Hallmark Movies ❤️ comfort & joy

[PollyannaMom]

I'm trying to watch A Novel Noel and am not getting completely caught up in it.

I started that one this morning and turned it off as well. I just wasn't feeling it. I put on 'Tis the Season to be Irish instead and am liking that better.

But I need to pause and get some stuff done, so I plan to finish it later or tomorrow morning.

Have a great day, everyone!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Hug PollyannaMom. I'm sorry you also didn't get into Novel Noel. I gave up on it.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Hug PollyannaMom. I'm sorry you also didn't get into Novel Noel. I gave up on it.

No worries - just like with books, I figure there are too many great movies out there to finish the ones you don't like.

(It actually took me a while to come around to that conclusion, but now I find it very freeing.)

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Well said, PollyannaMom! I agree.

 

[Hisgirl]

Okay, can I get a 'cheat sheet' ....a list of better-than-normal hallmark or other Christmas films?

There have been a few that we watched and were pleasantly pleased, and others, we had to turn off.

Please share the ones that you were pleasantly pleased. Lifetime's Christmas at Plumhill manor was a big thumbs up for us!

How about you?

 

[sasywtch]

****not Christmas related My Hallmark facebook page I'm subscribed to is blowing up. The Way Home is premiering season 3 in January but on Hallmark + and will not show on regular Hallmark until the fall of 2025. They left it as a huge cliff hanger and now want to make people pay for the plus channel to see it 10 months earlier. My son pays the cable/internet for his rent so just told him for Christmas, get me the plus for a few months and then cancel after that. (I really don't want more channels)
Anyway, on to Christmas==it was so nice to see Hallmark play Silver Bells again. Love that movie.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

On a completely different topic, I keep seeing commercials for the first ever Hallmark Christmas experience in Kansas. I would enjoy hearing about this event from any of yoi who attend

I might go and check it out before it's over on December 22nd. They are setting up for it now with it starting on November 29th.

The thing is most of the experiences are very pricey which is sorta a turn off. The Square they are setting up at Crown Center is free to visit so you don't have to buy a ticket to get in there, although of course food, drink, vendors, etc all cost extra. Panels are pricey. Most of the actor/actress panels this weekend are just under $87 per person with taxes and fees ($75 without). One of them is $95 plus the taxes and fees. The light walk is only $5 but it's a bit cash grab to charge for that. The ice skating costs extra but that's not part of the Hallmark Experience as in it was created for it, that's part of Crown Center so I'd give a pass on that one. If you want food and drinks experiences it's very pricey. One of the pop up bars it's $60 (before taxes and fees) per person although they mention small bites are included.

I'm assuming it will be getting quite a lot of visitors just wish it was not as expensive as it is. It's really cool to be able to see these stars but yeah. But I do like perusing the vendors when we go to these types of things.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

think many of us have mixed feelings about Candace Cameron Bure. Some like her, some do not. I like some of her movies. Some I do not.

I seem to really prefer her when she's in her mystery movies. I watched the Ainsley McGregor one on GAC and thought it was decent, I really enjoyed her in Aurora Teagarden mysteries. When she's not in those mystery type films it feels, at least to me, more miss than hit.

I noticed that GAC is airing her old Hallmark movie Let It Snow from 2013 this year which is interesting Which made me think about my past ratings for her non-mystery movies. It seems like in olden years I rated them higher than new years so maybe there's a shift in how she's acting in them and the dialogue/plot that isn't jiving with me as much as before.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

****not Christmas related My Hallmark facebook page I'm subscribed to is blowing up. The Way Home is premiering season 3 in January but on Hallmark + and will not show on regular Hallmark until the fall of 2025. They left it as a huge cliff hanger and now want to make people pay for the plus channel to see it 10 months earlier. My son pays the cable/internet for his rent so just told him for Christmas, get me the plus for a few months and then cancel after that. (I really don't want more channels)
Anyway, on to Christmas==it was so nice to see Hallmark play Silver Bells again. Love that movie.

