summersglow

If you are looking for a CIVIL WAR extravaganza (The Patriot) with all kinds of CGI battle scenes, or an overblown romance (Gone With the Wind), this won't be the movie for you. It is a simple family romance with a Civil War backdrop. I found it touching, especially the little girl, seven year old Melody played by Gabrielle Popa. The cinematography and story are beautifully muted. For whatever reason I got the same feeling from the movie that I do from early Little House on the Prairie episodes.

One or more of the reviews complains that the acting by Cristina Ricci and the little girl Gabrielle Popa was horrible. For the first ten minutes or so I might have agreed but as I became comfortable with movement of the plot I found that I loved Melody's character. She was a smart, strong little girl character and as far away from many of today's glitzy charismatic child stars as can be. I loved her plainness, her questions, and the sadness she felt while hiding the sadness she felt.

Anyway, I have a feeling that if you like family drama/romance and remember Little House on the Prairie fondly, War Flowers will be a soft, enjoyable hour and a half.

OK it is 2014 and as far as I can see Jericho is forgotten, although (hurry) still barely available on your favorite torrent site. I have watched Episode One, the pilot and E02 so far. Episode One is a work of genius. It introduces all the main characters and sets up numerous unresolved conflicts. Especially poignant are the children in danger themes. For example, Stephanie who can't breathe after her school bus gets into a serious accident... the children in danger theme in the pilot is a major hook, touching.

Episode 02 well the children have completely disappeared from the story. Its almost, in my imagination, as if alien nukers have levitated them off the story. Still a good story and has the same sort of addictive quality of House MD and 24... but darn it can't the writer keep the children in danger theme in the series instead of just making every child who I started to care about in the pilot disappear?

I would rate the pilot as 10 stars... the second episode maybe about 6 1/2...

One of my favorite movies, and books, of all time was Firestarter. The father/daughter relationship in face of the murderous might of the American fascination with WMD's was both scary and touching. I remember wishing it would never end. Finally, after maybe twenty years, a story which is just as scary and touching, BELIEVE.

Generally speaking I don't bother to watch TV at all, much less a series. I tuned into House, MD until it got bogged down in mushy hospital romance. 24 had amazing hooks but was so violent that it made me sick. Mostly I find TV series plain too stupid, sexually icky and/or violent to waste my time looking at.

BELIEVE, I have been tuning into with increased interest and anticipation from the very first episode (Thanks to the IMDb top trailer). Now, after six episodes, I won't miss it! No icky romance or sex, relatively little violence. Instead we have a good "child in danger from the over powerful government" story, a beautiful, expressive, intelligent and kind child who cares for those around her and is surrounded by intriguing and caring adults who will die to protect her. I can't help but caring about what happens to Bo, and Tate and Milton and am hoping for a "Kick-Ass" end to the evil generals.

I should add that the cinematography is stunningly beautiful, beautiful colors and closeups of the characters. As I did with Firestarter, ten stars for Believe.