Hallmark Channel Christmas Movies 2011 - Updates & New Additions!

July 29, 2011 ~

Two More Movies have been added to the ever-growing list of Hallmark Channel Christmas Movies!


The two new titles are:

Mistletoe Over Manhattan

The Case for Christmas


Both will premiere sometime during the 2011 Christmas Season on the Hallmark Channel.

So far, Hallmark has announced 9 New Christmas Movies for 2011 + a new Cartoon Animation!!! Yeah! (I just love Christmas Movies, classics, new, anything... as long as they are good - I love 'em!)

See the New Christmas Movies on TV page for all of the new movies. By the way, all of the movies have just been updated with cast list info, plot details, etc...

Enjoy!

The Case for Christmas - a Hallmark Channel Original Christmas Movie

MOVIE REVIEW


The Case for Christmas

Network: Hallmark Channel

Original Air Date: November 19, 2011

Available on DVD

CAST:

Dean Cain ... Michael Sherman
Rachel Blanchard ...
George Buza ... Santa Claus
Barry Flatman ... Braxton Bennett

PLOT:

Michael Sherman (Cain) is a lawyer and single father struggling to obtain more clients. Being a single working dad, Michael doesn't have time to think about a relationship or work on the classic car he inherited from his parents, but his friend Lauren (Blanchard) is a mechanic who helps rebuild the family heirloom and begins to fall for him. Michael (Cain) takes on a case that could make or break his career... and Christmas. The majority of the population is losing faith in Santa Claus (George Buza "X-Men") and the Christmas spirit. To make matters worse, Santa is served with a class action lawsuit for irreparable emotional distress by sporting-goods mogul Braxton Bennett (Barry Flatman "The Kennedys") who never received the holiday gifts he wanted as a child. Santa believes he has a strong case because Braxton was always on the naughty list and asked for gifts, like a yacht, that were unattainable. Santa hires Michael Sherman to represent him. Once the trial between Kris Kringle vs. Braxton Bennett begins, Michael finds it's much tougher defending Santa Claus than he had initially predicted. Braxton presents a case of Santa's neglect and the biggest gift giver in the universe has difficulty deflecting the accusations.

As Santa's public stock continues to plummet, the press makes Michael the laughing stock of litigators. Both Michael's and Santa's careers are in jeopardy and it will take a miracle for a pouting, overgrown kid like Braxton to come to the realization that Santa always gives the most appropriate gift possible to every child.

Production:
"The Case for Christmas" is a Chesler/Perlmutter Production. Lewis Chesler, David Perlmutter and Rob Vaughn are executive producers. Marek Posival is producer. Timothy Bond directed from a script by Tom Amundsen.

Movie Review:

Coming...


See or Skip:

Coming...

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Mistletoe Over Manhattan - a Hallmark Channel Original Christmas Movie

MOVIE REVIEW


Mistletoe Over Manhattan


Network: Hallmark Channel

Original Air Date: November 6, 2011

CAST:

Tricia Helfer ... Lucy
Greg Bryk ... Joe
Tedde Moore ... Rebecca, Mrs. Claus
Mairtin O'Carrigan ... Santa Claus

PLOT:

Rebecca, Mrs. Claus (Moore) is worried that her exhausted, workaholic husband (O'Carrigan) has lost his holiday spirit. She believes she can help him recapture his bliss and secretly heads to the one place she knows the spirit of Christmas must still exist, the place she fell in love with Nick - New York City. In a crowded diner, Rebecca befriends Joe (Bryk), a caring cop who is worried about this kindly grandmother, who's alone and low on funds. Joe reveals he and his wife Lucy (Helfer) are in the middle of a divorce. Sensing that Joe is still very much in love with his wife, Rebecca agrees to work temporarily as the family's nanny until Christmas. To Rebecca's delight, by healing Joe and Lucy's family, she shows Santa that Christmas miracles are still possible and his job's more important than ever!


Production:
"Mistletoe Over Manhattan" is a Chesler/Perlmutter Production. Lewis Chesler, David Perlmutter and Rob Vaughn are executive producers. Marek Posival is producer. John Bradshaw directed from a script by Hilary Hinkle and Linda Engelsiepen.




Movie Review:

Coming...


See or Skip:

Coming...

