3x3 Reviews of Christmas Stories on Netflix: A Movie, A Documentary and A Web-TV Series

The holiday break afforded me more time to watch and binge on Netflix of movies, mini-series and documentaries that are listed in my watch list for over a year now. Here is my review of Ghost of Girlfriends Past (movie), Home for Christmas Season 2 (web-TV series) and Holiday Movies That Made Us: The Night Before Christmas (documentary).

Holiday Movies That Made Us : The Night Before Christmas (Frost and Volk-Weiss, Netflix 2020) - A family favorite, it was fascinating to know the behind the scenes and the back stories of Jack and Sally. They are the one true pairing. Next to It's A Wonderful Life, this dark fantasy movie will remain a must-see movie at Christmas time.

Ghost of Girlfriends Past (Waters, Lucas and Moore, New Line Cinema 2009) - Why did I even bother streaming this movie?  I should have invested my time over one of the Hallmark Holiday movies in Netflix instead. All the talent of the good actors wasted in a movie that failed to put the magic and a new insight to a beloved Christmas novel.

Home for Christmas Season 2 (Sorensen, Netflix 2020) - Wonderful! Season 2 continues to show the complexities and the imperfections in families, relationships and one's personal journey to self worth. Johanne comes full circle with an ending that affirms how love conquers all, indeed!

So, there. You know which show to take time on. Have a restful holiday break!

Photo sources:

Ghost of Girlfriends Past- https://bhsblueprint.org/showcase/2015/02/04/ghosts-of-girlfriends-past-stereotypes-of-men-and-women/

Home for Christmas Season 2 - https://webbiesworld.com/each-and-every-details-regarding-home-for-christmas-season-2-is-illustrated-below/

Holiday Movies That Made Us - https://flixable.com/title/the-holiday-movies-that-made-us/

Movie Review: The Knight Before Christmas

The Knight Before Christmas (2019)
MPCA Productions
Director: Monika Mitchell
Screenplay:Cara Russell

Vanessa Hudgens plays Brooke who is still on the mend after a break up. She finds joy in teaching, hope in community work and faith in her promising student and adorable niece. A valued member of the community, Brooke continues on the tradition of her parents at Christmas when her family would host a get-together for everyone. It is in the busy-ness of all this preparations when Cole, a knight from the Middle Ages, blasted into Brooke's life.

Cole was sent to the future by some magic as he was in search for a duty that befits a knight of his stature. No problem adjusting in modern day America, Cole's good deeds earned him the admiration and respect of the community. Brooke could not help but fall in love and, as they say, the rest is history.

But Cole remains confused in finding the real meaning of being transported through time. Hesitant to leave Brooke, he goes back to where he came from and discovers the essence of his quest later upon seeing his brother. He foregoes the knighthood ceremony of his brother and went back to the future to be with Brooke.

Rating/Recommendation: Just right to while away the time in traffic or long lines at the mall

Movie Review: The Family Stone

The Family Stone (2005)
Family Drama, Comedy
Direction and Screenplay by Thomas Bezucha

The first time I saw The Family Stone on cable TV, I was floored by the sheer fun of watching Sarah Jessica Parker falter and fall. A decade or more after, her character remains the same. She is that sister-in-law you always wondered why she ended up with your brother who deserves better. She is the new family member who annoys you to pieces but redeems herself in the end simply because, uptight and lacking of empathy most of the time, she is just being herself. And no one can fault a person for being so.

This is what makes The Family Stone an endearing movie to watch during the holidays. The characters are who they are, faults and all. It is through these imperfections that each of the characters rise above their own personal struggles and challenges. The unfolding is subtle and quiet until, some slapstick has to be done for the viewer to laugh it off with the family. Underneath all the family drama is a deeper pain and a greater loss that each of the members of the Stone family foresee. But, they go on as Christmas goes on until the year after when each of them has seemed to made peace with themselves.

Lastly, the casting is amazing and so is the acting.

Rating/Recommendation: Highly recommended

Movie Review: The Two Popes

The Two Popes (2019)
Netflix
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Screenplay: Anthony McCarten

Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce play Pope Benedict and Pope Francis respectively and with such conviction that I had to remind myself very so often that this is a Netflix movie is written by Anthony McCarten. Make no mistake, it is a good thing as McCarten wrote Bohemian Rhapsody and Darkest Hour. Both are Oscar winning movies that elevated Freddie Mercury into the status deserving of a god and Gary Oldman as a tough but endearing Winston Churchill. Both actors in the said movie won an Oscar too.

I digress. Needless to say, I did enjoy the movie as it is done so well I won't be surprised if it gets several Oscar nods this year.

But what engaged me in the movie is the depiction of man's relationship with God. It is an endless journey of seeking and journeying that in the end, all that matters is faith. Even that is a tenuous thing when, even the strongest among us must choose between principle and the common good. One pope represents change and reforms. The other is a standard bearer of tradition and compromises. Such contradictions exist in the Vatican and permeates to the entire Catholic congregation.

So, we end up with two popes instead of one.

The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Rating/Recommendation: Go stream it!

Movie Review: Klaus

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaus_(film)

Klaus (2019)
Aniventure
Director: Sergio Pablos
Screenplay by: Sergio Pablos, Jim Mahoney and Zach Lewis

I heard friends talk about Klaus as a heartwarming take on the legend of Santa Claus. It has good reviews online as well, so I included the movie in my list to validate what I have read and heard. It did not disappoint.

The animation is amazing, smooth and clean. I enjoyed the colors: beige, mocha, blue and gray. I am not a fan of steam punk, but it is the movie and it grew on me. The 19th century setting of the movie was a factor, I think. It is old and miserable, sentimental and full of hope all at the same time.

Of the many Santa Claus portrayals I have seen over the years, this Klaus is now my favorite. This Klaus has a past, does not talk much and perceives signs in nature around him. All the stories and details that made Santa Claus a legend are in the movie. Watching these scenes were all comforting as I dig deep into childhood memories of the rituals of gift giving. What made this legend all the more real to me (while watching an animated movie) was the rendition of the stories about Klaus told by the children as Jesper, who is actually the lead character, delivers all of the toys that Klaus made for them. That is the power of imagination right there. Truth and faith as well.

In the end, I gained a new insight about Klaus. He wants us to play. He wants us to laugh. In play and in laughter, we become.

Rating/Recommendation: 4 of 5
Go and stream it! 

Movie Review: A Christmas Prince

Of the five Netflix original movies I have in my To Watch list this month, I have successfully seen two, so far. I am putting a check on Klaus (2019) and A Christmas Prince (2017). Here is my review of A Christmas Prince.

A Christmas Prince
Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA)
Directed by Alex Zamm

One of two romcoms I have in my list, A Christmas Prince contains all the recipes of a Hallmark movie. The characters are pretty much what you would expect from a trope that uses mistaken identity and clean-up-your-mess-to-be-redeemed ending with a kiss in the middle of a snow covered street. There is the scheming and conniving ex-girlfriend, the ambitious royal cousin, the endearing and imperfect princess that acted as the female lead's bestie and fairy god mother. Yes, Cinderella lives!

I did find Rose McIver endearing and Ben Lamb as the titular Christmas Prince is charming. However, sparks were low between the two actors. While I did root for them, their chemistry lacked the fire that says, "We are a sexy pair, so we deserve to be together" at the end of it all. But, the movie has two sequels up in Netflix. But. I am skipping it.

I am moving on to A Knight Before Christmas where Vanessa Hudgens is the female lead. I want to give myself a chance on her again as I loved her in the first High School Musical.

Rating / Recommendation: 3 of 5
Stream it if you are a fan of romcoms :-)