Heaven will wait/ Le Cielo attendra, 2016

Heaven Will Wait (French: Le Ciel attendra) is a 2016 French drama film directed by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar. It was selected to be screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.

TRAILER

Crosscutting between three storylines that come together in the final act, Mention-Schaar and co-writer Emilie Freche (The Jews) follow two young protagonists who experience the call to Jihad in mirroring narrative strands. On one side we follow Sonia (Noemie Merlant), a born-again Muslim arrested for trying to pull off an attack in France, after which she goes through a long detox process that slowly transforms her into the girl she once was. And on the other hand there’s Melanie (Naomi Amarger), a studious cello player, 16 years old, lives with her mother who meets a Islam recruiter online and gradually falls into his clutches. The movie shows their tactics to kidnap these girls to their country.

These teenage girls might be called Anaïs, Manon or Leila, and one day they all might go some way down the recruitment process. But can they ever come back from it?

Rating: 10 Stars 

The movie is super interesting, even in France with a high level of education, young girls can be trapped in the terrorism recruitment. An alert to parents. 

Patti Smith Electric Poet (2022)

 

TRAILER

"Patti Smith: Electric Poet" is a documentary that delves into the extraordinary life of Patti Smith, the iconic poet, actress and musician. 

Synopsis: The film explores Patti Smith's childhood, her artistic aspirations, and her multifaceted career. She once expressed, "I wanted to be someone special. I felt distant, not just from other children, but from the whole world. I spent my childhood thinking i was an alien. "Growing up in a rural New Jersey with a Jeovah's Witnessess upbringing, Smith eventually broke away from the movement to pursue her unique artistic path. 

Rating: 10 Stars

10 Christmas movies for the entire family

Here are 10 carefully selected suggestions that the entire family will enjoy for sure. Keep up the spirit. Merry Christmas you all! 

1 

Christmas with the Kranks, 2004 (So much fun)

Christmas with the Kranks is a 2004 American Christmas comedy film directed by Joe Roth, screenplay by Chris Columbus, based on the 2001 novel Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. It stars Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis in the leading roles. The film also stars Dan Aykroyd, Erik Per Sullivan, Cheech Marin, Jake Busey, and M. Emmet Walsh.

The story tells of a couple who decide to skip Christmas one year since their daughter is away, much to the chagrin of their neighbors until their daughter decides to come home at the last minute.

2

 Spirited, 2022 (Good moral lesson, interesting)

Spirited is a 2022 American Christmas musical comedy film directed by Sean Anders, and written and produced by Anders and John Morris. It is a modern retelling of Charles Dickens's 1843 novella A Christmas Carol and a satire of the various adaptations since. The film stars Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer, Sunita Mani, Patrick Page, Marlow Barkley, and Tracy Morgan. In the film, The Ghost of Christmas Present is nearing retirement, which would mean a return to Earth. He sets his sights on an "unredeemable" man named Clint Briggs, who ends up helping the Ghost come to terms with his own past.

Spirited was released in select cinemas on November 11, 2022, before its streaming release on November 18, 2022, by Apple TV+. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised its original songs and the performances and chemistry of Ferrell and Reynolds, but was criticized for its lack of improvement over previous adaptations of the novella.

3 

A Christmas history 2, 2012 (Gather the family)

A Christmas Story 2 is a 2012 American Christmas comedy film directed by Brian Levant and starring Daniel Stern and Braeden Lemasters. The film is a direct sequel to the 1983 film A Christmas Story and ignores the events of the 1994 film My Summer Story. The film, set six years after the original, follows fifteen-year-old Ralphie as he wishes for a 1939 Mercury Eight convertible for Christmas, but crashes the car before he even owns it. Now, Ralphie and his friends, Flick and Schwartz, must find a way to raise enough money to fix the car before Christmas.

4

Christmas on Mistletoe farm, 2022 (kids will love it)

Christmas On Mistletoe Farm is a 2022 British Christmas comedy musical film, written and directed by Debbie Isitt. It was released on Netflix on 23 November 2022.