They did that with When Hope Calls in 2019, aired it first as an "exclusive" Hallmark Movies Now show then aired it on their cable channel many months later. Back then I think they were trying to push Hallmark Movies Now in getting interest in it. Now they might be doing it to get newer interest in Hallmark+. FWIW months back they announced certain movies would be airing on Hallmark+ like the Danube River series, which I haven't watched yet but plan to.

I understand the annoyance but sadly this is how streaming is these days. Seal Team moved to Paramount+ exclusively (thankfully we have that), Law and Order: Organized Crime just did that for this season on Peacock which unfortunately we don't have that and more series are doing it this way.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I started watching some movies some older though that I hadn't had the chance to watch and was able to re-record them.

Lifetime's Single and Ready to Mingle was from 2022 and I enjoyed it, predictable and a bit rushed at the ending but I liked the banter between the leads and thought the side characters were likeable 7/10 rating for me

Hallmark's A Not So Royal Christmas was from 2023. I rated it 6/10. I saw where they were going with it but felt it was too big of a plot hole that a Royal family would not actually look up if someone was from a gossip rag company vs a more reputable one. I know it's a plot device to create conflict but it took me out of what could have been a more understandable deception into a "huh how could you let that pass" one. However, I like Brooke D'Orsay and Will Kemp so that helped.

Over the summer I watched Hallmark's Rescuing Christmas from 2023 and really enjoyed it with an 8/10 rating for me. The plot is something only mildly reused and Rachel Leigh Cook's sarcastic acting worked well with the plot point. I liked the chemistry between her and Sam Page. Another one watched over the summer but on Hallmark Movies Now was this year's Operation Nutcracker. I rated that a 6/10. Something about it just did not work for me. I think maybe the significance of the nutcracker combined with the original method of travel to get it to an appraiser didn't make sense as in if this thing was so important to the family why on earth would you travel with it the way he did, then the search for it fell a little flat for me.

A few weekends ago we watched Hallmark's 'Twas the Date Before Christmas. I rated that an 8/10. The concept was modern (the going about getting a date) and it was a light-hearted enough movie. The conflict at the end felt a bit forced in her reaction but I loved how the family's games created a more playful way of getting to know each other and be around each other.

I'm thinking on waiting to watch Three Wiser Men and a Boy as well as Holiday Touchdown for when they release the extended cut versions, which at least they call attention to them on Hallmark's website. I still plan on recording the non-extended versions in case the extended ones don't air or my box doesn't record them which happened earlier this year with the extended cut of Three Wise Men and a Baby which I was able to watch it eventually on Hallmark Movies Now (well now Hallmark+ but it was before the switch over). Hopefully they still plan on airing the extended cuts but I'll at least have the other ones as backups.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

I truly hope the Hallmark experience is fun. Mackenzie Click Mickelson. I would love to hear your take on it should you indeed go. Sadly, it sure does sound pricey I agree with you and others on Candace Cameron, but I think that can be true of most actors and writers too. I did enjoy watching (not with Candace) Heaven Down Here. It was similar to, IMO, a very moving, Miracle on Highway 34. I would recommend both. Happy day before Thanksgiving to all with a hug.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I did enjoy watching (not with Candace) Heaven Down Here.

Oh I loved that movie! It's a rewatch type for sure

 

[MsChristy12]

Okay, can I get a 'cheat sheet' ....a list of better-than-normal hallmark or other Christmas films?

There have been a few that we watched and were pleasantly pleased, and others, we had to turn off.

Please share the ones that you were pleasantly pleased. Lifetime's Christmas at Plumhill manor was a big thumbs up for us!

How about you?

Ahem...Netflix #1 movie the past 2 days (#2 today) - Merry Gentlemen! Oooolala~!! Festive and...yeah just watch it!

Warning...DO NOT watch it with your husband/boyfriend/partner/spouse/date/kids...it's a ladies night Christmas movie!! Trust me!

