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Reviews
Welcome to Valentine (2023)
Heartwarming Fun
Many of the negative reviews of this movie contain complaints about the general direction of Hallmark as a network, the realism of the temperature in the titular town of Valentine, the quality of the prop artwork, and even one of the actor's plastic surgery.
Choosing to focus on the craftsmanship of the film, and its entertainment value, I can happily say that I genuinely enjoyed Welcome to Valentine! The actors, almost across the board, display a natural chemistry - most of all the leads. In particular, the actor who plays George elevates the story with his performance. The narrative is well-written and perfectly paced, with witty dialogue that I found to be more unique than what is on offer in many other Hallmark originals. Beyond strong writing and performances, the film is directed, shot and edited well, giving the finished product the polished feel of a higher-budget production.
Bottom line: watch and enjoy!
Ju Dou (1990)
A Step In the Right Direction
This work by Zhang Yimou (for those of you who don't know, Chinese surnames are written and spoken before first names) is an excellent step towards the masterpiece that came next in his line of films. He begins to further establish his signature as a director through heavy use of symbolic color and specific camera techniques that convey meaning beautifully. Please see this film if you get a chance--it's well worth it, especially if you like Zhang and/or Chinese cinema in particular.