#86 "The Four Feathers"

Stats: 2002. Starring Heath Ledger, Wes Bentley, Kate Hudson. PG-13.

Background: Several years ago, I checked The Four Feathers out from the public library and watched it with my sister. I really enjoyed it, so when I found it for less than $5 on Amazon, I didn't hesitate to pick it up.

Plot: When Harry (Ledger) resigns his commission in the British Army upon the announcement that his regiment will be sent to the Sudan, three of his best friends and his fiancée (Hudson) give him white feathers symbolizing cowardice. He later learns that his former regiment has come under attack, so he heads to Sudan to rescue his friends and return the feathers.

Reactions: I’m going to be honest: I did fall asleep in the first 30 minutes of the film. But once Harry got to the Sudan, I was hooked. Basically all I remembered of the movie was that Harry got white feathers for cowardice, and he went after his friends to redeem himself. I think my absolute favorite aspect of the film this time around was something I only vaguely remember from my first viewing several years ago: Harry’s relationship with Abou Fatma (Djimon Hounsou), the mercenary who puts Harry under his protection.

I really enjoyed The Four Feathers. You have to be in the right mood for it (let’s be honest—normally I’m in the mood for a rom-com), but it really is a wonderful film. 

Verdict: Keep

#85: "The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain"

Stats: 1995. Starring Hugh Grant, Tara Fitzgerald, and Colm Meaney. PG.

Background: In high school, my best friend and I would go on weekend movie benders—we'd go to her house in Grand Island, rent four or five movies, and stay up all night watching them. Sometimes we'd rent so many that we wouldn't have time to watch them all ... or we'd hit a dud that was too terrible to finish watching. The Englishman is one of those movies. I think we may have watched the first ten minutes or so and then turned it off because we were bored ... after all, we had something like Clueless or Cocktail to watch! (Hey, I never said my mom would have approved of the movies we watched ... that's why we always had our movie binges at my friend's house!)

I recently bought British Cinema Collection: 8 Acclaimed Films from Amazon for $6.50. The Englishman is one of the films included, and I was excited to watch it—often, what I found boring at 15 I really enjoy at 31!

Plot: When two English cartographers visit a small Welsh village to measure "the first mountain inside of Wales" for inclusion on a map, they discover the "mountain" is really a hill. The villagers aren't ready to let their pride and joy be relegated to a measly hill, so they join together to add the 20 feet necessary to the top of the hill to make it a mountain ... but they must also keep the cartographers in town long enough to remeasure.

Reactions: Well, I was right—what bored me to tears at 15 thoroughly delighted me now! I especially enjoyed the quirkiness and determination of the villagers. And Hugh Grant is always a delight as a bumbling Brit (does he ever play anything else?) It's a gentle movie that's perfect for a rainy (or sick) day.

Verdict: Keep

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

#84: "Deck the Halls"

Stats: 2005. Starring Gabrielle Carteris, Steve Bacic, and Steven Culp. TV-PG.

Background: Even though I had cable in 2005, somehow I missed this Lifetime Christmas movie. Or maybe I purposely avoided it …

Anyway, it was one of the movies in the Lifetime 12 Days of Christmas set I picked up last November. I actually watched it in November (on a sick day, if I recall), but I failed to write about it then. So here I am in February, writing about a Christmas movie!

Plot: Widowed mom Holly (Carteris) works for her father-in-law’s toy company. When he hires Nick (Bacic) to help with marketing for the holiday season, Holly is at first repulsed by Nick…especially because he is her annoying new neighbor. But as time goes on, she finds herself drawn to him, and he helps her realize that she just may be ready to love again.

Reactions: Frankly, I would never have watched this movie if it hadn’t been part of this collection and I hadn’t been doing this movie rewatch project. And I would have been missing out.

I can’t believe how much I enjoyed this movie! The family interactions seemed natural, the relationship between Holly and Nick was fun to watch, and I never was quite sure how the film would end. (Was Nick Santa Claus? Would Holly end up with him? What about the kind veterinarian [Culp]?)

Deck the Halls ended up being one of the better Christmas films I watched all season. (To see my thoughts on some of the others, check out this post on my other blog.)

Verdict: Keep

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”