Sunset Over Hope Valley: Sharing Your Heart with Everyone

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

In the season thirteen premiere of When Calls the Heart, Rosemary and Lee have a conversation about Rosemary’s new Playhouse. She’s discouraged by a news article from the Benson Hills Beatle calling the Playhouse a “vanity project”. Lee reassures his wife by reminding Rosemary how opening the Playhouse is her way of sharing her heart with everyone. As I’ve mentioned in past Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap posts, my introductions are inspired either by what a character says, something that happens in an episode, or an observation I’ve made while watching the show. When Lee’s conversation with Rosemary made her theater finally seem like a reality, I knew I had to bring it up in my re-cap’s introduction! As a Heartie who’s been watching When Calls the Heart since literally day one, I have been waiting for Rosemary’s dream of opening a theater to come true for over ten years. I’ve even brought it up in some of my re-cap posts as well as articles related to the show. Though few details were revealed about the Playhouse, I’m excited to see Rosemary’s dream come to life in Hope Valley! Having a long-awaited wish granted is definitely a good way to start the New Year!

Just a reminder: If you did not see the season premiere of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

When Calls the Heart season thirteen poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel

Season: 13

Episode: 1

Name: Up In the Air

Major stories:

Over the summer, Elizabeth, Jack Jr., Nathan, and Allie have been living at Charlotte’s boarding house in Cape Fullerton while Jack Jr. has received Diabetic treatment. This living situation was meant to be temporary, however, because the Infirmary in Hope Valley was being prepared to become a certified Diabetic center. But this plan is literally and figuratively derailed, as the country’s only medical inspector, Marvin, is unable to travel due to a railroad strike. So, the trip to Hope Valley for Allie, Nathan, Jack Jr., and Elizabeth is planned as a weekend excursion. Assuming she won’t come back to Hope Valley in time for the start of the school year, Elizabeth prepares to give Minnie her lesson plans. But during a conversation with Rosemary, Nathan comes up with an idea to keep his and Elizabeth’s family permanently in Hope Valley. Remembering what a boarder named Skeet Rivington said about his nephew, Nathan recruits Skeet’s nephew to fly Marvin to Hope Valley’s Infirmary. His plan is successful, as not only is the trip safely executed, the Infirmary officially becomes a certified Diabetic center. This allows Jack Jr., Elizabeth, Allie, and Nathan to stay in Hope Valley for good.

The grand opening of Goldie National Park is just around the corner. Hope Valley has been preparing for this day, from Rosemary and Lee posing for press photos to the town being decorated for the occasion. Even the younger residents of Hope Valley are looking forward to Goldie National Park’s grand opening. Oliver sketches a map of the park to include in the children’s park guidebook. Even Jack Jr. draws pictures for the guidebook covers. But when Toby, Cooper, Opal, and Allie go for a hike in the park, the residents of Hope Valley notice smoke coming from the park’s direction. Concerned over the well-being of Cooper, Allie, Toby, and Opal, the Mounties of Hope Valley (Bill, Nathan, and Oliver) ride toward the park to figure out what is going on.

Theater seats image created by weatherbox at freeimages.com. “FreeImages.com/weatherbox.”

Minor stories:

Henry’s son, Christopher, returns to Hope Valley. This time, he is installing the town’s first traffic light. Christopher likes working at the electric company that helped install the traffic light in Hope Valley. While the money is good, he enjoys being able to help others. During a conversation over lunch at the saloon, Christopher tells Henry about a job offer he’s interested in. Henry reminds his son how he’s more than just his job.

Summer was a busy season for Lucas and Edie. While Lucas prepared for his re-election campaign, Edie dealt with land related legal disputes. Edie utilized Lucas’ office at the saloon whenever he worked on governor duties. However, the idea of Edie and Lucas sharing an office was brought up. During a conversation between Lucas and Lee, as well as during a conversation among Edie, Mollie, and Florence, Lucas and Edie discuss how despite both of them being busy, they miss each other’s company. Though the true nature of Edie and Lucas’ relationship is still up in the air.

Small, western town image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

  • As I mentioned in the introduction of this re-cap post, Rosemary’s dream of opening a theater will finally come true. This could not have come at a better time for me. Lately, I’ve been heart-broken and frustrated about Eddie Munson being denied a second chance at receiving his full potential in the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. So, seeing Rosemary’s theater come to fruition has not only given me some much needed joy, it has also given me something to look forward to for the rest of season thirteen!
  • McGinty, the disgruntled land-owner from season twelve, has returned to Hope Valley in the season thirteen premiere of When Calls the Heart. His conversation with Bill suggests he’s still bitter about how much prime farmland the national park is taking up. Based on the synopsis for upcoming episodes, the wildfire at the national park will be investigated. If the fire was intentionally started, I hope McGinty isn’t the guilty party because that would make the mystery’s outcome predictable. Personally, I’d like to see an interactive and engaging mystery, so the audience can try to solve the mystery alongside the show’s characters.
  • Like I said in this re-cap post’s introduction, I’ve been watching When Calls the Heart since literally day one. Looking back on how past seasons have begun, season thirteen has one of the better season premieres! This season’s first chapter does a nice job reintroducing Hearties to the world of Hope Valley without feeling overwhelming. Resolutions to conflicts also feel earned instead of being created for the sake of plot convenience. With a cliff-hanger conclusion and some pleasant surprises, season thirteen’s premiere provides enough story points to give the rest of the season intrigue!
  • Last July, I created a list of thirteen questions for When Calls the Heart’s thirteenth season. One of those questions was whether Edie would actually start her law firm in Hope Valley. Based on how Edie’s story has turned out, so far, in the season thirteen premiere, that law firm hasn’t become a reality yet. But since the season has just started, only time will tell where Edie’s story will go.
Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on When Calls the Heart’s thirteenth season premiere? What are you looking forward to this season? Let me know in the comment section below!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

18 Cinema Lane Embarks on 2026!

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Happy New Year and welcome to 2026! Since a new year has begun, it’s time for my annual beginning of the year blog update! When a new year begins, I create a post like this one to inform my readers what they can expect for the rest of that year. In these posts, major announcements about new projects and changes to the blog have been made. Unlike last year, I have three major announcements. But before I make those announcements, here are my blog stats from 2025!

Royal 2026 image created by starline at freepik.com

2025

Total Blog Posts: 88

Total followers: 12

Total Comments: 310

Total Likes: 298

Awards: 1

Participated Blogathons: 28

Total Movie Reviews: 439

Total Word on the Street stories: 10

Retiring from the Eurovisionathon readathon

For three years, I have participated in the Eurovisionathon readathon. This event has given me the opportunity to expand my literary horizons by introducing me to new stories and authors. But what my readers may not know is how much preparation and time go into taking part in Eurovisionathon. From researching and acquiring books that fit the event’s criteria to keeping track of which books are eligible to receive points, there are several moving parts involved. Due to this commitment, I haven’t allowed myself to check out other books that weren’t related to the readathon. For this reason, I’ve decided to retire from participating in Eurovisionathon.

My Year-Long Bingo

For 2026, I decided to create a new year-long project. This project is a personalized Bingo card filled with blog post, article, and movie review ideas that I’d to fulfill in this new year. Throughout 2026, I’ll try to complete as many of the squares to create a ‘Bingo’. At the end of the year, it will be interesting to see how many ‘Bingo’s’ I receive!

This is what my new year-long Bingo card looks like! Sally Bingo card created by me, Sally Silverscreen

My Annual Blogathon

When I wrapped up my blogathon last October, I announced I was hosting a new blogathon in 2026. I also said the event’s details wouldn’t be revealed until sometime the following February. Now that 2026 is here, I’d like to remind my readers that I will soon announce the details for my annual blogathon! The only hint I’m providing is how the event will revolve around a character I’ve talked about on 18 Cinema Lane before.