Matt Cunningham, a widowed father of five, finds out he has inherited a farm. After some persuasion, he leaves his London home for the farm to use it as a retreat to get a pitch that his boss is hampering him for completed on time. However, when he arrives, his farm hand Beano along with his kids and the village people have other idea.

5

Santa Mi Amor, 2023 (To preserve children's belief in Santa Claus). 

Lucía is a single mom so devoted to her Christmas-obsessed little daughter Leo that she has essentially shut herself off to the idea of romance. But when she agrees to go on a blind date with dreamy chef Sergio, the spark is undeniable and they enter in a big Christmas adventure to help Leo to continue to believe in Santa Claus. A great and emotional history. 

6

A Christmas Mystery, 2022 (kids and parents)

When her best friend's dad is falsely accused of stealing the town's prized jingle bells, but a young amateur sleuth and her friends must find the real thief before Christmas.

7

 Christmas at the Chalet, 2023 (For the adults)

Ex-TV host Lex finds herself spending Christmas in a chalet with her son, ex-husband, and his new girlfriend. As she couldn't find a room because the hotel is full booked, she volunteers to work as Chalet girl, all while documenting it for her new followers.

8

Your Christmas or mine?, 2022 (For adults)

Hayley and James are young and in love. They decided to go on vacation with their families in a hotel in the mountains. There they get in a misunderstood and almost break up. With their family's help, Hayley and James resume dating and get engaged. 

9

The Art of Christmas, 2022 (Romance for adults)

After her latest gallery exhibition literally goes up in flames, struggling artist Liv James accepts a teaching job at a local elementary school to make ends meet.

10

Get Santa, 2014 (for kids and parents)

Get Santa is a 2014 British Christmas comedy film directed and written by Christopher Smith. The film stars Jim Broadbent, Rafe Spall, Warwick Davis, Stephen Graham, Jodie Whittaker and Kit Connor.  Steve (played by Rafe Spall) has just been released from jail and is determined to stay out of trouble. However, when his young son Tom insists that the real Santa (portrayed by Jim Broadbent) has crashed his sleigh and is hiding in their garage, Steve finds himself drawn into an unexpected adventure.

11 Christmas movies this year🌟

In times of war it’s important to warm the heart to not lose hope in humanity. Here are some nice Christmas movies for you that for some reason will celebrate Christmas at home watching tv. Enjoy it! 

1. "My family Christmas tree", 2021 

When Vanessa receives the results from her Family Tree DNA test, she discovers a family she didn't know existed and travels to their home for Christmas.

2. "Hats off to Christmas", 2013

Mia is a hardworking manager  a Christmas hat shop. Complications arise when her boss tells her to train his son for an upper-management position that she had desired.

3. "Destined at Christmas", 2022

It's a heart-warming TV movie that tells the tale of Kim and Theo. They cross paths during the frenzy of Black Friday shopping, and a spark ignites between them. However, fate intervenes, and they become separated in the chaos. Armed with only scant information about each other, they embark on a quest to reunite. Can destiny weave its magic and bring them back together in time for Christmas

The film’s premise is both charming and suspenseful. Imagine two souls, connected by a chance encounter, trying to unravel each other’s identities. As they navigate near misses and unexpected twists, their hearts remain tethered across the holiday season.

4. "Destined to Christmas 2, Once More, 2023

In this sequel, Theo (Elliott) continues to miss connecting with his girlfriend, Kim (Robbins) as he attempts to propose at Christmas.

5. "A crafty Christmas Romance", 2020

Mandy Page, the owner of a used book store, loves Christmas. When she finds a touching letter to Santa stuffed between the pages of an old book recently donated, she decides it would be fun to answer it. But playing Santa might prove difficult since the letter is dated 70 years earlier. Mandy tracks down where the book was donated from, and meets Joe Canton, who agrees to help her play Santa and track down the mystery writer. As they get closer to finding the letter writer, they find themselves growing closer together too. And with Christmas fast-approaching, the identity of the mystery writer and love might be the best gifts Mandy can receive. The movie was filmed in Provo, Utah, 2020.