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Please beware of Christmas Movie coming to Theaters in 2011

When I read about this movie - honestly, I almost couldn't believe it. This movie sounds like Hollywood at it's absolute worst, so of course, I just had to share this news with all of you who visit here.

Please beware of this so-called Christmas Movie, 'A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas'. It sounds terrible, but please read below, and you be the judge....

(My information regarding this movie – is directly from http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/07/27/neil-patrick-harris-is-back-in-a-very-harold-amp-kumar-3d-christmas/. In this article – it states that this is the third movie for this series.)


Excerpts from Article – (please beware of graphic details):


“This time around, ... the franchise is getting a fresh jolt of blockbuster juice from first-time director Todd Strauss-Schulson, who’ll oversee Harold and Kumar as they contend with robots, Claymation, a “huge car crash” and 3-D marijuana smoke rings. “The adventure is epic, and the 3-D is epic, and the amount of action-y spectacle scenes are epic,” says Strauss-Schulson. ‘It’s epically absurd.’


A recurring feature we’re excited for, however, is the perennial outrageously crass cameo by one Neil Patrick Harris. Yep, count on it — Doogie Howser himself, despite a scrape with death in the second installment, is back in the game for Round 3. “Neil is in this show-stopping Christmas spectacular dance number,” Strauss-Schulson says. “He’s on crack, he goes to heaven and he meets Jesus, he attempts rape, he abuses a robot, he’s telekinetic. It’s crazy. Straight-up crazy. It’s great.”


“I wanted this to be a ‘Trojan horse’ movie,” Strauss-Schulson explains. “The idea was that it should look like a Christmas movie, and at the end of the movie you should feel the warm fuzzies like you’re watching Miracle on 34th Street. But, like a Trojan horse, it’s filled with the most subversive, dirty [stuff]. There’s lesbian nuns, pedophile priests… all this stuff, [but] people walk away feeling like they’ve just seen this really sweet Christmas movie.”

(--end of excerpts--)



My Thoughts:

Christmas is a Holy day in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the joy of being surrounded by family. This movie sounds awful, filled with, and I quote from the Director, "dirty stuff". Is that supposed to be 3D fun? I couldn’t believe they actually admitted that it had “lesbian nuns”, and an attempted rape, etc... Is that supposed to be funny? From everything I've read, this movie appears to be a disgrace to Nuns, the Catholic church, and anyone who has ever been victimized - disguised as a sweet Christmas Movie. Please inform others.

Christmas should be about Joy and "Peace on earth, good will toward men". If you need a really good Christmas laugh, please watch Christmas with the Kranks, Home Alone, A Christmas Story, or just about anything else!

Hallmark Movie Channel's newest family film, "The Cabin", Premieres this Weekend!

If you've been inside alot lately - trying to keep cool, due to the Summer Heat~Wave sweeping the Country, then you'll need something to prevent "cabin fever". And, I've found the answer... it's Hallmark Movie Channel's newest family film, The Cabin!

The Cabin

Premieres July 30th at 8 PM est

on Hallmark Movie Channel

Hopefully, many of you have the Hallmark Movie Channel and will be able to see this one. I have DirecTV, but don't have HMC - so I won't be able to view this, until it is, hopefully one day played on the regular Hallmark Channel. Would love to hear from any of you who will be able to watch this movie. Please let me know what you thought of it, by posting your comments on the main page for The Cabin - here.

See the Family TV Schedule for other Times airing!

See "The Cabin" main page for Pictures, Cast Details, Plot, and More!

Enjoy the Film!

Arthur Christmas

MOVIE REVIEW

Arthur Christmas

3D Animation Movie

Original Air Date: November 23, 2011 In Theaters

Cable Network Premiere: December 6, 2014 on ABC Family

Arthur Christmas is available on DVD!

Pictures from arthurchristmas.com

CAST:

James McAvoy ... Arthur
Bill Nighy ... Grandsanta
Jim Broadbent ... Santa
Hugh Laurie ... Steve
Imelda Staunton ... Mrs. Santa
Matt Lucas ... Santa Elf #1
Johnny Brennan ... Santa Elf #2
Ashley Jensen ... Bryony
Will Sasso ... American James
Ramona Marquez ... Gwen
Kevin Eldon ... Various
Iain McKee ... Thomas Jack
Miggie Donahoe ... Pedro

Pictures from arthurchristmas.com

PLOT:

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS is an animated family comedy in 3D that reveals Santa’s secret high-tech operations at the North Pole.