Sparkly 2026 image created by Creative_hat at freepik.com

Have fun in 2026!

Sally Silverscreen

The Best and Worst Movies I Saw in 2025

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

2025 has been a strange year for 18 Cinema Lane. That’s because most of the movies I’ve seen and/or reviewed this year have been ok or fine. After seeing so few good or bad films in 2025, I wasn’t able to create separate top ten best and worst movies lists like in years past. So, instead, I wrote a combined list where I discuss the movies I saw this year that I liked and didn’t like. What’s also different about this year’s end of year list is how there are no Honorable Mentions, due to how few good movies I saw in 2025. But there are two Dishonorable Mentions; Recipe for Murder and Black Bag. The only reason why these films are considered Dishonorable Mentions is because I DNFed (did not finished) both of them. For this year’s list, I will start talking about 2025’s worst movies then end the list by talking about 2025’s best movies. If I reviewed any of the movies on my list, I will provide a link to those reviews.

Image by Rochak Shukla on Freepik

Worst Movies I Saw in 2025

7. Stalked by My Amish Boyfriend

Lifetime movies, like Hallmark movies, are not created equally. The 2024 film, Stalked by My Amish Boyfriend, is just one example of this statement. While it was interesting to see and hear how information about Amish culture was woven into the story, that part of the script couldn’t overshadow the major flaws of the movie. I was frustrated by how some characters would make dumb decisions simply for the sake of making dumb decisions. Stalked by My Amish Boyfriend was also, in my opinion, a mostly forgettable film. This is the reason why the 2024 picture is at the bottom of my list.

6. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

As I said in my review of She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, I expected the 1949 movie to be an action-packed, suspenseful, and even intriguing story. What I got instead was an underwhelming film that prioritized presentation over product. I praised She Wore a Yellow Ribbon for its pretty looking scenery. But a photogenic background was unable to save the film from its weak script. A limited amount of action took away a lot of the story’s suspense and intrigue. It also doesn’t help how I only became familiar with most of the characters instead of truly getting to know them. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is one of two movies I saw this year that almost made me fall asleep.

Take 3: She Wore a Yellow Ribbon Review

5. Kind Hearts and Coronets

Kind Hearts and Coronets is the second film I saw in 2025 that almost made me fall asleep. But the flaws in this movie greatly differ from She Wore a Yellow Ribbon’s emphasis on scenery over substance. Despite Kind Hearts and Coronets being classified as a “comedy”, I didn’t laugh at all while watching the film. I also had no idea what the story’s moral was supposed to be, due to the moral being treated as an afterthought. Like I said in my Kind Hearts and Coronets review, I’m not entirely sure what this movie was trying to say. That lack of clarity not only makes the movie underwhelming, it also makes the movie confusing.

Take 3: Kind Hearts and Coronets Review

4. Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery

Having Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery on my worst movies of the year list and finding Pie To Die For: A Hannah Swensen Mystery slightly better than its predecessor feels like déjà vu. That’s because One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery was placed on my worst of 2024 list, with its follow-up, A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, being slightly better. Though Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery had its own set of flaws. Forced humor felt straight out of a sit-com, especially when Delores was involved in the story. As I said in my review, I wondered why a laugh track was missing. Both of the film’s mysteries contained such a small sense of urgency, the run-time felt a bit drawn-out. The story’s overall intrigue was weaker due to this flaw. If the Murder, She Baked/Hannah Swensen series continues in 2026, I’d like to see the quality become more consistent.

Take 3: Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery Review

Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery poster created by Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

3. Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride

Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride is the most disappointing movie I saw in 2025. There were so many missed creative opportunities in this story, the film itself was under-cooked and uninspired. The movie was sometimes boring because of the lack of urgency. Seeing Perry, Della, and even Kevin meanderingly take their time building a legal case sucked the energy out of the story. I said in my review how any movie series boasting over ten titles was going to have at least one “bad day at the office”. I also said in my review how Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride was one of those days for the fictional detective.

Take 3: Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride Review

2. My Gal Sunday

This 2014 movie is a perfect example of Hallmark putting the cart before the horse. Instead of creating a solid stand-alone film that could have naturally led to more chapters, the network put more effort into trying to build the foundation for a potential series. Parts of this story didn’t make sense. One glaring example is when an itinerary shows the protagonist couple’s plans of going dancing at 11 p.m. on Saturday then going to church at 8 a.m. on Sunday, begging the question of when these characters were supposed to go to sleep. The on-screen chemistry between Cameron Mathison and Rachel Blanchard made their characters, Henry and Sunday, feel less like a married couple and more like a couple who are about to start dating. It’s, honestly, a shame My Gal Sunday wasn’t a stronger picture. Mystery stories about married couples are uncommon from Hallmark, so this 2014 story could have offered something unique to the network’s table.

1. Mystery by the Book

This film actually has two titles; Mystery by the Book and Key to Love. However, I saw the movie on Great American Family under the title, Mystery by the Book. Therefore, I will be referring to that title for the sake of my list. For a movie with the word ‘mystery’ in the title, the story’s mystery is an afterthought, which makes the title itself very misleading. Instead, the characters develop other priorities, like playing dress-up and tapping glasses four times during one dinner date. Parts of the script don’t make sense, like how the protagonists find a treasured antique key. Mystery by the Book is even so bad, it’s, at times, unintentionally funny. A perfect example is when Corey Sevier’s character, Josh, is looking for a set of keys, only to find a set of keys seconds later on a key hook labeled “Keys”. Thank goodness Great American Family’s Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series is growing stronger in quality. But if the network wants to expand their mystery library, they have a long road ahead of them.

Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride poster created by Fred Silverman Company, Viacom Productions, Dean Hargrove Productions, National Broadcasting Company, and Viacom
Image by starline on Freepik

Best Movies I Saw in 2025

8. The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

I’m still shocked by how the 1925 version of The Phantom of the Opera was never included on any of American Film Institute’s 100 movies lists, even months after I reviewed the film. Looking at everything the movie has to offer, I believe there is an argument to be made for its inclusion on, at least, one of those lists. Lon Chaney’s performance alone highlights how make-up, body language, and even the eyes can enhance an acting performance. Each area of the Opera House was presented through color coded film, which gave the movie a unique identity. What also helps 1925’s The Phantom of the Opera standout is how the cinematic lens showed the audience the expansive nature of storytelling. This is why, in my opinion, the story of the Phantom and his opera house is better suited for film than the stage.

Take 3: The Phantom of the Opera (1925) Review (Silent Pioneers Double Feature Part 2)

7. Fist of Fury

For an introduction to Bruce Lee’s filmography, I think Fist of Fury is a good one! The martial arts choreography was definitely one of the strengths of this film. But the movie contained other aspects I liked as well. Bruce’s portrayal of Chen is a reason why Fist of Fury was so memorable. Clever writing and higher stakes woven into the script create a story that was clever, suspenseful, and intriguing. Because of how much I enjoyed watching Fist of Fury, I hope to check out more of Bruce’s movies in 2026!

Take 3: Fist of Fury Review

6. The Chalk Garden

Even though I reviewed this film back in February, I still think about what Laurel said about not liking being told “good morning”. How well-written the dialogue was is one of the reasons why I remember Laurel saying, “what is a good morning to someone else is rarely a good morning to me”. Speaking of Laurel, Hayley Mills’ utilization of animated expressions and a variety of emotions helped the audience see how complex her character truly is. But Hayley is not the only actress whose performance was strong. The Chalk Garden is a movie where every actor and actress does a great job with the acting material they were given. The 1964 presentation is part character study, part mystery that works!