 6. Christmas in Vienna, 2020

Jess, a concert violinist whose heart just isn't in it anymore, goes to Vienna for a performance. While there, she finds the inspiration she has been missing, and a new love.

7. "Christmas Angel", 2009

Ashley has been on her own all her life. She feels even more alone this Christmas as she searches fruitlessly for a job. The seasonal cheer around her only rubs salt in her wounds as she scrapes by to support herself and her dog, Dash. But her neighbor, Nick, knows exactly what to do. He offers her a job, to be his assistant in the best work-helping others. There's one catch that Ashley must honor though-she can't tell anyone that her new boss is a sort of Secret Santa, helping others anonymously. Through her new job, Ashley meets Will, a writer for a business magazine who uncovers what Ashley is doing, and more importantly, Nick's involvement in her. As Ashley and Nick help people in need, Ashley tries to protect Nick's secret from her, and her own heart from her, while Will must weigh the consequences of what he does.

8. "Hot Chocolate Holiday", 2021

Colette runs a coffee shop that is known for her famous secret-recipe hot chocolate. When Marcus, a new dessert-shop owner, starts to draw in her customers, selling the same hot chocolate recipe, she is determined to expose him.

9. "A brush with Christmas", 2022

Over the week leading up to Christmas in the coastal town of Bayside, Charlotte tries to capture her own unique style in the local art scene while also helping her mother, Elizabeth, run the family restaurant. Disheartened and struggling to find time for her art, Charlotte throws out her latest painting, only to discover that it has been anonymously submitted to the Christmas art festival. It turns out that Wyatt, a visiting metalwork artist, stumbled upon her discarded work and is now using the festival’s exposure to find its mysterious creator who has stolen her heart with her craft.

10. "A dash of Christmas", 2023

To apply for her dream job at a foodie startup, an executive must learn to bake. When she recruits a handsome baker to help her, she inadvertently ends up in a Christmas Bake-off.

11. "My Norwegian Christmas, New from Hallmark, 2023

JJ, grieving the loss of her grandmother and seeking dissertation inspiration, stumbles upon an unexpected holiday destiny. Meeting Henrik, a Norwegian from Bergen, their connection deepens when he discovers she has a troll figurine from his hometown. To explore the troll's history and her grandmother's ties, JJ agrees to join Henrik on a journey to Norway. In Bergen, they're drawn into Henrik's family Christmas and wedding traditions, with his sister's wedding the day before Christmas Eve. JJ embarks on a holiday adventure, uncovering the troll's origins and finding her own path to healing, love and family.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🎄🎁

Xoxo 💋

Journey to the Center of the Earth, 2008

 Journey to the Center of the Earth (also promoted as Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D or Journey 3D) is a 2008 American 3D science fantasy action-adventure film directed by Eric Brevig and starring Brendan Fraser in the main role, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem, and Seth Meyers. Produced by New Line Cinema, it is an adaptation of Jules Verne's 1864 novel (which had previously been adapted multiple times, most notably in the 1959 film of the same name), and was released in 3D theaters by Warner Bros. Pictures on July 11, 2008.

TRAILER

PLOT

In 2007, Trevor Anderson is a Bostonian volcanologist whose 13-year-old nephew, Sean, is supposed to spend ten days with him. Trevor learns at work that his brother's lab is being shut down because of a lack of funding. Trevor has forgotten that Sean is coming until he receives several messages from Sean's mother Elizabeth. When Sean's mother drops him off, she leaves Trevor with a box of items that belonged to Max, Trevor's brother and Sean's father, who disappeared 10 years before. Sean suddenly takes interest in what Trevor has to say after he tells him about his father, whom he never really had a chance to know. In the box, Trevor discovers the novel Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne. Inside the book Trevor finds notes written by his late brother. Trevor goes to his laboratory to find out more about the notes. There he realizes that he must go to Iceland to investigate for himself.

