Family Movie Truth be Told + Hallmark's The Shunning

So Many Movies ~ So Little Time!

Over the weekend, I watched Truth be Told, The Waltons Easter Story, Upstairs Downstairs, and the TV Land Awards.



Truth be Told

 I know, I know... the Hallmark Channel premiered a new movie and I didn't see it. It amazes me, too! I just typically never miss a Hallmark Channel movie premiere- however it was on at the same time as Truth be Told and since Truth be Told was only going to be on once, I chose it on Saturday night. I was glad I did, too because the storyline was - well, you can see my full movie review, here.



The Shunning


I just didn't have a chance to fit in The Shunning this weekend; however, I did record it - and do plan to watch it sometime, whenever I can get the chance. (if possible, among Easter preparations this week!)

However, until I see The Shunning, I have truly enjoyed reading all of your thoughts on it and if you would like to read others comments or include yours - please click here to do so!

By the way, I also mentioned that I watched the TV Land Awards Sunday night. During the 80's, my sister & I loved - The Facts of Life and The Cosby Show - so it was really nice to see the cast of both of these shows. Everyone still looked so great! Blair (Lisa Whelchel) was always our favorite - still is! It's so good to know she is a Christian and she uses her celebrity platform to speak to other women, and write books about her faith, motherhood, and homeschooling. (Click here for Books by Lisa Whelchel )

There was a late showing of Upstairs Downstairs after the TV land Awards went off late Sunday night. I don't know quite, yet, how to review this one as we are in part 2 of 3. This show was all over the place and most of the relationships seem odd or immorally driven. The storyline is all drama - drawn out, depressingly sad, as you sense a prolonging toward more doom. It's definitely not one for family viewing - kids would be quite bored anyway, as I must admit, I was, most of the time.

So, all in all - as Family Movies go... I'm glad over this weekend I watched Truth be Told, starring David James Elliott and Candace Cameron Bure. I have been a fan of Candace since her Full House days as DJ... and it's great to know, she, too, is a Christian. (She has a new book, titled: Reshaping It All: Motivation for Physical and Spiritual Fitness.)

You can see my Truth be Told - Movie Review here and if you saw it, please leave your comments, I would love to know what you thought.

Or, if you saw The Shunning, check out others responses, here, and please leave your comments, I would love to know what you thought of this movie, as well.


Have a blessed Easter Week!

Movies on TV - this Weekend

Thought I would share my thoughts on some New & Not so New Movies airing on TV this weekend, for April 9th & 10th!

We'll start with the New....
Two New Movies airing this Weekend:

My Future Boyfriend *NEW TV-14
Upstairs Downstairs *NEW TV-PG

(I don't believe these movies are for Family Viewing, especially My Future Boyfriend. Please read details below!)

Other Movies airing this Weekend:

Pride & Prejudice (2005)
The Note II : Taking a Chance on Love
The Princess Diaries

*Visit the FAMILY TV SCHEDULE for air dates and times!

My Thoughts on these New Movies:

I have just learned that My Future Boyfriend is rated TV-14. It stars Barry Watson, Matt from 7th Heaven, but I guess this movie will NOT be family friendly. Therefore, I have removed it from the Family TV Schedule! ABC Family has been quite disappointing with the content of their Movies including way too much language and other things that are NOT appropriate for family viewing! I wanted you all to be aware of this... just in case!

Upstairs Downstairs is a new 3-Part mini-series for PBS. It will air on April 10, 17, & 24th! All of these nights will be different shows continuing from the previous one. The first two are Rated TV-PG. Please beware, though, there may be content in this mini-series NOT quite suitable for a family movie night!

Now, for the other 3 movies I mentioned -
Although they are not new, they are still delightful & wonderful....

 

*Pride & Prejudice (2005) stars Keira Knightley - it's a great Jane Austen plot twisting romantic tale! I absolutely love it!

*The Note II : Taking a Chance on Love stars Genie Francis & Ted McGinley - I've loved every movie in this series and I'm excited to know they are in the process of making a third! (click here for details!)

*The Princess Diaries - a sweet Disney movie starring Julie Andrews and Ann Hathaway - everyone loves it when an awkward girl becomes a Princess! Great Family Film!


These 3 movies are all great films and I personally have dvds of all these movies in my collection! Do you have any of these in yours?

Upstairs Downstairs ~ Masterpiece Theatre 2011

MOVIE REVIEW

Upstairs Downstairs

Network: PBS

Original Air Date: April 10, 17, 24, 2010

CAST:

Upstairs:
Ed Stoppard ... Sir Hallam Holland,Bt
Keeley Hawes ... Lady Agnes Holland
Dame Eileen Atkins ... Maud, Lady Holland - Sir Hallam's mother
Claire Foy ... Lady Persephone Towyn - Lady Agnes' sister

Downstairs:
Jean Marsh ... Rose Buck, the Housekeeper
Adrian Scarborough ... Warwick Pritchard, the Butler
Anne Reid ... Clarice Thackeray, the cook
Art Malik ... Amanjit Singh, secretary to Lady Maud Holland
Neil Jackson ... Harry Spargo, the chauffeur and manservant
Ellie Kendrick ... Ivy Morris, the maid
Nico Mirallegro ... Johnny Proude, the footman
Helen Bradbury Rachel Perlmutter, parlourmaid

PLOT:

It's 1936, and sweeping away the cobwebs from the most famous address in Masterpiece history, a new couple moves into 165 Eaton Place. Thus resumes the romantic, moving and epic story of Upstairs Downstairs, more than three decades after its last episode on PBS.