Take 3: The Chalk Garden Review + 505 Follower Thank You

5. The Night Before the Night Before Christmas

The Night Before the Night Before Christmas is another movie I saw (and reviewed) this year where it was difficult to choose a favorite acting performance. The strength of the cast’s acting abilities not only made watching the story unfold more enjoyable, it even helped characters become more likable. Emphasizing the theme of giving painted a portrait of Santa I hadn’t really thought of before; someone who has a reputation for giving. It was also a clever way to remind viewers of one of the Christmas season’s important components. How Christmas activities were included in the script was a breath of fresh air as well. As I said in my review, I wish Hallmark went back to creating titles that didn’t rely too much on a formula, tropes, and/or cliches.

Take 3: The Night Before the Night Before Christmas Review + 515 Follower Thank You

The Chalk Garden poster created by Quota Rentals Limited, Ross Hunter Productions, and Universal Pictures

4. Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)

It’s amazing how two movies on this year’s best films list not only turned 100 years old, they also utilized color coded film to their advantage! But what sets Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ apart from The Phantom of the Opera is how title cards went above and beyond in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ due to how well-written they were. Another aspect that distinguishes Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ is the cinematography’s capturing of the scope of the film. Long and medium shots effectively showcased a world that looked and felt larger than life. The visual presentation of the movie was certainly impressive. However, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ found a balance between style and substance!

Take 3: Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925) Review

3. The Man Who Invented Christmas

Despite being the most recently reviewed movie on my list, The Man Who Invented Christmas is one of the best biopics I’ve ever seen! How the creation of A Christmas Carol lent itself to exploring Charles Dickens’ life story brought a unique element to the biopic genre. Watching Charles’ iconic tale come to live, literally and figuratively, provided the film a creative and memorable identity. The “Easter Eggs” related to A Christmas Carol sprinkled throughout the story was an engaging way to stay invested in the movie. The Man Who Invented Christmas is a solid Christmas title that would make a good double feature with I Heard the Bells.

Take 3: The Man Who Invented Christmas Review

2. The Wild Robot

I first talked about The Wild Robot in my list of The Top Ten Best Stand-Alone Films. Even though I published that list back in March, the 2024 animated movie has still held up as one of the best titles I saw this year! Like I said in The Top Ten Best Stand-Alone Films list, the animation was gorgeous, appearing as a blend of paintings and priceless photographs. A pleasant surprise was how much emotional depth the story contained. What adds a sense of timelessness to the production was the abundance of good messages and themes. While it’s too early to say how The Wild Robot will stand in the test of time, I think it has potential.

1. An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving

I actually revisited this film in preparation for my review of An Old Fashioned Christmas. Watching An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving again after so many years reminded me why I love this movie! Attention to detail and historical accuracy created the illusion of taking the audience to another time and place. How the messages and themes of the Thanksgiving holiday were woven into the story allow An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving to truly embrace the holiday itself. The more I think about the 2008 movie, it makes me surprised it wasn’t a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation. My belief is due to An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving containing elements that would likely be found in a Hallmark Hall of Fame project, such as strong acting performances and a historical fiction lens.

The Man Who Invented Christmas poster created by The Mazur Kaplan Company, The Mob Film Company, Ingenious Media, Nelly Films, Parallel Films, Rhombus Media, and Bleecker Street Media

Have fun in 2026!

Sally Silverscreen

Sally Solves a Mystery: Why Have One ‘Anastasia’ (1997) Mystery When You Can Have Two?

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Imagine: You’re scrolling through the forum department of the website, Lost Media Wiki. As you’re scrolling, you discover a piece of lost media related to one of your favorite movies. You don’t recall the lost media itself, but you’re bothered by what you read. Because of how much you love your favorite movie, you want that movie and material connected to that movie (such as merchandise, promotional content, or related media) to be accessible to everyone. This way, more people can discover the movie and may even enjoy it as much as you do. So, the idea of your favorite movie being associated with the world of lost media creates a spark of desire to find that piece of lost media in question. But when you search for that piece of lost media, you learn there is another piece of lost media related to your favorite movie. Instead of becoming discouraged or overwhelmed, you make it your mission to find that other piece of lost media too.

The 1997 film, Anastasia, had one major goal: take “the world by surprise” on November 21st. With a $140 million worldwide profit, the film not only accomplished that goal, it surpassed expectations. Looking back on our entertainment landscape, Anastasia’s pop cultural footprint seems small compared to other animated movies. But what its success proved was how other studios besides Disney could create animated films that were profitable and memorable for the right reasons. Like most feature presentations, Anastasia had its fair share of advertisements. But there is one teaser trailer believed to have been shown only in movie theaters, its existence neither confirmed or denied. Meanwhile, when Anastasia accomplished its goal of “taking the world by surprise”, an ice-skating show based on the movie debuted in 1998 to capitalize on this feat. However, the show itself has become so lost to time, only a small handful of footage has been archived. In this article, I will be discussing these two Anastasia related mysteries! Through the utilization of research, theories over why these pieces of lost media haven’t been found yet will also be addressed.

Anastasia (1997) title card image created by Twentieth Century Fox, Fox Animation Studios, Twentieth Century Fox Animation, Fox Family Films, and The Big Gun Project. Anastasia Mysteries image created by Sally Silverscreen.

Mystery #1: Anastasia’s Lost Theatrical Teaser Trailer

On the Reddit forum titled r/lostmedia, someone named NowheresNomad described a lost teaser trailer advertising Anastasia’s upcoming premiere. According to NowheresNomad, the teaser trailer primarily featured an “animated portrait, or one similar, of Anastasia as a child”. However, “there was no other person in it with her”. Anastasia’s “portrait appeared to be in a dark room as a thunderstorm roared in the background and lightning flashed, occasionally illuminating the painting as if there were a nearby window while slowly zooming in on her face”. This “30-second teaser” also featured the film’s title after the portrait’s presentation. NowheresNomad claims Anastasia’s teaser trailer not only “played in front of multiple family films”, they remember seeing it “in front of 101 Dalmatians (1996)”.

I discovered this specific piece of lost media on Lost Media Wiki’s forum department. A commenter named blipsycat first brought it up there on September 27th, 2023. The Lost Media Wiki discussion about the teaser trailer ended on February 8th, 2024, with the last commenter, beastboyrules52, coming up empty-handed. However, a chance visit to Lost Media Wiki led me to discover a theory that could explain why Anastasia’s teaser trailer hasn’t resurfaced yet, if it exists. On Lost Media Wiki, the only article related to Anastasia I could find was about the partially found live-action reference material featured in the 2005 documentary, ‘The Making of Anastasia’. The article itself included a video of the documentary from the Youtube channel, DVDXtras. Within the documentary, two pieces of concept art appeared to fit NowheresNomad’s description of Anastasia’s portrait in the teaser trailer.

Anastasia (1997) concept art found in the video, ‘The Making of Anastasia (1997)’ (from the Youtube channel, DVDXtras)

In this first portrait, Anastasia not only appears by herself, she also appears as a child.

Anastasia (1997) concept art found in the video, ‘The Making of Anastasia (1997)’ (from the Youtube channel, DVDXtras)

In this second portrait, Anastasia appears older than NowheresNomad’s description. However, Anastasia is the only character in the portrait and the darker hues suggest the portrait itself is located in a dark room.

