Jugando con fuego

I like Nora Roberts' books, but this movie was terrible. The main character is so very unrealistic, but since I didn't read the book, I don't know if this is just an awful book made into a movie or it's just the movie.

The story is very predictable. The main character is so cheesy, so depressed and brooding, suspicious of everything and then suddenly happy-go-lucky, not a care in the world. She refers to herself as a cop, but then plays the part of an arson investigator with the fire department.

In my opinion, this movie would be great for someone who loves to watch made-for-TV movies, or the typical Lifetime original movie. Otherwise, don't waste your time.

Catarina 'Reena' Hale (Alicia Witt) is working towards being a fire investigator. She's been obsessed with fire ever since her family bar burned up when she was young. John Minger (Scott Bakula) is her mentor since that fateful day. The angry father of the neighborhood bully was arrested. At college, she's taken with boyfriend Josh Bolton but he dies in a fire. Her next boyfriend Hugh is killed in an explosion with a ring in his pocket. She moves into a house next to eager Bo Goodnight who professes his love. She gets a call from her stalker hinting at the previous incidents. She fears the next target will be Bo.

It's a slow but functional TV thriller. It needs much better style to intensify the story. Witt is capable but she doesn't get much of a chance. The fire story allows for some explosions but they're not particularly impressive or thrilling. It may be OK for a crime TV drama but it's a bit stretched out.

A cop investigator that losses her first love on a fire. First of all the first love scene is stupid. Im tired of all that kissing and promises of love forever and annoying background music. Please enough is enough! Be more creative,not so lazy and lame. My 2nd concern ,ok after 4 years she found new boyfrien which wants to propose her. He is killed again on fire. A bit too much obvious again,but ok,thats the storyline. Then we realized she is a cop investigator and someone is chasing her and killing all her bf's. Ok. But surprisely she keeps on fire with tons of energy and willing to capture this killer. And she is allowed to work on case which again is unrealistic as 2 exes of her were killed. But more unrealistic is her act when is in hospital ,she has some crocodile tears and her emotional acting is very poor. At least the director could be more realistic and make a scene where she faints or smth..camon..tons of energy she had after such a bad and TRAUMATIC event. Then movie again fast forward quite quickly where supposedly she wanna move on ,buy a house ,ok I understand thst part but cammon here smiling ,shiny eyes ,how thats came from? At least director could try do a more realistic scene,ok she can try to move on but not with that happiness in face like past was all forgotten. And with stupid background music. Is pathetic and lame. And my last observation is when knows her new neighbour that was obsessed by her. On first move she is scared ,on defensive and almost pull gun out,then on next day she watch him trough the window and he is shirtless and she desire him badly. Again , for me,very lame and over enfathizing good looks in detriment of a more racional story. And after 2,3 days he is already doing dinner her at home,saying that loves her when did seen her 2,3 times in his life,and she is already too in love for him. Whats that?? How someone can direct a movie and write a script like that? Dont u see guys that is anedotic?? I could not finish the movie,my nerves were on the top!

I just finished watching this film, I did find the film to be quite routine yet still watchable.

It is obviously made for TV and the budget shows, some of the fire effects are cheap, and the acting is serviceable. I have to say though I did find Alicia Witt quite engaging in the lead role (I don't recall seeing her before other than in Urban Legend), I thought her performance was okay and I liked the voice-over in the beginning of the film too. Scott Bakula gives his usual type of performance and the other actors are adequate.

All in all a decent movie to pass the time on TV, but would not recommend buying it.

The first two adaptations (Angels Fall and Montana Sky) were disappointing for someone who read the books. I was actually pleased by Blue Smoke.

They did a good job of adapting a complex book down to a short movie. The flashbacks were a great way of letting us understand Reena's history and her current emotional state. Of course, they changed some of the details, but those changes didn't bother me, and worked well for the movie. And I think they did a good job of casting for this one - Alicia Witt and Scott Bakula were very good.

The only complaint I have is that due to the short time constraint, they were not able to really focus as much on the relationship with Bo, so the chemistry wasn't as strong as it could have been. Matthew Settle is very cute, but we didn't really get to know his character.

That said, I enjoyed it.