 

[Imzadi]

Sorry, I've been running around like crazy and didn't get to post this earlier. I have included re-air dates for those that don't see this is on tonight.

*** VERY LATE Reminder / Announcement: On tonight, WEDNESDAY ***

Due to Thanksgiving tomorrow,
Hallmark Mystery's Miracles of Christmas is premiering their new movie tonight. Meanwhile a new Hallmark Channel movie will premiere tomorrow. (They will also have a special holiday schedule for the whole holiday weekend. More on that upcoming in a separate post)

Christmas Under the Lights is on at 8pm ET/PT, 7pm CT on Hallmark Mystery

Re-airs:
Sunday December 1 6/5c
Thursday December 5 10/9c
Saturday December 7 4/3c
Wednesday December 11 10/9c
Thursday December 19 4/3c
Sunday December 22 8a/7c

Starring: Heather Hemmens and Marco Grazzini.
Description: Emily (Hemmens) is always reluctant to return home to her family’s animal rescue ranch -- but when her mother passes away, her brother Nick requests her help organizing the annual Christmas Carnival. When she arrives, she discovers Nick’s friend, Luke (Grazzini), staying at the ranch -- and that Luke was once a successful artist who works with light. Though initially reluctant to collaborate, Emily and Luke work hard to pull off the best, most light-filled carnival the town has ever seen, a healing celebration of Emily’s mother’s legacy and the magic of Christmas -- and along the way feel sparks of romance as radiant as the lights themselves.

 

[Imzadi]

****not Christmas related My Hallmark facebook page I'm subscribed to is blowing up. The Way Home is premiering season 3 in January but on Hallmark + and will not show on regular Hallmark until the fall of 2025. They left it as a huge cliff hanger and now want to make people pay for the plus channel to see it 10 months earlier.

Argh! This along with showing their reality competition series, Finding Mr. Christmas only on Hallmark+ must be decisions by the new Hallmark CEO. She's probably trying to get more people to subscribe to Hallmark +. I don't think moving a series normally on the regular Hallmark Channel is the way to go.

 

[Imzadi]

I seem to really prefer her when she's in her mystery movies. I watched the Ainsley McGregor one on GAC and thought it was decent, I really enjoyed her in Aurora Teagarden mysteries. When she's not in those mystery type films it feels, at least to me, more miss than hit.

I realized I like Candace when she plays intelligent characters who have strong, competent occupations. Aurora Teagarden needs to be smart to solve the mysteries. In Switched For Christmas, which is one of my favorite movies by her, she plays twins, both smart, competent characters who are good as their individual jobs who switch to pretend to be the other twin. In Let It Snow, she has a strong corporate job, being groomed to take over her father's company someday. In Christmas Town, she plays a teacher, getting ready to take on new risks and opportunities in her life.

When Candace plays rather "unknowing" and naive characters, who are innocent or inexperienced, that's when I don't like her movies. She is long past being able to play naive roles, like on Full House. And she doesn't do them well anymore, in my opinion.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Okay, can I get a 'cheat sheet' ....a list of better-than-normal hallmark or other Christmas films?

There have been a few that we watched and were pleasantly pleased, and others, we had to turn off.

Please share the ones that you were pleasantly pleased. Lifetime's Christmas at Plumhill manor was a big thumbs up for us!

How about you?

I haven't been taking notes this year (other than posting brief thoughts here) but I was making a project of it for a while, and you're welcome to what I have for some of the older movies. I'll see if I can screenshot the file:






(H = Hallmark, M = Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, L= Lifetime)

The scale started out as: "Personal Favorite, Decent - Really, Honest Fluff, and Dud, but for a while we were doing a number one on here, so that's mixed in too.

The IMDb ratings are likely out of date.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the newer movies, try putting the name of the one you're considering watching in the search (upper right hand corner of your screen) and select "this thread" -

It should return posts where anyone has mentioned that particular movie in the chat.