NowheresNomad speculated in the comment section of their Reddit post how Anastasia’s teaser trailer could have been “released in theaters for a brief time, tested poorly because it was genuinely creepy, and was pulled until they had some completed animation”. They also speculate the portrait “was a piece resembling the character in the film created specifically for this teaser”. Based on my findings and what NowheresNomad said, my theory is one of the portraits I brought up was featured in the teaser trailer. To create the illusion the portrait was placed in a dark room, lighting and sound effects were added over the piece of concept art. With the concept art not official footage from the movie, the teaser trailer was simply created as a placeholder until Anastasia’s creative team was ready to release official marketing that better reflected the true spirit of the film. If what I’m saying is correct, it would explain why the teaser trailer hasn’t been archived or made available on Anastasia’s DVD/Blu-Ray.

Promotional image for Anastasia On Ice found in the video, ‘Anastasia On Ice Commercial (1998)’ from the Youtube channel, Commerical Collections.

Mystery #2: Anastasia On Ice Full Show Footage

In 1998, Feld Entertainment debuted Anastasia On Ice, an ice-skating show based on the movie from 20th Century Fox. At the time, adapting animated films for the skating rink was nothing new for Feld Entertainment, as the company created Disney On Ice in 1981. While Anastasia On Ice is mentioned in the historical timeline on Feld Entertainment’s website, no videos or photos of the show are available on this same website. However, some videos on Youtube have kept the memory of Anastasia On Ice alive through archived footage. These videos are the following:

  • Anastasia On Ice – 1998 Today Show Feature (from the Youtube channel, Skate Guard Blog)
  • Anastasia On Ice – Primeira Parte –  http://www.anastasiabrasil.com (from the Youtube channel, anastasiabrasil)
  • Anastasia On Ice Commercial (1998) (from the Youtube channel, Commercial Collections)
  • WFSB: Anastasia On Ice –Promo (1998) (from the Youtube channel, Archival WFSB-TV3)
  • Anastasia on Ice Ad- Buffalo, New York (1999) (from the Youtube channel, Classic90sfan)
  • Anastasia On Ice (from the Youtube channel, The Anastasia Archive) (This video only features photos from the show)

Even though footage of Anastasia On Ice has been archived, the full show has yet to surface. But based on my research, I’ve created three theories to explain why the full footage of Anastasia On Ice has likely not been preserved.

The dates for the Anastasia On Ice show are circled in this image to emphasize the short lifespan of the show itself. Promotional image for Anastasia On Ice found in the video, ‘Anastasia On Ice Commercial (1998)’ from the Youtube channel, Commerical Collections.

Theory #1: Limited Lifespan

According to the archived commercials for Anastasia On Ice, the show dates were the following:

  • September 23rd to 27th
  • September 29th to October 4th
  • January 7th to 10th
  • March 31st to April 4th

Anastasia On Ice was primarily held in 1998, according to my research. This greatly differs from a show like Disney On Ice, which premiered over the course of multiple years. While contrasting Anastasia On Ice and Disney On Ice, it should be noted that Anastasia On Ice is based on a singular movie. Meanwhile, Disney has a large collection of animated film titles, allowing Disney On Ice to host a variety of ice-skating shows. With all this said, the demand for repeat performances of Anastasia On Ice was probably low.

In this photo, from the ‘Anastasia On Ice – Primeira Parte –  http://www.anastasiabrasil.com’, Emrah Polatoglu’s solo is captured through medium and long shots. Video found on the Youtube channel, anastasiabrasil.

Theory #2: Poor Visual Quality

In the video, ‘Anastasia On Ice – Primeira Parte –  http://www.anastasiabrasil.com’, a skater named Emrah Polatoglu performs a solo in what appears to be the number, “A Rumor in St. Petersburg”. When I watched Emrah’s performance for the first time, I immediately took notice of the video’s poor visual quality. This is likely due to film-making technology (especially for sports programs involving a lot of motion) not being as advanced then as today. I noticed how poor visual quality was also a problem for the number, “Paris Holds the Key (To Your Heart)” in the video ‘Anastasia On Ice – 1998 Today Show Feature’. However, the “Paris Holds the Key (To Your Heart)” number was captured through medium and close-up shots, giving a television audience specific parts of the performance to focus on. Meanwhile, Emrah’s performance was presented through medium and long shots, emphasizing the scope of the live ice-skating show. Even though there is clearer footage of Anastasia On Ice in the show’s commercials, the intent of showcasing that footage is to entice a television audience to go see the live show, similar to the “Paris Holds the Key (To Your Heart)” number on Today Show. If Anastasia On Ice was never intended to be shown on television or even home media, recording and archiving the live performance was likely not a top priority.

This picure from video, ‘Anastasia On Ice – 1998 Today Show Feature’, the skaters are shown through medium and close-up shots. Video found on the Youtube channel, Skate Guard Blog.

Theory #3: Licensing Rights

A 2018 article from Playbill explains a lawsuit stating similarities between the Broadway version of Anastasia and the adaptations of the story from 1952 and 1956. The article says the “original play [from 1952] was licensed by Fox for the 1956 film adaptation of Anastasia, the agreement stipulated that the playwright and translator Guy Bolton retained “rights to the production on the spoken stage””. It is also stated in the article how “a retroactive license was obtained in 1998 for Anastasia On Ice”. But ever since Disney purchased 20th Century Fox, they hold the distribution rights to films from that studio, including Anastasia. However, the 1997 film hasn’t been utilized by Disney in any fashion since purchasing the studio. Therefore, Disney may not prioritize providing an opportunity to broadcast Anastasia On Ice.

Since this edition of Sally Solves a Mystery revolves around 1997’s Anastasia, I thought including a picture of my VHS copy of the movie made sense. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

Once upon a December (though the movie premiered in November), Anastasia literally and figuratively took “the world by surprise”. Its success showed animation studios besides Disney anything and everything that was possible at the box office. Well-liked and successful movies are going to have behind-the-scenes secrets, little known facts, and unanswered questions. They may even be associated with lost media, as is the case for Anastasia. At the time of this article’s publication, the full show footage of Anastasia On Ice and/or Anastasia’s theatrical teaser trailer has not been found. However, this doesn’t discourage me. I’d like to find these pieces of lost media by November 21st,2027, Anastasia’s 30th anniversary. I’m hoping by then, the “journey to the past” would have been worth it.

Sources:

https://forums.lostmediawiki.com/thread/12559/anastasia-1997-teaser-trailer (the link to the Reddit post about the Anastasia theatrical teaser trailer is included in the thread)

‘The Making of Anastasia (1997)’ (from the Youtube channel, DVDXtras)

https://www.feldentertainment.com/company/History/ https://playbill.com/article/anastasia-copyright-lawsuit-heads-toward-trial

https://lostmediawiki.com/Anastasia_(partially_found_live-action_reference_material_for_Don_Bluth_animated_film;_1997)

https://playbill.com/article/anastasia-copyright-lawsuit-heads-toward-trial

Take 3: The Man Who Invented Christmas Review

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December’s theme for Genre Grandeur is “Movies about Legends we lost too soon (in any field)”. But since it is December, I wanted to write about a Christmas movie. This is why I selected the 2017 film, The Man Who Invented Christmas, for the blogathon, as it satisfies the best of both worlds. The movie revolves around how Charles Dickens created the iconic story, A Christmas Carol. With Charles living to the age of fifty-eight, one would think he lived a full life. However, there are celebrities who have outlived Charles. A few of them have even lived to the age of one hundred. Therefore, there’s an argument to be made about Charles being a “legend” the world lost too soon. About The Man Who Invented Christmas, it’s a movie I have heard of, but never saw. In fact, I have heard very few people talk about the 2017 film. So, as a Christmas present, here’s my review of The Man Who Invented Christmas!