He intends to send Sean back to his mother, but relents at Sean's protest and brings Sean to Iceland with him. They start by looking for another volcanologist. When they get to that scientist's institution, they meet his daughter Hannah, who informs them he is dead. She also tells them that both her father and Max believed that Jules Verne's books were factual accounts. However she offers to help them climb up to the instrument that has suddenly started sending data again. While hiking the mountain, a lightning storm forces the three into a cave. The cave entrance collapses, trapping them, so they have no alternative but to go deeper in the cave, which turns out to be an abandoned mine.

Trevor, Sean, and Hannah investigate farther into the mine until they fall into a deep hole, taking them to the "Center of the Earth". They all continue until they discover a cave-dwelling that Max lived in. Trevor and Sean find Max's old journal. Hannah and Trevor discover Max's dead body and bury him. Trevor reads a message from Max's journal that was written on Sean's 3rd birthday (8.14.97). Trevor continues to read Max's journal until he realizes from his notes that they must quickly leave, as the temperature is steadily rising.

Trevor figures that they must find a geyser that can send them to the surface. They must do this in 48 hours or all of the water to create the geyser will be gone. They also figure that they must get out before the temperature rises past 135 degrees. They start building a raft to cross the underground ocean, and then the two adults become separated from Sean. Sean's guide is now a little glowing bird who has been present since the trio entered the center, and it takes him towards the river. However, he encounters a Giganotosaurus, and Trevor – who desperately is searching for him – saves him. When they arrive at the geyser it is all dried up. All the water is on the other side of the walls.

Trevor uses a flare to ignite the magnesium in the wall and causes a geyser to shoot them through Mount Vesuvius in Italy. When they destroy the home of an Italian man, Sean gives him a diamond that he had found earlier. Trevor sees that he has many more in his backpack, and he uses them to fund his brother's laboratory. Throughout the adventure, Hannah and Trevor gradually become so attached to each other that they share a kiss. On the final day of Sean's visit with Trevor (and now Hannah), he is leaving their new home, which was purchased with some of the diamonds Sean took from the cave, and Trevor hands Sean a book titled "Atlantis", suggesting they could maybe hang out at Sean's during Christmas break.

Rating: 10 Stars

Love Again, 2023 - Romantic comedy on Netflix

“Love Again” is a 2023 American romantic comedy-drama film directed and written by James C. Strouse. The movie is an English-language remake of the 2016 German film “SMS für Dich”, which is based on a novel by Sofie Cramer . The movie stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sam Heughan, and Celine Dion, in her first feature film, portraying a fictionalized version of herself . The movie was produced by Screen Gems, 2.0 Entertainment, and Thunder Road Films and was released in the United States on May 5, 2023, by Sony Pictures Releasing.

TRAILER

Cast

Priyanka Chopra as Mira Ray

Sam Heughan as Rob Burns

Celine Dion as Herself

Sofia Barclay as Suzy Ray

Russell Tovey as Billy Brooks

Lydia West as Lisa Scott

Steve Oram as Richard Hughes

Omid Djalili as Mohsen

Nick Jonas as Joel

Celia Imrie as Gina Valentine

Arinzé Kene as John

RATING: 10 STARS

Love in the Villa, 2022

Love in the Villa is a 2022 American romantic comedy film written, directed and produced by Mark Steven Johnson. It stars Kat Graham, Tom Hopper, and Raymond Ablack.

Plot

A third-grade teacher Julie is fascinated with Verona because it's a setting for William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. As she is getting ready for her long-awaited trip to Verona, her boyfriend Brandon abruptly ends his relationship with her and now Julie must therefore travel alone.

On arrival at the reserved villa, she finds the villa has been double-booked and she must share the place with a wine expert named Charlie. As they spend time together, they begin to fall in love.

Cast

Kat Graham as Julie Hutton

Tom Hopper as Charlie Fletcher

Raymond Ablack as Brandon

Laura Hopper as Cassie

Sean Amsing as Rob

Emilio Solfrizzi as Silvio D'Angelo

Vincent Riotta as Carlo Caruso

Saverio Sculli as Amore Airline Passenger

Rating: 8 Stars