"The Secret Garden" 1987 TV Movie Review

My grandmother introduced this to me as a young boy and I instantly fell in love with it. The story, as I'm sure you know, was written by Frances Hodgson Burnett in the early 1900s. It is about a young selfish girl who demands attention and, after the sudden death of her parents, moves to an enormous mansion in England. As she settles in, she notices the dark history this place has and is determined to uncover each and every one of its mysteries. Not all Hallmark movies are up to par, but I would definitely say this one is. The two child leads do a splendid job bringing their characters and transformations to life. The haunting score matches the sinister atmosphere beautifully and makes for a very enjoyable viewing and listening experience. A few recognizable actors include Michael Hordern and a brief appearance by Colin Firth.

8/10

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"Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" Movie Review

This movie opens with Steve Martin sitting in a meeting bored and ready to leave. He has a plane to catch. He gets to the airport as fast as he can and runs into a friendly but very annoying man who he winds up sitting next to on the plane. Due to a blizzard, the flight isn't about to land in Chicago as planned. The two become stuck in Wichita and from then on we watch this odd couple have misadventure after misadventure in the hope of finding their way home. As this fight between cynical and obnoxious goes on, we get to see Steve Martin and John Candy at their best. I'm sure you can guess which is which. The movie does drag on a bit but the ending is worth waiting for.

7/10

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