The Man Who Invented Christmas poster created by The Mazur Kaplan Company, The Mob Film Company, Ingenious Media, Nelly Films, Parallel Films, Rhombus Media, and Bleecker Street Media

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: What can make or break a biopic is the lead performance. Depending on the quality of that performance, it can help the audience determine if the person that actor or actress is portraying is worth learning about. Dan Stevens’ portrayal of Charles Dickens in The Man Who Invented Christmas is, in my opinion, one of the best casting decisions in the history of biopics! Throughout the film, Dan was very expressive. He was even able to convey Charles’ thoughts without using dialogue. A great example happens toward the beginning of the movie. On-screen text reveals the film takes place after three of Charles’ books have been unsuccessful. The very next scene shows Charles in a state of panic. His eyes are wide and filled with fear and stress. A grimace is also present on Charles’ face, emphasizing how he feels under pressure. This one shot of Charles perfectly tells the audience how overwhelmed he is about his next creative choices.

While we’re still on the subject of acting, I want to talk about the interactions in The Man Who Invented Christmas. Charles’ interactions with various people consistently felt realistic. What works in the cast’s favor is the strength of their on-screen chemistry! Despite sharing only a few scenes together, the on-screen chemistry between Dan Stevens and Morfydd Clark (who portrayed Charles’ wife, Kate) allowed Charles and Kate’s relationship to appear as a believable marriage. In one scene, Kate wistfully reflects on all the things she wishes she could do. Throughout their conversation, however, both Kate’s and Charles’ expressions effortlessly adapt to what is being said to each other. Later in the movie, Kate tearfully explains how Charles’ personality has been unpredictable, especially since he started working on A Christmas Carol. As Kate’s explanation goes on, Charles’ frustrated demeanor softens as he realizes how his actions and choices have negatively impacted his wife. Performances like Morfydd’s and Dan’s allowed me to stay invested in the movie!

The humor: According to IMDB, The Man Who Invented Christmas is classified as a comedy. Despite the inconsistency of the comedic elements, they were well-written and executed effectively. When Charles and his friend, John, go to a restaurant, Charles tries to avoid an acquaintance named Thackeray by hiding his face behind a newspaper. As Charles is walking past Thackeray at the restaurant, however, the newspaper’s headline reads ‘Charles Dickens’, informing Thackeray Charles has arrived. Even though the execution of this scene was simple, I found it hilarious!

Charles’ creative process: As I said in my review’s introduction, The Man Who Invented Christmas revolves around how Charles Dickens created the iconic story, A Christmas Carol. Throughout the film, Charles looks for inspiration, (literally) brings characters to life, and uses parts of his past to craft the story. During this process, the audience can glimpse “Easter Eggs” related to Charles’ Christmas tale. From hearing a random passerby in a graveyard say “Bah Humbug” to Charles’ nephew, Henry, walking with a crutch like Tiny Tim, these “Easter Eggs” emphasize the attention to detail and collection of pieces it takes to create stories of any kind. Seeing Charles have conversations with Ebenezer Scrooge illustrates how a good writer should take the time to get to truly know their characters. Even learning about Charles’ past can help the audience (and even readers) understand why Charles is the writer he is. The way Charles’ creative process is incorporated into The Man Who Invented Christmas was creative, informative, and gave the film a memorable identity!

How Charles’ life story was told: Biopics typically present the story of a person’s life in chronological order. This creative decision gives the audience an introduction to that person, especially for those who are not familiar with the person in question. But the way The Man Who Invented Christmas presents Charles’ life story provides a breath of fresh air! The creation of A Christmas Carol is like the trunk of a tree, as the movie itself primarily focuses on that part of Charles’ life. However, the creation of A Christmas Carol provides opportunities to incorporate other parts of Charles’ life, such as his childhood and his relationship with his family. These parts of the script act as branches, connecting back to the tree trunk I referenced earlier. By telling Charles’ life story in this fashion, it gives the genre of biopics a more unique form of storytelling!

Hand-written letter image created by Veraholera at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Veraholera – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/love-letter-pattern_1292902.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Things that were left unexplained: While Charles is looking for inspiration for A Christmas Carol, he travels to a section of the city known for its poverty. During his time in that section, he spots two children that appear to be kidnapped. Concerned over the children’s wellbeing, Charles chases after their kidnapper in an attempt to rescue the children. But when Charles reaches a graveyard, he quickly abandons his mission. In fact, the kidnapped children aren’t seen or brought up again. Though there were only a few instances like the one I described in The Man Who Invented Christmas, I wish the script had taken the time to explain them.

A hypocritical author: Toward the beginning of The Man Who Invented Christmas, Charles mentions how Christmas is a time when people should be thoughtful of those less fortunate. But this sentiment is forgotten when he considers having Tiny Tim die in A Christmas Carol. Both John and his maid, Tara, insist Ebenezer Scrooge save Tiny Tim, suggesting people can change during Christmastime. Charles sticks with his creative choice until toward the end of the movie, when he chooses the ending A Christmas Carol is known for. Even though it was interesting to think about how different Charles’ iconic story could have been, the stubbornness over Charles’ creative choice made Charles look hypocritical.

Charles’ emotional crossroads: One of the tropes of biopics is the “emotional crossroads”. This is when the person in question reaches an emotional breaking point that will create a domino effect for other choices in their life. In The Man Who Invented Christmas, Charles experiences an “emotional crossroads” related to his father as well as his childhood. His interactions with characters from A Christmas Carol help him address this “emotional crossroads” in order to move forward with his life and his story. I’m not sure which parts of The Man Who Invented Christmas are based on fact or creative liberty. However, the inclusion of the “emotional crossroads” trope kind of felt clichéd, like that trope was incorporated into the movie just because the movie is a biopic.

Merry Christmas banner created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/merry-christmas-decorative-vintage-background_1359013.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Biopics are not created equally. Even though film is subjective, there has been shared discourse over which biopics are better than others. Though I can only speak for myself, I think The Man Who Invented Christmas is one of the stronger biopics I’ve seen! The way Charles’ life story was told felt like a breath of fresh air. Using A Christmas Carol to connect parts of Charles’ world brought a unique element to the biopic genre. I liked watching Charles’ creative process unfold because it added a creative and memorable identity to the movie. The cast’s strong on-screen chemistry also works in the film’s favor. As I watched The Man Who Invented Christmas, I was reminded of another Christmas movie I reviewed last year; I Heard the Bells. This was a Christmas-related biopic I ended up liking. If you haven’t seen these films, I would actually recommend watching The Man Who Invented Christmas and I Heard the Bells as a double feature. But as I wrap up this review, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays!

Overall score: 8.2 out of 10

Have you seen The Man Who Invented Christmas? Are there any Christmas-related biopics you would recommend? Let me know in the comment section!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Sally Silverscreen

Oh Lil Christmas Tree: 2025’s Official Ornament

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One of the movies I reviewed this year is 1964’s The Chalk Garden, a film I ended up liking. The movie’s title, The Chalk Garden, is based on a metaphor Miss Madrigal (the film’s protagonist) uses to describe Laurel, the teenage girl Miss Madrigal is charge of taking care of. Using the garden of Laurel’s grandmother, Mrs. St. Maugham, Miss Madrigal explains how it’s more difficult for flowers to grow in chalk because chalk can’t sustain nourishment. What Miss Madrigal is trying to say is how Laurel needs figurative nourishment, such as patience, understanding, and love. With all that said, this year’s Christmas ornament is a gardener nutcracker! The reason the year 1997 is written on the flower pot is because this ornament is from Hallmark’s Nutcracker Guild collection, with this particular ornament released in 1997. Considering the only movie from 1997 I’ve reviewed is Red Corner (with the flower itself also being red), this actually makes sense for my Oh Lil Christmas Tree project.

