on to their eventual A-list status this film will survive otherwise it will just be another version of the book.

This film isn't for now but later.

Goldman v Silverman (2020)

A nice movie short film

[8/10 · 25 February 2020]

Just watched this short and actually was moved by it. A look at street performers and the culture they keep just to hopefully make a few bucks. It shows how territorial and cut throat it is at the bottom of the entertainment barrel. A seemingly improved dialogue and shaky handheld camera work gives this piece the realism it needed to emote in a very short period of time. I have known street performers in my time and the harsh reality they lived in and this 7 minute piece portrays this to a tee. Give it a watch and see that there are short filmmakers that are doing real work out there.

Murphy Brown (1988–2018)

Murphy's back in an even more polarized world.

[10/10 · 2 October 2018]

First off, ignore the 1 star reviews. They seem to be trump supporting haters who don't like when people speak up with their opinions.

Murphy Brown is a show about a Washington reporter actually reporting on the major headlines of the day. The United States in this day and age is full of scandalous headlines. So this show is going to be controversial. This is good for the conversation to make the US a better place to live.

As a Canadian our neighbour to the south really seems to be tearing itself apart and can't seem to even get the simple issues the rest of the world got straight back in the fifties. Murphy Brown in this pilot episode really does bring to light how the world does see the States.

Instead of open communication it highlights Trumps twitter wars, the ignorance on climate change, the mistrust of the third estate and the ridiculous divides the formerly greatest country on earth has brought itself down too.

This show will bring a lot of political debate and all I ask is do not ignore the issues. You have a lot of work to do America and listen to your left wing minority. It really has never worked out for anyone ignoring the silent minority....didn't Trump win on that kind of statement?