 

[Imzadi]

For the newer movies, try putting the name of the one you're considering watching in the search (upper right hand corner of your screen) and select "this thread" -

It should return posts where anyone has mentioned that particular movie in the chat.

Thank you! I was going to post this also.

If we've watched a movie or talked about it, a THREAD search will bring it up. We like to alert each other about good movies or real snoozers. If a movie hasn't been talked about here, there is a likelihood some of us watched but just didn't have enough to say, or anything positive to say about it. So, pick a different movie, just in case, as there are so many of them now.

Also, you can do a movie title search on this movie/actor website for the movie rating, the IMDb.com:

https://www.imdb.com/

Hallmark / Lifetime / Great American Family movies tend to have a different rating system than mainsteam, blockbuster, theatrically released movies with A-Lister stars. So, one cannot go by the same number rating that say, Top Gun or a Marvel movie, or definitely an Oscar contender movie gets. The Hallmark / Lifetime movies have a different audience rating the low budget, feel good, happy ending romance movies we watch, so we rate more forgivingly, and overlook stuff that someone watching an Oscar nominated movie would. Whereas, when we are watching for Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt or Cate Blanchett, we expect more and would rate them differently (even though it's all on the same website.) So an Oscar winning movie 7.0 is different than a Hallmark movie 7.0.

Generally, the Hallmark / Lifetime / Great American Family movie ratings fall between 5.6 - 8.0. With so many movies out now, I rarely watch anything below a 6.0 rating anymore. A rather good movie falls around 6.5 -7.0, and all time favorites are closer to 8.0. Give it a few days after a movie has premiered. The first couple of days are friends & families of the cast, crew & producers rating the movie. The real ratings come in the following days.

Some of the older Hallmark / Lifetime / Great American Family movies are streaming /On Demand on a lot of free (with ads) streaming platforms now. As there are so many newer Christmas movies, the older ones are getting shunted to these streaming platforms. Yet, several are longtime Christmas favorites, so don't overlook these movies. Again, do an IMDB search for the movie ratings.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Thank you so much PollyannaMom. I will share some of my very favorites later. I have been keeping a list on my flash drive of watched movies.

Mackenzie Click Mickelson, I'm glad you also enjoyed Heaven Down Here. Google Miracle on Highway 34 to check that out if you like.

 

[Imzadi]

Okay, can I get a 'cheat sheet' ....a list of better-than-normal hallmark or other Christmas films?

There have been a few that we watched and were pleasantly pleased, and others, we had to turn off.

Please share the ones that you were pleasantly pleased. Lifetime's Christmas at Plumhill manor was a big thumbs up for us!

How about you?

Later, I can put together a quick cheatsheet of the movies I like on Lifetime, as they have the better ones listed on their webpage, where one can watch them On Demand / streaming free. If one actually gets the Lifetime Channel, one can DVR them as they re-air.

But, mostly, I think many of us have different favorites according to the different actresses who star in them. (Just like with some A-List movie stars.) Some actresses I won't watch anymore. I tend not to like their work. Luckily now, there's enough other Hallmark/Lifetime movies to watch.

These are some of my favorite Hallmark actresses. (Your mileage & tastes may vary a lot.) Due to their popularity, they tend to get the better scripts and bigger movie budgets. Some of them executive produce their own movies now, so they have the clout and decision making abilities to get rid of stupid plot points or lines they would normally be forced to say as just an "actress." (Maria Menounos executive produced her last two Lifetime movies, which is why they are so good. You can also tell her heart went into making those movies.)

Actresses: Lacey Chabert, Autumn Reeser, Rachel Boston, Jill Wagner, Tricia Helfer, Kimberley Sustad, Danica McKeller, Alison Sweeney.

Actors: Ryan Paevey, Marc Blucas, Andrew Walker, Paul Campbell, Jesse Metcalfe.

(Again, your mileage & tastes may vary a LOT.)