'So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?' The answer: Santa's exhilarating, ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. But this year, Santa's son Arthur has an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns.

Pictures from arthurchristmas.com

Movie Review:

Coming...


See or Skip:

Coming...



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Welcome to Paradise - Movie Review

MOVIE REVIEW

Welcome to Paradise


Network: Gospel Music Channel

Original Air Date: 2010

Rated: PG for mild thematic elements, brief language and teen smoking


CAST:

Crystal Bernard ... Debbie Laramie
Bobby Edner ... Hayden Laramie
Brian Dennehy ... Bobby Brown
William Shockley ... Kent Dylan
Beth Grant ... Frances Loren
Ken Jenkins ... Reverend McNamara
Nick Searcy ... Reverend Ellington
Lou Beatty Jr. ... Trevor Goodman
Cynthia Boris ... Church Goer
Brianne Costa ... Snobby Girl
Doug Cox ... Izzy
Danielle Dearing ... Church Goer
Elizabeth Dennehy ... Helen Brown
Loy Edge ... Nate Twain
Lorilynn Failor ... Twyla Twain

PLOT:

The Road to Paradise begins withia Journey of the Heart.

Welcome To Paradise is an inspirational family film about a preacher, Debbie Laramie (Crystal Bernard) and her son Hayden (Bobby Edner). They are sent from a big city church to the small town of Paradise, where Debbie finds a community in desperate need of direction and a town that turns its back on its neediest neighbors. She tries to build a new vision for her congregation that embraces everyone, even the poor and outcast, but the deep rooted veil of indifference may be too strong to lift.

Movie Review:

This is truly an uplifting movie. It's a true inspiration - to keep standing strong in your beliefs and never give up. There are serious moments and lighthearted moments, too. When a community comes together it's amazing what they can accomplish when they work with one another.

The All-Star cast in this movie includes...

Connie Ray, who portrayed the Mother from the Television series, The Torkelsons. (loved that show!) She is always terrific... gentle, sweet, and compassionate. Then, there is someone you might not recognize - William Shockley, who potrayed Hank on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. (the one who had the long hair and ran the saloon.) Well, in this, he is clean cut and looks and acts completely different. He's pictured above in the camel colored barn jacket.

The actress, Beth Grant, is absolutely wonderful in this. I think of her as Jimmy's Mother on Yes Dear, however, in this movie, she is so serious and sweet - she's terrific! Brian Dennehy is also a well known actor. He's in another movie I love - Return to Snowy River.

And, an interesting find for all of you Christmas Movie fans. I knew I recognized the young man who portrayed Hayden's friend. Upon looking him up, I discovered he's actor, Evan Sabara, the young boy named J.T. in A Season for Miracles! (Still one of my favorite Hallmark Christmas Movies!)

I also love Brad Stine in this - he's such a funny comedian. He's also great in Christmas with a Capital C!. And, of course, I love Crystal Bernard, she is always so pretty, perky, and fun, she has such a great personality! I remember her first, on the sitcom, It's a Living, and of course, those cute Hallmark Movies, Single Santa seeks Mrs. Claus & Meet the Santas.

Great Movie, with a warm feeling inside, Happy Ending!


See or Skip:

See, wholesome family viewing.

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*Images above are:
DVD Cover for Welcome to Paradise
and Screen Cap Images from Movie.

Join me in watching "Christmas in July" on QVC...

July 23rd, 2011 - Saturday
154 Days until Christmas!!!

This post is for all of you Friends and Followers, who like me, Absolutely Love Christmas!

I'v been watching "Christmas in July" on QVC... Oh, it's so fun to watch all the Christmas Decorations... the lights, toys, trees, and everything! I love Bethlehem Lights. Especially, I love the name - so Beautifully named after the birthplace of Jesus. Their pre-lit trees look especially pretty to me and they said earlier that they have a new technology that is fail-proof! That sounds wonderful! I love Christmas lights - but mostly when they are working - when they go out and you have to remove an entire strand or try to fix them - it can be so frustrating! I'll have to look into those lights!