I wonder if other ornaments from Hallmark’s Nutcracker Guild collection will be included in my Oh Lil Christmas Tree project? Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

Have fun on Christmas!

Sally Silverscreen

My Movie Blogger’s Christmas Wish-List 2025

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As Christmas is almost here, it’s time for my yearly Movie Blogger’s Christmas Wish-List! If you’re new to 18 Cinema Lane, this is an annual tradition where I share the movie related things I’d like to receive for Christmas. The list’s format follows the quote; “Something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read”. The items on this list, like in past years, are a combination of realistic requests and wishful thinking. So, let’s start 2025’s Christmas wish-list!

Puppies and hearts Christmas wish-list image created by Freepik at freepik.com.

Something You Want

Back in 2018, I saw the 1975 movie, Escape to Witch Mountain. One of the most memorable aspects of that film was an object belonging to Tia, one of the story’s protagonists. Throughout Escape to Witch Mountain, Tia carries a Starcase. This box contains a map that helps her and her brother, Tony, find their way home. But ever since I saw the film, I’ve always felt the term “starcase” was misleading. That’s because I don’t recall seeing Tia putting anything into the case itself, like small toys or trinkets. Despite this, the Starcase is one of the most unique movie props I’ve seen. So, for this portion of my Christmas wish-list, I would like to receive a replica of Tia’s Starcase. But I want a replica that is truly a case where items can be placed inside. Plus, I would like the Starcase replica to feature a purse strap, so the Starcase can be carried either as a purse or a clutch.

Tia’s Starcase images created by Walt Disney Productions and Buena Vista Distribution Company

Something You Need to See

Two years ago, I started my series, Sally Solves a Mystery. In this annual series, I talk about television related mysteries in an attempt to solve them. For my upcoming Sally Solves a Mystery article, I will write about two mysteries related to the same movie. On the forum for Lost Media Wiki, I came across a post about a lost teaser trailer for the 1997 film, Anastasia. While I do love that movie, I personally don’t remember seeing the teaser trailer in question. Another piece of Anastasia media I don’t remember is Anastasia On Ice, an ice skating show based on the film. The only footage of the show I’ve seen are a few television commercials and a behind-the-scenes news segment about the show. Why these lost media mysteries are featured in this part of my Christmas wish-list is how much I’d love to see them solved by November 21st, 2027, which is Anastasia’s 30th anniversary.

Promotional image for Anastasia On Ice found on the Youtube channel, Commerical Collections.

A movie related piece of clothing or accessory I’d want to wear

Looking back on past Christmas wish-lists, I haven’t selected a movie related piece of clothing or accessory that is holiday themed. But that is about to change with the Halloween themed sweater I will now discuss. In the Lifetime movie, Killing the Competition, my eye caught a gray sweater with pumpkins and black cats on it. Even though the sweater was featured very briefly in the film, it stuck in my memory, especially when it came time to create My Movie Blogger’s Christmas Wish-List. As I’m writing this article, I realized this is the second year in a row a sweater was chosen for this portion of my wish-list! With the Halloween sweater boasting a variety of colors, multiple outfits could be created around that sweater.

I apologize if this photo of the Halloween themed sweater isn’t the best. But as I explained in my Christmas wish-list, the sweater was featured very briefly in Killing the Competition. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

A book I’ve read that I’d like to see adapted into a film

When I participated in the Eurovisionathon readathon, one of the books I read was A Prisoner in Malta by Phillip DePoy. It was, honestly, one of the better books I read for the event! A Prisoner in Malta is what would be considered a “page-turner”, as there was never a dull moment. The book contained other strengths like well-written banter between the characters, strong character development, and a mystery that was intriguing as well as complex. With all this said, I would be interested in seeing a film adaptation of A Prisoner in Malta! Based on what I’ve observed of the cinematic side of the mystery genre, historical mysteries seem far and few between. I also can’t think of many movies off the top of my head that are set in the 1580s. So, in my opinion, an adaptation of A Prisoner in Malta would offer something unique to the film-making table!

A Prisoner in Malta by Phillip DePoy book cover found on Goodreads.

What are your thoughts on my Christmas wish list? Are there any movie related things you’d like to receive during the Christmas/holiday season? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun during the Christmas/holiday season!

Sally Silverscreen

Comparing with the Critics – Best of 1988 – Wings of Desire

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This review is from my series, Comparing with the Critics. If you’d like to learn more about the series, click on the link below.

Introducing my new series, Comparing with the Critics!

Five years ago, I advocated for the release of The Crow: City of Angels’ Tim Pope cut. This version of the movie was not only supposed to be 160-minutes, it was also supposed to tell a different story from its predecessor. The Crow: City of Angels’ intended conflict showed the protagonist, Ashe, choosing between reuniting with his son, Danny, in the afterlife or staying on Earth to form a romantic relationship with Sarah, who appeared in The Crow. When Roger Ebert brought up Wings of Desire in Siskel & Ebert’s Best of 1988 episode, he said the film was “about an angel who wants to be a human because he would rather have real, physical feelings than live forever”. His explanation of Wings of Desire reminded me of The Crow: City of Angels’ intended conflict I described. Since I don’t know if and/or when the Tim Pope cut of The Crow: City of Angels will be released, Wings of Desire will be my unofficial placeholder in terms of storytelling. The other reason why I chose Wings of Desire for my Comparing with the Critics series’ Best of 1988 review is because it was on Roger’s list of the ten best films of 1988, even though both he and Gene Siskel liked it. I approached this film with an open mind because I had never seen or heard of it prior to my series. Now that I have seen Wings of Desire, I think calling it one of the best movies of the year is giving the film a little too much credit.

Wings of Desire poster created by Road Movies Filmproduktion, Argos Films, Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), Wim Wenders Stiftung, Orion Classics, Basis-Film Verleih, and Filmverlag der Autoren

As I said in the introduction of this review, both Roger and Gene liked Wings of Desire. In an episode of Siskel & Ebert, they gave the film a thumbs-up. Roger commented on how the movie “has a mood to it. It takes the time to establish that mood”. Meanwhile, Gene points out that Wings of Desire “gives more than equal time to the angels’ thoughts”. What Roger and Gene said was achieved through mise-en-scène and music. A great example is when Damiel (portrayed by Bruno Ganz) is at a crossroads over whether he truly wants to become human or remain an angel. The majority of the scene is presented through “shaky cam”, giving the illusion Damiel is quickly turning his head and moving in circles. Sharp, quick violin sounds play over the scene, heightening Damiel’s panic and confusion. Shots of humans crying or looking frightened are interspersed throughout the scene. This creative choice reflects Damiel’s thoughts and feelings. Whenever “shaky cam” is incorporated into a movie, it is usually met with criticism due to how the film-making technique distorts a scene to the point of becoming unwatchable. However, the use of “shaky cam” in Wings of Desire is one of the few times where it works. This is because that creative decision was utilized purposefully to enhance the emotional aspect of the story.

Since there are angels in Wings of Desire, I thought adding this angel picture to my review made sense. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

Wings of Desire is mostly presented in black-and-white imagery. But there are a handful of scenes shown in color. This creative choice differentiates the perspective between the angels and the humans. Damiel and Cassiel, two angels from the film’s main cast of characters, see the human world in black-and-white, as they are outsiders looking in. The humans’ environment is visually represented in color, showcasing life in 1980s West Berlin. Black-and-white and color imagery’s incorporation into Wings of Desire is purposeful as it addresses concepts like a sense of belonging, unique points of view, and what it means to be a part of a community. Wings of Desire’s creative decision reminded me of Schindler’s List, a black-and-white movie that occasionally utilized color to emphasize certain ideas.