With a script by acclaimed screenwriter Heidi Thomas (Cranford), the stellar cast of Upstairs Downstairs includes the original series creators Eileen Atkins (Cranford) and Jean Marsh (Sense and Sensibility) along with Claire Foy (Little Dorrit) and Art Malik (The Jewel In The Crown) among others. Lavishly produced, beautifully acted, and eagerly awaited by millions of fans, Upstairs Downstairs is one of the jewels in the crown of Masterpiece's 40th season.



Movie Review:

Coming...


See or Skip:

Coming...



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New Upstairs Downstairs Movie coming to PBS Masterpiece Series in 2011!

I have recently watched and enjoyed many of the recent Masterpiece Theatre Specials on PBS... from Cranford, Return to Cranford, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, etc...

Upcoming Specials are -
Sharpe's Challenge - March 28, 2010, 9pm
Sharpe's Peril - April 4, 2010, 9pm
The Diary of Anne Frank - April 11, 2010, 9pm
Small Island - April 18-25, 2010, 9pm

Next year, 2011, there will be many more Great Productions on PBS's Masterpiece Theatre, including Upstairs Downstairs, Sherlock, and three Aurelio Zen mysteries.

For anyone who watched the original series, Upstairs Downstairs... this is exciting news! I know because I am one of them... I recall being quite captivated with this series when our family watched it (I believe) in the late 1980's or maybe, early 90's. However, the shows were originally created in the 1970s... but that didn't matter to us... we still enjoyed them emmensely! I was also excited to read that the screen-writer for this upcoming series also wrote for Cranford! That's terrific news, because I adore the Cranford Series!

A little about Upstairs Downstairs...
(from Wikipedia)

Upstairs, Downstairs is a BAFTA and Emmy award-winning British drama television series set in a large townhouse in Edwardian, First World War and Inter-War London, that depicted the lives of the servants "downstairs" and their masters "upstairs".

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PRESS RELEASE from PBS:

Masterpiece on PBS and BBC Worldwide Sales and Distribution, Americas have announced a major co-production deal that includes a new production, with the BBC, of Upstairs Downstairs — one of the most-loved and honored television series of all time. Upstairs Downstairs will air in the U.S. in 2011 as part of Masterpiece's 40th anniversary season on PBS.




The deal also includes Sherlock, a 21st-century spin on Arthur Conan Doyle's classic Sherlock Holmes novels, and three Aurelio Zen mysteries, adapted from the bestselling novels by Michael Dibden set in Italy.





"I'm so proud of this particular group of programs," says Masterpiece executive producer Rebecca Eaton. "These three series say everything about what Masterpiece aims to be: iconic, rich with wonderful actors, witty, literate, and timeless. I can't wait to see them all."





"These three co-productions offer a new spin on well-known, treasured stories and we're thrilled to be working with Masterpiece to bring them to life," says Matt Forde, EVP Sales & Co-Productions, BBC Worldwide, Americas. "A valued, long-standing production partner, our past collaborations with Masterpiece produced a number of critically acclaimed, award-winning-series — a testament to the success of our partnership."





An enormous success worldwide, the original Upstairs Downstairs won seven Emmys® during its run on Masterpiece Theatre in the mid-1970s — including Best Actress for Jean Marsh, who will reprise her role in the new three-part series as Rose, the parlor maid. Dame Eileen Atkins, the co-creator of the original program, will also star. Screenwriter Heidi Thomas (Cranford) is setting the new Upstairs Downstairs in the same house at 165 Eaton Place in 1936, during the period leading up to World War II.


The thrilling new Sherlock series is a fast-paced, witty take on the legendary crime drama, now set in present day London and starring Benedict Cumberbatch (Atonement, The Last Enemy) as the eponymous detective. Martin Freeman (The Office UK, Hot Fuzz) plays his loyal friend, Doctor John Watson, and Rupert Graves (God on Trial, The Forsyte Saga) is Inspector Lestrade. Co-created by Steven Moffat (Doctor Who, Coupling, Jekyll) and Mark Gatiss (The League of Gentlemen, Crooked House), the iconic details from Arthur Conan Doyle's original books remain: same address, same names — and somewhere out there, Moriarty is waiting.
 Rufus Sewell (The Eleventh Hour, Middlemarch, John Adams) will star as Italian detective Aurelio Zen in three episodes based on the popular mysteries by Michael Dibden. The series is being shot on location in Italy by Left Bank Pictures, the production company behind the acclaimed Wallander television series.





Upstairs Downstairs is a BBC/Masterpiece co-production; Sherlock is a Hartswood Films (Jekyll, Coupling) and Masterpiece co-production; Aurelio Zen is produced by Left Bank Pictures for the BBC in association with RTI (Mediaset Group), Masterpiece and ZDF with additional funding from BBC Worldwide, Ingenious and Lipsync.

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