Anyway, just so you know - I'm not getting a penny from QVC - I'm just sharing with you my likes and dislikes - simply because I love Christmas and I've enjoyed their station for years now, especially their "Christmas in July" Special!

It is refreshing to sit inside in the AC and get out of the heat (outside) and dream about snow and Christmas! Someone in my neighborhood is having a garage sale - but due to the heat, there doesn't seem to be any takers. It's just too hot - people would much rather be in a cool mall, or shop on-line, or shop from TV!

And, did I just hear right - are these QVC Christmas in July items returnable until the end of January 2012? That's what they just said - but please check on anything you order, just in case! That's a great deal - especially if you are buying Christmas Presents!
Hope you enjoy the show - it will last all weekend long!

Happy Christmas Shopping!


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Image:
*The QVC Logo is the property of QVC
*I personally used photoshop to design their logo with the Christmas Wreath

I Love Lucille Ball's 100th Birthday Celebration - a Special Honoring!

August 6th, 2011 - will mark the 100th Birthday of Lucille Ball. Many will be doing special honoring ceremonies and TV Specials to commemorate the day a true Legend was born.

Lucy is a favorite Actress of so many. ( I know, "I Love Lucy"! ) She was born in Jamestown, New York - where a festival of comedy, will take place Aug 3-7, 2011, to celebrate Lucille Desiree Ball! It's called Lucy Fest! You can see all the details on the Official Lucy Desi Center Web-site. There will be a parade and a Lucy Radio Show re-enactment, plus loads more! Sounds like so much fun.. just like Lucy!


Also, on TV:
(you can see Lucy in lots of Specials)

Hallmark Channel

~ All Weekend Long - August 6th & 7th 2011 -  "I Love Lucy" 100th Birthday Tribute!

(Over 100 Episodes of "I Love Lucy")


My Favorite "I Love Lucy" Episode:

Oh my, or as Lucy would say, "Eeeewwwww", can I possibly choose one? I think my absolute favorite is The Dancing Star with Van Johnson - for once Lucy is the star and she is successful! I love it! Plus, I love their trip to California when they end up at the same rest stop over and over again - and when Lucy does the Commercial, when she tells Ricky she is expecting, when they redecorate the Mertz Apartment, the chickens, the lawn mower, Ethel's birthday gift, the chocolate candy, the home permanent, meeting Bill Holden, Madame X, Lucy misses the Boat, and so many more........oh, I guess I do love them all!



TCM:

~ August 6th - Movie Marathon 100th Birthday Tribute to Lucille Ball! 

Du Barry Was A Lady (1943) ... TCM ... 6 AM
Panama Lady (1939) ... TCM ... 8 AM
Without Love (1945) ... TCM ... 9:30 AM
Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949) ... TCM ... 11:30 AM
Fuller Brush Girl, The (1950) ... TCM ... 1 PM
Long, Long Trailer, The (1954) ... TCM ... 2:30 PM
Best Foot Forward (1943) ... TCM ... 4:30 PM
Dance, Girl, Dance (1940) ... TCM ... 6:15 PM
Stage Door (1937) ... TCM ... 8 PM
Big Street, The (1942) ... TCM ... 9:45 PM
Easy To Wed (1946) ... TCM ... 11:30 PM
Lured (1947) ... TCM ... 1:30 AM
Affairs Of Annabel, The (1938)... TCM ... 3:15 AM
Annabel Takes A Tour (1938) ... TCM ... 4:30 AM

My Favorite Lucy Film:

Well, I just can't pick one... I adore - Miss Grant Takes Richmond (with the Handsome, William Holden), The Fuller Brush Girl (such a funny, Suspenseful Mystery), The Long, Long Trailer (again, very funny!), and Easy to Wed (which of course, isn't Easy, at all - and I Love Van Johnson with Lucy!).


Enjoy the wonderful Lucy Laughter... and the 100th Birthday Celebration of a Fantastic Actress and Comedian as we all honor, Lucille Ball!




For "Lucy Fest" details, visit:
http://www.lucy-desi.com/

For "I Love Lucy" Episodes airing August 6th & 7th:
http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/

For Lucille Ball Movies on TCM, Biography, & More:
http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/8873%7C102009/Lucille-Ball/

Click Here for Lucille Ball Movies on DVD.

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