Map of Germany image created by Macrovector at freepik.com. Background vector created by macrovector – www.freepik.com. Image found at freepik.com.

Another visual aspect of the movie I liked was Marion’s wardrobe. In Wings of Desire, Marion (portrayed by Solveig Dommartin) is a trapeze artist who is afraid her dream may be coming to an end due to the circus’ struggling finances. Her performances give her an excuse to wear gorgeous costumes! When she is first introduced in the story, Marion wears a long-sleeved leotard with an attached skirt. This costume is made up of a beige velour-like material and covered in diamond-esque gems. The shoulders of the costume feature a shiny applique. To give circus attendants the impression Marion is a flying angel, she wears large, white wings while performing in the air. The exquisiteness of Marion’s costumes makes me wish they were shown in color more consistently. I also wish Wings of Desire’s costume designer, Monika Jacobs, was nominated for, at least, one award.

Group of clowns image created by Freepik at freepik.com. Image by Freepik

After a clip of Wings of Desire was presented on Siskel & Ebert, Gene declares “the juiciest part of this picture is how close we get to everyday people, their joys, their heartbreaks”. He also says, “director, Wim Wenders, does a real remarkable thing here; he praises life as it is lived, yet making sense out of life’s confusions to the point where we enjoy being alive in a fresh way”. While I agree with Gene about the realistic portrayal of the humans’ lives, I wish the dialogue had sounded more realistic. Every time a character speaks, they deliver philosophical speeches instead of conversations. This made the characters sound like they were spending more time expressing ideas than putting ideas into action. Though looking back on Wings of Desire, I wonder if that was intended commentary on how people spend less time solving problems and more time talking about them?

Breaking heart image created by Kjpargeter at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/broken-heart-valentine-background_1041991.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Kjpargeter – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Like I mentioned earlier in my review, Damiel and Cassiel are outsiders looking in on the human world. Despite this, both angels observe, listen, and occasionally intervene in the humans’ lives. That means Wings of Desire’s audience can hear the thoughts of the humans Cassiel and Damiel cross paths with. But because the angels are disconnected from the human world, story ideas are either loosely connected or not connected at all. A man’s parents concerned over his musical ambitions serve as one example, with the concerns themselves brought up but never resolved. There are four main plots within Wings of Desire. However, only three of them were related to each other. Plus, these three plots didn’t connect until toward the end of the movie. Waiting for the bridges of the plots to form felt tedious, in my opinion.

Comparing with the Critics banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. TV show title cards created by WTTW National Productions, WTTW, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Lifetime Television, Tribune Entertainment, Buena Vista Television, and Disney-ABC Domestic Television

In the introduction of this review, I said calling Wings of Desire one of the best movies of the year is giving the film a little too much credit. It’s not a bad movie, I just didn’t like or love it as much as Roger and Gene did. Wings of Desire is a fine, interesting film that kept me invested in what was happening on screen. The movie also has artistic merit due to creative decisions purposefully incorporated into the project. But major flaws lie in the script. I wish dialogue between characters sounded more conversational, as it would have complimented the realistic depiction of life in 1980s West Berlin. Story ideas should have developed stronger connections to one another, especially among the four main plots. Waiting for three of those main plots to connect was, in my opinion, tedious. During their discussion of Wings of Desire on their show, Siskel & Ebert, Gene tells Roger how Wim Wenders “doesn’t sweeten life to the point that it’s false”. Looking back on my experience watching the movie, I can see, and even appreciate, Gene’s point. Wings of Desire captures Germany before the Berlin Wall would eventually fall.  The Wall itself is even featured in a few scenes. Through visuals, text, and even musical selection, the edge of change I addressed in my 1988 introduction of Comparing with the Critics was brought to life on the big screen. The creative team behind Wings of Desire played a small role in history, even if they didn’t know it at that time.

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Sally Silverscreen

Comparing with the Critics – 1988 – Introduction

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1988 is known as a year on the edge of change. In the United States, a Presidential election let Americans decide how they wanted their country to be led. The foundations of the “Disney Renaissance” were laid into place before Disney made a splash heard around the world. And one year later, President Ronald Reagan’s words to “tear down this wall” were finally put into practice. Reflecting on 1988’s box office, especially the highest-grossing films of that year, this edge of change could be seen and felt. Who Framed Roger Rabbit proved it was, indeed, possible for live action and animation to join forces. Tim Burton helped Beetlejuice walk so Batman could soar. In May of 1988, two films made contributions that would cause ripple effects throughout cinema. Though Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert appreciated one of these efforts more than the other. These movies are Wings of Desire and Willow. The Best of 1988 episode of Siskel & Ebert showed Wings of Desire earning a spot on Roger’s list of the year’s best movies, even though both he and Gene liked it. Meanwhile, in the show’s Worst of 1988 episode, Gene and Roger believed Willow was just a retread of Star Wars. However, the film only ended up on Gene’s list of 1988’s worst pictures. If you read my review of Willow from last year, you would know I selected it for Comparing with the Critics’ Worst of 1988. As for Wings of Desire, that is my choice for Best of 1988 in my Comparing with the Critics series.

Comparing with the Critics banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. TV show title cards created by WTTW National Productions, WTTW, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Lifetime Television, Tribune Entertainment, Buena Vista Television, and Disney-ABC Domestic Television

A Movie Blogger’s Ten “Hot Takes” on Film

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Back in August, I published my review of the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Face to Face. That article became my 425th published movie review. Then, when I published my review of Kind Hearts and Coronets, it became my 950th published post. To honor these milestones, I’m creating a type of list I have never written before. Over the seven years 18 Cinema Lane has existed, I have shared some of my “hot takes” on film. However, I haven’t created a list exclusively about movie “hot takes”. That is why, for this list, I will address my film related “hot takes” I didn’t previously discuss on my blog. This decision was made to keep the list itself fresh and interesting. I will also organize each “hot take” based on how “hot” each take could be perceived. Before I begin this list, I’d like to state how my list is not intended to be mean-spirited or negative. It’s just simply a way to express my opinion.

Campfire with marshmellows and shooting stars image created by macrovector at freepik.com.

10. Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit Should Have Been a Christmas Movie

I’m not saying Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit is a bad movie. I’m not even saying it’s a bad sequel, as I respect how the script tries to tell a new story instead of attempting to recapture the magic of the first film. However, I do believe it was a huge missed opportunity not to have Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit set during Christmas. I can picture Saint Katherine’s Parish, the church featured in the first movie, beautifully decked out in Christmas adornments. And can you imagine what Christmas songs like ‘O Holy Night’, ‘Away in a Manger’, and ‘Joy to the World’ would have sounded like under Deloris’/Sister Mary Clarence’s leadership? If those versions were even half as good as the songs were in Sister Act, the audience would have been in for a musical treat! Though there’s no guarantee making Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit a Christmas movie would have made it better or just as good as its predecessor. Therefore, this is the mildest “hot take” on my list.

9. Calypso/Tia Dalma and Davy Jones Should Have Shared More Screen-Time Together in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

One of my favorite movie scenes of all time is Calypso/Tia Dalma and Davy Jones’ interaction in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Not only does this scene recontextualize everything the audience knew about Calypso/Tia Dalma up until that point, Naomie Harris and Bill Nighy’s on-screen chemistry made the attraction between Calypso/Tia Dalma and Davy Jones believable. This attraction makes me wish they shared more screen-time together. Throughout Calypso/Tia Dalma and Davy Jones’ interaction, issues are left unresolved and words are left unspoken. Yet their love for each other is still evident. Calypso/Tia Dalma and Davy Jones should have received an opportunity to resolve their issues and honestly communicate with one another. But in a movie like Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End with so many moving parts to it, aspects of the story like Calypso/Tia Dalma and Davy Jones’ relationship were overlooked.

8. Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch’s Story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Should Have Been an Adaptation of Scarlet Witch, Vol. 3: The Final Hex

For this year’s Eurovisionathon readathon, I read Scarlet Witch, Vol. 3: The Final Hex. As I read the graphic novel, I couldn’t help but feel the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) missed a great opportunity to adapt this story. Based on what I know about the MCU, mentor figures aren’t common. Agatha Harkness could have provided mentorship to Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch like she did in the graphic novel, helping guide her throughout Phase 2 and beyond. Adapting Scarlet Witch, Vol. 3: The Final Hex would have given the MCU a reason to weave Serbian and Roma culture into Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch’s, as well as Pietro Maximoff/Quicksilver’s, narrative. Themes of family, identity, and what it truly means to be a superhero could have also been explored. While I haven’t seen any of the MCU’s projects after Avengers: Endgame, I have heard of the directions Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch’s story have taken. Had Scarlet Witch, Vol. 3: The Final Hex been adapted, maybe her story would have been better than what the audience received.

7. Cheryl Frasier from Miss Congeniality is More Intelligent Than Most People Give Her Credit For

The “April 25th” scene from Miss Congeniality is one of the most quotable and meme-able moments in film history. This scene is how most people know Cheryl Frasier (a.k.a. Miss Rhode Island), one of the story’s key characters. The moment where Cheryl chooses “April 25th” as her answer for her idea of a perfect date is presented as giving the wrong answer. Though whenever I think of this scene, I see it very differently. In an interview/question segment of a pageant, contestants must utilize their time wisely to earn enough points to progress to the next segment. With that said, Cheryl utilized critical thinking skills, logic, and looking outside the box to not only select her iconic answer, but to also come up with an explanation for that answer all within a limited period of time. Plus, I can understand how she would describe a date on the calendar, as the question is vague enough to be interpreted in different ways. This is one of the best examples from Miss Congeniality of Cheryl being more intelligent than most people give her credit for.

6. Pennywise from Stephen King’s IT (1990) is More Annoying Than Scary

Years ago, I saw Stephen King’s IT for the first time. But I found the experience underwhelming. One contributor was how Pennywise was more annoying than scary. While there were horrifying moments involving Pennywise, these moments were far and few between. One scene that always comes to mind is when Pennywise is in a library. In this scene, he was so over-the-top, loud, and obnoxious, his act got old really fast. I couldn’t take Pennywise seriously as a horror movie villain, as his silliness made him less threatening. Even in the film’s climax, his role was such a let-down, sucking all the suspense out of that scene. Tim Curry, the actor who portrayed Pennywise, is not at fault because he tried his best with the acting material provided. The fault lies with the director and screenwriters of Stephen King’s IT.

Group of Christmas figures image created by Pikisuperstar at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/christmas”>Christmas vector created by Pikisuperstar – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-cute-christmas-character_3188970.htm’>Designed by Pikisuperstar</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

5. Gabby Gabby from Toy Story 4 is a Poorly Written Character

When I saw Toy Story 4 in 2019, I thought Gabby Gabby was a poorly written character. Six years later, I still feel this way about her. It seemed like the creative team behind Toy Story 4 couldn’t decide if Gabby Gabby should be the story’s villain, anti-hero, or simply misunderstood. So, instead of giving her one role and sticking to that creative decision, the creative team gave her all three roles. When Gabby Gabby received a redemption arc, I didn’t feel that was earned. How am I supposed to root for her when I don’t even know what her true role in this story is supposed to be? Last year, when I published my list of ten movie trends I don’t understand, I explained how adopting the ‘villains receiving the spotlight’ trend gives the audience mixed messages and makes villainous characters less straight-forward. Reflecting on that list and Toy Story 4, I wonder if how Gabby Gabby was written is the result of that trend?

4. ‘Elizabeth’ is the Most Overused Name in Historical Fiction/Period Drama Movies and TV Shows

In 2019, I created a list of the top ten worst clichés from Hallmark movies. The clichés featured in that list were those that were poorly or overly used. If I created a similar list about the worst clichés from historical fiction/period drama movies, characters named ‘Elizabeth’ would be near the top of the list. Personally, I find it hard to believe directors, producers, and screenwriters would keep selecting ‘Elizabeth’ despite having thousands of names at their disposal. The name, ‘Elizabeth’, keeps finding its way into scripts no matter the story’s time period. Some examples include Felicity: An American Girl Adventure, the Pirates of the Caribbean series, any version of Pride and Prejudice, and When Calls the Heart’s Christmas/seasonal films. This specific cliché is also present among historical fiction/period drama tv shows, ranging from Emily of New Moon to The Waltons. I don’t know when the cliché started being utilized or if it will ever stop. But if someone is considering creating a historical fiction/period drama movie or tv show, I hope they think outside the box when it’s time to name their characters.

3. I Don’t Find National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Funny

I’ve only seen National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation once. Though it’s been years since I’ve seen it, I didn’t find it funny. I don’t remember laughing at any joke. Even when I see clips of the movie in other pieces of media, it doesn’t get a reaction out of me. I’m aware how comedy, as well as film itself, is subjective. But I just don’t understand the hype around National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. If I revisited the movie, maybe I’d change my mind on it. For now, though, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is not a must-watch title for me this Christmas season.

2. Bucky Barnes Should Have Received His Own Superhero Title Instead of Becoming the Next Captain America

Around the time Avengers: Infinity War was released, I was one of those fans who wanted to see Bucky Barnes become the next Captain America. I even expressed this wish in my very first movie blogger’s Christmas wish-list. But looking back almost ten years since Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers:Endgame premiered, I believe instead of becoming the next Captain America, Bucky should have received his own superhero title. As he grew into it over time, Bucky could have shaped this brand-new title to become truly his. So, when people think of that specific title, they’ll think of Bucky and vice versa. There would be no preconceived ideas or expectations due to the lack of comparisons to measure Bucky to. With his own superhero title, he could have received official Avenger status as well, which is why I wanted Bucky to become the next Captain America in the first place. I know he took up Captain America’s shield in Marvel’s comics. However, Bucky adopting his own, unique superhero identity would have added a fascinating chapter to Phases 4 and 5.

1. The Breakfast Club and Clue are Two of the Most Overrated Movies of the 1980s

It’s been years since I’ve seen The Breakfast Club or Clue. But from what I remember, I wasn’t a fan of either title. The Breakfast Club contained way too much swearing for my liking and I found its story too simplistic. When it came to Allison Reynolds’ reason for being in detention, the script was building up to what ended up being an underwhelming revelation. Meanwhile, in Clue, I laughed at only one joke throughout the entire film. The movie prioritized showing the characters running around and yelling/screaming at each other, which I find less hilarious and more headache-inducing. Having multiple endings based on when and where someone saw the film might work at the movie theater. Including all three endings in Clue, however, not only felt overwhelming, it also felt like the movie’s creative team couldn’t decide which ending best fit their script, leaving that ultimate decision to the audience. Perhaps if I revisited The Breakfast Club or Clue, my opinion on these titles might change. As of the publication of this list, though, I find Clue and The Breakfast Club overrated.

Avengers: Endgame Bucky Barnes poster created by The Walt Disney Company and Marvel Studios. © Disney•Pixar. All rights reserved. Marvel and Avengers Characters: ©2017 Marvel. Image found at https://www.marvel.com/articles/movies/mcu-heroes-unveil-avengers-endgame-character-posters

What are your thoughts on my movie “hot takes”? Do you have a film related “hot take” you’d like to share? Please tell me in the comment section below!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen